Conflict aversion can be as toxic as heavy metals on House, M.D.'s latest episode "Family Practice."
Lies are at the heart of so many of Dr. Gregory House’s (Hugh Laurie) cases: lies patients tell doctors, tell family members, and tell themselves. In “Family Practice,” this week’s latest House, M.D., episode the lies are compounded because family and medical treatment are wrapped up together along with the emotional relationship between of the patient’s daughter, Lisa Cuddy and her doctor (House, of course).…
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— go to most recent comments26 - Heather
I think Masters is in a unique position in regards to House. She does not need House's approval or, for that matter, even her job as a doctor. She's a genius and already has multiple degrees. If House ratted her out and she could not continue as a doctor...well, she's got art history or physics or whatever to fall back on.
I perceived Masters to be sick, not with fear, but with disgust at herself for allowing herself to fall into a trap be put in the position to potentially be manipulated.
I think she knew all along that she was going to do the right thing, or at least the right thing as she perceived it.
27 - Jaim
I really liked Masters in this episode. She stood up for herself and her principles despite House's threats. I,too, felt that Cuddy and House were out of control and Master's confession was needed.
I am a bit worried about Cuddy's image in the hospital. It was hinted that she is viewed more as House's girlfriend/protector by the other doctors. She has worked very hard to get to where she is, and I really would hate to see her reputation be completely demolished because of this personal relationship.
I wish that there had at least been a mention as to where Wilson was during the episode. He is such an important character to not at least be acknowledged. Especially, considering his closeness to Cuddy and House, there should have been a nod to where their best friend and confidante was.
Taub did good this episode. I was happy that Rachel came by to comfort him in his sadness. I finally got to see their close friendship, that was always under the surface of their marriage. I also thought it was remarkably kind of Foreman to call Rachel and tell her the whole truth about Taub's actions.
28 - mychakk
@ Sheryl I'm surprised there has been no discussion of Amber here. When I first heard of the premise of this episode, I thought immediately of what a strange situation it was, given the disaster the last time House treated someone close to a friend. It was Amber's death, and House's guilt over that, that led him to Mayfield. Of course House was guilty for a number of reasons there--but he was the attending doctor at Wilson's request, no?
A very interesting point you brought up! I’ve not thought about the possible parallels here. But! First of all, Amber’s death did not led House to Mayfield. Not directly. It was one of the reasons, but not the main one. There were a lot of things that led eventually House the Psychiatric Ward. Secondly, Amber situation and Arlene situation are two of completely different kind, IMHO. Firstly, House did not take an active part in Arlene’s health downfall, like it was in the case of Amber. Secondly, Cuddy and Wilson were in a different relationship with House (at the time the treatment took place). Moreover, with Arlene House’s life was not in direct jeopardy like it was during Amber’s treatment. That’s why Cuddy asking House to take a look at her Mother is completely different from when Wilson did (do you remember the risk House overtook to recall what was wrong with Amber? He landed in coma. Wilson had no right to ask House for such a risk.).
But I can see your point with House’s fear of being blamed for Arlene’s if she had died. There is a definitive link with post-Amber drama.
I was happy, too, to see House so strong against Cuddy here. He's been making a lot of sacrifices for her this season--and she hasn't had to do the same, really. So it was nice to see him speak his mind, and push her to do better. . . Just my 2 cents!
Totally agree with you. House was appeasing Cuddy a lot, and bending his usual ways for her a lot this season. And unfortunately Cuddy only seems to demand more for him, or be angry (overreacting for him behaving like his usual self, when she clearly stated she DID not want him to change…). I like the confrontation. It showed why House is interested in Cuddy in the first place (she’s this strong woman, who is his equal and always stands up to him), but also that he’s good for her, as he can make her a better person. Like someone (here or maybe in lj) pointed, Cuddy grows as a character thanks to House’s influence. I hope we’ll see how Cuddy’s is helping House to be a better person in later episodes.
29 - barbara barnett
Julia--Lucinda was in the press info. Cuddy and Arlene both call her Julia (or Jules)
And to anonymous: Yeah. I liked the episode.
hwl40--I just published this late last night--give them time.
30 - Stepinmud
Lisa and Lucinda? They can't be that cruel.
31 - Bob
I absolutely loved the part where House said to Cuddy, about Masters, "It's not her office yet."
This was absolutely one of the best House episodes this season, and one of my favorites ever.
32 - 54
I have to say that "Family Practice" was truly one of the best 'House' episodes that I've seen in a long time. I read a comment somewhere where someone said that it was the best episode since the Season 4 finale. While I wouldn't go that far, I think that it was SO incredible in its own way. The intensity and complexity of the episode was immense.
I have to agree with BB that the confrontation scene with House and Cuddy was one of the best scenes the two have ever had.
I have a slightly different riff from BB in a certain regard, though. While I agree that BB is protecting himself and is in some way acting selfishly to preserve himself in the House-Cuddy relationship, I was struck more by the theme of protectiveness that seemed to come from House. His threatening of 3M didn't seem out of character for me, but rather, an escalation of what his usual character is. I thought that he will do whatever it takes to protect someone or something that he feels the need to protect, even if it means being cruel, using blackmail, ignoring certain ethics. I also thought that the whole wonderful confrontation scene with House and Cuddy--I thought that yes, House wants to protect himself--but he wants to protect the relationship itself, which means that he wants to make sure Cuddy is alright, too.
The look that he gives her when he solves the case, actually, I think it was two looks, wow. And Cuddy's face in that scene. Hugh Laurie and Lisa Edelstein are brilliant because they can speak so many complex, intertwined emotions without saying anything, just by their eyes and their facial expressions.
