On the other hand, I found House playing with Kutner’s childlike superstition an enjoyable diversion. Umbrellas open inside; spilled salt, ladders that cannot be avoided, all of those Friday the 13th sort of myths most of us gave up by the time we turned 16. (Hmm. Wonder if the theme had to do with the episode’s proximity to a real Friday the 13th?)
Is it wrong to admit that I really loved the scene in which Cuddy and House watched the news footage about the cat? House, sitting on Cuddy’s sofa, sucking a lollipop (but not a red one?), seemed very comfortably planted next to her. And, of course, House’s “No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die” ala Auric Goldfinger made me smile.
Due to a network scheduling change there will be no new House episode next week. “Locked In” will air March 30. A preview of “Locked In can be found on the FOX Official House site.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Phillip Winn
My understanding is that Taub didn't *really* know that guy. "I was two years behind you in school" is generic enough to be untrue. Taub was desperate to believe in the very existence of an old relationship as well as the value of that imagined relationship.
Taub wasn't just insulting to House, who can take it, but to Kuttner. That was uncool.
You noticed that House noticed Thirteen serving coffee to Foreman, yes? Unfortunately, that may revive things soon. :-(
2 - barbara barnett
Phillip--Yes, Taub's willingness to grab onto a guy he barely knows (if at all) shows his desperation.Or maybe the guy preys on people who went to his high school and knew had gone on to be successes. Creepy dude.
Taub was nasty to Kutner (who I think is a big ole teddy bear). No one should be mean to him. Love that combination of real smarts, creativity and genuine sweetness. (and maybe the sweetness is his defense)
Yes, I did notice House noticing "14." I think they're out of the forefront for the moment.
3 - marykir
I only watched once - and was more than a little distracted by problems with the signal from my Fox stations - but my impression was that House was trying to goad Taub into making a decision about his future in much the same way he goaded 13. Or for that matter, the way he goaded Taub about his infidelity. If Taub is going to be useful to House, he needs to come to terms with his reduced finances - and, based on one of the deleted scenes, to be honest with his wife about them.
4 - barbara barnett
marykir--I think you're probably right. But he really pushed hard on the pretty secretive Taub. I think House may have pushed one button too far. We shall see.
5 - Stagestruck
Barbara,
Perhaps I'm reading way too much into this, but I think House's goading of Taub was a way to get him to fess up about his finances, in the same way as the cheating issue. Being his boss and knowing his financial and marital situations, I'm thinking he's not much use to House being so distracted. House knows he's looking for another job, or at least the temptation is there. The thing I can't get out of my head is Taub's confession to his wife (in a previous episode) that he can't live without her, whether or not they have kids - she's his anchor. He's terrified she's going to leave him because he's broke. He's attempted suicide before, and I think the signs are there that he may try again should she bolt. Someone is taking a powder at the end of the season, perhaps this is leading up to a pretty horrifying way of getting rid of Taub as a character. He is isolating himself from the team, especially Kutner, who considers Taub his friend in many respects. His future prospects are diminishing, his marriage is far from stable, and his job, though slightly rewarding on a personal level, can never really give him the prestige of his former glory days. House is no dummy, and I think that if Kutner could figure out Taub's suicide attempt, I'm pretty sure House also has a clue. These developments in Taub's life could be major rationalizations to provoke him to suicide. Because of this, I find it very poignant that House made sure that Taub knew his job was there for him no matter what. Strange considering he tends to play dangle the carrot with his fellows regarding their positions. Still, House looking on him through the glass at the end, knowing that troubles for Taub are escalating, I think that this story line is far from over.
I also could be completely wrong and TPTB actually bump off 14, but yeah...I'm pipe dreaming.
6 - cj_housegirl
Hi Barbara,
I love your blog reviews, and usually agree with you on a lot, but I'm going to, respectfully, disagree with your interpretation of House's meanness to Taub. I think House is acting with tough love here. He is not being mean for the sake of being mean.
