What "Changes" are in store for House as we move into the final three episodes of Season 7?
Candice Bergen returned in tonight’s House, M.D. episode “Changes.” I can’t help but get the feeling that we are in some sort of holding pattern, with House (Hugh Laurie) a ticking time bomb waiting to fracture him into a million pieces. I think the finality of the breakup, which I sense that House had believed redeemable until the final scenes of “Changes,” is a fuse finally lit.…

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Article comments
76 - Anna S
75 - Sneaky Microbe
He tried all the silliness to get her attention in FFG but once she signed the insurance form to add Dominika he realised then that she was done and so now he is out and out angry and confused because he wants to know why but just cannot figure it out and won't take the step of actually asking her for fear of further hurt.
The audience are supposed to feel as he does since almost everything is told from his perspective. He is confused, hurt and angry at the moment so of course the audience are also.
These are scary times because nothing has even scratched the surface of being resolved but i have faith there will be some conclusion before the seasons out
SPOILER (not to bring more sadness for you)
If he doesn't get involved in some kind of accident which puts a spanner in the works and we are left wondering for H,W & C's sakes.
77 - housemaniac
Anna S wrote:
"A happy House is the end of the show but equally so IMO a House without hope is also."
Indeed! Since TPTB seem to equate a House-Cuddy relationship with happiness (a wrongheaded equation, IMHO), I don't see them getting back together before the show ends. This is crushing to me as someone who wanted to see that relationship explored in some depth. However, even more devastating would be a House without hope, as Anna S put it. My question is, if not from a relationship with Cuddy, where is House going to get hope? I have been wracking my brain, and I cannot come up with anything, given the recent trajectory of the show. I would like to share your faith, Anna S (#76), but I'm having trouble imagining where that faith could possibly come from.
78 - Committed
Sadly it is easier right now to have faith by not watching the show. I didn't watch it this week, I probably won't for awhile. Before anyone calls me a quitter, I long ago bought this seasons episodes on Amazon. That's the only thing that makes this decision tolerable. I do miss it, even after one week but it's just too dark right now.
Since I have stopped watching and pursuing spoilers, etc, I have been able to see the hopeful side again. I think things will be okay in the long run. House never gives up pursuing what he wants. He doesn't give up on his patients, he didn't give up on his friendship with Wilson after Amber died and he never gave up his pursuit of Cuddy because he loves her. Giving up would mean he has changed and we know "people don't change". He might not get it right the first time but he doesn't stop trying until he gets what he wants.
I'm still reading the comments. Barbara I intend to read every word of your reviews once I get back into the swing of things. It's just a little too dark right now - I look forward to the day when I can look back on it knowing that it was all worth it. For now, I wait. Here's really hoping that there is a season eight. :)
79 - RedTulip_Ana
@78 - Committed
THIS: Giving up would mean he has changed and we know "people don't change". He might not get it right the first time but he doesn't stop trying until he gets what he wants.
80 - housemaniac
Committed #78: Thank you! I think you may be right. Hope may be found in House's history of perseverance! If you are right, I guess that means that we fans should persevere as well.
81 - barbara barnett
Happy Mother's Day, dear readers!
82 - Sneaky Microbe
Happy Mother's Day to you, too, Barbara! I also lost my mother in the not too distant past, so this holiday is bittersweet for many of us. I'm a devoted Pet Mommy and am surrounded by my warm fuzzies this maternal holiday. Even if I stop watching House, I'll likely continue reading your reviews! Thanks for providing this opportunity.
83 - Anna S
77 - housemaniac
I have faith because since when have we had a season finale where House has no hope?
Season 1 â€" Stacy is hired back at PPTH and we are left wondering what will happen since she told him he is the one but she can’t be with him.
Season 2 â€" House is shot and the episode ends with him stating he wants Ketamine to rid himself of his leg pain for good, the audience is left wondering what would happen if he had no leg pain.
Season 3 â€" He loses his team in some way or another and the audience are left wondering what will happen now he has no team.
