No matter what avenue the team follows with Margaret, they hit dead end after dead end; she seems almost a pathological liar. Although “everybody lies,” she lies more than most, as if any truths would be far worse than any lie in which she might be caught.
In the end House realizes that she is schizophrenic, and with her symptoms are caused by a severe reaction to the drug Risperidone. All of her symptoms disappear once she is hospitalized, no longer on the meds. Of course, off the meds, her schizophrenia re-emerges, which confuses the diagnosis even more.
If Kelly hadn’t been so busy trying to prove herself as an able diagnostician—and had House not been so eager to badger and intimidate her for sport as well as to simply test her chops)—they might have figured it out much sooner. So the patient’s insistence on hiding her illness and Kelly’s hiding from what she knows best conspire to hide the truth. Of course we all hide from each other; we’re all afraid of rejection, but that fear, the tension and anxiety it causes can be as toxic as Risperidone is to the patient.
And what’s with Chase? Is House right that he is compensating for his loss of Cameron with his new hire? Shedding his “good guy” image from the last couple of seasons, Chase seems to have returned to his indifferent stance of the first couple of seasons.
Chase reacts to loss and fear of rejection by building walls of indifference. (Remember how he reacts to his father’s visit way back in season one?) But when he begins to allow the walls to come downopens up in season three, it is to Cameron, who in the end leaves him—just as his dad had (and his mom, figuratively). So now, as in Chase 1.0, this Chase is hard, cold, self-interested. He doesn’t “care.” There’s no payoff for caring—either in taking the world on your shoulders as he had in assassinating the dictator Dibala in season five (“The Tyrant”) or in loving Cameron. And it will eat away at him bit by bit. But in the meantime, Chase reverts to hides himself behind his interior battlements and gets his “Clooney” on.
So what is Foreman repressing? He certainly seems to get on Kelly’s case. Is Chase right when he suggests that Foreman is upset that they’ve gotten a replacement for 13—or that House asked Chase to hire—and not Foreman?
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Flo
Nice article. I can only agree with you on the "off" part. I was very disappointed by the episode.
It is, for me the first filler one of the season (there usually are a couple ones per seasons). As soon as I saw this ridiculously "teen-horror-movie-esque" teaser, I got worried. I immediately knew this episode wouldn't be a good one.
The PotW was boring, I couldn't care less about her problem and the final diagnosis was too obvious and easy to me. It was a bit cliche with the story of the schizophrenic who, of course, lived on the street for a while and is afraid to tell her husband the truth cos, in the 21st century it is still such a shame to be a schizophrenic that her stupid husband wouldn't understand.
I get that it was supposed to be related to everyone else on the show but the PotW story wasn't strong enough for this to work as the H/C thing demonstrate.
It wasn't good either. Jealousy over a masseuse, really? It couldn't have been the fact that maybe House experienced a bit more pain in his leg and he doesn't confide in Cuddy about it? It would have been more mature and it would have addressed the pain issue once more. But no...we just have some shallow sexual story that only induce jealousy. After reading your article, it doesn't seem that bad but I think it was badly handled. Cuddy accepting the massage in her own office was absolutely out of character for her IMO.
Chase is in a very bad place after the Dibala and Cameron debacles. I agree with you that he is clearly afraid to be rejected. Even 13 - with whom he formed what seemed to be a beneficial friendship - suddenly left.
His response is not a solution but he is probably not in the condition to do something else right now.
I like his talk with Foreman, when he called him on his arrogance. It was nice to see Foreman standing up to House afterwards.
These were actually the only interesting parts of the episode as far as I am concerned.
After 3 good episodes, we got the first filler one. Not a big deal but I was disappointed especially that Peter Blake wrote some interesting episodes in the past as you well said it.
I'm sure it will be better next week.
2 - barbara barnett
Flo--See, but it wasn't jealously over a masseuse. Cuddy was ready for validation that she needed to back off. She was also sure that House was ready to sabotage the relationship--not because he'd want to consciously, but unconsciously, that's what he does.
