What's in store for Season 8 of House, M.D.? Let the conversation begin. And be sure to take this week's poll!
Okay, House, M.D. fans. The House folk are back to work filming the new season, and I’m back from my little hiatus. So let's get the conversation flowing as we count down to the start of Season 8 (October 3) when House will premiere at a new time (at least for the first half of the season): 9:00 p.m. ET. There are a few spoilers herein (nothing big, since I don’t know very much—and nothing that hasn’t been already reported elsewhere), so if you be a spoilerphobe, then stop reading…now! But be sure to take the poll on the last page.…
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Melanie
Hi Barbara!!! I think that the new Dean of Medicine will be Chase. He is the only one of the group you mentioned that can and has stood up to House besides Wilson. Chase is smart, is a good doctor, has been there from the beginning learning from the best, and has experienced first hand many of House's antics. I think Chase could be a good boss. I think he would be stern when he needed to be and caring and supportive when he needed to. I think it would be very funny as well. I'm sure House would do many funny and cruel things to
Chase before he would ever accept him as his boss. It would be funny to watch. Also, I would love to see the look on Foreman's face when HE finds out Chase is in charge. OH SNAP!!!!!
27 - Ben
God I hate it when people try to say it's all about Huddy. If in his fit of rage House had elected to run into Wilson's occupied home and risked lives there the conversations would still be flying. Oh but then it would just be Hilson shippers upset, right? Ridiculous! The act itself destroyed the character, regardless of what ship was affected. It was a creative choice the writers made and it did not fly with a lot of people. Let's not keep reducing the intellect and heart of the viewers down to simple Fangirls. People can argue that the choice was made because Cuddy is not as important, but that's not what the negotiations were about, it's not what TPTB felt and it's not the way the story was written. The writers failed to anticipate properly and quite frankly didn't see an act of violence as anything more than a Kaboom. They were a bunch of kids playing at shock values and they lost sight of the character. It's sad that they realize they need to take him back to his roots now, since they can't. He's THIS guy now. They would have done well to keep his character in mind before they crashed.
28 - cata
kabom was for the fans and the series
29 - Oversimplified
@27 Ben
I have to agree. I'd have been just as disgusted with House's behaviour if it had been pointed directly at Wilson. Pandora's box has well and truly been opened and rather than going with it and following things to their natural conclusion it appears Shore's policy is to brush things under the carpet. I really think they went places that they didn't particularly understand at the end of last season, which is pretty unforgivable considering the subject matter. This is probably going to be made a little worse by the admission that we're going back to 'fun times'; fairly unpalatable to be quite honest.
There's no doubt about it Shore is exceptional at some areas of his job, but terrible at others even by his own admission. The fact that he said planning ahead isn't his strong point speaks volumes in my opinion. He's great at throwing balls or 'interesting new plot threads' up in the air, but it's amazing how many end up falling to the ground as the writing team either forgets about them or focuses too much on one arc or one character. I watch other shows like Breaking Bad where nothing is forgotten about and even the props get meaningful reoccurring roles, and there really is no comparison. The Devil is in the Detail.
I still can't come to terms with the showrunner's constant assertion that House won't change. Nobody expects the protagonist to magically turn into a benevolent uncle type figure, but at least someone who learns from his mistakes and evolves because of them. Nobody and nothing stands still. If they do they either end up rotting or with weeds lapping round their ankles. That's why season 6 was initially so promising when it seemed like House was facing his demons and the root of his addiction. It's also technically suspect as Shore appears to be favouring the sit-com format and hitting the re-set button as and when, which is deeply unsatisfying for a drama series that I've always seen as just as much a character study as a procedural.
30 - Earth Orbiter
maria-eleni: At no time did I "bash" Hugh Laurie in my post. I simply pointed out the discrepancies in salaries and postulated as to why LE did not renew. It is you and "housemaniac" who are behaving in a contentious and confrontational manner by attempting to "read between the lines" of my post and let loose your unwarranted attempts at discipline. You are not my parent; in fact, I suspect you are both some years younger than I. Additionally, you are not a moderator of this forum, and the very definition which speaks to debate and expression of opinions between people with a common interest.
So I will say it again, to you: Lighten up.
31 - Sacha
Chase/House did have a great and intriguing dynamic in S1-3, and it was lazily re-lived in hints and glimpses over S4-7 but sadly, I feel like the writers abandoned Chase/House and did basically nothing with the character over the course of last season, let alone giving him some substantial interaction with House. After S7 and the man s**t arc, how credible is Chase as a new dean? I can see how 'KA-Boomish' it would be if they give the job to him. However, apart from the sensation alone, it just wouldn't make sense. Chase has never been a department head. He has no ambition whatsoever. He doesn't seem capable of tough negotiations, he has no diplomatic skills, he shys away from confrontation. He also has a suspension in his record (The Mistake). Besides, he seems way to young. I simply can't see him administring a hospital, unless, of course, they leave logic behind once again for sheer amusement. Chase would be in pretty much the same position where Cameron had been in Big Baby. If they keep him in character, he will always trust House's judgement and won't refuse any questionable medical procedure. In Instant Karma, Chase told House that he'll always be in charge, whether he wants it or not. Not exactely the best premise for a dean of medicine who has to reign House in. Of course, it would be fun. Foremans jealousy. House's reaction should be priceless. And wait, wasn't there something he knows about some African dictator? House could really make Chase and Foreman's medical life miserable if he feels like it. ;)
I still don't think it's enough to make it work. I hope Chase will promoted the new head of diagnostics while House is in jail. I much more see him as House's successor than anybody else on the team. It would make sense to me.
