No one could have prevented Kutner's suicide, but should his colleagues have seen House's crash coming?
The final shot of season five left me with a lump in my throat as Dr. Gregory House disappears into Mayfield Psychiatric Hospital. It’s a bleak finish to a mostly downbeat season. And it's the final shot of a season that should (if there is any justice in the Emmy world) win Hugh Laurie his long-deserved Best Dramatic Actor award. (But more about that in my next article.)…
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26 - Barbara S Barnett
Amy, welcome! Keep coming back and pass the word!
JL--I've like many of the patients this season: the emancipated teen, the priest, the agorpophbic guy (despite the fact that he was whiny), several others.
Anyway, point taken, and I'm glad you're back to enjoying the show. I can't wait for next season (although before it starts, some real life things will come and go, that cause me to want the summer to go slowly. So...
27 - savta
Anne - I think the way the cane is being used has much more to do with the physical impact ongoing use has had on Hugh Laurie's shoulder than House's quirkiness. In an interview I saw, HL made mention of his sore shoulder at one point. Since then I have noticed fewer camera shots of him when the cane actually hits the floor and reverberates back to the shoulder. It appears that he is leaning on the cane as he walks but I don't think he really is. I think it is being used as a prop.
28 - Barbara S Barnett
House has always used the cane on the right side. The shoulder issues (If I recall correctly) occurred at the end of the first season. Hugh happily had episodes from "no Reason" through "Cane and Able" to put the thing away. He absolutely also uses it as a prop. And always has. But you may be right savta (love your nickname, btw)
29 - Sue
Barbara, you made this season sound sensational. I found it to be a mixed bag-some high points and a lot of low ones. You did not say much about 13's screen time and story line-a big miss from my vantage point. Anything that takes the focus off of House is a detriment to the show and the character. I did not like House and the way he was written and portrayed during the 13-14 run. House was very flat in affect, and I found him boring compared to the House of earlier seasons and to the House of the end of the season. House's story did not advance very much during the first part of the season. Because there was not as much affect in House during this time, he seemed to be in limbo for too long. House is best when he shows a range of emotions, expressions and characterizations. That is how we get perspective on what he is thinking. With no clinic scenes, we got no humor and we did not get the attitude that accompanies the funny moments. It truly was a waste of an incredible actor. I found it hard to believe House was going through all those different emotions during the first half of the seasons because House experiences the highs and lows by his expressions, facial, bodily and vocal. We got so little variation in any of that I found it hard to get any perspective on what was going on with him.
I thought the drug trial story line was absolutely boring. It did not belong on this show. I can't imagine who thought Olivia Wilde was such a great actress she warranted so much screen time. They made Foreman so boring, the two of them together just hurt the show a lot.
I have a hard time remembering a lot of the episodes in the mid part of the season, especially during the drug trial. House was not remarkable until painless, when he started to be more demonstrative.
The season really picked up with Here Kitty. We got back a lot of humor. House became fully dimensional again. I was beginning to think we would never see that again. Foreman came to life, Taub and 13 fell into the background (except for boring Taub's mid-life crisis), and Huddy got interesting. I believe Fox stepped in and brought the show back to life.
I did not like how Cuddy was portrayed in some episodes this sesason. The trip wire thing was just stupid. She became a blithering idiot at times. The romance was dragged on too long. It burned out before it got good, then they were able to revive it.
I liked the way they handled the last two episodes, but I never liked Amber's return. To me, this was a lazy way of showing what was going on in House's head. Many other shows used dead characters this season. It ruined the memory of Amber and Anne Dudek's incredible death scene. It was a cheap trick to bring back a once-popular character for ratings. Because the focus kept switching back and forth between Amber and House, it was difficult to attribute all that was happening to House, not Amber and House.
As always, Robert Sean Leonard was fabulous this season. I don't think the man has delivered a less than stellar line the whole series.
To sum up, this season could have been a lot better. I think TPTB dropped a lot of balls this season. They were able to rescue it in the end. I hope they have learned some valuable lessons this season, and they won't repeat them again.
