At a press conference a couple of years ago, House, M.D star Hugh Laurie refers to a scene in Star Trek classic in which Captain Kirk looks out over the cosmos, saying ”somewhere out there someone is saying the three most beautiful words in any language.” But says, Laurie, those three words are not what you would expect. They’re not “I love you.” They are, Laurie recalls (though not completely accurately), “Please help me.” Laurie goes on to suggest that “House is a character in need of human contact and some kind of redemption.” That ‘please help me’ aspect I think is an important element in the show.”
“Help me.” A plea from a young woman on the beginning of a promising life; she has a new husband, the hopes of a family. She is crushed beneath a building, and trapped by a giant crane that toppled into the building, her leg wedged under tons of debris. Rescue is not imminent. It is also the title of the House, M.D. season six finale. And it is one of the series finest hours.
I keep saying that, it seems this season. Yes, season six had its problems; I know. But episodes like “Help Me,” “Baggage” (last week’s episode), and “Broken” stand right up there with House classics like “Three Stories,” “House’s Head” and “Both Sides Now.” .jpg)
At the end of last week’s “Baggage,” House's psychiatrist Dr. Daryl Nolan (Andre Braugher) hits a tender nerve when he suggests that House’s misery may have something to do with his non-relationship with his boss, Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein). House denies the connection, and deciding that he’s had it with Nolan and psychotherapy, he accuses his therapist of being a “faith healer,” preying on those (like him) who “want to believe.” He’s given it a year and nothing for him has changed; everyone around his has found happiness—are “moving in together.” He’s done everything Nolan has asked (which in itself is amazing for the cynical House)—and his is still (if not more) miserable.
“Help Me” begins where last week’s episode ends: with Dr. Ernest Cuddy’s medical text. House had been holding onto the antiquarian book for years, saving it to give Cuddy for a “special occasion.” Clearly, House believes the window of opportunity has passed for a special occasion they can share, and he gives it to her (and Lucas) wishing them success as they begin a “new chapter.” It’s a housewarming gift. Is this a signal that perhaps House understands it’s over and that he’s lost? Is it resignation? Is he trying still (even after giving up on Nolan’s help) to be grown up about it while trying to steer himself on a new path?
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - just4paws17
Wow! cannot wait! thanks for the intel...
2 - angelcat2865
Can't wait to see it. I know I won't be let down.
3 - Jaim
Barbara, since you've seen the finale sans the last five minutes, based on what you saw, how harsh is the rejection that House faces by Cuddy and do you think that they can come back from whatever is said? I know she does reject him, but I also heard that she says alot of other hurtful things besides the obvious romantic refusal. Based on what you saw do you think House will even feel the same about her next season since she is so callous in her speech? Furthermore, do you think the viewers will be able to forgive her for what is said? I know I for one haven't liked her character since the Thanksgiving episode and she's done very little to redeem herself in my eyes, will this be the final nail for some fans?
4 - barbara barnett
Jaim--without giving too much away, I think yes. But there are other things that happen in this episode that are way more difficult to deal with that only tangentially involve Cuddy.
5 - Jaim
Sorry, Barbara. I'm not completely certain what you are saying 'yes' to? I know I asked a lot of questions so some of the ambiguity may be my own fault. Do you think House will still want Cuddy next season based on how she treats him in this episode?
6 - barbara barnett
yes.
7 - Jaim
Thanks for answering me. Can't wait to see how this particular scene plays out. I'm cringing at what I know so far. Ultimately, I'm a Greg House fan and I hate seeing him kicked when he's down.
8 - Audrey
Can't wait to watch the season finale ! Your review is making me more impatient now :)
And most of all .. after reading all the spoilers I was so scared that this episode would killed 'Huddy', but after reading what you answered in the comments, I'm still scared, but a little relieved ;)
Sorry for my bad English ^^
9 - Quentin
Barbara, do you really think after watching this ep that cuddy and house are still in love?
or mainly that cuddy is in love with house, this season is so depressing for huddy fans.
10 - Sally
Quentin, sorry to tell you that, but House is in love with Lydia, did you not watch Lockdown?
