I have to admit that I wasn’t particularly looking forward to this episode. After last week’s brilliant “Birthmarks,” featuring a terrific reunion for House and Wilson, important character reveals both for their relationship and for House himself, and that sucker punch of a final scene, I was not so interested in this week’s presumed focus on 13.
I like 13, also known as Dr. Remy Hadley, and I think having a fellow with a dire neurological disease is an interesting plot thread. But the show is called House, after all, and I am most pleased (as are many viewers) when the series is focused on him. So, admittedly, after the network hype, press releases, promos (mental note: must stop watching them!) and previews, I was less than enthusiastic.
That said, I should know better. And trust the writers and show creators to serve up a good episode, if one that lacks the emotional punch I got last week. (Well, they can’t all deliver that sort of a sucker punch.) Episode five of this fifth season of House, MD, “Lucky Thirteen,” addresses life changes, the control (or lack thereof)) we exert over them, and how we deal with them.
In 13’s case, she is dealing with the life altering news that she has active Huntington’s Chorea, an aggressive and ultimately fatal genetic disease. She reacts to her disease by cruising gay bars for women (13 is bisexual), using drugs, and drinking heavily. She tells Foreman that she’s trying to cram as much “living” into her shortened life span as she can. And it’s also clear that her hard-living lifestyle is also designed to let her numb herself to the bleak reality of her mortality. If she’s “having fun,” she can’t think about her impending death. But her crash and burn choices can only hasten the inevitable, something that House sees (and understands all too well).
But when 13 shows up for work late and drunk — something House has said in the past he doesn’t tolerate — House saves her career by not forcing a drug test, but fires her. I don’t think he expects her to go home, but to do exactly what she does — stick around and try to prove that she still can work.
There is much about 13’s situation that resonates with House. Certainly, he’s not terminal, but I think that in some ways House sees himself on a long road towards death — a protracted death. His words to her: “You’re on a downward spiral; you slash away at anyone who tries to help until no one tries to help anymore. Till you hit bottom; until you’re dead.” These are words people have probably been saying to him for eight years. Words he doubtless tells himself, has told himself, particularly in those weeks that Wilson had tried to cut House from his life. For all of his manipulation and moralizing lectures, House not only loves Wilson for his friendship, but because even his lecturing confirms to him that someone still cares.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Rachel
The very last scene, when House looks at Wilson and Cuddy with this expression of -- despair, fear, what-the-hell --. Well, this has never happened to me before, but I couldn't look at House's face in that scene. It was too raw. I had to look away; I felt so much pity for the man.
He really doesn't handle change well at all.
And, Hugh Laurie, for the love of God, would someone give him an Emmy already? He deserves it at least three times over.
2 - Barbara Barnett
It was a brilliant scene. Just brilliant. House's goes from his default position of push-back to being sucker punched. I think the impact was all the greater since he'd really just begun to feel comfortable with Wilson back in his life and now---this!
He just looked so damned hurt. You could see him really choke back the tears in that one small moment. Cuddy and Wilson were also stunned.
3 - sdemar
A nice review for an episode that was just OK for me. That's OK, I can't expect to fall in love with all of them. And as you said, Barbara, after "Birthmarks", it would be hard to match up. The final scene though made it all worthwhile. I'm really curious as to how House is going to act toward Cuddy in the next episode. Will he be happy, sad, jealous, or what?
4 - ValentineBaby
Barbara, couldn't wait to hear your take on the episode...great review as always. This was difinitley not my favorite episode. The only parts I liked were with Wilson, Cuddy and PI Lucas and of course the best..the very end. That's the first time I remember House being so visably upset (except last season's finale). I like his vulnerable times. IMO the writers are making House too much of a college frat boy. Getting keys to the team's homes and doing whatever he wants is a bit over the top. But, this is still my absolutely favorite show and will always watch it. Hugh is such a great actor. Can't wait till next week's episode. PS-love PI Lucas character and his interaction with House. Wish he could be permanent.
5 - Barbara Barnett
I wonder if House is going to be (anonymously) protective towards Cuddy. Will he suspect that the birth mother may change her mind if they both survive? (based on the preview). How will he react then? And whose hand is that holding the baby's? It makes no sense for it to be House, but it does look like his hand...
As for that very interesting (and verrrrry provocative) profile shot of House and Cuddy...yow.