I think Wilson as the new dean would be the most plausible choice. Given that Cuddy would probably weigh in, I think she would suggest Wilson. Foreman? Been there, done that. It's hardly an exciting choice.
@Earth Orbiter, I too think that it is weird to be cutting costs on dispense of the fellow actors whereas HL goes from 400K to 700K. Contract or not, it just doesn't seem fair to play it out on account of the cast. Has nothing to do with Hugh Laurie bashing since he couldn't see it coming, but it is still disturbing. Just my opinion.
32 - Sacha
#29 Oversimplified, I forgot to say that I so agree with your post, especially the last paragraph. Thank you.
33 - Mike
Glad I'm not alone in my thinking here. TPTB pretty well left fans disappointed through S6 by not continuing or following up with the alleged growth potential in Broken. They ended the season with a couple of good points with baggage and Help Me, but it really was an unsatisfying season based on the potential and direction they began at the start of the season. Then they went into S7 with the intention of blowing up House (yes, House, not Huddy. Huddy was a plot device) instead of using the relationship or even the failed relationship as a means to turn House back to dealing with his issues. After Hours at least would have ended the season with an idea that House is still trying to change, but struggling with how. Moving On just destroyed the very tiny progress he had made and pushed an audience that is tired of the dropped plot syndrome over the edge. The crash just made House look like a pathetic man who believes violence will make him feel better and then he can walk away into the light. It's a terrible statement for the character and a worse one for the show. I hate that they made this character so pathetic and weak. Hugh Laurie would have had his emmy by now if they'd actually pursued the many plots and issues they have opened over the years but then failed with follow-through. He is continually given appetizers to perform when the main course is what is required and is long overdue. This pathetic House-gone-wild theme and the crash removed years of character development and trying to re-start it with all the talk of fun and roots doesn't change that. For a group of writers once admired and trusted beyond reason, they have lost credibility over the last two seasons. And their talk does matter at this point because their work is not speaking for itself any longer. The fact that it took LEs departure and a mistake of this magnitude to breathe new life into them --- well, that frankly ticks me off. They had amazing story potential and fan and critic excitement for two years and they blew it off! If they wanted a re-set they should have fallen back on their old hallucination standby. At least House would still be in tact and not a disgusting shadow of what could have been.
34 - Earth Orbiter
Sacha: Thank you. You are correct; there are other ways to cut costs other than at the expense of someone's salary, i.e. location shots, behind-the-scenes perks that have nothing to do with the quality or production of the show, etc. When I owned my own business, I never compromised my employee's wages in an attempt to cut costs. I found another way. LE was treated very badly, most likely because she is a woman, and as much as I grew to dislike Cuddy, for her seven years of hard work and devotion, LE deserved better. And I cannot get behind outrageously high salaries for actors, athletes, and the like, not when there are families losing their homes and children going without food, and far too many of them sleeping on the street.
35 - Tina
It's ironic that LE seemed to be the cast member who gave the most back to the communities and to charities. Actors and athletes, celebrities as a whole are obnoxiously over paid, which is why people find it easy to bash one when they refuse to take paycuts. The business itself is rather screwed up. HL had a contract and it is what it is, but the network could have cut in other areas. HL is not to blame. LE wasn't at fault either. No bashing on my end. It is one of the disparities in society, though.
36 - barbara barnett
The amount of hostility on this thread makes me wonder if no matter what the Powers that Be do in Season 8, it will be wrong. I think they made some mistakes last season, no question. And the response to the finale I think took them by surprise. That combined with Lisa Edelstein's departure has made the fandom rather toxic now.
What I have found outside the fandom among other fans, but not necessarily plugged into the Internet forums, etc. is a different reaction. Some people upset, others really excited (and bummed that it's not until October 3). But the reaction in general is much more varied. Not everyone is upset with the direction of the show.
I have had a lot of conversations this summer with people from all around the country (and beyond) who watch House. The range of opinion is pretty diversely spread.
37 - LesleyChar
DoM: Let's see
Vogler's not a doctor, Cole couldn't have gained experience and met requirements since S4, Foreman can't do trials and has failed numerous times, Chase has damaged reputation w/playboy attitudes and the dist fighting with surgeon in S6, not to mention experience issue and relationship with House, Sam overdosed cancer patients and really didn't appear that strong as a doctor since Wilson was helping with audit, Wislon would ruin bromance. Basically they are playing with the audience again. None of these are viable options. They are just place holders and opportunites for fun. Maybe we can hope none of them will stick and Cuddy will be asked to return the end of season. But that's wishful thinking. Fans haven't been that lucky and the writers have known been that smart.
