The one thing that really bothered me in last night’s House, M.D. episode “Man of the House,” was the all-too-easy resolution of House’s marital dilemma. Admittedly, we do get those neat little wrap ups every once in awhile in a House episode, but there’s usually a clear, logical reason for it.
There were so many places the writers might have gone with the story. Why is House helping his faux wife Dominika in the first place? Is it really the $30,000 she has promised him? I doubt it; I do believe that it’s House’s latent nobility, refusing to ignobly place Dominika in the deportation queue to save his own skin. And I would have liked to see a bit more of that in action. Instead, we got situation comedy and a cop-out ending tied up neatly—just like a situation comedy.
Wilson is a sap to play into House’s madness by agreeing to lie for House to the immigration people (but with a terrible, but very funny, fake British accent). I’m actually glad he’s outed by House’s genuine (and genuinely pissed off) neighbor. But the dilemma into which this puts House and Dominika is serious. “Be in my office at 10 a.m.,” says the immigration officer threateningly.
But for all the bluster, the episode ends with the official letting House and Dominika off the hook way too easily, allowing her to stay—and keeping House out of jail. This is after both continue to lie to the guy. And I said Wilson’s a sap? Sheesh!
The immigration official has no reason to be so lenient—especially given the pair continue to lie throughout their meeting with immigration, and the official knows it. So it makes no sense to me. All that buildup and—nothing. I would have liked to see the implications of House's green-card marriage played out a little more seriously.
That said, I did like the interactions between House and Dominika, and I also liked House trying to do the noble thing and protect her from deportation. There's actually some dramatic red meat there, left untouched, sadly. Hopefully the writers will pick it up at some point between now and May.
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Orange450
Was I the only one who heard the old familiar theme playing in my head? You know - "you can't always get what you want, but sometimes - you get what you need..."
I really, really liked the interactions between House and Dominika. It's a long time since we've seen him respect a woman, and he clearly respects her. She is smart, resilient, courageous and independent. All good things in his book. And very nice, to boot. And - she can play him at his own game (and he knows it) - her speech at the immigration office and her quick comeback to House afterwards reminded me totally of the way he played Cameron with the "I love you" speech.
In a crazy way, I think she's exactly what he needs right now, even if she isn't who he wanted. I definitely see the potential for some interesting developments, in the small amount of time we have left.
2 - Barbara Barnett
Hey Orange! I did like their interactions, but would really like to see it played for something other than comedy. Their interactions were the absolutely best part of the episode. It's rare for me not to like a House episode, but even in this one (which I didn't care for) I did like that aspect very much.
3 - Orange450
Judging from the expressions on House's face at several points, I think the interaction has a potential to be played for something more than comedy. He doesn't have a handle on her, and it's refreshing to see him unsettled, occasionally.
But we've been led down rabbit holes before, so I'll just retreat back in to mine, and patiently watch the last of it play out :)
4 - bigHousefan
Barbara,
I kept thinking, finally, we're going to learn the how and why these two met and came to the marriage agreement. I get the attempt to really hurt Cuddy but it was totally outrageous even for him.
That said, I really like Dominika and I can't believe I'm saying that. I agree with Orange450 that she's a surprising fit for all the reasons cited. And yes, I heard "you can't always get what you want..." in my head and smiled. I loved their scenes together and I still can't believe I'm saying that.
I just wish there would have been a meaty backstory discovery about these two so it would make more sense.
As for Wilson -Wilson loves House, House loves Wilson, I love them both in any scene they play together so there you have it - I'm a sap.
I can't wait until next Monday night!
5 - Djesus
Barbara, I totally agree with you review, Wilson is used in a weird way this season, and I also agree about the sitcom style, too much comedy, nothing is really discussed, no one questioned Dominika about what House has done to his ex girlfriend when she was already married to him, and how the immigration service can be as lenient toward this couple just because a woman is crying? absurd and totally unrealistic.
I think it's really really time to refocus on House and his pain, his addiction, and his emotional issues, it's the last season and nothing is happening.
As you I can't wait now for Blythe's return, fingers crossed for some substance in the storyline! it's time!