It's interesting about 13. My husband (who isn't a die hard fan)understands that 13 is a stand-in for House in a lot of ways (only on a much faster trajectory down), but she's got such a flat affect and such a guarded character, that the audience doesn't really care about her. House, he says, is equally guarded (around his colleague and associates), but the audience gets to see him at unguarded times, so we see there is much, much more to him that a guarded wise-ass. We can sympathize with him because we see him suffer and see him care and feel (even though his associates can't). We haven't had the luxury of that with 13, so we don't care as much (or at all) about her.
6 - Rachel
You've got it, Barbara. House *can't* change, and when his friends leave him behind, he's hurt beyond belief. It kind of reminds me of what it's like to suffer from a mental illness, like depression or bipolar disorder: you see everyone around you maturing, growing, living, marrying, and so on, and you can't change. Same old symptoms, same old setbacks. So that's why House is scared.
I thought his handling of Thirteen was also very typical of House: rough, brutal, but with an acutely sensitive undertone of compassion. I mean, he gets her out of Cuddy's office so that she doesn't have a drug test on her record and lose her medical license. Why the hell do that if he's going to fire her?
7 - Barbara Barnett
ValentineBaby--
Thanks. The frat-boy stuff has never been my favorite House-trait, but he's been that way since nearly the beginning. I think he gets more that way when he's upset and trying too hard to distance himself from his feelings. That's when we get the big mood swings from frat-boy sarcasm and antics to vulnerability so quickly (the vulnerability is very close to the surface, I think). I like the PI too, but I think that last night was his last gig on the show. A bit sorry to see him go, but...
Agree with you about Hugh--and I can't wait for next week. I'm going to try to do an article tracing House and Cuddy's long relationship before the episode airs, with maybe a bit of a preview (no real spoilers--don't have any of those)
8 - mem
It was an alright episode. Not as bad as the season opener where there was A LOT of 13 too, but it was also rather boring. Thirteen doing drugs in the face of a terminal disease, having reckless sex is a recycled plot from season 2 when Cameron did the same. Except in Cameron's case it lasted for one episode, with 13 we have at least a year to go.
Anyways, the review was lovely, I can't wait for House to get more exciting.
9 - sdemar
"I'm going to try to do an article tracing House and Cuddy's long relationship before the episode airs, with maybe a bit of a preview"
Oh, please, do. I would love it.
10 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks mem. I do think House is about to get more exciting (although, on the whole, I can't complain too much about this season) as we enter November "sweeps." I'm sure they have much prepared for this important ratings period.
11 - Kizmet
I hope Lucas and Wilson have a chance to interact before Lucas disappears forever. I think House was doing better at taking the first steps toward developing a new friendship than would have been expected. It might be interesting to have Wilson realize that House isn't completely incapable of forming other friendships.
I think some of House's investigation of his new team might have been done with the ulterior motive of figuring out how not lose them (Because when Lucas points out that Taub took the job to save his marriage, House starts trying to be helpful). Also, House would probably consider using a PI to snoop to be a means of getting to know them better.
Basically after Wilson left House reacted more healthily than might have been expected. He didn't throw all his energy into resisting change and trying to get Wilson back. He didn't withdraw. He tried to form new relationships and, in his own, thoroughly inappropriate way, to develop the relationships he had left.
I think House might find himself in a situation which could mirror the one with Amber in "Joy". It looks like something's going wrong with the baby. Once again one of House's closest friends is going to be looking to him to save someone vastly important to them. The birth-mother's well-being will almost certainly come into the equation and in other episodes with pregnant patients House tends to favor protecting the mother's health over the fetus', but this time the fetus is the Cuddy's future child.
12 - JL
Regarding the similarities between House and 13 -
House wanted to see whether 13 could connect with the dying patient - and she did - but then the patient moved on (i.e. wasn't dying anymore) and 13 was left feeling very alone.
This was spelled out. I read a random article suggesting the writers had set up a parallel at the end of the episode:
that House has been making tentative efforts towards making a connection with Cuddy, and that his cataclysmic reaction to her moving on in life is that he will be left alone.
What do you think?
13 - Barbara Barnett
kizmet-- you said: I think House might find himself in a situation which could mirror the one with Amber in "Joy". It looks like something's going wrong with the baby. Once again one of House's closest friends is going to be looking to him to save someone vastly important to them. The birth-mother's well-being will almost certainly come into the equation and in other episodes with pregnant patients House tends to favor protecting the mother's health over the fetus', but this time the fetus is the Cuddy's future child.