All in all, what an awesome episode, fraught with tension, angst, but also the human element of strength, dejection, and courage that makes the best House episodes worth watching over again.
33 - barbara barnett
So--everyone who is thinking that the House ratings are tanking?
12.3 million viewers last night in the overnights. A season high.
34 - Libby
Yea for HOUSE RATINGS...Great Episode last night and thanks for a great review
35 - Nola
House season 2 - average rating started out 12 to 15 million by middle of season up 17 to 25 million
House season 3 - average rating 17 to 24 million
House season 4 - average rating 16 to 19 million
House season 5 - average rating 12 to 15 million
House season 6 - average rating started out at 13 to 17 million by end of season was down 9 to 11 million
House season 7 - average rating 10 to 12 million
So are they tanking, no, but they are steadily losing viewers.
36 - barbara barnett
The big dip came when House changed days and lost its AI spot. It's in its 7th year, and there will be attrition.
The ratings this year have been better than second half last year--and they are still decent.
I think the ratings changes have to do with a lot of things. Clearly it's not back in the novelty seasons and the show is syndicated everywhere. So lots factors in. But I'm just saying to those who preach that House is bleeding freely, that they're wrong. In my humble opinion and with all due respect.
37 - Kim in California
Underwhelming. From all the hype about us not 'Knowing House' I had expected some new revelations. There was no revelation whatsoever that hasn't been revealed in the past. The episode's only shining moments were Master's determination to do the right thing and Taub's determination to do the right thing. Not all of us are Huddy's and frankly, their relationship seems to be all work and no play. Cuddy seems to be in constant turmoil over making the relationship work (resulting in her constantly scowling.) She even groans when he takes her to the race karts rather than letting her inner child come out. I've never seen her really enjoying being in love with House. No one with any ounce of self-respect would stay in a relationship that required that much work and inner conflict. And House, he seems more invested in making a relationship 'work' than enjoying the relationship. I really hope Season 8 finds us Huddyless.
38 - HouseMDFan
Wonderful, brilliant episode. It had a seriousness and intensity that has been lacking a bit lately. In addition, it was absolutely consistent with what we have seen so far.
As for your question, Barbara: I absolutely think that Masters did the right thing. She is still naive and there could have been circumstances where it wouldn't have been right to tell the truth, but here? Absolutely. The best thing: By being honest and brave, by standing up for what she thought was right, she pushed House to be honest as well. Since there was no other way out anymore, he finally told Cuddy the truth and overcame his fear that she might dump him if he told her his mind and anger.
I don't know if House's threat was just a test - I bought it at that time. I think that he wouldn't have done it after all, but I don't think he consciously had a test in mind when he set her up or told her he would ruin her. It's a nice ambiguity, though.
39 - bigHousefan
j.i.m. -- Wow! I've often wondered about the statue, but your point makes perfect sense!
HouseMDFan -- I love your point about House being pushed to be honest and angry. I think he appreciated 3M for that, its a giant step forward in his relationship with Cuddy.
House has always tried to get Wilson to stand up for himself as well (Amber, Sam).
I think his threat toward 3M demonstrated how fiercley protective of Cuddy he is.
40 - huddycat
I love the scene in Cuddy's office when House argues with her, pushes her to be herself and to take the good decision for all oh them .that's a fantastic scene, Hugh Laurie and Lisa Edelstein play it perfect, and the lights are amazing, this black and white intensity and the "close-up" face of Cuddy and House are really great. A very great episode!
41 - ruthinor
I think Wilson's absence can be explained by the fact that they are working around his schedule. He's going to be appearing on Broadway in a remake of the play (and movie) "Born Yesterday". It will start at the end of April but they will be having previews and rehearsals prior to that.
BTW, loved the episode.
42 - HouseMDFan
@bigHousefan :D. And your point about House's protectiveness is a good one, too. Cuddy's position was threatened, on a personal and on a professional level, as well as their relationship.
43 - Dmcky
Barbara great review as always..
I absolutely loved this episode. The looks that House and Cuddy shared throughout was nothing short of amazing..as someone mentioned they say a million things w/o saying anything at all. HL and LE are awesome!
I to felt that the Huddy relationship took a giant step this week. The baby steps begun to take shape during “Larger than life”, then “Carrot or Stick” and now “Family Practice”. House and Cuddy have actually formed a little family. First he meets the mom, than we see him and Cuddy washing dishes. First signs of domesticity. Then we see him bonding and forming a relationship with Rachel. And we now we see him fiercely protecting Cuddy, and let’s face it, his in-law. House and Arlene have a typical messy son-in-law /mother-in-law relationship, but to the 10th power. Then when Cuddy tells Arlene she has a family, awesome. House/Cuddy/Rachel (and maybe even Wilson) may not be a common family, but like Cuddy said, who wants common, they are uncommon. I love seeing this unfold. If signifies House’s growth over the years.
3M was great and her scenes with House were great. Not sure if House intended the threat as a test, but I loved that he was putting his “family” first, above everything else. Yeah, it may not bode well for others, but it is thrilling to witness House when he is protecting something valuable to him.
Lastly, Taub really impressed me. He to showed a lot of growth, and kudos to Foreman for being a friend. I really enjoyed the family theme throughout the ep. It really showed that strong bonds cannot be easily broken and it is within the human condition to do whtever it takes when it come down to it.
Ok, i’ll stop now cuz I can go on and on ?
44 - DebbieJ
I think this was one of the best episodes of the series! Barbara, if you write an addendum to your book and add the remaining seasons, I would expect to see an asterisk in front of this title! ;)
The confrontation scene in her office between H/C was so intense. Loved when he tells her to see her not stand up to her mother pisses him off! I believe this took their relationship to a whole other level. They've been treading and taking babysteps. This episode had them taking giant steps to the next plane.