6 - Kaliera
I can't tell you how thrilled I am that some people think that what House needs is the cliched street-smart, broken-english, Hooker with a Heart of Gold who cares about him so much she's willing to continue a charade that could put him back in prison. I know I'm always saying that what men who drive their cars through houses in a fit of pique REALLY need is for their age-appropriate, complex, career-women who purger themselves to give their love interest a shot at rehab and expect them to grow up to just disappear so that they can instead find potential true love with a woman less than half their age with the draining job of dancing around the house and making those tough emotional demands like a 2nd shower shelf (vs, you know, being there when they might be dying - that bitch!).
Thank god immigration officials all just love the movie "green card" and know nothing says "meet cute" like the older balding ex con and the slutty hot Russian - and judges are stupid anyway. That's how they got to be judges.
My roommate sent me a text when this was over that said "did they just make last year's completely offensive storyline even MORE offensive to regular women? Are the writers Rick Sanatorum fans?"
House's Head and Wilson's Heart repeated the other day on USA - and I swear to God I hung my head and sighed at the loss of THAT writing. Cant. End. Soon. Enough.
(Still love Hugh Laurie though!)
Kaliera
P.S. - I believe I called the two episodes time frame before all events from "Nobody's Fault" were completely forgotten. Is there a reward for anticipating sloppy writing?
7 - Harry
I agree with Kaliera!
How anyone can enjoy this storyline in regard to what it was used for last season making it 'OK' in passing and insulting strong women is offensive!
I thought this reviewer and this board was made with smart women, not with the kind of thoughts expressed by Orange above.
So this young cute girl comes in and swoops him off his feet.
She has not earned that importance in the show and in a relationship with him.
But let's forget that Cuddy, Stacy were dumb enough to fall for a felon/criminal who only seems to need abuse, hookers, car crashes and modern slavery to make it through life.
I am utterly disappointed in the medias condoning what we're being fed and fans for not being appalled!
This show's legacy is a joke!
8 - Djesus
Kaliera, House's head is my favourite ep of this show! Doris Egan wrote it (she also wrote "now what", not a good one).
We'll never find again the quality that we had in the past (dialogues were witty), but I just hope now some highlights of emotion (and not stupid kaboom) in the next eps.
In France we broadcast now the seventh season, everyone agrees that it's no longer what it was.
But it's a review for most of tv shows after five seasons.
9 - Just a thought...
I wouldn't call House losing his personal space for six months, getting a new kind of "ankle monitor" and clearly being conflicted about that a "neat little wrap". I would call a lot of House's latent nobility latent *guilt*, though. Just like I would call Wilson's 'being a sap' fear of losing his friend AGAIN.
10 - ChrisBalto
Loved it. I thought taub was awesome and I love park. This was a fun episode. I saw house have feelings for his wife and I think it was cause she is a good liar fun clever and has a good heart like him. I am gonba miss this show so much. I love these characters. The show is so funny! Just like my loci gone too soon!
11 - hazel eyes
I am loving season 8 and I love the way House looks at his wife. He had the same expression on his face he had when he looked at Cuddy when she was his girlfriend. Wilson is not a sap he just doing what he has done for the last 7 seasons, protecting House. I am not really surprised at how harsh your reviews are sounding now since Cuddy left given you were a card carrying Huddy fan
12 - lobentti
Hey! I´d not seen this episode yet, but as I wrote else-where, I believe they (writers, producers, etc) are helping us to let the show go making it from bad to worst, so we don´t suffer too much ... (this is sarcasm, ok?)
13 - lobentti
Or... we can consider the five stages of death acceptance ...or we really get only what we get, not what we need, or want, or deserve...
14 - Shane
First she calls him a coward to challenge him to take on government (emasculation House just as POTW). She manipulated and called it negotiation, the she resorted to bribery with $30,000 that is sure to have more of a back story that knitches. Then she slapped him with "I'm too smart to ever fall in love with you," insulting him and the intelligence of anyone who ever loved him (including the audience). Then she demands an extra space in his man cave, after she's already decorated it for HER scheme to get what SHE wanted. The fans who are romanticizing this are really missing the point here.
Here is the meek, weak, emasculated House again - the flip side of his jerk - that the writers painted last season. They continue to bury and forget the House of earlier seasons, the House of strength, dignity, nobility and truth only hidden beneath a veil of rude and crass behavior. Our truth seeker is caught in another prison, just like the POTW and Taub, paying the price for bad choices in life through emasculation in unrelated situations.