House sees it as jealousy, but it's not.
3 - Loriirene
Barbara, I believe you're right. House is continuing to test Cuddy as he did throughout the whole first episode. Would she turn off her phone/take the day off and regard the possibility of this relationship as seriously as House does? Was her decision to dump Lucas and go to House after their experience of losing Hannah just an emotional reaction or a serious choice to be with House? Was she willing to publicly admit she was dating House? Would she take a far away trip with him? And finally, does she accept the fact that House is House, screwed up and damaged and love him for himself. With "I lobe you" House shows us he's nearly there. Then, House being House, throws down the gauntlet testing Cuddy's resolve with "This isn't going to work." But, Cuddy comes back swinging. Cuddy tells him she does not want him to change and loves him without delusions. Finally, House can say "I love you."
House is child-like and selfish but admits to himself and Cuddy he's not content with the 'hook-ups', he's ready for a serious relationship. This is all very dangerous territory for House. I remember in Season One before Cameron's 'date' with House that Wilson wasn't worried for Cameron, but instead for House. And Wilson rightly chastised Stacy as well, reminding her how devistating an emotional loss would be to House.
Barbara, what do you think? And did you notice that House has taken a liking to red and pink shirts lately? How adorable!
4 - Meg
Barbara, what a home run (to quote House) your review is! I think you really hit the nail here.
I like this explanation for what House says about Rachel. It makes perfect sense.
For House if Cuddy lets him inside that part of her life with Rachel, it's a proof (an ACT after only her WORDS from 7x1&2&3 : we know he thinks actions matters more than word) that she's IN the relationship fully too!
Even if he is a bit weird out by Rachel, he still wants to be a part of Cuddy's life FULLY, in every way and that means Rachel too. didnt Wilson make that exact same comment when House was struggling with Cuddy organizing the Simchat Bat, right?
and I noted that he actually discussed what was bothering him openly and honestly only with Cuddy this time and not with Wilson. He's making progress and communicating with her more yet still remaining House by using questionable and undirect means to get where he wants and make a point.
nicely done!
5 - Michele1L
Nice analogy, Barbara. The episode did seem a bit off kilter, but for me, I am really, more and more, feeling the absence of Thirteen in the differentials. That's what's "off" for me.
I agree with Flo in that the POTW was boring and unsympathetic -- and I didn't like the introduction of the psychiatrist either, but I loved the Cuddy-House storyline. It seems like they are moving a bit quick though. I'd like to see them actually date more. It would be nice if House would take her to a blues club and show off his musical prowess. Women "lobe" a man who can play an instrument!
6 - simona
Hi barbara! I was waiting for your review and before reading it I had sketched some thoughts on this ep. I think they are pretty much in line with your reading. Here they are.
Massage Therapy or, better, "When the going gets tough..... the tough get going"??
Take care with what I'm writing (maybe I'm delusional) but I love House, unconditionally, and this is why I read everything that happens from his emotionally POV.
In this episode I felt from the beginning, with some unease, the extreme House's fragility against Cuddy. The "strange coincidence" of the masseuse's arrival (House who was pressing Cuddy to remain just a little more time just to let her to meet the hooker), I saw it as scheduled by House to send a clear and strong message to Cuddy: it sounds strange to say but probably House at this point felt himself like a hooker, somehow forced to remain within the boundaries that are close (in contrast with what he apparently claims). A good dichotomy highlighted in his conversation with Wilson at the motorcycle shop. House wants more and he is fully conscious. The play about the masseuse and the male masseur as a gift for Cuddy (of course the masseur was to be gay, House could not bear that another man put his hands on Cuddy!) has been cleverly programmed to bring out the contradictions and to get a response about the Cuddy's involvement in the relationship. And the showdown takes place during the final interview in his office, when he said: "Call what it is...I'm not the only one who is holding back". A statement so honest, so sincere, so touching and so brave for a man who has always had a fear of involvement. But now he's ready to risk everything and he wants to know if Cuddy is on the same wavelength. And apparently she is because she's shocked by this request but she agrees.