38 - Mike
Yes, the response is varied. Some of us talk outside the internet, too. They shouldn't have been taken by surprise by the reaction. It's a simple question. If you had a friend crash his car into his girlfriend's occupied home would you feel comfortable supporting him or would you look at him with guarded eyes and with distance? Suggesting they would think it was cool and would celebrate the act as a next step in his growth as a person is just a lie. Nevertheless, they have a challenge, and part of it could be helped and "done right" if they admitted the severity of the act and stopped saying it's a logical progression, and the hated "he wanted to hurt her house, not her." Toxicity started at the writers table and now has created a circular virus.
The viewers not on internet and the forums have the luxury of not hearing these excuses and the new outook for the future. They are not as invested, so the reactions are not as frequent and strong.
The moral of the story: 1. Don't become invested in a television character. 2. Don't trust creative teams behind the TV. 3. Don't go on the internet; the ignorance of casual viewing is more peaceful.
We should just shut up and stop watching. But relationships are hard to end after 7 years and mourning the loss takes time.
39 - Jess
Sorry Barbara but the 98% of your readers were huddy/LE fans so you shouldn't be surprised by the bitterness and nasty comments now. A lot of people who could care less about huddy and LE are eager to see season 8 but they don't post here because this place used to be a huddy sanctuary. Now you have to deal with bitter, disgruntled huddys the same ones who glorified season 7 and the writers until the huddy break-up.
40 - Jamie
Having read most of the comments, I can see where most of the people get their frustration from. Of all the routes they could've chosen to take House in, they chose what they did in the finale. Honestly, after all the interviews from writers/producers, I haven't found one that convinces me that that was the right choice. I can only hope that season 8 will restore my faith, especially after Shore said they will be returning to their roots. I will be tuning in because I'm curious about the new doctors and how House will be mentally/emotionally/physically. But most of all to watch the Hugh Laurie. He's probably the reason why I'm sticking it out. If this turns out to be their last season, he deserves a good one as does the rest of the cast that were here from the beginning. (Btw, out of curiosity, has his 700k paycheck been confirmed or is this just something that's been floating around the internet?)
Unfortunately, the House fandom has been quite a disturbing place to be nowadays. People placing blame on actors out of sheer frustration and lack of answers. Fans vs former fans. I don't think it's fair to blame anyone really. We don't know what happened with LE's contract. We can only assume/guess/deduce what we will and form our opinions based on that. The anger for the finale/LE' contract falling through is quite understandable, but it's time to move on
41 - kel
rating will be the best judge
42 - Mary Jane
@16 - Earth Orbiter
Your whole explanation is nothing but a conspiracy theory of what you have read and decided to extrapolate upon. There is no real FACT of anything you have stated. The supposed salaries have never been confirmed by a reliable source “hence” they were stated as APPARENT!
The two FACTS that can be classified as true in all of this (since they have been stated by both sides) are that Lisa Edelstein “CHOSE” not to renew her contract and that they both said they were “Disappointed”? We do not know anything from there and probably never will, i could chose to go on about what i think happened there but i won't because i chose to believe FACTS.
I wish LE good luck in her future career.
BTW “So pull your panties out of your crack and look at the big picture” is uncalled for and rude and makes you sound like a silly fan girl…just saying!!
43 - Leiney
Barbara, thank you again for proposing a dialogue on the upcoming season. It's generous and, these days, rather brave of you to provide this forum.
As much as I'd hope for something a bit more interesting, I'm in the camp that expects Foreman to be named DOM. It's certainly a position of power that he would aspire to, and I've always felt that tptb have wanted to solidify his stature, certainly as they work their way towards the end of the series, whether this season or next. I've thought that Ausiello's guessing game might have been sanctioned by tptb to create some excitement over what may end up being anticlimactic with the usual suspect...Foreman. Chase would be an interesting option, obviously for the shock value. (Actually, we do know he's notoriously anal about his paperwork, as per his conversation with Lucas, season 6.) But beyond the surprise, though, I agree with you that the potential for interesting interaction and personal revelation is greater between House and Chase, in a kind of reversed power dynamic, than what we would see in a retread of House and Foreman. I've always found the House/Chase dynamic one of the most interesting in the show, but I'm doubting tptb will revisit. Obviously, in the real world, neither Chase nor Foreman would likely be given this position due to many prior screw-ups, but I'd really dislike seeing the only truly qualified candidate, Wilson, in the position. You're spot on with your reasons against that move. I doubt that we would be looking at a more high profile hire, such as Sam or Cole, with 2 new team members, alrady. If it is someone like Hourani, I'm guessing that he wouldn't be seen that often.
I'm very interested to see where everyone ends up. I'm thinking that part of the "getting back to basics" that tptb keep stressing will be a focus on medicine and patients, House mentoring the newbies, and House and Wilson working their way back to friendship. Will House be looking to make amends? Or will his arrogance and confidence be his guiding force and defense? I hope we do eventually find House truly feeling "satisfaction" in and with his world.
44 - Mike
@Jess I was not a Huddy, but I do not like what they did to House. I also don't feel like they wrote House very good in that relationship, but understanding they forced that relationship so they could bring him to that degradation makes it worse. I don't know about the percentage of BB readers, as I am fairly new. But, I do believe there are valid reasons for discontent outside of Huddy. It's been a grave error all along to disregard thoughts and opinions based on shipping assumptions.