What we have learned about Taub thus far:
* he may have attempted suicide, an act that even Taub said is selfish, but it is also an act that solves difficult problems quickly.
* he signed a non-compete order rather than tell his wife the truth. The truth would have saved his career as a surgeon, he may have still left that workplace but he would not have had to sign the quick compete -- again a quick fix all to save a delusion about his marriage.
* he married a woman who doesn't want children, and yet, Taub seems to want children. She was apparently quite clear on this matter and her decision. He deluded himself into thinking that with time she would eventually change her mind. Did he take the quick/easy route here as well?
* he's been challenging House on what cases he should take, not only in this episode but in other episodes. He's acting as if he has a bigger position than he does. He challenges House based on an illusion that he is House's equal in stature when he is not. House is a dept. head, Taub is his fellow. Taub works for House, but he deludes himself into thinking it is more than it is.
* Taub fell into this guy's scam BECAUSE he believes in quick fixes and deludes himself about his life and his lifestyle. Hey, the guy offered Taub a job, an investment, the delusion that he could keep his lifestyle the way it is despite his financial losses & Taub fell for it in a BIG way.
House challenges Taub on all of these points. He lets Taub know that he does not have the stature that he thinks he does; he tells him that it wasn't courage that got him to tell his wife the truth, it was guilt, which is why he calls Taub a coward because Taub doesn't or won't face the consequences of his actions.
Taub ignores them or deludes himself into believing they don't matter, or that the results were somehow different than what they actually were.
House may not always face himself, but he has faced the consequences of his decisions that he has made for himself and that others have made for him. I don't think House deludes himself about anything that has happened in his life, be it the infarction, the drug addiction, his driving Wilson away, Amber's death, etc. etc.
IMO, the sadness that you see on House's face at the end is the realization that Taub took the easy route again. Taub came back even though House knew it was the last thing Taub really wanted to do. In fact, House made it as difficult as possible for Taub to come back, yet Taub still showed up and brought the donuts.
I think House is frustrated, but also concerned about Taub. I don't think he is being mean for the sake of being mean he is trying to force Taub to face the realities of his life. His reveal of Taub's financial situation means Taub can't hide that fact from his co-workers, he can't lie to himself or to House and his team about the truth because they already know it.
One of the things I have always loved about House is that he does let his fellows come back. He does support them. Foreman has quit and come back and has been fired and been allowed back, House has fired 13 and hired her back, now Taub has quit and come back.
The only two who have not come back are Cameron and Chase. I believe that Chase was fired because House was aware that Chase wasn't leaving otherwise. He had to be pushed out the nest, but once Chase left he realized he really didn't need House anymore.
Cameron has been asked back by House in S1 and a number of times since she quit at the end of S3. Interesting.
Taub came back because while House may seem mean, ultimately House offers Taub a place of security, a place where he can't hide.
Anyways, I'm really starting to like the House-Taub dynamic. They've been consistent in writing Taub's character and how he deals with truth and self-deception. House is all for the truth, not so much about self-deception, which was a huge theme in Monday's episode - not just superstition and religion, but how those are used to deceive ourselves about our lives.
I'm stopping here, sorry this is so long, but this is an episode that needs to be watched a couple of times because there is a lot in it. I think I could write an essay - and I just may have!
7 - barbara barnett
Good points. I will watch this one again, keeping House in mind. When House pushes that hard it makes me cringe a bit. I know he's a jerk, but...
I had the same reaction in "Whatever it takes" in season four. I don't often, though.
8 - Val
I, unfortunately, only get to watch once until the DVDs come out, but this time I didn't really feel I needed one.
For better, worse, or in-btwn, this episode was definitely on the light-side, though I didn't think it was House-lite. House was a bit obsessed with the cute cat(I grew up with cats and thought Debbie was a cool cat especially as House shoved her in a bag so many times, poor thing), but it made for some quite funny moments. He was an important factor of every story particulary Taub. I agree that House was/is concerned about where Taub is headed.