All in. Symbolically it's a 'Heart Massage Teraphy': they need to build a deep, strong, reassuring, honest relationship, comforting to both. Each has its own defenses, different but equal, and the road will be long and full of obstacles but they are willing to drive (and we have gotten used to suffer with them).
I totally agree with you about the "show and hide" side of every character, very interesting observations as always.
7 - Flo
@Barbara (#2), yes I know it wasn't really jalousy but that's how House took it at first. It was a sort of McGuffin if you like used by Blake here. I didn't like it. Cuddy shoulda and coulda question the things further. After all it was the first time his pain was mentioned and it could have been handled better and in a more adult manner. It was just a bit too shallow for me.
Otherwise I agree about the testing thing. I'm disappointed in the writing, that's all.
8 - barbara barnett
Lorireen--I agree, House is an "all-in" guy with women.
Flo--of course, I've been there from time to time myself with the writing.
I would have loved a deeper delving into the pain thing as well. Maybe it's coming.
I also would have liked to see more of a discussion of it.
And I did, BTW, also miss 13 in the mix.
9 - Janine
when house first made the comment to wilson about rachel being boring, i thought it was really out of character and mean, since he has always had good chemestry with kids. it was only later when we learned that cuddy hasn't allowed house to see her did i not only understand, but i actually felt bad for him. the end scence where house said "aren't you adorable" was mixed for me. on one hand i felt sad/worried because if house doesn't like/can't bond with Rachel his relationship with Cuddy will be over. On the other hand, I lauhed because the akwardness between them should provide great comedy for next weeks episode.
I agree this episode was "filler" but it was still solid and really entertaining and funny, unlike some of the filler episodes of last season (Black Hole anyone?) We did not get a lot of development, but we at least got some. I also thougth the patient story was a bit weak, chalking the whole thing up to an underlying illness has been done before, which I normally don't mind, but this added nothing new and didn't really seam to make sense, plus I knew that the "i was married 5 years ago" was a lie from the minute she said it (although polite dissent gave the medicine a B grade, so i guess it made more sense than I thought). Luckily the episode was more about the team interactions than the patent, and I like those stories (one of my favorite lines in the episode was when tabu said "Its baby Chase and his mama thats adroable). I have watched the episode twice though, so I enjoied it and would gladly watch it again.
My only gripe involves time lines again. Wilson refers to Rachel as being two and a half, but based on when she was born (season 5) she would barely be two (also, she acts barely two, putting stuff in her mouth and the way she was eating with two utensils). One nice continuity though: did anyone else notice that the videogame House was playing was the one created by the patient in "Epic Fail"?
10 - marykir
Watching this episode live was like reading one of those mystery novels where the sleuth wanders around apparently aimlessly for 300 pages and you learn a lot about 17th century burial practices, 19th century sanitation, Great-Aunt Agatha's trip to France, and various quirky characters indirectly connected to the original crime. Then in the next-to-last chapter, the sleuth suddenly discovers an essential clue that you, dear reader, either could not possibly have known because the character involved has shown up for the first time on page 325 -or- suspected on page 100 and have been wondering why the sleuth is ignoring it for the last 200 pages. It's only in retrospect (if you're lucky) that most of the diversions can be seen to tie into the solution to the crime or advance a personal relationship that will be developed in a future volume in the series. This sort of writing is unsettling because it defies our expectations of a story. You know, one with a beginning, a middle, and an end :)
11 - Delia_Beatrice
I seem to be in the minority here, but I appreciated this episode a lot. I found it to be very old school "House", a very mature episode.
I appreciated the way the House and Cuddy relationship has fallen into the regular structure of the episodes and the fact that the team finally seems to be more alive, after watching them being more or less still in the first three episodes.
I also enjoyed having House back at his wittiest sarcasm and the script back at its great quality - the quick and witty lines were classic "House" magic for me, as opposed to last episode, whose writing i found too corny and common.