Every scene with House and 3M is charged with energy; sometimes fun and light energy and others very dark and intense! Loved when he ordered Cuddy out of her office and says, "this is not her office - yet" and threatened her.
Taub continues to break my heart. Just like Rachel said, he may be a lousy husband, but he is a good man.
I loved how House's epiphany was like any other episode and wasn't "special". It took an almost throw away line for him to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
I can't wait to watch it again and absorb it all in!
And for those worried about RSL not being in the episode, I just read on Blogcritics that he is going to be on Broadway again and this could be the reason why Wilson's been MIA a bit. Therefore I believe the TPTB are giving him the time he needs just like they did to OW to film her movies.
45 - barbara barnett
Hey DebbieJ. It will have an asterisk (if I do a sequel). I'm not overly worried about RSL. I agree that they're probably giving him a little time. He doesn't shoot that many days a week, and I'd guess they can work around his scenes.
I remember when people hated the character of Taub. He's really grown on a lot of people (including me). I like his sardonic take on life and I really like how he and Foreman have forged their own little friendship.
46 - Joe
From Peter Blake twitter:
We wrote actually a couple of W/H scenes but realized we didn't need them; the story was H/C centered.
It all explained now :(
47 - Amie
No one mentioned this line House says: "Addicts lie"
A hint of things to come?...
Loved the episode. Great dilemnas.
First episode where I really felt how serious House is about the relationship. Loved the Taub-Foreman bromance.
Great one-liners and humor.
Didn't realise Wilson was missing until someone mentioned it. Even though I love him.
I like House in a relationship, he's funny again (unlike season 6 where he was moping a lot).
48 - Flo
Good review Barbara as always and great comments from everyone.
I liked the episode. Lots of stuff to talk about.
Confrontation was obviously the theme of the episode. The whole episode was built around several one on one confrontations and each of them revealed something about the characters.
No one talked about this one yet but I really liked the House and Foreman confrontation. It seems that not only Foreman really found his right place on the team but that he is less conflicted by it. He never misses a bit. He was also right. House was not acting as usual and was out-of-line because the patient was his girlfriend’s mother. I also liked the discussion Foreman had with Taub afterwards. However, I liked that Taub did take a risk because he was sure it was the right thing to do. Doing the right thing is definitely a very complicated thing.
I think that was nice to see Taub in this light and I think Rachel acknowledged his effort. Like she said, he is a good person.
I always found Masters totally one-dimensional but she does have her role in the team. House and the show can really use her but she really needs to be more nuanced as a character. That being said, Masters interferences to the case brought on interesting issues in the ethical dilemma. House was out-of-line but not out-of-character in their confrontation IMO. He is and always been an ass after all as Celia (#8) well put it. Here he was in a very stressful difficult position and he did what he thought he had to do to protect the woman he loves under those circumstances. It’s only human after all. We now see what House is prepared to do to protect his relationship with Cuddy.
Cuddy was stuck between two powerful driving forces: House and Arlene. It is not an enjoyable position as we can imagine. It is interesting to see that even though House wanted to appease Cuddy, the moment he felt he was losing her over Arlene is when he chose to finally confront her. He wanted to have Cuddy back on his yard for his sake as a doctor and boyfriend. In that regards, I agree with Crazy4House (#1) that the “sleeping NEXT TO you” instead of the “sleeping WITH you” is really important. I think it says a lot on how House sees his relationship with Cuddy in general and at that point. Also it speaks volume that he said it in that particular moment IMO. It is in the time of great crisis that you can really see someone as he/she really is. Crisis are revealing.
House and Cuddy big issue this year seems to be: How can we make the dysfunctional function? (Assuming that they can which remains to be seen). It is interesting to see that the same questioning can be applied for the House/Arlene relationship.
In an interview, Lisa Edelstein said that, in this episode, we were gonna understand better how Cuddy could have put with someone like House for so long through her relationship with her mom. She was right.
I find it quite interesting to see that both Houser and Cuddy had/has a difficult relationship with the parent of the same sex who had/has a strong personality. It’s another similarity that they share.
All in all, it was a very full episode with a lot to consider. The directing was really good. The lighting was beautiful. And what to say about the acting? It was AMAZING! We will see how it all turns out now.
Ps: I think it was great to see Cuddy confronting her mom by saying she would be well treated in another hospital but die while she would be treated like crap at PPTH but live. It was always an issue that was brought by this TV show from day one. What can of doctors would you like? I think it was nice.
49 - Jacksam4eva
Amie, thank you Sooooo much ! I reached the end of the discussion and actually wondered whether or not I had imagined the whole "addicts lie" thing. This was to me one of the most powerful quotes of the episode, especially since I've been kind of frustrated because of the writers' complete silence on this issue since that one line they wrote a lifetime ago in the bath scene during Now What?. Cuddy took the pills, showing exactly where her trust in House really ends and yet no one ever said a thing about it again. IMO, House saying that "addicts lie" may be there to show why he told Wilson he lied when he said he would never lie again to cuddy. Yes, he may decide right now not to lie to cuddy agAin but there are still problems in his life that arent solved and addiction is definitely one of them. Addicts lie, and he is an addict, I'm sure that the day, for whatever reason, the drugs will come back in his life, that will be THE moment when his relationship is going to be really jeopardized. Next to that, the issues they had in family practice will seem incredibly harmless. It takes a lot more than a year to move on from years of addiction, especially since the cause of this addiction, the pain in his leg, is still there
50 - Lara
For sure House would've liked someone like Masters when Stacy was planning what he didn't want to his leg, but if that was the case...he probably would've died.