What you say is validated in one of the clips posted at the House on FOX site.
JL--I agree with you. I think House has been off balance emotionally (more than his norm) for months. When Amber died, House was left alone (without Wilson)--and House let him be, but wondering if anything could go back to normal. House's worst fears were realized when Wilson walked away from him (and so easily). I think those weeks are still having a big impact on him and informed what he said to 13 about people simply no longer trying to help eventually. But he regained his balance when Wilson played the prank and all was right with his world (as much as it can be) until the end, when WHAM. Something else in his life has sprung a leak.
I agree that House does run a silent scenario in his head. He feels very connected to Cuddy on several levels, but he can't (or is afraid to) allow those feelings to surface. So she doesn't know--because she can't. So I think that's part of his sadness at the end. I think you're also right in that he sees Wilson and Cuddy--a happy couple (not romantic)--but Uncle Jimmy and mom Cuddy. He sees the rightness of it, but he's completely left out of this domestic picture. the rug's pulled out from under him just as he's gotten some semblance of balance restored to him.
He's not only excluded. He's alone as Cuddy (and Wilson) have moved on (like 13's friend in misery, Spencer). And that's a really scary place for House. He needs to connect to something real, and Wilson and Cuddy provide that for him (and he does let his guard down with both of them). If they are gone, he loses that connection, he completely adrift.
14 - Marianna
[It's a dark road / and a dark way that leads to my House..]
It was a good episode, although it wasn't as House-centered as it should, imho. It got the other two elements i adore in this show:
Witty, humorous, biting house-isms (the whole lesbian-one-night-stand gave him SO much ground for some great, GREAT Laugh-Out-Loud innuendos and oneliners, and this season had lost some of its humorous edge -or at least that's what some fans have been complaining about)
-"You're just upset that the whole time she was with you, she was thinking about my huge, throbbing diagnostic skills."
-"Like Thirteen!"
-"Another life saved by girl on girl action."
-the way he delivered the line "I ..like to watch!"
-"I assume my name came up last night in the form of a moan?"
-"Unless this is the prelude to an actual spanking, there's no reason for me to be here"
etc.
And, secondly, those little, precious moments where House opens up just a little bit and shows this little but huge emotion -but never too much. This last scene, House's expressions and how Laurie delivered them was just priceless. Just those two minutes keep me going and thinking about the whole episode for another week..
What was he thinking? Still can't figure it out, and my guess is, the writers don't want us to figure out something specific.
However, I think it's more about his fear of change, his possessiveness, and not so much about hidden feelings (even if he has some for Cuddy, he isn't ready to admit them, as a whole, yet. And, if I may, I personally wouldn't want something too much to happen between them, I don't want this chemistry and electricity to be gone). He knew Cuddy trusted him about the whole child thing, and know she changed, she trusted Wilson. He knew he was Cuddy's mommy's boy and know she is gonna change, all her attention and affection won't be about him. It's his possessiveness too, he won't have her all by himself now (not necessarily in an "i love you" way, but still).
To sum up, I welcome my two favorite elements on the show, (a) comic relief without being too much and (b) insight for the characters without getting the overwhelming soapopera effect, but, please writers, remember the show is about House and not the peripheral characters. That's why they're called peripheral. We get to them because of their interaction with the central character. He should be the beggining and the end of every episode (metaphorically, and, why not, literally). Everything else, it should just be a filler, a secondary story and and not the main storyline.
Sorry, i could go on and on, i'm stopping now. It's my first comment and wanted to fit everything in.
On another note, thanks fot the Great reviews. Love your writing and the way you see the show as a fan -positively and respecting the writers' choices.
15 - blacktop
Excellent review, Barbara. Like sdemar, I am looking forward to your summary of the long relationship between House and Cuddy. The multiple roles they play in each other's lives are fascinating as is the charge (emotional, intellectual, erotic) they share with every encounter.
16 - Laura
Change might be difficult for House but he didn't mind when his old team left.
17 - Barbara Barnett
Nice comments Marianna. Your comments are most welcome.
Blacktop, I'm looking forward to writing this too. If I don't post it this weekend, I'll do in between "Joy" and the next episode "Itch" (which will run the week after the election.
