This Monday night’s House, M.D. ("Bombshells") is a break-the-formula episode, something the series has been very successful at doing for nearly seven seasons. Beginning back in season one with “Three Stories,” House has used flashbacks, non-linear storytelling and dream/hallucination sequences to shake up the story and give it new dimensions and unfamiliar textures while delving into the minds of its characters—but mostly
House’s (Hugh Laurie) “rat maze” of a mind.
“Bombshells” finds Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) dealing with a potentially serious health crisis, providing the opportunity this time to dive into her subconscious at a critical juncture in her relationship with House. “The story picks up immediately after the end of the last episode ('Recession Proof')," according to.jpg)
Edelstein. She and and executive producer/director Greg Yaitanes (who directed “Bombshells”) met with entertainment writers Friday afternoon to discuss the forthcoming episode. If you recall, “Recession Proof” ends with a drunk House professing his undying love—but at the same time, he discloses that his love for Cuddy provides such a distraction that it might destroy his genius for medicine.
At the start of the episode, Cuddy is shaken to discover blood in her urine. As Dean Cuddy becomes Patient Cuddy, going through procedures and treatments, she takes a hard look at her priorities and relationships through a series of surreal dreams. Because dreams can sneak past our usual filtering mechanisms, they can make for an effective (and visually stunning) narrative device to explore our deepest fantasies and our darkest fears. But because dreams can be surreal and fun, they also make great tension-breakers from what will undoubtedly be an incredibly intense episode.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Lurker
Is this Cuddy, MD or House, MD? The shift from House to Cuddy is boring.
2 - barbara barnett
Not sure what you mean. The show has ALWAYS been about House. Still is. Always will be!
3 - Cleo
Thanks Barbara. This is gonna be epic. I´ve been waiting for this episode for ages.
4 - MusicandHouse
Thanks Barbara. I read some of the transposed twitter chat, but your article is a much more well organized format for all the information! I have been waiting so long fir this episode, and I will admit when I first heard about it, I was a little scared (I origionally though the whole 42 minute episode was going to be hallucinations) but now I am quite excited. I've seen the '50s clip and it was great, but I've stayed away from all other clips becuase I want to wait until Monday (but its not easy!) I just hope that after all of these dreams Cuddy realizes the good in her relationship with House and not the bad which could result in a break up :(
I know Ausiello has seen this episode and speaks highly of it, but I was honestly hoping that you would get to see a screener and give your take on it (your much more open and honest because Ausiello is being paid by TPTB to talk it up) but I guess I will have to wait for Monday!
One little quip: There is a 1950's style segment and a Two and a Half Men type segment. What you wrote made it sound as though the two ideas are somehow combined.
5 - Flo
I must say I'm curious about the episode. It can be really good, really original and deep in a beautiful way or it can turn out as a complete disaster. It's a risk that the House crew and TPTB are always willing to take and it is one of the things that make this show so good.
It also makes me think of "The X-Files". Perhaps it is because I'm just a huge fan of this show (even if the last seasons weren't good) but it makes me think of a particular quotation.
Mulder said once that he heard that "dreams were answers to questions we didn't know how to ask". I like that idea and it seems that the episode will be a little like that. The idea that dreams are a mirror of our fears and questions in life. Also maybe a place where we confront those in a totally straightforward new manner, possibly getting answers to questions we didn't even dare to ask ourselves.
I don't know if it will be as mind-blowing as Greg Yaitanes and Lisa Edelstein said it is but it sure will be interesting.
6 - barbara barnett
MusicandHouse: that's my impression--that the '50s sitcom is Two and a Half Men re-visioned. I wish I'd had a screener too. I'm out Monday night this week and won't get to see the show till late. When I get a screener I can watch early and pre-write (and put a hold on the article till the West Coast airs). But I can't do that this time.
Flo--House, the show is filled with Jungian ideas. So many of the episodes let us into House's mindscape to dig for answers. I think it was the episode Top Secret in season three that really hit that home for me. You referred to my favorite XF episode ever "Paper Hearts." You get 10 gold stars. It was the first episode I saw and got me completely hooked on the show and Mulder's journey!
7 - Brandi
I totally agree with Lurker. House has become The Cuddy Show this year, and it has ruined the series. I was in favor of the House and Cuddy relationship before it happened, but it has been done so badly and taken over the show, which has just become a poor soap now. The upcoming episode looks stupid. Why not have a special with the cast and do comedy and vignettes of whatever rather than wasting show time with it. The writing this year sucks big time. Cuddy is not an interesting character and we had her in 5 to 9 and then Family Practice not to mention as a big part of many other episodes. House has lost his multidimensional dynamic and just become a background or auxiliary character in his own show. Really sad about what is going on.
8 - barbara barnett
Brandi. Let's agree to disagree and move along.
9 - Brandi
It would be nice if the show moved along and got back on track as HOUSE the show and HOUSE the character. The show needs a complete behind the scenes shake up.
10 - barbara barnett
Brandi. Again, your opinion. House is as much in character now as he always has been. I have no real issue with the show using dreamscapes to explore the characters and situations--especially since they're so bottled up to begin with.
Dreams/Hallucinations have been used in No Reason, Top Secret, House's Head, Wilson's Heart, House Divided, Under My Skin, Both Sides Now...
The dreams are usually surreal and funny, but hung between some of the most intense moments in the series history. House's head featured Cuddy pole dancing. Everyone thought it was silly before the episode aired, but made complete sense in retrospect--in on of the series absolutely best episodes.
11 - Delaney
I love this show..... I love the writing...... its genius!!!