I appreciated the old-school “House” special effects that illustrated the patient’s mental illness and also the good insertion of humor (Felipe was divine) and the good House and Wilson scenes.
I completely agree with Barbara’s interpretation of the House-Cuddy situation. It was very visible, from the initial conversation with Wilson and the two images we get of House, waking up alone in his bed, that this episode was about Cuddy’s boundaries and fear of further commitment, that House is deeply hurt by, because he depends on her unconditional acceptance.
I found Hugh and Lisa amazing in the way they underplayed it with perfect subtlety - exactly as they were required to; the intense emotions and the expressivity of their eyes and faces were impressive, underneath the general appearance of emotional distance between them.
I also loved how the distance melted in the make-up scene in Cuddy’s office, but did not give way to sweet or corny touches or declarations - it was a simple scene between two exhausted people who have taken another step towards each other. Their interaction was minimalist, soft and intimate.
By the way, did you notice that House changed the side of the bed he sleeps on from right (which he has slept on since season 1) to left - to match Cuddy, who has always slept on the right? It is very significant and telling that he sleeps on the left side of the bed while she is not there - a symbolic expression of his need for her to be there and this relationship to move onto the next phase.
His two scenes in bed alone were wonderful - in the first one, he wakes up submerged in the delightful memories of the previous night, he caresses her side of the bed, he smiles, even giggles and stretches across the bed, covering her side too - as to feel her closer.
In the second one (after their fight), he wakes up and his face is dark. He touches her empty side of the bed with a preoccupied and sad look on his face. No smile, no exuberant stretch across the bed. There had already been two nights without her. They obviously feel like an eternity.
I believe that “Massage Therapy” also gave us an answer to the question of them moving in together, that we were debating here last week. I believe that it’s clear that House is ready to be as impulsive about it as he was with Stacy and with Cuddy, in his half crazy/half honest proposal in “Both Sides Now”, but he had no room to act on that, because of Cuddy’s protective fences.
It makes perfect sense to me that House's behavior in this episode is nothing but HIS DEFAULT COPING MECHANISM: abandon, so not to be abandoned. Test, so not to be disappointed. Push the boundaries, until one of two things happen: you either get confirmation of the unconditional love, or you manage to sabotage the relationship.
To quote Dr. Kelly (Dr. Robert:)))): his behavior is 100% consistent with the coping mechanisms of an abused person, which we know House is.
This episode revolved around Cuddy’s fears and insecurities for a change. Ever since "Help Me", she has been the strong one, reassuring House whenever he had doubts. This time, we witnessed the way conditions sneak up on her unconditional love for House.
I believe that Cuddy as a woman does, indeed, love House unconditionally and without wanting him to change. Cuddy the dean of medicine is nearby - she is often tormented by it, but generally, her appreciation of House at work is also unconditional and incredibly selfless. But Cuddy the mother CANNOT love House unconditionally.
I think this is the essence of this episode. House needs her love to be unconditional (sine qua non condition for him to be into this to begin with, otherwise he would have run off in "Now What" like he did with Stacy in "Need To Know") and he was faced with the first limit to her limitless love.
When faced with a painful, intense emotional situation, House uses his default coping mechanism: he pushes the boundaries and tests the limits, so that to accomplish one out of two possible outcomes: either he is accepted for who he is and thus gets confirmation that he is loved unconditionally, OR the relationship is shaken - sabotaged. Either way, he is going to have a clear answer - thus it all comes down to the fact that he cannot accept duplicity and deception of any sort and he just has to be sure of what he's dealing with.
Well, the sensational thing here is that he eventually went for option 3: compromise. This time, Cuddy could not give him unconditional acceptance, neither on the hooker thing, nor on the "let me in your life" thing. And he didn't just let the relationship be hurt by it - he gathered his strengths (and we know him well enough to realize what gigantic effort that must have been) and he went for the MATURE compromise that can help them function together. It's huge.