Where was the snark for the INS agent, the sarcasm regarding Parks self-proclaimed superiority, the bite with Wilson that makes their friendship? Fear of jail has left him mute and lacking in creativity and manipulations of his own? He can't even lie well anymore?
"Honey, I'm home." Right, there's domestication to be found here...in a too young and energetic female Alvie who is fascinating to him, but not one for longevity. How does his coffee, booze and handicap work with her "high is exercise" and Christian Music apparently? She has already disrupted his life, and contrary to the superficial "fun" of this epi, it is not in a good way. He is like the patient of the week, no balls, but chained to that existence by need and a misguided desire.
House is still in a jail of his own making, just as the theme of the season and the promo posters indicated. For those fans who were spouting the excitement of that violent cathartic moment being such a breakthrough: it's time to wake up. House is in chains, not because of Cuddy or Huddy or whatever other excuses are out there. House is in an even worse kind of bondage.
I preferred the House before the allegedly explored Huddy because that House was a man. The House they continue to write is a shell of the man he once was, not as a result of the situations in the scripts, but because they write him this way. That creative team must be a really screwed up group, emasculated men who hate women, and bitter women who hate men.
15 - Djesus
Shane, after reading your post I understand now the titel of the ep : the man of the house, emasculated House. Puppy dog is back.
Good point!
I'd like to know how Dominika has found 30000$. This story is fishy.
16 - Seeing Is Believing
Thank you Shane for wrapping up the reality of this once magnificent show! It makes me very sad :-(
17 - Still Love HL
It is of particular importance that Shane mentioned that House is who he is now because he is written that way. The same can be said for Cuddy & it seems now for Wilson also. What can possibly be the impetus for rewriting characters we have loved? Why spend all these seasons setting up canon & showing us who/what characters are & then negating it all with a few outrageous actions? From the outside looking in, it must be hilarious. From the inside looking out, it's heartbreaking.
I guess everybody does lie because apparently people DO change.
18 - hwl40
Oh, well, I guess I have no discrimination but I liked it. He hurts, he cares and has given up on himself. The feeling of a shell of a man (and of a show) is I believe an accurate depiction of the effect of the traumas he has suffered. His games with the team are half hearted and no one seems to be taking them that seriously, almost indulging him. Taub seems to have developed a more solid sense of himself and I believe that we will see that the others are on the way to that point.
I see House as on a downward spiral (ok, again) and showing it. He has let go managing his direction and just following his life on out. I thought it was a really strong and very sad episode.
19 - Josie123
I thought the scenes between House and Dominika were well done. Despite himself, House enjoyed spending time with her as they prepared for the Immigration interview at the apartment. My heart dropped as she told him that she would never be stupid enough to fall in love with him. Despite everything, House still wants to be loved and since he is not willing to seek out help to "fix" himself, he was always be in his loveless emotional prison cell.
This wasn't one of my favorite episodes. I think at this point I'm getting tired of watching such a depressing show. It was more interesting in season 6 when House was trying to fix himself. Also, the patient's story was so sad. The patient may think by not taking hormone replacements he will save his marriage, but I feel now that the wife knew his true personality, their marriage was over. Plus she probably would want him to be as healthy as he could be, including sexually active. Or we can interpret it as another marriage that will continue based on deception where neither party will ever be truly happy. Also, Taub as second in command seems like a soon to be disaster.
20 - Ladybelle Fiske
I begin to fear that we are not going to see a neatly plotted, intelligent, wrapped-up use of all the characters and situations we would all like to see before the end. I feel this week's episode was mostly a waste of time-- though there is something nice about Dominika-- and by the way, who won the spot of team leader? Did anyone?
I was glad to see Wilson in it at all. He seems to be used less and less and to be drawing away from the whole scene-- surely an actor of RSL's caliber should be able to give us an ending that has no hint of "an ending" written across the faces of the characters. House and Wilson just do not seem close this season, all that much. I hope it will change.
I do very much look forward to seeing Mrs. House back again, and hope some of those who's your daddy and why issues will be resolved, or at least, discussed! I hope we see some emotion involved in Houses relations with his mother. I think he really likes her and it would be nice to see that. I suppose Dominika will be involved, so I hope things are interesting between her and Blythe.