45 - Lucy
Hugh Laurie will bring the ratings in enough for the show to be fine. The enthusiasm will not be the same. There's no way to monitor that, though except through social media, which is dismissed by this group.
46 - mooseonajew
Earth Orbiter: RSL signed on for S8 at his OLD salary and reduced episodes. He was on the fence because he was more interested in returning to theater work, which he prefers over tv.
Your characterization of him saying "screw you" to Fox is a little over the top. He said he assumed he would be back if the negotiations between NBC/Universal worked out, which they did.
47 - barbara barnett
Mike, I don't know the percentages either, but although a lot of the commenters have been "Huddies" I have a pretty substantial readership--and they are not 98% Huddy-folk.
I prefer to look ahead. The show is what it is, and what is done is done for better or worse. I'm not going to prejudge Season 8. Life's too short.
When I no longer like a show, I stop watching. I fell out of love with the X-Files (my last TV obsession) early (very early) in Season 7. I never wrote about it again, nor did I tune in very often (not even to the series finale)
48 - Earth Orbiter
@Mary Jane: Duh! Of course its speculation and extrapolation based on certain facts. Go back and re-read the definition of "forum" that I previously posted. And you need to lighten up, too, and stop your neophyte needling. (Why does everything have to be an eff-ing argument with some of you people?) And "Fangirl?" No. I despise Lisa Edelstein more than I do "Cuddy." But I still don't like what they did to her, and that's a fact.
49 - Visitkarte
So, here is the correct reaction:
I refuse to read other comments on the blog, and the poll is answering the question about who is commenting on it.
I am excited about the new season, there are so many possibilities open. I personally prefer the idea of the 20 Vicodin as a story telling vehicle, flashbacks of memories connected with specific occasions when House took a pill that brought him in jail.
My own idea was that it'd be about the 20 Vicodin House get's to make a tad slower, more human detox, and if I'm right, I'd love to find out how he's going to use them and when.
Chase as DoM I could see. On the other side, I don't think it fits with the rumors of Chase starting a relationship with the ex prison doc.
Sam... We know a little about her, and they can make her be a Ok enough doctor to be a DoM. It's not as if they cared all that much about continuity. She would make for fun interaction with House and with Wilson, and the upside, she has zero romantic interest in House. Good thing.
I don't want the show to end this year. I hope the numbers will catch up and they get a 9th season. I'd love to have 200th episode before House M.D. goes in the TV heaven. And by that, I mean the show. I don't want them to kill him off.
All in all, as far as I've heard from the new season, it sounds very good. I hope the viewers will go along. I know I will.
I wish you more fun with this blog and I wish everyone who is fed up with the show to Move On.
50 - Anne
It's interesting. Other than a few questionable comments regarding the business/personal side of the show, the comments here have been valid expressions of concern that the issues are not being addressed and fear for the show they love. It's become a sad situation when the only reason you can comment is if you agree or are fully excited. That becomes a very droll discussion. House would hate that. He likes to be challenged, but his "fans" don't (apparently real fans are only the ones who loved the finale). It was once fascinating to hear varying viewpoints that challenged the status quo. The fact that you are not considered a real fan or told to "move on" if you have trouble swallowing the violence is a testament to the damage that has been done. The toxicity runs both ways; it's just in a different form.
As for the poll, I am not sure it's indicative of "haters," although there may be those. People are well aware that HL is not signed on for a Season 9 and has expressed concern on several occasions that he would not want another season. Perhaps he could be convinced, but since the man is tired and he feels it's been way too long apart from his wife, I think it shows some support of him as a person. I voted - didn't think it would go on, but that doesn't mean I don't hope it will. So, in regards to the negative explanation surrounding this poll, toxins come in many forms.
For the record, I'm interested to see how they pull House out of this hole, which of these unlikely candidates will be the DoM, and how the new additions will be absorbed into the dynamics. That doesn't mean I don't feel for people who feel betrayed and frightened of a failed last season of a show they have been passionate about for years.
I vote for them trying a few people in the role of DoM and failing. Sam, Foreman and maybe end with Wilson, but him resigning in the end because he chooses his friendship over that position.
I hope the writers do surprise us.
51 - Francine
@Anne
Haven't you heard? If you're not excited, you should leave. This comes from the people who were not excited last season, but they weren't told to leave. If we pasted their hate from last season, it would prove the hypocrisy. People can feel what they want, and hopefully the show will rise and interest both sides again. I doubt we'll ever have the discussions of the golden days. Too many venemous muzzlers.
I like your idea of testing a few DoMs and them failing, but especially Wilson choosing House over the position. If he saw it was damaging their relationship, even as the audience feels it, I believe it would be such a powerful bromance moment for that choice to be made. Fans have good ideas like that! I hope TPTB are equally and/or more creative.
BTW, I don't think it will go past S8 either because Hugh is ready to move on. Something tells me we'll see more of him on the big screen.
