At the end of last night’s House, M.D. episode “A Simple Explanation” (I mean the very end), the producers inserted a public service announcement for the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) about suicide. It’s not the first time in its nearly five-year history that House has dealt with this and other serious mental health issues. The central character Dr. Gregory House (played with a nuanced and exquisite fragility by star Hugh Laurie) is a poster child for emotional problems. Elementally unhappy, a child abuse survivor, and in constant chronic pain, House is addicted to Vicodin (whether or not you believe he's an “addict”), using the narcotic painkiller not only for his physical pain, but also to numb himself again a relentless misery.
In season three, House nearly took his own life (“Merry Little Christmas”) and in other episodes, it is clear that House has little regard for his own life, taking risks that suggest that he doesn’t really care whether he lives or dies (“97 Seconds,” “You Don’t Want to Know,” even “Wilson’s Heart”). This season, House has been bombarded with personal losses and other events that have rocked his emotional underpinnings even more. Amber’s death (and his indirect responsibility for it), the loss of Wilson’s friendship (which although recovered is much changed), the death of his father (and the confirmation that he wasn’t House’s biological father), Cuddy’s drive to motherhood (which has rocked him in ways good and bad) — all have taken their toll.
Much as he has from time to time during the series’ five-year run, House is standing on a precipice, teeter-tottering (without a cane). In “The Softer Side,” we observe that House is trying to find a Vicodin alternative; in “Locked In” last week, we learn that House is seeing a psychiatrist. He’s trying, but the guarded and very private House stands at the brink of emotional collapse. Especially now that he seems to want to “do” something about his situation, he seems at a loss.
“Simple Explanation” is about suicide, but not House’s (of course until the end of the series run, that could never happen — there would no longer be a show). Without a note, without any apparent cause, the outgoing, creative, and almost zen-like Lawrence Kutner has killed himself with a gunshot wound to the head. The episode asks the question “why?” Why would an apparently content, almost zen-like character, outgoing and friendly, fun and with an almost childlike enthusiasm for medicine (especially as practiced by House), suddenly, and with no note, commit suicide? The answer is: there is no answer. There is no explanation. And, as 13 points out in the episode, 25 percent of suicides occur with no apparent reason, with no explanation, simple or otherwise.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - simplethings
As much as I enjoy the show, with each episode getting darker and darker, I wonder how the writers will ease up a bit. For people like us that are so very invested in these characters, I feel like I can only watch with my eyes half covered, cringing, bracing myself for something even worse to happen.
I think it was a brave move by the writers, and it makes sense to test House's character like this so that we can become privy to his eventual opening up to someone, whether it be Cuddy/Wilson or even Chase.
However, I really don't know how much more despair I can handle. I'm starting to feel as low as House!
Even the lighting in the whole episode was dark. I'll have to watch the last scene again after some distance from the episode. The mirroring of House and Kutner was frightening, as was the one picture of Kutner looking not like Kutner.
I just rewatched "Locked In" and it was so clear that Kutner loved what he did. The scene where Thirteen and Foreman found him was terrifying and I didn't expect it so soon.
This will no doubt completely torture House. It does give me a sense of relief knowing that it was Kal Penn's decision to leave the show, but he was most definitely s fan favorite and I'm really sad to see his character leave.
2 - Quin
What happened to Kutner's dog? Did the dog die, and that's why Kutner killed himself? Could the loss of a pet precipitate a suicide? See, I'm searching for answers to the puzzle too, like House. Foreman said Kutner's dog was sick, and he'd be in by noon. That means he must have talked to Kutner on the phone that morning. What did Foreman miss? Or was that line about the dog just a throwaway line? The dog isn't mentioned again, and it's driving me bonkers.
3 - barbara barnett
simplethings. I do take some heart in the fact that decision was Kal's not the powers that be. The show goes in cycles. Dark to light. I tend to like the dark angsty stuff because it reveals House more.
Quinn--I think it was a throwaway line to give an excuse for Kutner's lateness..nothing else.
4 - j.i.m.
Barbara, beautifully written. I love your compassionate perspective on House. A psychiatrist could have possibly saved Kutner. I hope House will be able to consider this fact and take advantage of the hospital's grief counselor. That would be going out on an edge for House.
