His decision made, he goes to talk to Cuddy. Ah, but where is Cuddy’s head at this momentous decision point? What should she be thinking? House has been by turns annoying and endearing; disrespectful and admiring. And as the “honeymoon” appeared to have ended with House’s neglect of the “little things” and Cuddy’s irritation at House’s neglect, House screws up “big time” in “Recession Proof,” not showing up at an important evening in Cuddy’s honor.
So as he comes staggering into her home, soaking wet, bleary eyed and drunk, declaring his undying love, Cuddy must be wondering if this is really what she wants for herself—and for Rachel. In a way, it’s the flip side of House’s decision. Is loving House worth all the work involved in this high-maintenance man?
Yes, she knew what she was getting herself into (as much as she can know), going in with her eyes open, but sometimes what you get isn’t what quite what you expect, eyes open or not. But in Monday night’s episode “Bombshells” none of this will matter—and all of it will matter, as Cuddy’s health becomes a big unknown.
So come back after the episode and discuss freely. I won’t get to see it until several hours after it airs, but I’ll try to post my post-episode commentary sometime Tuesday. Meantime, enjoy this clip!
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Sdemar
For me I will always think they will be able to see past the flaws as they have something unexplainable that keeps them joined at the hip. I love their twisted and unconventional relationship.
2 - Barbara barnett
I agree, but maybe it's not enough fit this kind of relationship. I honestly hope they stay together, or if they do regrettably end it, it will be temporary.
3 - Ibsen
It's so strange and unexpected for me, but the writers have truly convinced me that both characters love each other very much. They're such a strange pair: dysfunctional, strong-willed, highly-intelligent work-a-holics who have failed in every relationship they've tried. The odds have been highly against them from the start. In spite of that, I know they could make it work, but I doubt it will work out. Because I think this show is mostly about unremitting sadness, with only a brief, occasional respite before climbing back into the fray, because no couple works out in this world, because when they break up it will be good drama and that's very tempting, because House has to be miserable. In short, the writers have done a good enough job to where I haven't a shadow of a doubt they could make things work between the two because they've handled it so well (as you've illustrated quite clearly here), far surpassing my expectations. But I know the show well enough to be 99.9% that it won't work out. There are a million scenarios they can choose from to do this. As the finale draws near, I'm bracing myself for some painful times in House's life, as per usual, and an enormously likely breaking apart of House and Cuddy's relationship.
4 - also barbara
IMO writers are handling this season very well .
It's not easy to get together two, wonderful, strong characters and not sacriface the show at once. They're balancing it perfectly.
I think House and Cuddy have a chance to be together for good. Writers,directors and actors prooved to us that this two are really(REALLY) in love and need each other ( not to say about their past).
As long as it'd be challenging, uncommon and complicated it can work - just HOUSE's STYLE ;)
Ofc they deserve a few nice, tender moments - but that's not what this is about. We want to see House struggling with his life - not smooth sailing. He is who he's always been, only circumstances are different. Another part of his journey.
Its great to see characters development thru the years. Love to see them grow.
I keep my fingers crossed for [H]im and Cuddy and for the writers ofc;)
love the show.
5 - Amy
I have enjoyed the way their relationship has been portrayed this season. I'm worried about their relationship following this episode.
6 - yahnis
Barbara barnett
"I honestly hope they stay together, or if they do regrettably end it, it will be temporary."
You said just what I think, and inspite of David Shore's words about break up and rejoining that he didn't think it match to this show, I hope that it's not bad idea. But in ideal I want them together and happy without pain of break up.
Thank you Barbara for you staying with us in this jorney, named "House"!!!
7 - sjoes
Nice summary of the Huddy relationship so far. I like how you tied all the loose ends together. Thing is, after such an explanation, which every Cuddy fan has to embrace, it is impossible to imagine she would even consider a break up now. A smart, intelligent, strong woman who has given up so much to pursue this irrepressible passion, has gone beyond that point. Your explanation makes me accept the tooth brush/garbage/toilet seat irritations and I think Cuddy has so too. The essence of what they have is not in pettiness.
It is in hiring a Mariachi band without feeling the need to witness its effect on Cuddy, or boasting about it. It is a grand romantic gesture but only for her to enjoy (and Wilson gets a whiff of how this works between them). It is beautifully intimate like that zipping up gesture mid-argument.
It is in opening the door and being 'home' to a sentimental, soaked and utterly vulnerable drunk and hearing out his incoherent ramblings because she speaks his language, she understands the true message. The barely noticable pat she gives his shoulder as he nestles 'on her vagina' is her again giving in to this force of nature that is their love.
To have her walk away from all that at this point would be ridiculous and incomprehensible, to Cuddy fans at least. Huddy is recession proof in the privacy of these two. Next step has to be personal drama (the bombshell of Cuddy being ill) which has to be played out in public (doctors, hospital, friends and relatives). I have been wary about today's episode but this little essay has made me anticipate it differently. Hope the writers won't mess it up.