52 - Maria-Eleni
30 - Earth Orbiter
Please read again your post No 10, it comes out as being very derogative about HL.
By the way you could be right, about lighting up.
So, concerning our respective ages, do you have grandchildren?
53 - Earth Orbiter
@maria-eleni: Yes.
54 - Maria-Eleni
57 - Earth Orbiter
Wow! Congrats.
Some of my friends and contemporaries do have, but me, not yet!
Still 57 is a significant number for me, though not my age.
55 - ParadoxHugh
Barbara,
I am actually finding this discussion board to be pretty valid, interesting and quite tame. There are some very nice posts with good explanations about how people feel rather than just being contentious. I would like to commend Ben and Mike for their comments about shipping not being the crux of the issue anymore. It IS having to accept House as "This Guy". Violence as part of his response mechanism is canon now. At least it is when he is on Vicodin. That may be where they make their stand. Twenty vicodin may just be the total he took that day and the amount it takes to deaden House's conscience completely. I still want to believe he has one. That has always been more important to me than any relationship issues. It made me believe he could progress focusing on the good side of him. The drug scenario is actually valid. When clean he was able to reign in his rage as when Lucas tripped him and throughout all the other indignities of season 6. He was rational. Back on Vicodin he exploded into irrational behaviors culminating in that crash. And yes this is all rationalizing on my part as I can't accept House as a sociopath. So the devil Vicodin made him do it. Actually I believe he wanted to act out and express his hurt. These were his true emotions. But he may not have acted upon those thoughts without the drugs. He wanted to beat Lucas to a pulp but he didn't when he was clean. So I can accept this scenario if they go there. I just don't look forward to it. They severed the emotional connection I had with House. I can't root for him anymore at this point. And with DS fueling the flames of doom, I think it is safer to watch from the nosebleed section of the stadium now. From a distance I can just watch for the entertainment value. There will be no analyzing parallels and metaphors anymore. They have not been writing it that way for most of last season anyway, preferring more seperate stories than the clever interweaving of plots. So I am accepting my position as a relic of the past. A dinosaur so to speak. But I prefer not to go extinct. So I'll travel this new path with House but from much further away. As Mike said, it is dangerous to give this much investment to a TV character especially when DS keeps making it clear that it will end ambigously and he prefers this treadmill of misery, not a journey of progressions and setbacks ultimately leaving House in at least a slighty better place. I do truly hope that they can get me to purchase better seats toward the middle of the season. (Yes, I do love sports metaphors.) I want the show to go out a winner. I want to love House again. But I don't trust DS and ergo, I can't trust House, the character anymore. So trepidation is all I feel for the coming season.
There are changes that sound interesting. I think I will like the newbies. And my two cents on the DoM: it will be Foreman in charge. In the real world there would a lineup of associate and assitant deans waiting to move up the ladder, but given the list we got to choose from, Foreman is the best fit. He is a "suit". Image makes a difference at the top and Chase is too playboy and immature to make sense to the board. If it is not Foreman or Chase, there are just too many on the team now and they wanted to "simplify". There are so many changes that they must keep something the same. And that is the House/Wilson dynamic. And despite what some seem to infer, rooting for a certain ship does not exclude loving the bromance as well. Imagine what the comments here would be if it was Wilson who were suddenly missing or who was on the receiving end of that violence with no possibility of closure now. Believe me that I would have been writing the same stuff that I did following the finale. It was and still is a problem of stripping House of his conscience that crushed my hopes for the show. Not even the act itself but the bar scene at the end that did the trick. So now we wait to see if they try to bail him out with a drug explanation. And if I am rooting for one thing, it is that House gets off the Vicodin again. He can have his hookers, he can behave like an ass, he can take advantage of Wilson, but he is fooling himself if he still believes the stuff makes him "neutral" at those levels.
Rambling again. It is what I do these days with my compass points scrambled.
56 - freelancer
Great review, Barbara, as usual!
I may be alone here, but I’m really curious about Season 8. I wish I could be a fly in the writer's room.
I wasn’t at all shocked by the season’s finale, and I’ll explain why: I didn’t take what he did literally. If House were a real person doing this to somebody’s home, it would make me very upset. But Gregory House is a fictional character in a TV show, so everything is symbolic. When David Shore and other writers said in numerous interviews that House didn’t want to kill Cuddy or anybody else and that the room was empty I took their word at face value.
I also don’t think that driving a car through Cuddy’s home was out of character for House. To me, this is the same man who destroyed Cuddy’s office and then went to great lengths to restore her desk and gave it to her as a gift; this is the same man who kept a book written by Cuddy’s grandfather for years before offering it to her as a gift. Those two acts show intense affection for Cuddy, but he never verbalizes his feelings and instead demonstrates them through these gifts.
In "Moving On", Cuddy pressures House to talk to her about their breakup, but he can’t. He never talks about his feelings (good or bad) He doesn’t go to her house with intent to hurt her, remember? He was just returning the brush. But seeing her with another man, happy, moving on with her life, caused very deep and confused feelings to surface and he didn't know how to handle them. In the past, he would just keep it to himself and self-destruct. This time he drove his car through her home and gave her the brush without a word. Metaphorically, it was somewhat cathartic for the character, probably his first step to deal with those very intense feelings he has for Cuddy and for how it all went between them.