Season 4 â€" House agrees a life threatening deep brain stimulation at Wilson’s request but isn’t able to save Wilson’s girlfriend and she dies. Wilson seems to blame House but Cuddy stays at his side, the audience are left wondering if Wilson will forgive him and are drawn to Cuddy’s protectiveness and caring for him.
Season 5 â€" He suffers a mental breakdown and is admitted to Mayfield psychiatric hospital, the audience is left wondering how he will cope since he solely went there to come off the vicodin.
Season 6 â€" Cuddy goes to him and declares her wary love for him and points out if they “can work”, House seems glad that she has supposedly saved him from relapsing and the audience are left wondering how the relationship will play out.
Where are we at this season presently? He is refusing to deal with Cuddy, he distracted himself with hi-jinx and silly behaviour, He picked up 13 from prison hoping she will help him deal since he is most closely connected to her emotionally, Wilson’s become involved in the silly behaviour to keep an eye on him because he seems scared of what House may do, the team seem scared (as evidenced when cuddy enters the DDX room in this episode) but have not confronted him because they know better, Most importantly this episode, 13 kept flaunting her dour life view throughout and House kept questioning and agreeing with it because he was figuring out if she had always had that depressing point of view about life, her mother died from the disease that will eventually be her demise also but House tried to prove to her that she hadn’t always been that way and had changed because of her own diagnosis. She gave in by the end in her stating “we are who we are” to him but she knows this comment will do nothing to quell his on-going journey of proving the why’s and the truth’s which he consistently seeks and as the ending proved when he was eating potato chips without a care in the world he will continue to head down that path IMHO.
The finale may be devastating but they have got to keep the fans interested for next season so they are going to play to all ships especially Huddy since DS stated this is the season of Huddy and they know that fan base is large, I very much doubt there will be a reconciliation this season but I would bet they have them on more common ground before the seasons out.
84 - Anna S
Happy mother's day to you Barbara and all other mother's here :-)
85 - The Other Barnett
Red Tulip - I'd love it if the vicodin was a placebo - but I do not see the audience lucking out on that. With the writers, I do not see them trying anything that is a call-back to the past....possibly because they do not thihnk about the history on anything this season.
I like the notion of 13 and House. I don't see a serious relationship building at first. I'm more likely to see House and 13 engaging in some kind offriends with benefits connection that could take up most of the next season without making it too burdensome to the rest of the stories. And the FWB would end because 13 would get too serious emotionally, while House pines for Cuddy, and cannot stand any more.
As for the Vicodin addiction. I am inclined to believe that this could be the set-up for the finale for this season. Imagine Cuddy running House out of the PPH and Wilson looking all powerless as House is dragged out by security. The next season would open with House working some community clinic (insert sarcastic laugh here), a battle between Chase and Foreman over leadership of the team (a tie in to this season), and Wilson regularly clashing with Cuddy over her decision. Maybe even different diagnosticians are brought in to lead on certain POTW as the department limps (not intended) along without House.
86 - screamingmimi
The Other Barnett: I like it. But i don't see House "dragged out by security". More likely he would arrive at the hospital to find himself locked out, his personal items in boxes outside the door. (I've seen that happen several times where i worked.)
87 - barbara barnett
Thanks for the Mother's Day greetings and comments, guys. Have another late meeting tonight. Hope to get to the episode upon my return and write (at least an Open Thread) for tomorrow morning.
88 - The Other Barnett
screamingmimi - like the picture of the boxes on the floor
- alas, its only Vicodin....if it had been heroin in that spoon last night, we'd have the visual - instead such a visual would also include some suspension of medial license for Cuddy adn Wilson for enabling the Vicodin - maaybe we even see Tritter drop in :)
Just waiting to see what Barb says on last nights very good episode
89 - barbara barnett
I've left some preliminary comments. Working on something more extensive. I'm also interviewing Katie Jacobs tomorrow on the season..the last couple eps and next season (yes, it's been renewed!)
90 - Tim
Isn't that the reason why Cameron left the show ? No more hope on her deep love, House. Isn't the entire show about hope (Foreman desperately trying to be the new House, Wilson trying to stay with the same wife for a while, etc.) ?
91 - Greta
What happened to the wife? After the marriage episode she just disappeared. How come no one is wondering about these loose ends?