30 - Barbara S Barnett
Hi Sue--the article wasn't a season five review per se. It was a backwards look at House's struggles. I agree the series had some weak moments, but by far (at least in my humblest of opinions) the good very much outweighed the bad.
I'm actually finding that looking back as a whole, even the focus on "14" fades back a bit in context. I do think it was unbalanced in that regard.
We did get some very funny clinic moments, and some poignant ones.
I think Chase hit his stride this season as a real counterpoint to House's rationality with his own rationality and cynicism (in a different presentation) and Foreman got his comeupance.
The House we experienced this year was a mentor to several of his staff, saving their careers and letting Foreman fly on his own (and giving him the shove he needed to do it and get the chip off his shoulder).
I think the series kicked into high gear way before "Here's Kitty" with strong several very strong episodes in the early days of the season.
I'm actually going back through season two, which had some extraordinarily good entries in it, but looking at it as a whole (which is what I'm doing) I think that season had much weakness--especially in the first third.
31 - Val
Barbara, a great look back. Thanks!
I agree that it was quite a cohesive season from beginning to end. The reminder of the three things he said on the bus to Amber was great; they seem to really have touched on all those points and have House hit on all of them. What a journey he's been on! But, I think leaving us with a lot more questions.
I always "re-read" House in August right before I receive the new season on DVD(already pre-ordered)so I don't have my full view yet, but re-watching episodes I thought that even the lower points (13/14, Cuddy's games, etc) can be defended and find their place in this season. Though it was a big long and too much of a focus at one point, 13 faces a situation and condition just as difficult and debilitating as House's (if not more in some respects). Looking at the arc from this point made it a bit more bearable. IMO, House's intense interest on 14 was due to his growing realisation of his feelings for Cuddy; another parallel. He could have easily been considering himself when he gave the advice to Foreman about doing crazy or stupid things for love, for example.
"Locked In" was also an episode that included the discussion and theme of God and coincidences. Like the priest, Mos Def's character felt that it was more than mere coincedence that House was in the ER that same time he was. The beach scenes were exquisite! The question/mystery of his blurred vision at the end of that episode still remains. Was it the beginning of his mind's games or a metaphorical directing technique for our benefit? I'm still not quite sure. With all that House had going on emotionally this season, I think it was a pretty real portrayal that he seemed flat or even uninterested in the patients/work this season.
Finally, I think the last thing House said on the bus was a main theme this season. "I don't want him (Wilson) to hate me"...remember Amber said "you can't always get what you want..."; he sure didn't. Wilson's blow hit him right in the beginning of the season. As DE seems to write some the most memorable House/Wilson scenes and episodes, I thought "Both Sides Now" couldn't have ended w/o Wilson dropping him off. I love RSL and hope to have some wonderful scenes next season from Wilson (and everyone).
32 - ripzu
Excellent review by Barbara and comments- am always impressed by the fine analysis and writing inspired by House MD.
I could see the breakdown coming, especially in the last three episodes of the season- found a few of the earlier episodes too soapy- but the finale was tight and fitting. Re the comments about House being a procedural, David Shore made it clear it is not. Therefore, the show can go from character study to medical study quite effectively. IMO, this adds to its diversity and creativity with some viewers prefering different some story lines to others.
I am anxiously awaiting season 6- hoping to see a deep analysis of House at Mayfield.
33 - bibliotekar
Love your review of season 5. House is so devastated by the fact that he couldn't save Amber or Kutner, that he has decided he needs to do something to get his mind back! Also, have been reading Of Cabbages and Kings, and am enjoying it very much.
Keep up the great insight into House the program and the character.
