The degree to which House tries to minimize his leg is obvious when when we see him alone in his apartment. His gait is slower and his limp more exaggerated away from the potentially pitying eyes at the hospital. And, being tripped, intentionally and smugly as Tritter does, must be particularly humiliating to House in the aftermath of the returning pain, and in the aftermath of the shooting.
So, should House have left the thermometer in Tritter's butt? I get that it was nasty; but the jerk probably deserved it, to an extent, at least. What was House supposed to do? House has by now concluded that Tritter is a bully. (Who else would trip someone with an obvious physical disability?) And, in House's mind, what he did was a reasonable response; it wasn't harmful, not really painful. Agreed. It was slightly humiliating and cost Tritter more time in the clinic. Understand, I do not believe that what House did was appropriate, and I'm not justifying House's actions. But from House's perspective, it probably put them even.
Afterward Cuddy forces House to apologize to Tritter, and House spends some effort avoiding a face-to-face with the detective. But when he finally does confront him, House is far from repentant, understanding that neither of them would actually be sincere, so why bother with social niceties? But it is not actually an apology that Tritter seeks, anyway. That was made clear by Tritter himself. No. Tritter's goal is to humiliate and humble him — destroy him if he can. And Tritter, channeling a bit of Inspector Javert (Jean Valjean's pursuer in Les Miserables), sets about to do just that — systematically and relentlessly over the course of this and the following six episodes.
Tritter clearly doesn’t like “wise guys." He’s probably seen his fair share of smart-ass, arrogant professors, doctors, and other Princeton types, who (from Tritter's point of view) look down their noses at a lowly cop. And maybe House's attitude became the straw that broke that camel’s back. By bringing House down, making an example of him, Tritter is going to teach a lesson to them all.
Speeding home on his motorbike at the end of "Fools for Love," House is pulled over for going 40 mph in a 25 mph zone. House is not surprised that it is Tritter who has stopped him, and initially views it as Tritter's lame attempt at payback: a weak bit of revenge. "Fine. Okay. You got me; give me the ticket," reads House's expression. But House, being House, needs to push back. (The man has simply no sense of self-preservation.) He has to be sarcastic about it.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
The Tritter arc is what finally separate my wife and I in our opinions of the show. I loved it, seeing Tritter as the first worthy opponent for House, the first arch-nemesis who actually had the power and the don't-give-a-crap to destroy House. My wife hates it, apparently because she saw the same thing!
2 - Barbara Barnett
I agree with you Phillip that Vogler pales in comparison to Tritter for pure menace. He got to House where it affects him the most: his pain and his meds. I think David Morse's quiet menace was effective.
Some people seemed not to like the arc because they thought the legal stuff was not believable. Not being a lawyer, I didn't care one way or the other. I was mesmerized watching House's slow spiral--then swandive into his own personal hell.
3 - Ann
Barbara, I liked the Tritter arc for what we learned about House. These are some of the most gut wrenching episodes. The episodes full of angst are my favorites to watch. I have one trivial question to ask. Since House only has one "friend", who do you suppose called him on his cell to tell him his apartment was being searched?? As always, I enjoyed your review.
4 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks, Ann.
Like you, I love the angst-filled "serious" episodes. Makes sense, since I watch House for the character's story and journey, and since House uses humor to hide, the "lighter, funnier" episodes tend not to be as revelatory (although enjoyable nonetheless).
I think it might have been his landlord...maybe a neighbor who tipped him off. Could even be his cleaning service (which he has to have--his flat is pretty neat for all those books, and House is neither physically capable of that much housecleaning, nor would I think he's "neatly" inclined.
So, that's my take. Who do you think it was?
5 - ann uk
dear Babara, thanks for the analysis of the Tritter arc. It is sometime since I watched season 3, but as I remember it was powerful stuff and I recall how shocked I was when Wilson walked away, leaving the unconscious House to live or die.I think I was disappointed in the end of the arc. Neither Wilson nor Cuddy recognised that their amateur psychologising and manipulation had done House serious harm, both practically and emotionally, as they do in your fanfiction( which I have only just discovered).
This means that the House/Wilson/Cuddy love ,hate relationship has not moved on or changed and I think it needs to.
I lok forward to your surprise, I suppose you couldn't grant my two top wishes 1) a film of The Gun Seller, directed by Bryan Singer with HL as Thomas Lang 2) for HL to finish Paper Soldier before I expire from impatience.?
6 - Barbara Barnett
Ann--There's a scene in Merry Little Christmas that pretty much sums up the isolation House feels--backed into a corner, alone and with no one really understanding him. House makes a phone call to his mother. It's not Wilson; not Cuddy or anyone else. He needs to hear his mother's voice--maybe to even say "goodbye". It's a powerful scene. Probably the most powerful scene of the entire arc (if not the series). Hugh's voice alone tells the amount of emotional pain House must be in at that low point. It's almost voyeuristic to watch, but impossible to drag away you eyes.
I will reveal the surprise in my next column (later this week)--it has to do with season finale, sort of--no spoilers though.
7 - Ann
Who do I think it was? For a long time I thought it was Chase. House sent him away and he was MIA. I was waiting for a reveal as the arc continued, but it never materialized. You're probably right about a neighbor or his landlord. I just thought he sounded like he was speaking to someone he was really familiar with. I don't read too much into things, HA!! I agree whole heartedly about House's phone call to his mother being one of the most powerful of the series. I can't wait for your surprise! Either of ann uk's two wishes would work nicely for me, too!
8 - Mary
When I was first watching this arc on DVD, one thing I noticed was that Tritter seems to be even more socially isolated than House himself. We never see him interacting with any colleagues, except for the ones who help him go through House's belongings to collect all those Vicodin. Even after House's near-death experience, when he goes to turn himself in and take the deal, Tritter is sitting alone in his office...on Christmas Eve.
The quiet menance which David Morse brought to his performance was memorable (and, according to an article a few weeks ago in the N.Y. "Times," apparently Mr. Morse, like Chi McBride, is still getting dark looks from "House M.D." fans who don't like what "he" did to our beloved Greg.) But overall Tritter did not strike me as being as much interested in justice for the individual as obsessed with getting personal revenge.
9 - Barbara Barnett
I agree with you, Mary about Morse's menace. It's strange watching him now as George Washington in the John Adams series, which is currently airing on HBO.
Check back later today, by the way, for a little bit of House news.
He was even more isolated, obsessed--and clearly not interested in justice. One has to wonder who it was in Tritter's life whose life was ruined or ended by drug abuse. Maybe a doctor was the cause
10 - Clarice
Barbara, you focused in with laser-like precision on my favorite scene in all four seasons of House: the Christmas phone call from House to his mother. If I had a wish it would be another visit by House's parents. I played the cafeteria conversation over-and-over again on DVD. I find House's silence in face of his father's comments (seemingly in deference to his mom)very revealing. I would love for them to visit again.
An excellent review of the Tritter arc. Tritter does appear more socially isolated that House. One reason may be that, for all his sarcasm, House really seems to like interacting with a number of people and a number of people care about him.
11 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks Clarice. That phone call scene is one of the most achingly painful scenes to witness in the entire series. This is House with his entire support system cut off. It's brilliantly acted, with barely a word of dialogue.
Looking forward to the two part finale, which promises to perhaps give us more very memorable scenes.