51 - DebbieJ
I took his comment, "addicts lie", to mean that he knows this from first hand experience. I didn't take it as an ominous sign of things to come. He still acknowledges he is an addict. Just because he is clean, doesn't make him less of one. An addict will always BE an addict, whether they are ingesting their drug of choice or not.
52 - Flo
Agree with Debbie (#51). I think it was an important moment too but I think he was just trying to make a point to Cuddy. That she should know - as she knows him - that addicts lie. All in all, I think this is why she still gave the pills to her mother despite her saying she was no drunk. House said Arlene was gonna denied. Addicts lie. He said it pretty matter-of-factly. He was stating a truth they both know. Like Debbie I took it as him making an important point to Cuddy.
53 - ruthinor
One thing I'm wondering about: since we know that Masters is leaving sometime this season, who will serve as a buffer between House and Cuddy? Will one of them be forced to leave his/her job?
Also, nice to know that Arlene will recognize sarcasm again since she's such a great proponent of that "art".
54 - Sera G
Hello, Barabara,
Hello, all.
Wow! I thought this was an amazing episode. I will have to watch again, to truly absorb it all.
I agreed with many; crazy4House#!, andreeC#12 and54 #32,in particular.
Yes, House was being House in so many ways, but at the heart of it all was his protectiveness of himself and of Cuddy. It must have been hard on him to watch her torn about what to do with her mother. As much as he didn't want to be part of the case, how could he stay out, especially when they realize it is not simple heart disease? A few comments seem to resent Cuddy for wanting House to treat her mom, should he? Probaby not, but wouldn't YOU want him on her case?
I thought the scenes with Arlene and Cuddy were brutal. The actresses were terrific together. Someone made the point, sorry forgot who, that Julia was closer to Arlene and Lisa obvioulsy related better to the father. That struck me, too. Yet, you almost got a sense that they wished it could be otherwise. Arlene, a bright, clever woman would never be the 'brain' her daughter is. You could understand a bit of resentment that father and daughter had a bond husband and wife could never share. Seeing Arlene in action, young Lisa had to be a very strong, confident kid to thrive with that pressure. The moment when Cuddy realizes that her mother felt pressure and high expectations were what got her to achieve, she could understand, forgive and even appreciate her mother's intentions. I kept thinking of that old expression that you love all your kids, but you don't love them in the same way and you often don't raise them the same. Julia was obviously the 'easy' child; a lot like her mom, wanted a family life and not terribly ambitious. Here comes Lisa, extremely smart, devious (lies successfully to her mom since age 12) and destined for a different future. Glad Arlene wasn't my mom, but she did what she felt was best for her daughter.
I, too, loved the lines that House "...is sleeping beside her and that a year from now..." Contrary to what others may think, I found that reassuring. He is envisioning them still together, with a future. Hurray!
Although House was often caustic and dismissive of Cuddy as a doctor, he is equally respectful of her intelligence and
proficiency at her job. I think he was upset at the way Arlene treats Cuddy in both "Larger than Life" and in this episode. He is her boyfriend now, they are building bonds and his protectiveness is coming out. I don't think he was just being selfish. I loved seeing that side of him.
55 - Kole
Masters is obviously an idiot, she is the prime example of how dumb people following ideologies can casue huge damage and pain. She is egoistic beyond measure, who has no problem with practically killing someone if it means she can congratulate herself for doing the "right" thing.
I really hope that the writers will end her character with a case where she gets to see the results of her selfishness.
56 - Derdriui
Kole, and to most of you, especially the person who said they loved that Cuddy was kicked out of her own office and Masters was intimidated.
Wow, the way this show is inspiring such sexism and amorarily is very sad. There were other ways of diagnosing this than them undercutting other doctors, switching treatments, bugging rooms. Cuddy was completely submitted to House and she aced completely unprofessionally.
The idea that just because you are eventually about something means that you can screw everybody in the meantime is madness. And that's not what House used to be about.
Cuddy acted like a ditz this episode and the sheer sexism of think that it's GOOD that House is completely able to control his girlfriend (who is supposed to be his BOSS and Kaufman's boss, and to whom 3M went for help because Cuddy is supposed to be ethical) is just sad.
Seriously, women aren't just tight clothes and good assets. Women don't reach her position without having internalized some principles of administration.
She might have been scared, but House even had to tell her to stand up for herself? After she switched medications on a patient? This is a serious breach of ethics for a doctor, she will of course be reported by Kaufman. The idea of a colleague doing that is bad, but the idea that she did that as his boss? That's madness.
57 - hwl40
Loved the comments, so glad some of the regulars are back. It does feel like family!
As usual, I don't have much to say except that it does seem that, as Cuddy had hoped in "Unwritten", she and House do make each other better. He pushing her to stand up for her convictions and for the welfare of her mother regardless of what it does to their relationshipins or lack thereof, and she giving him someone worth fighting for, not just for the puzzle but for his own happiness and hers. A little bit of House in Cuddy and Cuddy in House. Sounds like a relationship...
58 - Sera G
Hi, back again, with a few more thoughts:
Taub-we are really seeing layers and facets to his character. I always dismissed him as arrogant, shallow, ambitious, greedy and of course, a cheat. It was interesting in "Lockdown" that he once saw himself as being "the House of his department." That line changed with way I looked at him. Now I see a man caught up in the quest of money and prestige, unlike GH who is/was caught up in the quest for the answer. I thought it interesting that he volunteered his services in poor countries. Even Rachel acknowledged that he was a "crappy husband, but a good man." Amazing how a few insights into a person's past and a broken nose can change your perception. We have always seen that with House, I am glad that we have enough 'history' with Taub that we can now appreciate that distinction.