Remember "Bagggage", in which the unconditionally conditional nature of House and Wilson's friendship is discussed? House says "i can say anything to him and he won't leave". Then corrects himself and admits that there are things that are taboo between him and Wilson - because there are landmines that can blow their relationship up. Those are the inherent, inevitable conditions in their generally unconditional friendship. Very few, but they exist.
I think it's the same with Cuddy. Based on the deep acceptance and unconditional love, they have to build an adult relationship, in which transactional, contractual parts will enter as well.
12 - Leodie
#11 Delia, i agree with you, i liked the episode, the POTW was compelling enough to have me interested in her story and my simple mind wasn’t able to solve the puzzle before the end. Great development on the House/Cuddy relationship front too, although I agree it’s moving a bit fast. We do know it’s House’s MO when he is hooked though. He is the one accelerating things. I also agree that we’re seeing more of Cuddy insecurities but it isn’t the first time. In “What now”, although she had said she trusted House in his choice about going back on drugs, she did discreetly pocket the vicodin that had remained on the bathroom floor. Actions speak louder than words.
#1 Flo. I agree about the whole massage in her office thing being a bit out of character for Cuddy. It made me cringe to think that House has deliberately let Cuddy be unknowingly manipulated by a hooker, it seems very invasive to me. Boundary issues anyone ?
#9 Janine. You’re not hallucinating ;-) I did notice the video game from season 6 too.
#10 Maykir. Funny post, I agree, but isn’t it often the case? Or am I just too dumb to notice medical clues earlier in most episodes.
Also probably irrelevant but can’t help the rambling.
-Wouldn’t it be nice if the next Thirteen replacement was ugly for a change? (I guess she would have to be picked by Cuddy then).
-Did it occur to anyone else that the hooker looked a bit likeSam ?
-Little Rachel (not played by the same actress as before, is she ?) allegedly tries to eat shoes and really chews on canes. The dog analogy (remember Hector, Wilson’s dog who used to do just that) is fully playing here. Let’s hope House won’t maim her and make her become vicodin dependent like he did to the dog ;-)
13 - Zaze
"It’s not that House doesn’t want to play with Rachel or wake up in the morning next to Cuddy. It’s that Cuddy hasn’t offered that part of herself to him. She too is afraid"
No he said to Cuddy that before this he wasn't ready with Rachel, I would never ask (or force) a man like House to meet my child, even now, it's normal that she waited for him to ask her about it. House should be more involved in this relationship and mainly he should show it to Cuddy. Enough with silly behaviours...
Cuddy is right about everything since the beginning of this season.
14 - Val S
Barbara, great review once again. I always get a new perspective on things after reading your article (and subsequent comments). No difference this time around...except that despite your review and great comments (i.e. Delia_Beatrice's #11)I still feel a bit disappointed.
I agree quite a bit with Flo's (#1)first comment. The patient this week was a bit boring to me (in comparison to other House patients) and I felt the connection was a stretched. House barely saw her and spent more time with a DDX on why Chase hired the lady fellow rather than the case at hand. Just not enough there for that aspect of a House episode.
But, then House being distracted by his relationship concerns is far better than pain and a vicodin habit, right? Which is the thing that saved the episode from being Very disappointing...House's relationship with Cuddy.
I am enjoying watching this relationship take shape and like how it has, mostly, kept to the background or outskirts of the show. I, too, loved the two, very different, scenes of House waking up in his bed; however, due to their placement I thought he was thinking two different things. First shot: Woke up feeling good after the night, remembered her there, but also glad to be able to return to his habits and stretch across the bed. I thought he was quite honest with Wilson in the bike garage: enjoying the physical itimacy, being with someone for dinners etc, but still having his own life...being able to sleep through the night as House said. The conversation about Brandi/Randi (cannot tell what her name is) was a changing point in his thinking/attitude. His subsequent talk with Wilson, his and Cuddy's conversation in his office, and then the second "wake up" scene. I believed House when he told Cuddy that up until recently meeting Rachel again wasn't on his priority list: he wasn't ready. For House and Cuddy, making him part of Rachel's life is just about as big a moving in...it adds that level to the relationship they both seemed to be avoiding.
