The Tritter arc bridges to Act III with “One Day One Room,” which contradicts the assumption that House was left unchanged by his encounter with Detective Tritter. I think rehab put House in a particularly vulnerable emotional place, despite his best efforts. And it is at this vulnerable time that Eve, a young rape victim, enters into his sphere. She simply “wants to talk” to House - and only to House. But he resists connecting with her, questioning why she would even want to connect with him, until he can no longer push back. And when she wears down his resistance, getting deeply under his skin, House reveals to her that he had been physically (and probably emotionally) abused by his marine pilot father.
Although being an abuse survivor doesn’t come close to fully explaining House's motivations, personality, or behavior, it does begin to explain why he so very much needs to be in control of his out-of-control life. I believe that he had never told anyone about the abuse until that moment in a room with a stranger. That, of course, is part of House’s MO: revealing things about himself to perfect strangers (and to us, the viewers) rather than risk doing so to those who know him the best.
Act III—Baby Steps. After the heaviness of the first two acts, we get the humor of “Needle in a Haystack” before embarking once again on House’s journey to “normal.” We get hints in “Insensitive” and “Half-Wit” that House is doing a lot of reading about experimental pain management - something to help himself. Wilson believes that House is depressed and needs to begin to reach out to people, rather than relying on drugs and the faint hope of healing himself through radical, experimental, and dangerous procedures. “It will shorten your life,” Wilson tells House in “Insensitive,” regarding an experimental treatment for pain. “Shorter but normal,” House retorts.
But in “Fetal Position,” we do witness House begin to reach out, take baby steps. Back in “One Day One Room” House had revealed to Wilson (and to the rape victim) that he visits a jogging park (even though he can no longer run) to “watch and imagine.” In “Fetal Position,” more of his torn inner life is revealed. House makes plans for a vacation that someone in his physical condition cannot possibly take with ease: The Galapagos Islands, Vancouver Island, the Andes. He imagines, he desires. But to actually do would require bigger steps towards change than he is emotionally able, or willing, to make.
Article comments
1 - Blech
Love the show, the acting the DVDs and the CD, but what has happened to the usual blogcritic? This article is all over the place. I cannot figure what she is trying to say. Please go back to the old format.
2 - marie
I thought this review was terrific ,its exactly the way I saw it unfold as the season progressed , I picked up from the original veiwing ...week to week ... all of what you saw and more, I particularly agree with the last paragraph about Hughs acting ,.... the whole House personna is believable because of Hughs incredible portayal week after week ....great review , thankyou.
3 - BoffleB.
As ever, Barbara, I like your ideas and most thoroughly agree with your assessment of the extraordinary Mr. Laurie. It is a devastating, meticulous and moving portrayal every time and in every scene. Someone once said to me, how are we supposed to believe House can juggle, deliver medical jargon in a foreign accent, interact with the rest of the cast and convincingly diagnose a patient? Well, you just saw Hugh Laurie do all of that: guess both actor and character are geniuses at their craft!
Just one thought, though: I do wonder if you should spoiler alert the beginning of your article for anyone who might not have seen some part of season three?
Congrats on your new gig!
4 - Barbara Barnett
Hi Boffle,
I'm glad you found me over here. And thanks for the suggestion about placing a spoiler warning.
5 - hl_lover
Sasmom,
You have accurately captured in your review the meticulous planning that must go into each season of 'House' by its writers and executive producers.
As most House fans know, David Shore, creator and executive producer, once compared the journey of understanding the complex psyche of Gregory House to the peeling of an onion, each layer slowly removed (and occasionally bringing one to tears in the process!) to reveal a bit more about this most fascinating of TV characters.
Each mini-arc within each season gives us a bit more to ponder, another piece of the puzzle, and you have described these mini-arcs and puzzle pieces brilliantly!
6 - Nancy
Very good review.
HATED the Tritter arc....HATED.
LOVE Hugh Laurie.
He is AMAZING!!
Enjoying season 4 very much so far.
I like the older guy who really isn't a dr.
I wish they would keep him.
7 - NLP
I'm surprised your somewhat-comprehensive review of House's life & growth throughout the 3rd season mentions all his interactions with various women -- except for Cameron. Her interactions with him have affected his life changes too. And leaving all else aside, that kiss said a lot.
8 - Barbara Barnett
There was so much going on in that episode (Half-Wit)that I thought it all pretty much eclipsed Cameron's kiss (and House's return of said kiss.) I took that kiss as Cameron trying to distract House in order to get the blood. House, wary at first of even returning the kiss, gave in (I think he would have done the same thing had it been Cuddy or any other female, for what it's worth,) only to have his wariness proven correct. Cameron says to House "you kissed back." But I don't think that the kiss was any more than returning the kiss of an attractive female to whom he was physically attracted. But, as pretty much everything in House, it's open to interpretation.
Barbara
9 - NLP
I'm surprised your somewhat-comprehensive review of House's life & growth throughout the 3rd season mentions all his interactions with various women -- except for Cameron. Her interactions with him have affected his life changes too. And leaving all else aside, that kiss said a lot
10 - denise
sasmom, wonderful review as are all your comments.
my Hugh love knows no bounds. this man is an outstanding talent!!!!!! and the joy of watching him work (or play musical instruments) is heaven for me!
11 - Barbara Barnett
Denise--Thanks. I am really looking forward to seeing where the season and the character are headed. I feel that we are in a bit of a transitional period right now for all of the characters. You will get no argument from me regarding the amazing Mr. Laurie!
barbara
12 - Mary
Thanks for this insightful analysis of the various arcs of the third season. As somebody else's comment noted, the writers on "House M.D." must put an incredible amount of thought into planning the way in which we are learning, episode by episode, about the layers of this unforgettable and oddly admirable character.
But what we learn of him is not just in the renowned witty dialogue, but in silent moments when we can observe House reacting with his eyes and body language to what he has just experienced. For example, after That Kiss in "Half-Wit," there's a shot of him in his office where he touches his lips with his fingers, as if he were trying to analyze what he had just experienced there. In "Fetal Position," after the fetal hand-to-House's-finger contact, when he goes home on "vacation," we see him once again brushing his fingertips together in a contemplative way.
I don't know if these silent meaningful moments came from the script, the direction provided, or just come from Mr. Laurie's actor's instincts, but they are part of what makes "House M.D." a must-watch program for me. By must-watch I mean I actually watch every single moment of it, looking for those silent clues to House's character. Having Season Three on DVD means that I get to enjoy them over again.