In my opinion, I hate reading when people comment in a negative way about the writers because it is an extremely difficult task to brainstorm, storyboard a whole episode, then write words for people to say and keep is cohesive.
I am not a writer but the genius and creativity behind this show is just mind blowing.
THUMBS UP for HOUSE and ALL of season 7!!! Can't WAIT for the next episodes
12 - Flo
@Barbara, I didn't know you liked "Paper Hearts" so much (I love it too). "The X-Files" was such a great show. Mulder's quest but Scully's story. What a duo.
It is not the first time that House makes me think of "The X-Files". The whole 'Amber ghost thing' and Kutner reappearing in season 5 finale also made me think of a quotation. Scully saying to Mulder that she heard that "the Dead speak to us from their grave. That it is what conscious is". Mulder responding that it was interesting, that he never saw it that way.
It was interesting to me at that time because House hallucinated and saw dead people who made him realize in, a very conscious way, what he really wanted.
Plus you had all the inversion of man/woman usual charasteristics in a series which we previously had in "The X-Files".
Anyway, I don't know if my reference to this show will apply this time but your take on what Edelstein and Yaitanes said made me think of this quotation.
If I speak honestly it's another reason to watch this episode. I'm curious to see if I have a point on this! :-)
13 - Andrea
I love your reviews (or, in this case, previews)! You're fair and insightful, and your analysis is always very thorough and thought-provoking. Just one note: The 50s black and white dream and the Two and a Half Men sitcom dream are different. [edited]
Keep up the good work!
14 - Allyson
Has anyone considered the fact that some focus has shifted to Cuddy because she is such a big part of House's character now? It would be utterly stupid for House to be in a relationship and have us have no information about her or the way she feels about him. maybe all of this attention being paid to Cuddy will give us more insight to House as a character, and lead to a bigger plot development for him. Yes the show is House, but each character is written into the show for a reason, and somehow is linked back to something about House. Cuddy is no different.
It is easy to criticize a writer's/director's choice in the moment because it doesn't quite make sense, but when you look back on the storyline as a whole, things always seem to fall into place.
Just my two cents. I'm going to skip off into the sunset to write my abnormal psychology paper on House now. ^_^
(no, for real, I really am. haha)
15 - MusicandHouse
Oh I misunderstood what you said re" 50's sitcom and Two and a Half Men skits, because there are two different ones with those themes. Too bad you won't get to watch the episode live, that must be killing you. It would kill me with a "normal" episode let alone this episode that has been buzzed about like crazy. I agree with FLO that this could be the greatest episode ever or the greatest catastrophe ever, but I am still looking foward to it immensly. I think the episode is leaning more towards the "Great" side for me now that I know that a.) There are "normal" elements such as a POTW and b.) The dreams are not consuming the episode like I thought it would, they are all about 2-5 minutes each so they are only a portion of the episode, although based on what I have seen they will be insightful and important.
16 - Sdemar
Thank you for your review of "bombshells". Weird that Ausiello got the exclusive on this. I am very excited to see how this plays out and just as excited to see Hugh and Lisa dance and sing. With GY playing the director, I am sure it is going to be well done.
For the record, I love the way they are playing out the House and Cuddy storyline. They have stayed true to the characters and they give us just enough to show us where they are at in their relationship. I am rooting for them.
17 - Tia
Great review as always, Barbara. Really looking forward to this episode since we have not only a break from the typical format, but an episode that reveals deeper levels of the characters. I've always loved both of those sorts of episodes on this show. Any chance of getting an interview with Sara Hess and Liz Friedman on this episode?
18 - Lisa
You are still pleased with this HouddyMD soap because you are huddy yourself.
19 - Jane 2
Thanks for the great article! Following the tweets of the conference call and trying to piece it together for myself made me appreciate just how hard it is to combine the whole package into a coherent whole. I am so excited for this episode yet scared at the same time. The global promo's have me bracing for a sucker punch. Staying offline while I wait for the episode to air will be torture.
20 - Oo
I agree with Allyson, and House alone cannot make the show as interesting as it is without all the other characters...
21 - hazel eyes
I understand why the writers have dedicated season7 to Huddy and Cuddy because yes Cuddy is a big part of Houses life but when are they going to dedicate a whole season to Hilson/Wilson because he is a large part of Houses life too.
It seems as though the writers are hitting us over the head with How much House and Cuddy are in love and how they feel about each other in practicably every episode, but we don't really know how Wilson feels about House and visa versa.
22 - Veronica84
Pfffff, don't wanna watch Cuddy MD anymore. Where's Angst, where's sobriety, where's HOUSE???!???!???
I'm Hameron but I used to love Cuddy during first seasons.
I'm from Italy... First seasons: from 5.000.000 to 7.000.000 viewers... Now we are onnly 1.500.000/2.000.000(sometimes) and that's x CuddyMD!!!!!!
23 - sunnysea
Thank you Barbara for another great write up for this phone interview. I really like how the writers are showing us so much more about House through his relationship with Cuddy. This episode will be such a unique way to move the story forward. I'm really looking forward to watching!
24 - BigHousefan
Episodes like these are among my favorites because they usually give us more significant in sight into House's psyche. It is important that we learn more about Cuddy as everything reflects on House ultimately. That's what I love about this show. The deeper they dig, the more compelling the story of House. I find the 'relevant for what they don't say' comment by GY very telling.
25 - Maddie
Quit saying you don't want to watch the show and just... Don't. Seriously. No one has you locked in a chair with a gun to your head, MAKING you watch so you can whine and piss off all the people that actually might want to.
It isn't directed at anyone in particular, but rather to all the so-called 'fans' that lurk in every spoiler article, spreading their hatred and negativity. I'm sick of it.