5 - nicole.o
I felt at odds with this episode for reasons I am unsure of. But it is growing on me as I think more about the way it was portrayed. I really like that it was not a traditional reaction to a death where everyone cries and sobs and embraces each other. Everyone dealt with it in their own way. It was very under the surface in many ways with slight things like eye movements and looks telling the grief in a less obvious although powerful way. I also think Cuddy's attempts to take care of House and check in on him often were very intimate and telling of her true feelings for House. Their relationship has it's delicate moments which really adds to the complexity. It's not always teasing and reading through snarky remarks but their's is a friendship that runs deep. I also didn't expect Wilson to act the way he did being so stand offish at first. But then again you never know how people will react to tragedy. Well done by all cast members. And interesting to see Cameron a lot in the next episode. Are they trying to bring her back into romance with house?
On another topic, did anyone else find the memorial for Kutner on the house website a little creepy?
Also, is he really going to work for the Obama administration? Craziness. I was wondering why they would write him off the show.
Looking forward to next week....
Nicole
6 - barbara barnett
Nicole--Yes. Penn is going to work in the Obama administration. Good for him! I agree that the memorial is a bit creepy. He is a fictional character, after all, right?
I agree that their handling of the topic was done beautifully, sensitively and just right. No hollwoodizing. Just disbelief and sadness.
7 - Orange450
Beautiful, beautiful review and analysis! Thank you so much. I appreciate your tremendous talent for incredibly quick assimilation and presentation of every important aspect of these complex, nuanced, highly detailed episodes. I depend on you to help me see them in their proper perspectives!
I also immediately had the sense that House was talking about himself when he spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Kutner. Especially poignant given that House's father was not his biological father either, and as we learned in Birthmarks, House seemed to have sensed that since he was quite young. So he might also have felt that his own identity was being hidden.
I thought that one of the (several) reasons that House reacted so intensely to Kutner's suicide is that he's probably fought his own suicidal demons over and over again. We know his position is that it's marginally better to live in misery than die in it, but I think that position is hard-won for him. Someone who has tried on and dismissed the idea for himself is going to have a much stronger reaction than someone who's never thought about it. When I mentioned this thought on the Fox forum last night, another member responded that that could be specifically why Taub reacted the way he did, as well. I thought that was a good point.
Back to the flourless chocolate cake. Thanks for the break!!
8 - barbara barnett
Orange, sounds yummy. I wrote half the night to get it done so i could prepare both the synagogue and my home for Passover. Tonight the soup and the fish and the vegetarian pate while watching this incredible hour one more time.
Flourless chocolate cake, eh? I'm coming over for Seder!
9 - Clare
Thanks, Barbara, for your thoughtful article. I enjoyed reading it. Like others, I am saddened by the loss of Kutner. I'm sorry they took him away - fresh, bright, and funny. It will be interesting to see the domino effect of this event...
As another comment here mentioned, the lighting of this episode was noticibly dark. I felt like I needed to turn on some lights inside the hospital. The moment when 13 and Foreman discovered Kutner in his appartment was terrifying and horrifying. And of course, House's face at the end - forlorn, lost... pondering, searching, sad.
Overall, this episode was not one to make me cry, but more make me have an internal feeling of deep sadness. But it's reality - a sad tragedy that many people experience and are touched by. This episode definitely sent out an important message.
10 - barbara barnett
That final scene, with House simply sitting on Kutner's bed, alone, his photographs around him was one of the most desolate portraits I have ever seen. Everyone will be able to move past this, except House. It will eat away at him, adding to his already formidable demons.
11 - GMF
Great and thoughtful review. I was one of the many last night was shocked and then angry at the way Kutner died. It was just so unexpected, but then again suicide is, I know because somebody I worked with just up and killed himself about 10yrs ago. It leaves you with many questions as to why, and did we miss something!
Having now reflected on the episode more, I feel now that this may be one of the best ever of House episodes. They did what they set out to do, give the viewer the feeling and emotion of unexpected loss! The writing and the acting where excellent, from everybody. Of couse my highest praise goes to Hugh Laurie, who once again blows everybody away with his performance, the pain he showed in his eyes was heartbreaking. I am very VERY worried about House now, at some point he has to break and give in to the fact that not everything is a puzzle to be solved. Will Kutner now become another obsession like the patient Esther was in the episode "All In"? I hope not. I feel we are in for one very emotional ride for the rest of this season,
I will miss Kutner, I loved the lightness he brought to the team, he will be missed. I too wish Kal Penn the best of luck in his new White House position. You have to really admire somebody who gives up a high paying job to follow his heart.