Anyway, thanks for the review, Barbara. I'm not interested in Huddy at all, but I like House in doctor mode, so at least that's good news for me. I just wish the finale would involve everyone, including the team, not just Cuddy. But I guess they want it to be the "House and Cuddy show" now, ugh.
11 - Jones
Can't believe anyone is still watching this crap! Here's hoping it will get cancelled soon!
12 - Quentin
Sally, I watched "Baggage" and I don't believe Cuddy is just a consolation prize, if so, like Jones says : what a crap!
13 - Dominique
Is there anywhere left on the web where people can be actual fans without having others spoil the fun?
14 - Flo
I'm with Dominique on this. it's okay to not like this show, but don't spoil the fun. Other people like this show and still think it's great.
sally, I'm afraid you misunderstood the scene in "Lockdown" where House mention Lydia. I don't believe at all that it means he is in love with her.
I am a non-shipper who don't think that Cuddy changed so much this season.
I just wait for a great episode.
15 - Janine
I'm so excited for this episode, despite what some "fans" are saying about it on other sights (rehash of House's head becuse of the accident, to much "huddy", etc). I am not a shipper, and I agree with Flo that Cuddy hasn't changed all that much in character this season. She is just making herself happy for once. Sure, her happiness makes House sad, but she can not let House dictate how she lives her life. I feel that a lot of people who dislike her character this season thiks she should. As a non shipper though, I would still like to see the relationship that has been developed for years between those two characters play out. Hugh Laurie and Lisa E are some of the finest actors on television and always work great together. Honestly, I'm surprised non-huddys are not just as excited about this episode as Huddies are (I'm neither as I said above). I would imagine that non-huddies would be excited for the potential for the relatinship to end, which is heavily hinted at in the previews. I would think people on all sides would be intersted to see if a decision is made once and for all about the relationship. Oh well, even if people don't care about House and Cuddy, it seems as though the story of House and the patient is going to be really important and compelling. Its a shame, as I said before, that some people are going to miss this because they don't want to watch House and Cuddy.
@Quentin
I don't believe Cuddy is a consolation prize either. My question in this relationship lies in the fact of House relly loving Cuddy or loving the idea of being with her after all these years.
@Jones
You're entitled to your opinion, but why show up at a House fan sight to insult the show and its viewers? Perhaps if you gave some sort of reason for your thoughts I could respect them, but what you did was just rude.
@Barbara
Thanks for the great review and for answering te questions about House and Cuddy in the comments. I was already excited for the epsidoe based on previews and clips, but now I literally can't wait. Luckly there is a House marathon on today on USA (they're reairing Broken!!) that will distract me.
on kind of a side note,Anther thing that i has surprised me so far about this episode is the lack of advertising. Before the season premier, you could not watch a show o FOX without seeing the commmercial at least twice. There were also commercials in magazines and on the raido. As a result the episode has one of the highest viewerships for the show since season three. Now that the ratings are down, it seems like there is no advertising, a problem that began before lockdown when the ratings drop started. Sure, these things like the return of JM in lockdown and the clips for the finale are widelytalked about on teh internet, but only a smell percentage of the fan base actually follows the show online. I was shocked this week when I watched American Idol on tuesday and wednesday and, between the two days, only saw one commercial for the fainale. I think if the folks over at FOX want the ratings back where they were at the begining of the season, they should advertse these amazing episodes to the TV audiece insted of the overly critical (on most other sites at least) internet fan base. Just a thought.
16 - Veronique
Barbara, thanks for this pre review. Knowing you liked the episode is comforting me into seeing it. Frankly, as much as I love House and Hugh Laurie's acting, it is becoming difficult for me to see this character more and more miserable and suffering each year and finale. I don't know what the writers' goal is, but making House journey more and more painful is not proving good for ratings, and I fear for the future. What is the point on watching a show which depresses you more every week? This season has been problematic for me (not only, obviously!) as I was waiting for some redemption? tiny hapinness? at least some equilibrium in House life, which the writers seem eager to keep denying him. And this Luddy thing, even not being a heavy Huddy shipper, is the worst idea I have seen in the whole 6 seasons. I am relieved to read you think there is still hope for House and Cuddy, and I really, really hope the missing scene can bring House (and us viewers) a little comfort for this summer. Please tell me House can still be a bastard, but a slightly happier one.