Laura, I do think that House had more difficulty with the old team leaving than he let on. It was clear that he didn't want to replace them and only did so under duress. The fact that he "saw" Foreman (who wasn't really there) in "The Right Stuff" suggests that as well. He was quite glad to see them returned.
18 - Laura
And now that they're back he's barely had any contact with them and Foreman is "office art". House seems out of character since season 4.
19 - Orange450
Barbara, thanks for the great review - for an episode that IMO was just OK. I'm very excited to read your overview of House and Cuddy's long relationship. I'm a staunch House/Stacy fan (who remains ever-hopeful that they'll be reunited at the end of the series) but I really think that House and Cuddy have wonderful chemistry, a very strong friendship and a lot going for them - and they could be good together, too. (After all, Stacy and Cuddy have more similarities than differences, and House is nothing if not true to type.)
I was wondering about the possibility that House's intense reaction to Cuddy's news was on some level caused by the realization and disappointment that she never asked him to be the father of her child - as she seemed to try to do way back when at the very end of "Who's your Daddy?" (and he seemed aware of that). The storyline was dropped for such a long time that he may have thought that she'd dropped the idea too - and here he finds out that not only didn't she drop it - but he's not part of her plans at all.
13's reckless behavior was way too cliche, IMO. How much more innovative would it be to give her an entirely different reaction to an upcoming untimely death - like how many books can she read, how much music can she appreciate, how many people can she help, how many positive memories of herself can she give to others, before she has to die. Would that ever knock House for a loop - he could have a field day with it! But I guess that kind of behavior wouldn't do much for the ratings :-)
I had a problem with this episode's dialogue. Somehow everyone seemed to have to spell out everything they were doing, thinking, etc. Maybe the dialogue wasn't subtle enough, or maybe there was just too much of it - but I felt like I was getting hit over the head with ideas that were fairly obvious. Could be that I'm just feeling the contrast with "Birthmarks" - which didn't contain so much as an extra semi-colon!
The best (overlooked) line was Taub's comment to Lucas - "Mannix". I laughed out loud at that one. PJ's timing was impeccable! It reminded me of how much I enjoyed him in his recurring role as Randy Dworkin on Law and Order. That kind of OTT character may be a better fit for him than Taub - who doesn't bring out his talent in quite the same way.
20 - Ange
I knew you would like it. There was some very shippy House/Cuddy stuff and that always puts you in a good mood.
This is the episode that jumped the shark for me. I understand that Thirteen is reflecting House's self-destructive tendencies, that she is dealing with her diagnosis by drugs and promiscuous sex, I understand that House is trying to make her see that. But it is impossible in terms of the real world that anyone as unstable as Thirteen is would be allowed to work in most jobs, much less as a doctor making life and death decisions. It's less realistic than a soap opera.
They went too far trying to draw the parallels with House. She is a huge liability to the hospital and if House can't see that, Cuddy should.
21 - Barbara Barnett
One of the things I try to do in my reviews is to try to understand where the writers are coming from: how does House fit into the story, even when he's not the immediate focal point. (And it's why it sometimes takes me longer to put my thoughts into a cohesive review).
Yes, 13 is a mess, but it's not as if she's been habitual. And House (in his own convoluted way) is trying to help her--as he has. Maybe he sees the kindered wounded spirit in her, that makes him both mock her and help her. I don't know.
Ange--you know me so well ;) But I liked the episode not for the House/Cuddy moments, but for the House reveals: the need he has to verify that Wilson's friendship hasn't changed appreciably--and his attempt to be accepting if it has changed.
I don't think the show has jumped the shark. And House's behavior moves around unpredictably from episode to episode and season to season. I was watching some of season two,and found some of House's behavior to be really nasty. Good example is Spin. Another is TB or not TB. But there's always something redeeming about him that makes him sympathetic (not in those two episodes, however). In Acceptance, also in season two, House was a pig, but then there were other scenes that served as reminders that he's not really a pig. Hope I'm making sense here.
Orange--they can't all be great. Some are average (and this was one of those), but average on House is pretty good anyway. There have been some really fabulous episodes in this nascent season, so I'm not complaining. Esp. not after Birthmarks. First two episodes also got to me in a very visceral way. Next week's promises to do the same.