I know that I am in the minority here, but I really like Masters. I did not take House's threats as a test. I think he was truly stunned that she had the courage and ethics to stand up to him. When she was ill in the restroom, I felt her torment and fear. No, she doesn't 'need' the job, but it is important to her. Perhaps this is a challenge unlike any she has faced. Being on House's team requires more than just intelligence and that is something she has never experienced. She makes him look at things in a different way. He will never agree with her, but I do think he now respects her and values what she brings to the team. I am sad that she will not return next year.
Off topic; any word, gossip, speculation, rumor about what is going on with season 8?
Add me to the chorus who thought all the scenes between HL/LE were extraordinary. I worried that the writers would take an easy out and kill off Arlene, thus leaving an inevitable breakup. I am so glad they did not. Not only because I really love them as a couple, but because this show is too complex for that. As Arlene worsened, the audience could feel the fear from House and Cuddy that this could forever change things between them. I should have known that I could trust Peter Blake.
BTW, the lighting and gritty/grainy film quality was crucial to the intensity of the show. Kudos to them all. Whoever feels this show is not what it was, is not really paying attention. They take risks. I admire them for that.
Barbara, besides an exceptional review, thanks for the ratings info. They are up from last week, right?
By the by, hope you are having a wonderful vacation. I am sure you have followed the weather in Chicago. You left just in time!
59 - RobF
@Celia(#8) -- I agree completely that House truly meant to scare Masters into being quiet. He is often a selfish brute, even if this was a fairly extreme example. But on later reflection, he is honest enough to judge his own behaviour without justifying it to himself as most people do, and will face the consequences of his self-judgement. He could never bring himself to follow through on such a threat, and had to make things right with Masters as best he could.
He does actually admire her greatly for standing up to him, even though he is in most every way her superior. House is the most respected diagnostic doctor in the nearby world (of the show); he is her boss; he is a better doctor than she is (she's not even a doctor); and he is even physically intimidating to her.
Yet she knows that she is right, just as surely as House knows that he is right. When he could no longer trick her or hide from her to get his way, he resorted to using an odious trick in an attempt to control her through blackmail. Of course he would later repent -- could we still cheer for him as a character otherwise?
As for Taub, it was nice to see he is a decent person. His side story, though thin, was still far more than Chase and Foreman got, as they were yet again little more than furniture. I've given up on seeing a real story arc for the team members, but lately none except Masters plays any significant part in the show.
60 - ruthinor
Derdriui: you don't like Cuddy, you think she's a horrible example of high achieving womanhood...we get it...anything else? Why do you keep beating this dead horse? Some of us accept her the way she is and assume that, like the rest of the characters on the show, she was influenced by many factors, including her parents. Interestingly, at home she wears casual clothes and is presumably more like her true self, not needing to put on an act. Also, Cuddy usually does NOT act like a ditz...this was an unusual situation having to deal with the life or death of a parent with whom she has been in conflict her entire life.
And for those who decry the medical ethics in this episode, for Pete's sake where have you been for the past 7 years? They have broken every medical ethical law on the books during this series. It's a TV show, not life. You either accept the premise of the show and its characters, or you do not. If you don't, why do you bother to watch? Jeez, I think Foreman is a bore and Cameron was insufferable, but I don't feel the need to keep saying that over and over again, nor did that spoil the show for me.
61 - RobF
@SaraG(#58) -- at the risk of saying something over and over again, I also really like Martha Masters. Her presence has been welcome this season, as the season story arc has been very flat at times.
I think a character like hers is long overdue on the show. She's not one of the ordinary folk who "tut tut" at the rule-breaking of the mad genius, nor does she meekly disapprove of House like Cameron did while she was on the team. Masters is as independent, as smart, and as strong as House, and she challenges his way of doing things like nobody has.
House can't simply out-logic her to get his way. She doesn't arrive at a different answer than House through any flaw in reasoning, but because she starts with a different question. We've seen House hide his actions from her, and in this episode we saw him try to squash her objections violently. Now we're probably going to see him have to adjust his ethics to accommodate hers. It could be interesting.
62 - Sera G
RobF, I agree.
I enjoyed Cameron during her time, but she did go along with House, more because of her adoration of him and granted, he is right. I like that Masters has none of those qualities. She is very smart, has nothing to prove by 'out-thinking' him. She is a refreshing character and as you said, a welcome addition to the show. As you stated, "...we're probably going to see him have to adjust his ethics to hers." For most of his life, House has assumed that he is always right and that his is the ONLY right way. As with other 'truths', he may have to reconsider. That is what I think this season is about. Looking at your life and finding a way to move on, move forward and be open to others' ideas and letting people love you.
I won't repeat my earlier comments, but I must respectfully disagree with you, on this point, I don't feel it has been a flat arc. There is a different feel this year. We have been used to a high wire act with House; will he lose control, will he overdose or be too drugged to function? I think that is why some people are not as happy with the season. You get used to living with tension and when things return to normal, the buzz is missing. Personally, I am enjoying seeing a stable House. I want to see him continue the journey. Some may find it boring, but I like a 'healthy' House.
63 - DebbieJ
#56 Derdriur said: "The idea that just because you are eventually about something means that you can screw everybody in the meantime is madness. And that's not what House used to be about."
Seriously? Apparently we haven't been watching the same show the past 7 years.
You also said: "She might have been scared, but House even had to tell her to stand up for herself? After she switched medications on a patient? This is a serious breach of ethics for a doctor, she will of course be reported by Kaufman. The idea of a colleague doing that is bad, but the idea that she did that as his boss? That's madness."
Again, seriously? This is House, MD we're blogging about. A TV show that has been pulling these unethical tatics since season 1. Also, this wasn't just a patient, this was her mother. She wouldn't be able to be objective and be rational.