17 - dandelionwine
I don't believe the whole idea... That is sooo out of character of House... They tortured him so many times during the seasons, but this one will be just... beyond all the limits... As if we - the audience - are bloodthirsty vampires... Feel very sorry for House...
18 - Janine
@Veronique
I don't know why, but since the begining I have had a feeling that the final scene will not involve House's misery. Think about it, House is affected by the patient and upset by what Cuddy has said, along with the fact that her and Wilson are moving on without him. He also quit therapy Everything is set up for him to be miserable and/or relapse, so why then would the producers take such great efforts to concele the final scene? Just like last year, where everything set up House to be with Cuddy only for it to turn out to be false in the last five minutes, I feel like this season will surprise us. IF the final scene were House popping vicodin or brooding alone, that wouldn't come as a shock to anyone, and threfore wouldn't need to be hidden. This is just a theory.
Just out of curiosoity Barbara, did you see the finale before hand last year and if so, did they cut off that final scene as well?
@dandelionwine
I don't understand your comment. Are you tring to say that this episode is out of charcter for House the show or House the character. I personally don't agree with either. House the show always used major events as a means to House's mind and emotions. House the character has always connected to patients who he relates to and makes all efforts to help them. Perhaps going to the scene of an accident is a little out of character for House, but Barbara said that House was uninterested in the scene, and only comes across the patient when exploring to satisfy his own curiosity, which is very in character for House.
19 - Janine
This is kind of unrelated, but I just read that David Shore's remake of the Rockford Files is not going through. Sad for him, but good news for House fans because now he can spend more time on this show.
20 - dandelionwine
Janine, I hope I will be able to give you a bigger, with details (again, hopefully) and more coherent answer tomorrow - it's too late here already. But I can tell you, it's not just my emotions - it's my sense and resoning based on what I saw in s5 + s6:1-18
21 - dandelionwine
I mean I saw the whole thing through, including 6:19-21. But these last episodes were kind of... suspect to me.
22 - Janine
@Dandelionwine
Ok, yu can explain whenever, I just didn't understand what you were trying to say before. I get what you mean now.
23 - barbara barnett
I did not see the season five finale before it aired last year. This year, I saw the screeners for Broken and for 5 to 9 in addition to the finale. Neither of those times did they cut off the ending. I think they were wise to do it. The detailed spoilers making the rounds can only serve to have people pre-judge without watching for themselves.
I watched the episode for the third time yesterday. There is so much more than that first meets the eye--beyond "ships" beyond the actions of the players. It really gets to the very core of House the human being. I can't say more. I can't wait until I see that final scene.
24 - veronique
Barbara, please just tell us (the viewers) we won't be upset the whole summer....;
25 - Dominique
Barbara, your review is making the wait unbearable!
The secrecy around the final minutes does make me think, though... why guard them so frantically if they are just a repeat of that which we see in the first two minutes, or the natural progression of that scene? Why guard the miserable ending if you didn't guard the previous two miserable endings?
Maybe... maybe it isn't a miserable ending at all. In which case it would be better to let the normal speculation run it's course without ANYONE knowing the ending, so that every conclusion people could come to would be off, by certain degrees, and no one would be able to blow the lid off of it prematurely.
Because, well, if a happy ending would be happy as the sad endings have been sad, no one would be able to restrain themselves... not that I think that this finale, or any episode of House for that matter, could ever contain that much happiness.
I'm hoping for bitter sweet or some kind of redemption for House. A measured amount. Not to make him "happy", because I think he's encountered too much for a single event to make him happy.
Just... I hope those last two minutes hold some kind of reward for this season's quest. They would've let the whole thing unravel right in front of the eyes of everyone at that screening, 'cause they don't fear sad endings.
Glimmers of hope are rarer on this show... so maybe, it won't end in complete misery?
The cliffhanger would be wondering how long this could last.
(some fans seem to have a view of David Shore as this guy who stomps on pretty flowers)
So... I'm hoping for some kind of peace for House.