8 - Laura Saxon
I think their relationship will survive the rest of the season, and in light of Cuddy's kidney crisis tonight, their relationship might even get stronger. House will probably take some time off to take care of her, since she has always taken care of him in the past, and she will recover quicker that way.
9 - DrDiagnostic
As always Barbara, lovely assessment of the House/Cuddy romance thus far. I do agree that Cuddy may be doing a little soul searching after House's drunken confession. It's a lot of work for her. As Lisa Edelstein mentioned in her interview with Greg Yaitanes, Cuddy is contemplating how House enriches HER life. What is Cuddy getting from this relationship? There has to be so much fear on her part, mostly because of Rachel. Cuddy could probably tolerate House, but is House turning out to be a postive force in Rachel's life as well. Can Cuddy count on him as much as he counts on her? It's an interesting dilema and one in which I'm sure will be explored more in tonight's episode.
All that being said, I love how the writer's are taking on this relationship. You can tell by the writing how in love these two are. They are handling things in a realistic, mature manner to a point where it's so hard to see Shore and Company tear them apart. However, I always take the pessimistic side when it comes to House and Cuddy. I am conditioned that way. But it is a beautiful romance and what would be more Housian than the person to least likely succeed in a romance on House turns out to be the most successful?
10 - DebbieJ
@#4 - also barbara - what does OFC stand for.
Also, anyone, how do you pronounce Greg Yaitanes' name?
11 - barbara barnett
DebbieJ
It's Y-tay-nes
12 - Flo
Nice article. What makes you think that House fell in love with Cuddy again at the end of season 2?
I don't deny any sexual tension in earlier season but for me all thisn stuff really started mid-season 3.
About the episode, the only thing I know is that the musical part better be more "Fred Astair classic" than "Moulin Rouge" otherwise it will be awful.
13 - barbara barnett
I think he maybe subconsiously began to recognize it after Stacy. I think it might have been "Forever" when House was so concerned about her well-being, and his gratitude (expressed in Humpty Dumpty) might have begun to morph into something else. By Who's Your Daddy it became more clear that House's interest was more than gratitude, admiration and lust.
14 - also barbara
@DebbieJ OFC = of course
15 - DebbieJ
thank you to the Barbaras, for answering my questions!
I think sometimes I'm at an advantage by NOT following GY's tweets or delve too deeply in behind the scenes stuff before an episode has aired. I had no idea there was such speculation and fear and now, a sense of relief for knowing what the dream sequences are and are not. I just take it as it comes, absorb it, enjoy it or not (I've enjoyed about 99% of the episodes).
16 - barbara barnett
Spoilers from this point on...so if you haven't seen it...
What did you think of the episode?
17 - Orange450
Sheer, brilliant genius. Talk about bombshells. But when he sat on his bathroom floor just like in Help Me and looked up at the door because she should have been standing there...Noooooooooo!!!!!
18 - eileen
Good, interesting, until the end. Very sad and disappointed at how TPTB took this episode. House and Cuddy are phenominal together. Period.
19 - Penny
Is it me or has House just gotten Terribly Goofy? This has been my favorite shows since it's beginning. But now it is just too silly.
20 - barbara barnett
Orange--I agree. The ending was just a killer. There he is back in an exact replica of the season's start.
21 - Flo
The episode was great! We knew trouble was coming and Cuddy is right in the end.
That was really intense!
22 - MusicandHouse
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I was expecting an Epic episode and insted I got my heart broken. Overall, I thought the episode was a little disjointed and the POTW was completely unnecessary IMO. The dreams made a lot more sense once the ending came along but I'll have to rewatch to be sure. I honestly don't know how I feel about that ending. I'm devistated that Cuddy broke up with him and that he took vicodon but I'll have to see what plays out next.
23 - barbara barnett
Penny--Goofy? The goofiness was in the dream sequences. That ending was a sucker punch to the gut
24 - barbara barnett
House is who he is. It wasn't about the Vicodin in the end, it was about House being able to allow himself to hurt in such a fundamental way without it. The ending was simply raw.
25 - Annie
HOLY CRAP.
Barbara I've been reading your blog for a while, but never commented until now...
Of all things, I was NOT expecting that.
But this means there's a bigger chance that they'll get back together, right? Even though DS said that it was unlikely? I mean, if they broke up in the finale I wouldn't think that they could get back together, but since this is only about midway through the season...
Gah, I guess I just need someone to say that everything's gonna be alright.
But seriously, HOLY CRAP. Springing something like this on us...wow. TPTB wants us all to die.
Which, by the way, I did in the last scene. HOUSE BEGGED HER NOT TO GO. AND SHE DID. AND HE TOOK VICODIN. AND SHE WAS CRYING. AND HOLY CRAP.
And in the promo pics for the next episode, they're talking again! What??!?! It looked like things were back to normal.
I don't know what to think anymore. Brain dead. Want to cry. Aglasdhflsdjfldks.
This was just cruel.