64 - Derdriui
DebbieJ
Do you not have ANY grasp of ethics?
House was right a lot of the time and when he did rash things it was because he came to an insurmountable roadblock. Oftentimes, that was CUDDY saying no.
In this one, are you seriously saying that the ONLY option these smart, capable characters could arrive at was 'oh, let's hire one doctor and then go behind his back'?
Being right and doing it the right way is important. House does things the wrong way when he can't do them the right way. That's what justified his breach of medical ethics.
About Cuddy, I can understand her not being objective, but why can't she be rational? She's scared but she's a TRAINED administrator. She knows the powers that she has. She didn't have to sneak around behind her own employee like some powerless psychotic, she could have hired another doctor, she could have taken House's findings to Kaufman and presented them reasonably.
Are you saying that her emotional state justified her following House's decisions on everything?
I can't believe that you have so little understanding or respect for professionalism or for ethics. This show is not about being unethical and enojying the trip. The very idea of valuing the truth is ethical.
House was NOT a nihilist conception.
65 - ruthinor
In virtually every episode of House several diagnoses are made and the patient is treated as though these diagnoses are correct. Each patient is treated multiple times with multiple meds and frequently with life-threatening results (e.g. Arlene), because House always thinks he's right. Sorry, Derdriui but this is NOT how medicine is practiced in the real world. This is a TV show and unrelated to reality. Always was, always will be. In the real world House would have been in jail in season 1.
This comment of yours:
"House was right a lot of the time and when he did rash things it was because he came to an insurmountable roadblock." Oftentimes, that was CUDDY saying no".
Sorry, but it's ridiculous. House is actually WRONG a lot of the time and Cuddy has saved his ass numerous times by preventing him from actually killing patients. In each episode he guesses wrong several times until he gets that AHA moment. At least that's the show I've been watching for 7 years.
66 - Derdriui
ruthinor
... Okay, so Cuddy stopped him from killing patients.
So how does that make it okay for her to follow everything he said? Because she forgot all of her administrative capabilities in a crisis?
Also, if she wanted House to be the lead in this case and wanted him to do whatever it takes (and she did) then she could have done that in other ways. Gotten a doctor that WOULD follow House's advice, for one thing. Gotten one of the team to be her doctor.
Sorry but if you really think that this was the ONLY WAY for her to help get House access to Arlene, that's just... incorrect.
67 - ruthinor
Derdriui:
With regard to the latest episode, I think Cuddy originally believed that whatever was wrong with her mother could be easily solved and was not life-threatening. However, as time went on, she realized that things were actually much more serious and only the creativity of House could save her mother as more and more diagnoses were ruled out. I don't see what her administrative capabilities have to do with all this. She was an emotional wreck, not thinking clearly and neither she nor House (nor his team) should have been treating her mother. But she was scared that w/o House's diagnostic ability her mother would die. This was not a typical case and I think you are extrapolating far too much from her behavior under these extreme conditions to her behavior in general. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!
68 - Jacksam4eva
Yes, of course Cuddy screwed up, I don't even get why there's a debate here, she obviously let House do whatever he wanted, even he awknowledged it when talking to Masters. But why's that? Because she suddenly forgot all her administrative skills in a crisis? No, I don't think so, I just think she was working on her mother's case!
Whatever might concern your parents affects you, it ALWAYS does. I know someone already said it, but I'm going to say it again anyways: that's, I believe, the reason why you can't treat your parents for example, because it forces you to make INSANE choices and you don't have the necessary distance you need to have to deal with it. So no, I don't think Cuddy suddenly changed personalities and went from being an decent administrator to a really bad one, she went from a decent administrator to a human being. Yes, I think it's okay to freak out when you are so worried about your sick mother because even if you don't have a great relationship with her she is still your mother.
I believe the reason cuddy decided to let House do whatever he wanted was partly because of this, she understood, with the "drinking problem", that she didn't want to know what was done, didn't want to interfere and since House (and everyone else in this hospital) needs to run procedures by her, she decide it was just best for them to do whatever they wanted. That's a crappy choice, obviously, one she shouldn't have made, but I don't believe it's unforgettable. We know Cuddy usually reacts pretty well under stress (5 to 9) and I really believe the fact she was treating her mother can be entirely responsible of her change in behavior.
As for all the drama that could have been avoided but wasn't: this is a TV show!! It needs the drama so it doens't end in 15 minutes. And I can't remember who, but I remember someone comparing the show to NCIS saying how NCIS is so much better now because Mark Harmon took control and managed to get it back, saying that they don't need that much drama and unbelievable u-turns anymore to keep the show going for 45 minutes. Actually, even if I'm definitely in the minority out there, I'd like to state how boring NCIS has become to me in the last few years. On the other hand, I remember that as I saw the end Help Me last year I thought "God, I finally found a show which is getting better and better with the years!" I do NOT want to change my mind about this.
Oh and lastly, I don't think that it's incoherent for Cuddy to be a great administrator and yet be completely unable to stand up to her own mother. I actually believe Cuddy can stand up to anyone BECAUSE she never does with her mother. Yet, I loved that House called her on it, I don't think that's machistic. Here he wasn't only her boyfriend, he was her friend, the one who's been there for twenty years. It's what friends do, it could have been a female best friend if she had one.
69 - Derdriui
Jacksam4eva
They were going behind Kaufman's back.
Kaufman was treating a patient. She went behind his back and treated that patient.
It doesn't matter if the patient is your parent, your child or someone you've never met before because ethics and law are NOT relative.
Can't you see that? It's not the fact that she followed House's advice that's the problem: the problem is that she did what he told her to do in the stupidest way possible, and in the process was a TERRIBLE boss and a terrible administrator to her subordinate.