22 - Veresna Ussep
Dear Barbara,
Please, please, PLEASE do the article detailing House and Cuddy, I would love to have you write a detailed, thoughtful analysis of this wonderfully complex relationship--including the times when Cuddy totally misjudged what was 'best'.
This was, by and large, a boring, wasted episode for me. I really do think that Olivia Wilde is a competent actress and the writers have spent a great deal of time on her character, but somehow 13 just completely fails to interest me. I had already heard some of the spoilers for the next episode, so the main surprise to me was that they revealed Cuddy's intentions at the end of this episode instead of waiting for the next. But, what a scene! Of course Hugh Laurie was absolutely amazing, but I have found on rewatching (numerous times, I'll admit it), I am also deeply impressed by RS Leonard. After Cuddy reveals the truth, you seem him start to grin a big old happy smile ("See, everything's all right now!), but it freezes halfway-formed as he sees the look on House's face. Cuddy, of course, is so thrilled that it takes her a few more beats to take it in, and she tries to throw him a light comment, trying to give him time to recover. When he swallows and replies with the "if you're happy, I'm..." non sequiter and then beats a hasty retreat, she finally realizes how deeply hurt he is. That 90 second scene was far more interesting than anything else in the rest of the episode and, from the two clips posted so far, it appears that the next episode has the potential to be another stellar moment for this spectacular series.
Veresna
23 - Marisol
Barbara: You have great reviews and I always read them. I have never posted comments before, but here it goes.
What kept me up for hours: What was House thinking and feeling exactly in those few seconds right after Cuddy told him about adopting a baby?
Possibilities:
1) He was devastated because he did not realize how much he really cares for Cuddy until the precise moment Cuddy told him about the adoption. This was like realizing you had the best thing in the world exactly in the moment that you lose it.
2) Major disappointment because he perceived rejection from Cuddy by not letting him be part of her plans about the baby. He had always been included in her plans to get a sperm donor and get fertility treatment before.
3) Being upset because this ruins a possible fantasy in House’s head that somehow Cuddy’s baby should be his, too, even if in reality he might never agree to it or recognize that he is interested.
4) Feeling stupid. House has so carefully monitored Cuddy’s status (pregnant or not pregnant) to a point of obsession that prevented him from considering the most obvious alternative of adoption. Her adopting a child was so obvious and he did not even consider it because his feelings for her distracted him from logic.
5) A combination of all these?
24 - L.Lilly
Barbara, you quoted something in your review that reminded me of one of the reasons I dislike Thirteen so intensely. You wrote, "She suggested to him that he constantly seeks answers, uses questions, his curiosity to keep his own connection to hope. 'You spend your whole life looking for answers,' she said. 'Because you think the next answer will change something, maybe make you a little less miserable. And you know that when you run out of questions, you don't just run out of answers, you run out of hope.'"
At that time, Thirteen had not worked very long for House. In fact, she was still one of the candidates. We know that Wilson and Cuddy seem to fail as often as succeed when it comes to analyzing House, and they've known him for many years. I simply cannot accept that Thirteen would know that much about House. If she is meant to be some kind of omniscient character, then I need a better actress to convey it, not a blank-faced supermodel. I know I was supposed to feel something for her when she made her "alone" speech to Foreman, but I couldn't muster up any degree of caring. Perhaps it's because there is too much of her. This is the second episode out of five where she has received as much, if not more, screentime than the title character himself.
On the other hand, my heart broke for poor Cuddy when House was unable to come up with any congratulations for her baby news. Her face portrayed more gut-wrenching emotions in those few seconds than Thirteen has in 20 episodes.
The House/Wilson scenes were gold, as was the final House/Cuddy/Wilson scene. Another scene I absolutely loved was the Foreman/Chase exchange. I love the way the old team play off each other so well. As for the rest of the episode, I have no interest in watching it again.
25 - Marjohn
I am surprised that no one has made mention yet that House has not has Lucas "dick out" Cuddy. If he had, then the adoption screening process would surely have come out. When Foreman found that there was nothing in his past of any interest, I wondered what else Lucas might have revealed about Cuddy besides the adoption. I don't doubt that House would have gotten around to her after digging around on Wilson and his direct reports got to be a bore. Had he done so, though, and found out about the adoption, I suspect that he would have been just as surprised and hurt.
Also loved Chase telling Foreman *just* how lame and uninteresting he really is. Classic...