Also, I think Cuddy may have been slightly jealous of the hooker/massuese (and who could blame her). In "Let Them Eat Cake", we saw how House's interactions with a hooker made her hesitate to thank him for the desk. It would not be such a far leap to think that this hooker unleashed some of those same feelings.
After Cuddy's two reassuring speeches to House, I was hoping for one from him, but the fact that he gave up the hooker/massuese was clearly his way of telling, and showing, her the relationship was important...and in turn, we get the final scene, which was kind of had an awww factor.
Where am I going with this? Not sure anymore :) I was disappointed because I felt some "classic" House elements were a bit lost or not fleshed out enough for my taste, even if the new, refreshing angle of House's major relationship continued to be strong.
Despite this, really looking forward to next week with a strong guest actor and Two Doctors and a Baby...
15 - Andrea
House with Rachel was amusing. There's House on his very best behavior. He's all "Yes, please" to the meat that he obviously doesn't think tastes very good and heroically restrains his urge to yell at the kid gnawing away on his cane like a chew toy: "Hey, hey, hey kid. Hey." And then, having pulled the cane out of her sticky little fingers, his quietly growled "Aren't you adorable?" Cuddy's right across the room. No way is he going to make a bad impression, even in the face of provocation. He didn't want Cuddy to adopt this kid, he most definitely views her as a rival for Cuddy's affection and attention, and he also knows that in a contest between him and Rachel, Cuddy would pick Rachel every time because she is Rachel's mother and that is what mothers are supposed to do. I doubt he'd even want it otherwise. His own mother put John House ahead of her son or Greg's right to grow up free of abuse. The question is whether Gregory House can be a grown up and learn to find something meaningful in his own relationship with Rachel. The dinner at the end is a positive development for them.
16 - Orange450
Thanks for a great review, Barbara. I thought it was a solid episode with a lot of heft to it - albeit much of the heft was hiding beneath the surface, in keeping with the episode's general theme :) I wonder if Peter Blake did that on purpose?
I actually liked this week's PoTW better than Alice Tanner. Somehow, I felt that AT (not Amy Irving, who was wonderful. I'm talking about the character) - and much of Unwritten - were too artificial. IMO, Alice Tanner was such a stereotypical "idiosyncratic author" , and intertwining of the themes was so obvious and anvil-ly, that the whole thing had a "packaged" feel, for me. This episode, by contrast, felt much more natural. And I infinitely prefer when we have to search for the connections and associations between character and subplots - rather than having to protect our heads and duck!
BTW, I know that the conventional wisdom is that the House writers don't read any fanfic, but sometimes the coincidences are rather striking! When Wilson asked House whether he was sleeping over at Cuddy's, and asked about House's relationship (or lack thereof) with Rachel, I actually jumped. I wrote a fanfic in which Wilson asks the same questions in almost the exact same words to House. Of course, in my story, it's Stacy who has adopted a little girl :) But the principle remains the same!
Looking forward to hearing you on the radio tonight.
17 - BeeJay
Barbara, again thanx for the great analysis!
I am too one of those people who initially thought the episode was off. However, my whole Monday was off! I usually watch House live and record it...then watch it again before I go to bed. However, my husband and his two brothers decided that this was the MOST important Monday Night Football game EVER, and I could not watch House live. I suspect Brett Favre took a good share of the ratings from many shows Monday night! So, my Monday was a bit thrown off.
However, after watching this episode again on my lunch break and reading this analysis I have to say I appreciate it a lot more. I cannot just dismiss it as a "filler" episode.
I have to agree with (11)Delia_Beatrice-- this really did feel like a very mature, old school (like season 1) episode. It felt subdued but in a good way...I wasn't bored. I agree the POTW was a little weak, but I think it was designed to be by the writer. This episode was more about the characters and what they each were hiding from...themselves and each other. I think they are writing Huddy fine. It doesn't feel too fast. It's been a month or so and he barely met Rachel. That seems logical and very mature on Cuddy's part for making that decision.