12 - Orange450
Barbara, we would be thrilled to have you and your family! Just say the word :-) (It *is* a very good cake.) Soup was done last night (simmering away while we watched). Salmon is poaching, and a sweet potato puree is cooling. Amaretti drying in the oven. Getting there slowly but surely. I was wondering if you lead a communal Seder at your synagogue?
13 - iryka
i have to say i was so exicted to see you post an article so soon after and episode. but considering the circumstances, i would say that's perfectly understandable.
this episode made me guitly in being a spoiler hound. i saw a few weeks ago a rumor of a character death and researched it like crazy, then coming to the conclusion that it would have to be kutner. only a matter of when. what makes me so sad is that i didn't have the chance to be full-fledged shocked, devasted over the loss. i admit i did feel disbelief when he was seen dead in the first 5 minutes, right after a comical seen of house saying he probably was at "wonderwoman's lair". the quick transistion to a blood-covered thrirteen had me on the edge of my seat, mouth haning wide open in shock. and this is coming from someone who knew it coming!
i am curious as well though to what is going to happen now. its odd kutner died with at least a month more of eps to go, so i only wonder what is being planned for house. i hear he might suffer a mental break-down, and with how he is now, i wouldn't be suprised.
what kind of upset me though was the promo for next week's ep, which seemed almost light-hearted and funny again. it just seems like a "normal" house ep. perhaps this is to give us one last dose of "easy-ep" house, before we're bomboared with the big stuff?
last night's ep has only made me more eager for the finale however. i have to add that after watching this episode, i can now associate the song "lose you" to kutner as i do "passing afternoon" to amber. and i also know whenever i want to start crying all i'll have to see is the scene when taub is crying in the hallway or house looking at all of kutner's pictures, to settle at the last, very haunting picture of him, away from the camera, full of sorrow. these scenes were BEAUTIFULLY written and acted by peterson & laurie.
it always is the ones you least expect, but i side with house. there has to be a reason. whether it's a "simple explanation" or not is yet to be seen...
14 - Orange450
"That final scene, with House simply sitting on Kutner's bed, alone, his photographs around him was one of the most desolate portraits I have ever seen."
That scene reminded me of the last scene in "Love Hurts" so strongly that I didn't think we would be shown who was in the photo. I was actually surprised when we got the view of Kutner in an unguarded pensive moment.
15 - Star
Barbara what did you think about Kit O'Toole post "Has house jumped the shark"
16 - wackjob
Last night's episode really, really got to me, even though I pretty much knew it was going to be Kutner who died (thanks, spoiler Internet). There is suicide in my family, and I myself have entertained suicidal thoughts to the point of being hospitalized. It is devastating to all involved. I rewatched parts of it today (I had a terrible time taping it due to a screw-up with the VCR) and was amazed at the ensemble acting, especially Cuddy. And House at the end...he seemed semi-deranged throughout, and did you notice they made no effort to do the "sexy House" thing in any of the scenes, i.e. focus on how blue his eyes are and have him wear a blue shirt, etc.? Instead his hair was really uncombed, he often had on a rumpled white shirt, etc.
Also, it's EXTREMELY unusual for House to say something like "good to see you" to Wilson under any circumstances. Maybe he said it flatly, but he said it. A straightforward declaration like that is the opposite of who House really is, and it's an excellent gauge of his pain.
17 - Eve K
Thank you again Barbara for a really good review. This episode was beautiful and sad and real.
I can say what I feel about the other article "Has House jumped the shark" and that is "no". (Even if the question is a "thread-takeover")
I can agree that the writing is sometimes incoherent and there has been a lot of plots that has stopped mid-project, never to be seen again, but I think that makes the show real.
The point is to make you think, you have to work a little to get something out of it. (I do agree that we - the readers of Barbaras blog takes a short cut, because she does a lot of the work for us!)
I do agree that the little beauty queen girl was more than a little beside the story in this dark episode. But even that can happen in real life. When you are at the hospital because someone in your family is very sick, you can have a moment of fun. Life is full of contradictions.
So no - House is better and more lifelike than ever.
But - I also think it is to close to life to put a memorial page on facebook. There is a line here somewhere not to cross.