There is a very clear line that she crossed went she went behind Kaufman's back and even in a soap opera like Grey's Anatomy she would be subject to a disciplinary hearing.
House gets away with stuff like this because of her. That's why they screwed up by putting more emotions into relationship; she's supposed to be a boss that supports his opinion, not a girlfriend who does his every whim when she gets scared because he's there to protect her.
In this episode, she freaked and actively engaged him; and that's okay, her choice, her family. In terms of screwing up Arlene's meds, maybe family members can get away with doing that to each other (though that's highly questionable ethically, she was trying to do the right thing, though it's still illegal)
But she can't expect to get away with treating Kaufman like that because that. Is. Wrong. She didn't do any damage by being a moron, but the reason why behaviour like that is restrained is because you can do some real damage to patients and to the careers of colleagues if you do it. How is this difficult to digest?
TV shows are supposed to show engaging storylines, right? This one is engaging, certainly, but Cuddy used to be a decent character. Like I said before, to show this kind of submissiveness and emotional thinking is sexist.
That said, if they wanted her to be a mob wife type character, that's okay too: but they should commit and follow through with that, to show that it's stupid behaviour.
Amorality and being unable to cope are interesting character choices but they shouldn't expect her to be seen as a strong character. Cuddy has a lot of pre-teen and teenage fans. They should either stick to the characterisation of the pre-Huddy era of her trying to be strong and not having expectations of House (especially to protect her) or commit to destroying her character.
The halfway method is just very... iffy and unlikable writing which gives mixed messages, especially to young fans.
70 - HouseMDFan
Derdriui, I have no idea why you can't argue your point without insulting people every single time. I also have no idea why you keep saying the same thing over and over again whithout considering the good, rational arguments that have been given.
because ethics and law are NOT relative
Once again, what show have you been watching? House is all about there NOT being clear cut rules that would apply in every case. Almost every other case has something that goes against the law and almost every time it could do real damage. That's why the show isn't the real world.
not a girlfriend who does his every whim
She didn't. If you recall, the whole thing started out with her forcing him to do the job, at the beginning he was following her every whim despite his better judgement.
this kind of submissiveness and emotional thinking is sexist
Everybody in this show has been shown to make bad decisions when they are emotional, this has nothing to do with male or female. House himself has been shown making bad decisions when he is emotionally engaged, time and time again. Some of his bad decisions in this very episode were driven by emotions. He screwed up just as much as Cuddy, which Foreman and Masters pointed out. And re: submissiveness - again, I don't know what you have been watching, but I saw someone finally standing up for herself and her beliefs and not being submissive to her mom's every whim anymore. House didn't coerce her, he just helped her seeing who she really is. That by the way is a specialty of his.
And one last word: You seem to believe that the purpose of the characters should be to further some kind of agenda (whatever that is). I'd much rather have believable and fallible characters than cardboards with political messages plastered all over them.
71 - Derdriui
HouseMDFan
Okay, try this:
House is supposed to be maverick. And he cares about his puzzles and he cares about saving the patient (no matter what he says, one does not risk one's sodding medical license for a purely academic puzzle that one can solve at an autopsy if one does not care).
House letting her tell him to treat the patient behind her back was not following Cuddy's whims. He wasn't allowed to consult by Kaufman. Cuddy had him behind the scenes, and then later just went along with all the crazy plans to do simple things. There's drama for entertainment, and then there's that.
So I do take your point that he tried to listen to her. But that does not negate... everything else.
Dude, House told her to stand up for herself. She realized that because of him. And that's nice, it really is, except he didn't tell her to stand up to HIM and she couldn't figure out how to handle the rest of carrying out medical decisions (through other doctors and other legal methods) without following House's madcap ways.
As for your other point, like I said before, this show was not nihilist. It's not supposed to show that everything is pointless.
Throwing 'political' in there is an odd thing to say. Remember the episodes on abortion? On atheism? Heck, remember the episodes with polticians and the ones with their lackeys? The show deals with them. Nobody's saying there should be a party political manifesto, but just coherence.
Either Cuddy knows how to be an administrator or she does not. If she cannot figure out how to treat her mother without violating the law, then that's quite a big issue.
House guided and coaxed her through the process. And he did it in a mad way because it's House and when he gets emotional, he does go mad. But she should be better than that.
It's one thing to show her slipping up this once, but are you seriously telling me that you can't see that this is a more serious example of her previous administrative failures?
The writers aren't pretending that she's respected anymore.
Look, I've tried to respond to your ideas. We obviously just see things very differently. I would have preferred her to be a serious character, but a sitcom/mob wife combo is certainly interesting. It just doesn't inspire any respect, which makes the whole show look like a mess: are they just incoherent or are they doing this deliberately?
Nobody wants cardboard characters, but is having little believable motivation your definition of interesting?
It's one thing to have characters behaving in comprehensible ways, no matter how badly, because that shows perspective. Characters acting stupid without motivation is the realm of a) sitcoms and b) soap operas. Neither of them waste time on believable characters, they just do what they like with them for the funny or for the emotional manipulation.
And if you really, really think an administrator can afford to behave like this then that's believing a soap opera reality.
Ethics may be relative for House because he is pursuing a higher purpose - solving the puzzle over following the rules - but that's not an excuse for Cuddy.
72 - Kole
Derdriui:
Let's not turn this into a debate on sexism, I did not have anything in my comment that would merit that. I accept that Masters devotion is respectable and shows a strength of character, but the problem is that for her, the integrity of her character is obviously comes before people's life. It's insane to imply that House was selfish, why he is the one who risked his carrier for someone else's well being, while Masters did just the opposite. She risked the life of her patient for her own feeling of righteousness.