I'm enjoying this season. To me, we're coming to the end of the "House's search of Happiness" arc. This is the final stage...can he make it work with Cuddy, be happy, and be in a serious relationship? I can't wait for next week's episode, and will be there to the end!
18 - Zay
Just because I can't resist adding in my two cents...
- I wasn't deeply impressed or deeply disappointed by the episode; I enjoyed it, enjoyed watching it, cursed the commercial breaks to several places and back, and look forward to watching it again.
- The last scene with House, Cuddy and Rachel was adorable, hilarious and sets up for an awesome episode next week. House, Wilson and Rachel...Hugh and RSL are such great comedic actors that I predict (and hope) that I'll be in tears of laughter trying to watch them take on a toddler.
- The House/Cuddy progression is still going really strong and I love it. I love that it's not House causing all the problems either; Cuddy has her own issues to work out, she can't be strong every single minute, and it's nice that though they are committed to each other, they are bumping along and making mistakes like human beings do. It makes me so happy (yet again) that the writers chose to take this relationship forward. It's been such a great dynamic for the show.
- I liked the bit where Chase prepped Kelly, Kelly realized it was wrong to both cheat and lie and Chase acknowledged that it's hard to remember correct office ethics when working with House. It was small, but for me, sets up for when Amber Tamblyn comes into play and we get a fresh pair of eyes on the insanity constantly brewing in House's office. We as viewers are so used to the insanity that we forget that really, it's not very good for the workplace.
- IMO, the patient of the week was an interesting change; we have so many episodes where it's one crazy condition at the end, but this time, it was all caused by the one condition and the reaction to the meds. Changing up the formula is always good.
- No one's mentioned this yet, so I will: the look on House's face when the POTW's husband says, "It's hard" in response to living now with his wife's schizophrenia, and House tells him, "It's always hard." That was a cool moment for me because it brings home the fact, in context of the epi, that we're always debilitated by something that makes our relationships hard, whether it's mental illness or deep insecurity. And if you want to get anywhere in life, you have to suck it up and live through the hard stuff.
So...that was longer than I thought, but there you have it. Awesome review as always, Barbara! Thanks!
19 - Delia_Beatrice
@Leodie (#12), Val S (#14), BeeJay (#17): Glad to see we agree - at least on some things:)
@Orange 450: i actually agree with you on Alice Tanner. It was my feeling too, in regard to "Unwritten".
@Zay (#18): i fully agree on the "It's always hard scene". It was another scene that has held an ocean of emotion. After telling the patient to accept his wife with her baggage of personal damage, because "it's always hard", House enters the elevator and he stands with his back half turned against the door, his head bowed, an intense expression of concentration and exhaustion on his face; he quickly raises his head and turns to face the door as Chase enters after him. But his initial expression and the bowed head point to what he is really feeling: he is exhausted by how consumed he was with the whole "adjusting to reality" phase of their relationship, he is scared and overwhelmed by what he has decided to do - which is, go all in.
I watched the episode again (5th time...) and i was struck, again, by the beautiful, minimalist, symbolic way in which they showed maybe the most significant of all clues about House's true state of mind. I mentioned it before, but i think it's worth mentioning again: House changed the side of the bed he sleeps on from right (which he has slept on since season 1) to left - to match Cuddy, who has always slept on the right.
It is very significant and telling that he sleeps on the left side of the bed while she is not even there - a symbolic expression of his need for her to be there and for this relationship to move onto the next phase.
I find this extremely touching. It is a display of emotional nakedness that really gives me goosebumps. This man, this brilliant, sexy, hurt and cynical man, sleeping alone on the side of the bed that would symbolically allow his lover to be there with him. She is not there - but he still changed his life-long habit of sleeping on the right side, because he has made himself available to her so deeply.
We get a glimpse of how truly organic his love for her is, how gigantic his need of her, how tremendous the change in him and how enormous the emotional risks he is putting himself at.