Barb
34 - marie
wow!!! brilliant as ever Barbara, looking back I saw all these subtle differences in House , but didnt tie them all together as they were unfolding into what became his ultimate demise in "both sides now ", what fantastic writing from the House team , a lot of the episodes last season showed slight differences in House that was noticable but not too profound as they stood alone , but linked together with the forsight of all 24 was a real special and definatve breakdown of Greg House the genius diagnostician , and without sounding boring .... absolutely stunning performances from Hugh Laurie as always , the guy is well overdue an Emmy , please god he gets one this year , thank you Barbara for a fabulous interwoven web of House , look foreward to your next view of past present or future House , the weather is fantastic over here at the moment Barbara , the offer still stands for a Housethon , LOL ,have agreat summer xx Marie
35 - Michael
Great summation..Thanks, Barbara.
I think most of the view is great and so exciting,I just wanna tell you,not only in US,there are so many House's fans in China,we all like watching this show,of course can't wait for the coming season..
and at last,truly hope Hugh Laurie can win the Emmy this time,and Thanks again, Barbara,Great work..I will keep on with your blog.
Best wishes from China :)
36 - wackjob
Barbara, I'm coming very late to the party, but as always, a spectacularly insightful and intelligent re-viewing. (I use that non-word because it isn't a review, more of a reflection.) You tied the disparate strands together perfectly, making the season more cohesive for me than it was at the time I was watching it.
I missed some of the mid-season episodes (such as "The Itch") and saw them later, including the one where Kutner sets up the online clinic and House gets Cuddy her old medical school desk. The dynamic between House and Chase has grown tremendously. The two actors always had rapport, but the way Chase's character has been developed as House's peer rather than employee is marvelous and enriches the series as a whole. And what can I say about House/Wilson except to smile?
The death of his father would be an ENORMOUS blow. As a person who had an abusive father, I know that death does not resolve anything. In fact, it leaves you even more puzzled. And don't forget, in House's childhood, he lived with a military man,and they moved constantly (Egypt, etc.). A miserable, highly intelligent child with no real opportunity to put down roots and make friends, probably living in fear of his father, would only survive by being a) incredibly resilient b) shutting down emotionally c)finding something to cling to, i.e. his brilliant gift. To paraphrase what you wrote above, to lose that is to lose himself.
Personally, I am hoping that the character of John House is somehow explored in Season 6, in the amazing ways the writers can make the unreal real in so many ways.
37 - Visitkarte
Eve_K wrote:
"nc - it has not been profoundly established that House is a victim of abuse. There was some hints in ODOR. He had a tough "father". But in Birthmarks the abuse theme was toned down, I think. House said that there was a reason for John House to treat him this immature way, he told him at the age of twelve that he had found out that was not his real father.
I guess that lead to estrangement on both parts. John House was not a very good person, but not that different from the men of that time and age. The lack of love and the lack of clearing the air could not have been a good thing, though. But abuse?
People who have really been abused (physically or sexually) have been through much worse traumas and incidents. It is not everyone who has a "Housian personality" who has been abused. That is dangerous to assume, and could lead to wrongly accusations of abuse."
Sorry to say that, but bathing a child in ice, letting it sleep outside, withholding food if a child came only a minute too late IS abuse. Only because there is higher degree of abuse out there doesn't mean the abuse House suffered is less damaging. Besides, House insinuates more when he tells that his father never tolerated any lies or anything above perfect and never allowed any meaning but his own. How do you think he found that out?
Insinuating that House maybe 'deserved' this abuse because he confronted his father with the fact that he wasn't his son is just a no-go. First of all, his father surely didn't start acting completely different than before when House turned 12. No way. Besides, why did House feel the need to look around if there was a better father somewhere out there? Loved children hardly go and seek for a better father.
Second, nothing gives the right to the parent, blood related or not, to lash out like that, even if they felt hurt.
Eve_K wrote:
"And to se everything that happens/happened in Houses head in that light (of abuse) is not the key to understand the show."
I agree that the past abuse is not the key to Houses personality, but it's a very important part of the jigsaw called House's character. Every man is different, so everybody reacts the different way to bad experiences. BUT it only means that there are exceptions to the rule, one way or another. It doesn't prove you were right or wrong with your assumption.
Of course, the fatal error that cost him so much, the betrayal of Stacy disregarding his clearly stated wish to forgo surgery didn't help make him a nicer man. But, I adore Barbara for showing the countdown leading to Houses final crash.