The last two minutes give me hope, because instead of going binge drinking as usual, he stops on his own and actually smiles and goes for a walk on the beach.
I may be overtly optimistic here, but I think the end is a silver lining to the character. I'm curious to see where they go from here.
I don’t think the writers wrote the finale as if there was nothing to worry about regarding what House did, that’s why the new season starts with him in jail. Actions have consequences, even in a fictional universe.
57 - Tina
@Freelancer - But the writers didn't plan on those consequences when they wrote the finale. Jail only became an "opportunity" when the fan/critic reaction came in to play. Also, it is good that you believe what the writers say, but a lot of people don't even listen to those interviews and vlogs. They just saw what they saw, and his intent was not clear. It was another ambiguity that they love, but in this case was too much.
That said, I hear what you're saying. There have been "signs" in the past that could be used as arguments that he was in character, just as there were "signs" that could be used to validate that he was out of character. The ambiguity given to such violence was very risky, and I am not sure it really paid off for them in the end.
I hope this fiasco has stirred their creative juices and instilled a little more concern for the details, as they've shown in the past, but somehow lost the past two years.
58 - Lisa
Yeah. That silver lining may have been there, but then David Shore spoke and negated all hope. And if that act of violence brings the peace he needed to not binge drink but walk on the beach, that's a horrible statement. It was a violent act whether he intended to hurt Cuddy or not. Violence is cathartic? Wow. Maybe. But is that really acceptable? No. Now the audience has to choose if violence is okay if it brings peace to the character or is it not acceptable? I don't want someone catharticism to be pointed at me. They made a very negative statement there.
59 - Gloria
I'd be okay if they made it a hallucination or coma or something like that. I may "deal with it" if they say it was the drugs that caused the problem. If they just continue to say it is a part of who he is as a man who just blew up and committed that act I will not be able to watch anymore. The premier will be a deciding factor. I have been watching House since the beginning and I hoped to watch it to the end. I won't be able to do that if they continue to make him this despicable person.
60 - Kaliera
Barbara,
I am an X-files fan as well - and I find myself with House at the same place I did when Duchovny left X-files...screaming at the networks to "let it go!" FOX. I am begging you - LET THIS GO.
Here's what we know as truth from David Shore's own mouth. House and Wilson will go back to their "fun" relationship and House will go back to PPTH and basics. The ending of season 7 was written with no plans for what would happen next. House WILL NOT CHANGE but will continue to "strive" towards happiness, but ultimately fail, and Shore prefers ambiguous endings. These are all reasons why I have no plans to watch next year unless I hear from you and your commentors as the season progresses that somehow brilliance has been restored.
House/Wilson: DS want to take this back to the relationship of earlier seasons. The problem is we the audience are expected to forget the prior 7 to make that happen! It is completely understandable that House would want this relationship to go back to the way it was. But how do they get Wilson to that point without destroying what's left of him? House was AGAIN stealing his prescription pad (something that almost lost Wilson his license back in season 3), he watched House drive his car into the home of a close friend with a small child. For Wilson to go back to any old behaviors with House takes him from enabler to pathetic and I lose any and all respect for Wilson that I had left.
PPTH: There is no way in any scenario House would get his job back at PPTH in the real world. And while television always demands for some suspension of disbelief (murder trials in just DAYS!), this is the equivalent to me of "Mulder left his lover and son to keep them safe on the word of Alvin Kersh and Scully gives up her baby" level of absurdity. Or for Grey's Anatomy Fans - Izzie steals a heart and keeps her medical license. The BOARD controls House's contract - not the DOM. Even if he somehow got his license back we are supposed to believe that this group of House Haters and Money Lovers would vote him back/give him tenure? Priveldges? Budget for him? and his lawsuits? Allow his clinic cutting and blackmail? What Board would allow this Headline? "Board of Directors rehires addict/relapsed Doctor who committed act of Domestic Violence on one of a handful of female Deans of Medicine in the country" Gloria Aldred would have a cow. Only a deux a machina (spelling?) of massive proportions gets House back in PPTH and I can't do it. Just Will Not.
DoM - Every choice on that list of 7 is ridiculous beyond measure except 1. Somehow everyone guessing (and the writers too?) seems to think the job of the Dean of Medicine is to "control House". And here I thought the DoM had to shmooze doners, manage stupid doctor tiffs, balance budgets, negotiate contracts with HMO's, etc. - so let's evauluate.
Foreman: Has proven to have no people skills. He's going corral the other dept heads? Suck up to donors? He falsified a trial, got blacklisted from other hospitals, and couldn't even negotiate a recomendation letter from Cuddy let alone a salary increase on his return. He'd be able to take on insurance companies? Put up with donor demands? People Skills: 0, Proven Ability to control House: 0
Chase: Has no experience as the head of even a department. No proven managerial skills. Head of Surgery hates him. I love Chase as a doctor and hope he took over when House left - but again - no way he should have this job. Managerial Skills: 0, Ability to control House: 2 ish?
Volger - not a doctor - would fire House in first episode = -10.