18 - wackjob
The little beauty queen was there at the very beginning, before they found Kutner. A light moment before all of the heaviness.
19 - Eve K
TPTB might see the facebook-page as some sort of art-project though.
20 - byzantine
Dear Barbara,
Your gift for detail and deep understanding helped me to focus my otherwise scattered thoughts to put them in writing here.
I was struck by the scene with Foreman and Thirteen finding Kutner’s body. They tried to furiously resuscitate him outside our field of vision and suddenly Thirteen emerged with her mouth covered in blood to lean on the edge of Kutner’s bed. I found the image disturbing and brutal, and it strangely reminded me of those "Animal Planet" documentaries that show lions (or other large cats) at their meal. I am not certain what to make of it, but I guess the image was supposed to set up the mood and to perhaps even imply the messiness of the picture that Foreman and Thirteen initially witnessed.
I wondered why the creators of the show chose suicide"they could have had Kal Penn by finding him a new job or something along those lines and made his exit more elegant and not so heart wrenching. Perhaps they chose it exactly because there is no explanation, and House would not be able to handle it being the person that he is. As much as I love him, I get frustrated with House some time, and last night was one of those times. This season has been emphasizing the whole House v/s God (not only God of religion, but also of higher impossible to understand realities) thing and I thought that there were elements of it in the “Simple Explanation.” House believes that he can see everything, notice every subtlety; however, when he was in Kutner’s apartment he came to the conclusion that it was a murder not by deducing on the basis of actual evidence as his literary prototype Sherlock Holmes would have done, but because he has not noticed it coming. Wow! His gift for observation makes him in a sense god-like and he loves it and thrives on it, and yet he’s been given clues over and over again that some time things happen outside of his control and that coincidences are often part of his otherwise brilliant diagnoses. I suspect that by inserting Kutner’s inexplicable death the writers are trying to teach House some humility, and as much as I love the bad boy in him, I am all for it.
21 - XJK
I am so glad that I am resolutely spoiler free after this episode; the writers and actors in 'A simple explanation' have taken the viewers on the journey with them, as I felt I was part of the action more than ever before on a tv show. By setting up so many different situations; the continued unhappiness of Taub, 13's downward spiral with Huntingtons, and, what I now realise was a masterstroke of misdirection, House's 'locked in' vision they had me completely fooled! The words 'Eric, he's cold' and seeing the realisation on 13's face was horrible to watch, for the sheer emotional impact. I watched the remainder of the episode with my hand over my mouth!
Hugh Laurie - its been said many times, but can never be said enough - is amazing. He became the person who is lost, the rug's gone from under his feet and suddenly someone who always seemed so contented (I wouldn't go so far as 'happy' - the image of him at home alone eating cereal for dinner keeps coming back to me) is revealed to be more miserable than him. The image of him desolate on the bed, alone again while everyone else (barr Taub) come together in grief, was haunting, his admission that it was 'good to see' wilson, and most revealing, ignoring a medical puzzle of the type he usually loves - they got the darkness of the character just right, and hat's off to those who made it happen.
The other thing I wanted to comment on is Wilson; firstly, nice to see that House (the show) doesn't forget the character's pasts, of course Wilson wouldn't cope with the death of another young doctor, and of course he wouldn't want to be the grown up. I liked how he tried to not deal with the problem with the suggestion of going to get drunk, but then he yet again judges House in the harshest possible light. He's been known to get House's motives wrong in the past - but this one had me shouting at him. Does he really believe House so selfish, so unfeeling, as to be interested in the mystery alone? Or to be concerned about his own powers of spotting the unspottable? I think it was genuine grief, House-style; guilt, denial, anger... will there come acceptance??
Sorry for the ineloquent expression here - about to rewatch the episode and hopefully come up with a better comment :) Thanks Barbara for such a thorough review produced in such a short time; you must have realised that this was an episode that NEEDS discussion!!
22 - Michelle
Very nicely written, Barbara. I have to agree that Kal Penn did an excellent job with his character, and I was so upset to see him leave so suddenly (the preview after "Locked In" tricked me, so I thought he'd be in this episode-alive.)But I had to keep thinking to not cry because he's gone, but smile because he was there. (:
I must say, though, I wasn't satisfyed with the episode until I saw Taub break down at the very end. Being as close as he was to Kutner, I'm glad he finally let his feelings through.