Dear Barbara. I adore the way how you analyze the show and point the right markers of the acute crash. Some of it I also tried to communicate, some connections you made were very elating to read, because I didn't see all of them. So, even if there were some weak points in this season, it remains my very favorite season until now. For all the reasons you already stated and I don't feel the need to repeat. Thank you for writing them down.
38 - Visitkarte
Sorry, my computer went crazy... Could you remove the two 'extra"-comments?
39 - Eve K
Visitkarte - My point in not focusing solely on "abuse", is that I think that takes away the focus on a lot of other intriguing reasons for Houses breakdown. And a LOT of his personality is not something that needs to be "fixed", and since House now is the biggest TV-show in the world, I hope that people who reminds us of House, dont automatically gets "diagnosed" with abuse. I dont think the hallucinations and the delusions necessarily has to have a reason from the childhood. Modern therapy has left that assumption. Substance abuse plus stress is more likely, were his fathers death may play a role.
I think that a human personality is something you are born with, for the most. Just look at how different siblings are, and how different they can remember their childhood. Greg House was an only child, and a special gifted one. And I guess he was also wonerable, and quickly learned to deal with that. He seems to have got really bad parents in combination with his natural personality (Not his fault that his father was an ass!! ). Maybe his real father would instinctively have understood him better, being more genetically like him. Im not apologizing for John Houses behaviour. But I'm getting tired of all the people out there going into therapy blaming all their troubles on their parents. Confronting them, blaming them, with their therapists help. They can end up estranging all their family and friends, and - shockingly - not getting any better anyway. I've known people who has gone through psychoanalyses for years, and still has not changed ore gotten better. More selfish maybe...
And there is no getting past that a special gifted child can be more of a task to raise. And that parents often do a lot of extra work with such children. Also a reason that they should not be "blamed" for their children later on. But a lot of parents dont deal well with it, and that has to be taken seriously to.
One very well reflected thing House said in his fathers funeral,was something like this:
If a mark of a man is how he treated the people he had power over, my father failed.
But I dont think all of Houses troubles is because of his father.
Maybe mr. Laurie has something to say about the writing to come, being familiar to therapy himself. But I hope they dont go to far in the abuse area.
PS. Sorry for my English. (-:
40 - Visitkarte
Eve K
Houses breakdown has little to nothing to do with his childhood and his abuse at the hands of his father: I couldn't agree more with that. I actually wrote essentially the same thing: "I agree that the past abuse is not the key to Houses personality, but it's a very important part of the jigsaw called House's character." I also abhor the tendency to blame every problem in life on one's parents, because it's not nearly close to truth. BUT I think it's very wrong to try and deny he's been abused, because he has.
BUT: Houses little friends circle has a lot to do with his constantly moving around when he was adolescent boy and a growing man. His non-willingness to show his feelings for other people to see have a lot to do with having an abusive and military type of a father.
On the other side, I agree with you that his recent breakdown is a mixture of the devastating losses he suffered in a very short time span: First Amber, who he wasn't able to save (actually, nobody could have been able to save, even if treated much sooner), the DBS after his heavy scull injury and as a result two near-death-experiences, the loss of Wilson, the death of his father (I can't put that better in words than Barbara already did), the kidnapping fiasco and his almost fatal decision to give the lunatic his gun back, almost getting 13 killed in the process, Kutner's suicide and his own unwillingness to even admit his loss, let alone grieve as he needed to... All that, on the top of the steadily increasing pain (and the terribly wrong way how Cuddy and Wilson handled his Methadone-Experiment), his increasing load on Vicodin as a direct result of these disasters...
All of it together is enough to push anyone over the brink into the rabbit hole, let alone House, who, as the most geniuses, tatters on the brink of madness anyway.
The previews of the Episode 6x1 look very promising. I can hardly wait to see the master peace in making (or even maybe already finished piece). I know they finished the filming of it, but the cutting will do a lot to make a brilliant 'mini-movie' out of the hopefully great book and acting.