Sam - wasn't she overdosing patients which was easily discovered in a review of her files? Budgeting Abilities: -1, Ability to control House: -2
Wilson - The worst negotiator ever gets the job? He couldn't even say no to a kinda friend who wanted his liver! He's the perscribing doctor on the Vicodin house took before the Cuddy Act? Job Skills: 4, ability to control House: -7
Cole: It's been 5 years (counting House's jail time) since we've seen Cole. Possibly been running a department? Known to have moral values. Ability to create deal with Cuddy for Panties...Calm personality, likeable.
Job skills (unknown): Ability to Control House: 4 - hmmm
House's Journey: People Don't Change is a television trope especially used in comedies. The first episode of the show to the last should have the same stuff going on. Networks love this because you need to know very little beyond the show premise t follow the plot line. House is technically a procedural. And if in the last seven year we spent as little peronsonal time with House as we do with the Law and Order people, then yes - House could go on forever.
But DS has instead said that this show is actually a character study. Again this is fine, but we are in the resurgence of this type of drama. And in 2011, The descerning audience now DEMANDS shows actually GO SOMEWHERE - see complaints on Heroes, Lost season 3, The Killing, 24. If your audience has no hope that the character/story is going somewhere they get disillusioned and wonder why they are spending time on this show vs many other options. House doesn't have to change completely. But he has to not only learn SOMETHING, but then he has to APPLY IT, not just forget it the next episode. Ie. House learns from Wilson's anger post Amber to not take Wilson for granted - how long did that last? Or House learns that Rachel Cuddy really cares about him, then the next week drives a car through her house in a fit of anger at her mother. Or House learns he cares enough about 13 to kill her when needed, then commits an act the could lock him up in jail forever so that he could be in prison if/when that time came.
The problem with 1 forward, 2 back, is that on the gameboard of life at this point we are now 7 spaces back from where House was in season 1! I want to see House "in the black" emotionally in the end. He doesn't need to be at a 10, but even a nice +4 would be progress! They've got 1 season to get him there at minimum. Sadly, I don't see how that's possible if DS is still counting +1, -2 as he says he is.
At the end of the day, I NEED (not want) House to "win" his core inner battle over misery just enough to have one good friend, one good love, and ONE good team to help him, even if the rest of his world (including his leg) continues to suck. Otherwise, my seven season investment is not worth it. I don't want to be there for an end scene where House overdoses/gets shot/falls off motorcycle, etc, we fade to a beach with a happy House, and then fade to black, THE END leaving me to wonder if he died or not. Fool me once, David Shore, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Wow that was long. Sorry!
61 - Doya
WOW! Excellent @Kaliera! This is exactly what a lot of us are struggling with. The glimmer of hope that the writers allegedly (according to fans) were shwoing at the end is no where near what anyone is saying. The little bit we know about the plan doesn't create much excitement because it doesn't make sense unless we forget years of the narrative. It's hard to understand how they ever thought this would be acceptable to a large portion of the viewers, but here we are and DS and the writers are certainly preparing us for an ending that does not show the progress in this journey. We are much further back that we were at S1, and that is disheartening.
62 - Mikey
I was not happy with season 7 at all. I think the best way to make season 8 good would be to have the dean of medicine be Dr. Cameron. I realized she was what made House good. She had this wierd relationship/connection with him, and was the only person to tell him no. She would be the best dean. That one episode where she was dean was awesome.
63 - neverending0410
As far as a new Dean, what if Vogler were to re-appear and step into that spot?
64 - Ben
@Mikey Jennifer Morrison is now in a critically acclaimed new show. It's very unlikely they will revsit any of Cameron's storyline and as an actress she would be taking a step back to return to House rather than stick with this new show. I wish her success. She deserves it.
65 - Ben
@neverending0410 Vogler didn't have a medical license, so although he could do the Administrator role, he could not be the DoM. At least that's the real life argument. If the writers choose to continue on this route of perposterous storylines, he could return. However, being fully in that role, it's unlikely he'd ever hire House back at the hospital, so they'd have to REALLY distort the past and the character to make it work. They did that in S7 and it didn't work well. I hope they won't go that route.
66 - 08joanna
"Moving On" was certainly a divisive episode. Some people loved it (it's currently near the top in the TWOP episode ranking game, for instance), and some hated it. At first, I was one of the haters, and then I rewatched it a couple of times and completely changed my opinion. It starts out with House really trying to change, trying to close things with Cuddy on a mature, positive note (returning her possessions), and listening to his doctor for a change (i.e., staying in bed after his surgery -- at least for the first part of the episode). Even after his disastrous lunch with Cuddy, when he's feeling awful, he goes to her house and calmly walks up to the door to return the brush. It all goes terribly wrong when he sees her inside on a double date, after she'd just told him earlier that day that she wasn't seeing anyone. The lead-up to the crash is more and more understandable and believable on repeated viewings. I still think what he did was horrible, of course, but I no longer think it was out of character, and I don't think it makes him irredeemable. So, I'm eagerly looking forward to Season 8, to see how he'll fare in prison, how they'll explain how he got there (I'm betting he voluntarily turned himself in after a few days of thinking about what he'd done), and how he returns to PPTH. The new characters sound interesting, and I don't think I'll miss Cuddy at all, as the writers had turned her into a very unlikeable character at the end of Season 7. As for the new dean, I think either Foreman or Chase could work, but not Wilson.