Wonderful perspective for House, and I probably would have never guessed what was really going through that complicated mind of his. I kept asking, "Why doesn't he show any sympathy or hurt in this?" and shortly afterwards I realized that he's House, and he never shows his emotions the same ways we would.
As for next week, my guess is that tensions will soon rise again between Cameron and House. Definately looking forward to it.
Enjoyed the article, and hope to read more in the future.(:
23 - Wnkybx
Thank you, Barbara, for a very beautifully written article. You articulated the major points in the episode and each character's reaction to the tragedy so well.
I must confess that my original reaction to the episode was one of anger, shock, and sadness. I felt like I had been punched in the guts. I had read that the producers made this death a "creative decision" and that the "actor did not want to go," so I had immediately jumped to the conclusion that this suicide was just another risky (and unwise) ploy for ratings. After reading that Kal Penn actually wanted to leave to pursue other things (heck, I'd leave my job to go work for Obama too!), I took a step back and admired this move on the producers' and writers' part: Kutner's suicide really will force House to go to places emotionally he would otherwise never go, as long as nothing changed.
I appreciated how lighting and music were used in this episode, and I think everyone remained in character regarding Kutner's death. Your analysis of House is spot-on, and I have nothing to add in terms of what would have been running through his head. My main issue with the episode was the fact that Meat Loaf's storyline was very distracting; I, like House, could not focus on anything about him and his wife because I was too emotionally distraught. Usually with each episode I can analyze whether the characters are actually offering medically valid ideas in the DDx sessions, but last night I didn't hear a single medical term.
Barbara, thank you for drawing our attention to how House lost focus on Eddie and Charlotte. Come to think of it, Cameron had an epiphany that she learned from House in "Que Sera Sera." In that episode, House noticed the patient had clubbing of his fingers, a physical exam finding Cameron missed despite all the time she spent at the bedside, and diagnosed him with lung cancer. In this episode, Cameron noticed nodules on Eddie's fingers and provided the clue to his true illness. Either she's giving House a run for his money, or House is, as you say, completely falling apart.
My final thought is about the title of the episode. House seemed to be looking for a "simple explanation" for Kutner's death: murder, clinical depression, something plausible to make it all make sense. I'm wondering what you all think ... is the irony that there isn't a simple explanation? Or is that last photo of Kutner, looking deeply sad, the simple explanation?
I will miss Kutner very much. He was my favorite duckling.
24 - cj_housegirl
A deeply thought out column Barbara. Thanks for writing it so quickly. This episode was deeply sad and real to me although I recognize that there is a lot of anger and bitterness on several forums and fandom communities. I wasn't angry last night just confused and distraught. I liked Kutner.
With the exception of a couple of reviewers, most of the mainstream media seem to view this episode as a great one. EW, which almost always takes time out to criticize House, actually called the show courageous. Time magazine also wrote a small article on it as did a number of newspapers.
Being Canadian, I am also a huge hockey fan and all of those communities are male-dominated (American & Canadian) as opposed to the female-dominated fandoms. Sports boards also have entertainment threads and House is a popular show. The male viewpoint on these boards are almost directly opposite of that expressed on most female dominated boards. They liked the show, were shocked by it (many seemed to be unspoiled), were saddened, and wondered what happens next.
I say this to you because of your comments about fandom and the boards. Plus, the second article asking whether House has jumped the shark (absolutely not). There are a lot a diverse discussion places out there. Not all House fans, especially the male ones, bother with the fandom boards/forums. In fact, I have read far more positive comments about The Simple Explanation than negative ones.
Sometimes if you look to just one segment of the Internet (fandom) you get a very narrow opinion of how a show is viewed within a wider circle.
I haven't watched the show a second time, but I plan to. It left me really emotional last night so I need some time to let things settle before a second viewing.
As always, thank-you for your continued analysis of House.
25 - Wnkybx
Another question for you all (who looked on the memorial site): did you read the official obituary and see that Kutner had a girlfriend? I thought that was interesting given the "loner" vibe I had been getting from him since he started working at PPTH. I also loved reading Cuddy's note to him, thanking him for babysitting Rachel, and Wilson's note about his short stories, indicating they were friends. The "badge" Fox is offering for people to embed on their facebook pages is a bit much though.