I wonder if they brought Dominika back because she had a certain amount of time left on her contract or something? There are many other ways this could have been resolved. Yet, there are some nice interrelatios between House and Mrs. House.
I think we should all petition ABC to allow Jennifer Morrison to be used in the finale-- she wants to be there and we want her to be there-- and I'm sure she can handle it having two shows to finish up at sweeps time.
And of course I do hope we will see Lisa Edelstein return, even if only for a brief scene. What's the big deal? She hasn't got another show on, so can't they hire her for one brief shining moment? I like the idea of her showing up with a baby clearly House's.
Let's see some real drama (and comedy)!
21 - Scarlett
hwl40 - I really liked this ep too. I totally agree with this:
"Oh, well, I guess I have no discrimination but I liked it. He hurts, he cares and has given up on himself. The feeling of a shell of a man (and of a show) is I believe an accurate depiction of the effect of the traumas he has suffered. His games with the team are half hearted and no one seems to be taking them that seriously, almost indulging him."
I think the team all knows who he is at this point, and the fun and games keep House from being totally broken/depressive... so in a way they are very much indulging him. It even shows they care about their boss and don't want to see him go over the edge again.
I think the path they've taken for House is a very natural one, given all the events and trauma's he's experienced during and pre-show. Especially from HH/WH onward.
Yeah, outwardly this episode had a lot of comedy, but it was in those moments between w/ House's looks at Dominika (which I believe are important and telling) and the moment in the ICE office where House is so lost and downright scared of going back to prison that he's speechless... those bits are the meat of the episode that I think will carry of forward. The contrast between showing the comedy vs the glimpses into his true feelings on the state of his life actually made this episode quite sad in tone despite the hijinks, IMO.
I also don't see House as any less of a man or him being emasculated - he has *always* had problems on a personal level and with relationships. He has plenty of self worth on the work front, but none for himself on a personal level and I don't see that as having changed at all from season 1. Heck, this was a guy who said goodbye to Stacy because he didn't believe he was good enough - didn't even try a second time with her even though she was ready to leave Mark. The only difference now is he has tried (with Cuddy), and failed. Of course that only reinforces his belief that he can't make a woman happy or give them what they want. That hasn't changed.
I also agree with those who said Dominika might be exactly what he needs right now. He's obviously lonely, and they seem to get on well enough that she'd make a good companion. His look at the end held lots of different emotions. Some companionship from someone who doesn't really seem to judge might be exactly what he needs right now even if living with her is a bit of an annoyance to him.
I don't even mind the ICE officer letting them off because 1) House & Dominika now have to live together which won't be easy for either of them & I enjoy their interaction 2) Don't really care about seeing another trial or "House goes back to prison arc" at this point and 3) It keeps Dominika around, who I enjoy.
Anyhow, I found this episode fun, but also very enlightening in some ways on House's current frame of mind. Also really looking forward to next week, with the return of Blythe!
Still not boring! :D
22 - Eve K
As I said last season, I really like Dominika and House, and their interactions. Finally somethings happen there. (Haaaated the Amy Grant "disco-music" though! That would have been a deal breaker for me) I can also see that this could be something serious. And she has something that Cuddy didn't have all that much of (lets face it) - the playfulness and a sense of humor. Something House has a lot of.
I only hate that he is going to try to break Dominika down, because thats what he do.
23 - Barbara Barnett
I would disagree with those who think we're in for a slow disintegration of the show between now and May. I think the writers will give us a lot to chew on.
Every season there are episodes that I don't especially care for. This is one of them.
House's Head was written by Garrett Lerner and Russel Friend from Doris' story idea.
24 - Josie123
#22--Dominika is a manipulative person, as is Gregory House, so I don't see her as evil, just selfish. However, she is now living with a deeply troubled man. A man who drove his car through his ex-lover's house. She's very naive to think that he's so down that he can be willingly henpecked for long. Something is going to blow and she may get caught up in it!
25 - Nataly
Kaliera Bravo to your post #6!
And good bye "House" brilliant show Hi "House"- cheap sitcom!
I don't believe that they describe Ukrainian woman as such a slut! So stereotypy.I am from USSR,and russian woman smarter and better than this hooker.