20 - Leodie
I'd like to add that i am becoming addicted to the "dear in the headlights" face House makes when he realizes he did or might do something that could endanger his relationship with Cuddy. This time in his office when she accuses him of trying to sabotage their relationship. Last week when Cuddy asked him to pick an activity they'd both enjoy and again later when he discovers she's not too fond of go-karts. The week before during the "bureaucratic ass" incident.
There is a progression though. In "selfish" he backpedaled when confronted with Cuddy's wrath, in "unwritten" he faced the music as well as he could. This week he confronted her with her own shortcomings.
House is still House. Is it the message TPTB are trying to convey? Interestingly enough it seems to be good news for his relationship.
I wonder if the writers made him be “extra” mean with “Dr Kelly” just to prove to worried viewers that although in love and as close to happy as we’ve seen him, he hasn’t lost his edge and the sacred fire of jerkiness still burns bright in him.
21 - RobF
I really disliked this episode, except for a few brief bits which others here have mentioned (the revelation that House and Cuddy were each keeping the other at arm's length was really well done; Chase confronting Foreman was a nice surprise and important for the team).
For the most part, the characters seemed wooden, going through the motions, almost caricatures of themselves. House didn't seem to be putting any effort into the berating of Kelly and Chase, as if he knew he should be on them but his heart wasn't in it.
The patient came from a well to which the writers have gone far too often, where a patient endangers their relationship by not trusting their partner with a terrible secret. It has lost its effect.
When the episode finished, I looked online to find out who had written it. I was very surprised to see who it was; the episode seemed far below his usual level. Barbara, I think you may be onto something when you say the characters were deliberately written to be flat and childish. I think I need to watch this episode again; maybe I'll appreciate it more.
22 - RobF
Oh, I forgot to mention the fleshing out of the "What's Up With Chase?" side plot that had been tacked onto previous episodes. A fair bit of time was spent showing how Chase is behaving. Does he miss Cameron? Why is he such a self-centred jerk? What does he do all day? These questions and more will be answered in an upcoming episode.
Pretty please with sugar on it, all you writers, find a replacement for Cameron/Thirteen who brings something to the show and isn't at all a romantic possibility for any other character.
23 - Janine
@ZAY
I agree the Hous Rachel scene was funny, if not a bit sad. Have you seen the sneek peaks for next weeks episodes? I won't go into detil, but the "Tell Cuddy" clip is HYSTERICAL, and if that 30 seconds is any indication of what the House/Rachel scenes will be like, this should be a good episode.
@Leodie
I like that face too
24 - Andrea
I liked Kelly and I thought she held up fairly well under House's nastiness. Any woman in the real world would have slapped House with a sexual harassment/hostile workplace suit. Chase must have prepped her more than usual. I wouldn't object if they kept her around as Chase's girlfriend. I also enjoyed Chase's smackdown of Foreman, who has always been my least favorite character. I also don't miss Thirteen. If they were to kill her off off-screen I wouldn't shed many tears.
I'd agree that House is a little bit off balance all through the episode and so his actions might feel a bit off. If the writers are trying to overcompensate by having House be extra mean just so they can tell all the nay-sayers "He's still House! Hasn't lost his edge!" it might backfire on them because it will feel more than off. He needs to have a good reason for the nastiness and they need to do a better job of integrating their A and B stories.
I did like their subtle moments, as in House waking up alone in bed, calling Cuddy on her reluctance to let him get to know Rachel or stay over, and the final dinner scene where he's trying so hard to be on his best behavior. I'm not seeing any real evidence so far that they intend to break them up. After this amount of work getting them together it would be such a waste to blow it up spectacularly during February sweeps. It would also be "common," just like every other show I've seen, and House as a show should be "uncommon."
25 - Andrea
Sneak peaks are funny. House and Wilson avoiding the babysitting duties and trying to palm it off on each other, one of them doing something stupid, House (justifiably) afraid Cuddy will attack him like a mama bear. I hope there's a lesson and some sort of affection for Rachel by the end of it. After all, it's not like Cuddy took to instant parenthood like a duck to water either, so House's reaction shouldn't be totally unexpected for her.