67 - housemaniac
Kaliera #60: I enjoyed your comments but I really don't think House's act can be considered domestic violence. In fact, I don't think the law would see it that way. Domicile violence, perhaps. The issues for his medical practice seem to me to be: 1) the crime; 2) the drug addiction; 3) the other erratic, irresponsible and criminal behavior he has been known to engage in. The only new dimenson here is 1. Lots of doctors are (or at least used to be) drug addicts. Freud, for one. I would say the illegalities of various sorts are the hurdles. And here, yes, we may have a little suspension of disbelief or a lot of hoops for House to jum through, or both. Could be interesting, though I do not think, as I said before, the writers should dwell too much on getting House back into practicing medicine somehow. If nothing else, House has always been unorthodox. Nor has he ever irreparably harmed a patient. That's the most important thing for any doctor, and all too rare.
My two cents on the most popular topic on this thread: Foreman will be dean.
68 - ann uk
Re H.L.'s salary. Can anyone imagine any other actor bringing the essential subtlety and complexity needed to make a character like House believable?Or sustaining such a way out drama over eight years? David Shore has said himself that H.L. made the show work.
I think the writers faced a dilemma with the House/Cuddy relationship. If it worked it would destroy the vital tension between them and if it was going to fail it could not simply fade away- it had to end with a bang.
House has always had the potential
for violent emotion. He fears it and supresses it.I dont say what he did was excusable but it is understandable. Remember he had brought himself to the point of taking the blame for the breakdown and Cuddy's turning to another man is almost cold-bloodedly practical. House feels betrayed and belittled and his long-tried self control finally snaps.
I dont know what will become of him now but I cant wait to find out.
69 - Too Funny
#67 and #68: Who could get through the day without at least one rationalization? Especially if he has big blue eyes.
70 - Bill
I agree completely with those who have said last season's finale permanently altered the main character of this show, and not in a good way. Among others, House could have killed Cuddy's young daughter. The writers and producers know they made a mistake and have been doing damage control by claiming House knew no one would get hurt seriously injured. That is so ridiculous it's humorous.
I won't be watching what should be the final season of what has been a great series, simply because I no longer have any interest in what happens to Hugh Laurie's character.
71 - Too Funny
#70 Yet you come here to comment on a show you are no longer going to watch?? You silly fan-girls make me laugh by using male names to try and hide yourselves!
72 - Anne
After the comments regarding the way the script read, I'm actually convinced the stage direction did suggest this would be more comic than dramatic, however the topic itself, along with faulty execution caused this to be so tragic. The intent was not to destroy the character, or degrade him to this level, but unfortunately that is exactly what happened. It was classic tunnel vision, failing to see the forrest for the trees. Perhaps it's because they are tired, or have other interests, or just lost their mojo, but the loss of dignity in this character has been a tragic casualty. A lot of people are feeling this loss - even after multiple viewings. Understanding the metaphor does not change the overall message and impact for many of us. I hope they do find a way to fix this in S8.
73 - Sam
68 @Ann UK I think the kind of thinking that limited them to only those two outcomes for Huddy is what got them into the mess. They didn't think inside the story, within the relationship, they just anticipated two outcomes. Exploration is much more than that. If they had actually explored the issues of House within the relationship, the break-up would/could have been received better. TPTB have even admitted they knew the dysfunction was working and so they created shallow challenges for the couple. They also admitted Huddy could only break-up if they established an issue inside Cuddy that didn't really involve House. In my opinion, they failed, but after admitting that, it's obvious they saw more than these two options. They chose the route that would require a lot of manipulation of characters and cannon to make it work. In the end, that choice is what hurt them the most. In the past they showed more courage and creativity. The fears behind this storyline robbed them of what was most needed for it to work. In the end, the "only" way they could see to truly end this was with violence, thus damaging House in the minds of a large part of the audience. It was all very limiting in their direction. There were many, many directions that could have gone. The one the chose hurt them the most. Sad, but true. Besides, They say they like pill-popping House who wants to be alone best. So, they chose the route that would get them to that point with as little exploration as possible. Totally unworthy of their gifts and talents. The S8 DoM quest sounds like more of the same.
74 - Too Funny
Oh, I beg your paaaaardon, Too Funny #71. You stole my nom de plume and chastised another under my auspices. I'm scandalized! In future, please have the courtesy to bad-mouth others using your own anonymous sobriquet. Respectfully Yours, "Too Funny #69."
@Anne #72: There may be some truth behind your statement that the penultimate scene might have been meant to be "more comic than dramatic." Its just too bad that David Shore is the only one laughing. But you do make a good point and I can certainly follow your reasoning.
75 - Dr Dreadful
To the author of comment #71:
As one of the site's comments editors, I refer you to the Blogcritics comments policy, which states that it is grounds for immediate banning to post using another commenter's name. If I am forced to do this, I doubt you will find it Too Funny.
Final warning.