73 - Derdriui
Kole, the comment about sexism was in relation to the other comments, that was addressed to several people.
It's definitely an interesting point that you raise: do you follow medical ethics (or lawyerly ethics or lunchlady ethics or anything else) because you want to feel self-righteous or because they are correct?
Now, about what 3M did, I would say you're leaving out some significant factors: they were switching meds on the patient without the consent of the attending. That's nuts. Secondly, she was watching her boss and her boss' boss act out of control: she had no way to restrain them.
I don't think she was doing it to feel good. It made her throw up. She could have lost everything. House threatened to ruin her career at its fledgling stages, remember?
So 3M stood up for one principle, House stood up for another: to save Arlene. However, the way House was going about doing his job was nuts.
(Also, House was not risking his job. He and Cuddy were risking KAUFMAN'S job. If Kaufman went down for screwing up, neither House nor Cuddy nor the team would have owned up.)
Is it rational that the Dean of Medicine had no other way of getting Arlene treated without going behind her back? It's simply not rational.
In this context, 3M stood up for a principle that was drummed into her as a med student and makes sense in ethics and law. It prevented Arlene from having her wishes overidden, but more importantly, it stopped her from being medicated in a dangerous way.
House and Cuddy may find each other's competence astounding, but rules exist because that kind of madness isn't supposed to take place.
Also, 3M was not risking Arlene's life by telling her, I would argue. 3M was follow procedure that would help a rational doctor help a patient. Now, Arlene was difficult to treat in general: however, Cuddy should have switched her attending to someone more agreeable or SOMETHING before it got to the point where she was doing the mad stuff she was doing to Kaufman, emotionally following House's ideas.
3M also acted like a colleague, something that Kaufman was right in predicting neither House nor Cuddy would do when he said that if he worked with House, House would undermine him and Cuddy would let him.
Sorry, but House and Cuddy got themselves into a terrible mess. 3M stood up for her principles. If they had screwed up what they were doing to Arlene, neither House nor Cuddy would have their neck on the line in front of the disciplinary hearing for screwing up: that would be on Kaufman.
74 - Jacksam4eva
#70: I couldn't agree more with everything you said. I'd also like to add that Grey's and House are two completely different shows that don't have the same goal: in GA you learn how to be a good doctor while House tells you that you can't be a great doctor without breaking the rules (then , you decide or not you agree with him, that's up to you). Whether or not I think it's okay for Cuddy not to be sanctionned because of her behavior in this episode is up to me but the lack of sanction is definitely coherent with what the show has always been.
I think the first issue here is whether or not Cuddy's change in behavior is understandable. I personnally think it is, but again it's a very personal point of vue, apparently, Derdrinui, you see things differently, which I completely understand, like I said, I believe it's really subjective. I agree with you on the fact that going over Kaufman's head was definitely wrong and I also, just like you, think she should have picked another doctor to begin with. However, IMO, the reason she picked Kaufman is really ambiguous. I believe that somehow, she knew that something was going to go wrong and thought that Kaufman, if he could work with House, could be the boundary keeper she always is (and knew she couldn't be in this case because it regarded her family). The problem is that Kaufman didn't want to work with House so no one (except for Masters) was there to keep things in line.
Secondly, someone said (I can't remember who, sorry) that the show was unrealistic because Cuddy wasn't going to face a hearing even after what happenned and therefore could do whatever she wanted, and whatever House wanted without having to face any kind of sanctions. I'd like to say that yes, maybe not in her mother's case, but in the end of the episode, when House tells Masters she has to be there to keep him in line because the board people are not going to keep putting up with Cuddy always protecting him like this now that they're together, I think it clearly shows that actually, Cuddy's change in behavior and new boderline decisions are going to be an issue in the show. I don't know when but I trust the writers to bring it up.
Finally, I've thought about it and I think if we are to put the blame on Cuddy here, we should also put part of it on House. How long did it take him to confront her again? How long had it taken him when she screwed up in Fetal Position? He knew she was wrong about putting up with her mother's behavior and he knew she would never have made these decisions in other circonstances (we know he knows what she's going to okay before she even does since Selfish) and yet her didn't do anything because he was scared she'd get mad and break up with him. This was definitely a tough episode for everyone, not just Cuddy.
75 - Susan
Back to the ratings and RSL - New York Times today said "Fox builds night on a strong 'House''", and "Fox delivered its best Monday night ratings of the season" and 'House' attracted its highest ratings of the season with 12.3 million viewers".
While "House"'s ratings may have been 25 million years ago, it seems that no other TV shows have ratings like that anymore. CBS's top show Two and a Half Men only had 15.1 million. Overall, I don't think people watch as much TV as they used too and viewership has declined for every show.
As for RSL - New York Times says "the doctor is out temporarily and headed back to Broadway" to a revival of "Born Yesterday" with preview on March 31 opening on April 24. But I assume all of this season's shows were already taped so this won't affect his appearing in the next 12 or so episodes. What about next year???
"Family Practice" gave me more hope for House/Cuddy continuing into the future - with House's remark about sleeping next to Cuddy next year and his overall concern for her. Also, the way he got so mad at Arlene for denigrating Cuddy at the dinner table two weeks ago, and his blossoming relationship with Rachel, his better disposition, and, may I say, his looks- he is much handsomer than last season. Other good signs- their cuddling on the couch when House gave her the birthday "present" of tranquilizers, and the washing dishes together. But a few more smiles from Cuddy would be nice - she does seem to scowl alot, as someone pointed out, and some gazing into each other's eyes would be nice.
Arlene Cuddy is a stinker - I don't like her character and poor Cuddy to have to grow up with a mother like that. She can sympathize with House and his poor relationship with his father.
Enough for now.