I was so happy to see Kutner pull one over on House! He has seemed a bit intimidated by House since the beginning (understandably so), now though it feels as if the playing field has been evened ever so slightly. Though I did feel the cranberry farce was just plain mean...I was actually thinking something was wrong with House.
Kutner and Taub's friendship has progressed well and it was nice their moments together felt real. A sense of realness (is that even a word) has returned to House/Cuddy as well in the past couple episodes. A lot of the bickering felt early-House; they seem comfortable with each other again. I hope the future won't change it.
Overall, a cute episode (though perhaps not my favorite) and the light-side was apppreciated as I think it's going to get pretty deep as it has much of this excellent season.
9 - barbara barnett
We've really had so few "light" episodes this season, so I felt slightly mean complaining at all. No, it wasn't Dr. House-lite. But House-lite. Plenty of House, and a good mix of the characters/cast.
Like you, Val, I liked the easy comfort (with a little subtext in glances and body language) between House and Cuddy; I have always liked the Taub-Kutner relationship. They are friends. I agree it's going to get very intense very quickly as the last six episodes air.
10 - mandy
Longtime House watcher, first-time commentor.
I agree with cj_housegirl's analysis of what House what attempting to do with Taub.
While this episode wasn't as 'meaty' as "The Social Contract", I enjoyed the light moments & the theme of superstition. To me, the best moment [comedy-wise] was the scene with House, Wilson, & the hidden cat in the elevator "Stop, Dr. Wilson! It's just not cute anymore."
I also have a question: I know he didn't do it in this episode, but HL has not been limping as consistently or as much as in prior seasons. Is this a plot device, or was the strain causing by heavy fake-limping just too much? Thanks.
11 - Elisa
I have to disagree with many of the comments here. I love your reviews and only started reading them recently. I felt this was one of the weakest episodes of Season Five. Perhaps because it was "light," but I honestly felt that for the first time, the character of House was actually underwritten. I dislike the character of Taub almost as much as I dislike Thirteen, although if I had to choose...I miss Chase, and seeing him in one scene in the past two episodes has reminded me why. His chemistry with House and his superior acting chops are badly needed, IMO.
I enjoyed the Kutner scenes, both with Taub and House. My only qualm is that Kutner is getting to be as funny as House, which throws the balance of the show off. Kal Penn is a very talented comedian, and while it's great that the writers are letting him show that off, I'm not sure it plays properly on this show.
I'm also surprised I didn't enjoy this episode more, since not only I am a cat person, one of my cats looks just like the one on the show!
12 - Jaim
First, does anyone else think that at the end when the cat comes back to sit next to Taub that it was a foreshadowing of his future demise? I also wonder if much like the nurse, Taub will look like he's on his way to death, but an anonymous God moment will pull him back.
I too felt amazingly sad for Taub in this episode. He really feels worthless now, and I felt that House was way over the line this time. I think that even House knew that he had 'poked the sharp stick' a little too much this time. Hopefully, Kutner won't give up on Taub even though he was pushing him away. I think Kutner could be much like Taub's own kind of Wilson. He could be a refuge from all his failings. They seem to get each other and have a genuine comraderie. I hope that Kutner continues to openly show Taub that he does care about his
well-being.
Now to get to the importance of the title. "Here, Kitty." is a phrase used to draw a cat back to you, to persuade them, or coerce them to trust you enough to crawl in your arms. What I noticed in the episode, beyond the cat, was that Taub was the 'kitty' in much of this episode. He meets someone who supposedly comes from his old highschool and is a CEO. He offers him all the easy answers, fun night on the town, and a feeling that he could once again be an important man. The man dangles all of these tempting opportunites in front of Taub, deducing that they are his catnip. Hopefully, Taub will eventually find something more profound to place his self-worth on in the future. He needs to develop an identity that doesn't rest on how other people see him i.e. His wife, His old business partners, and even House.
I also liked the Cuddy/House scenes this episode. I thik it is amazing that the two of them merely sitting side by side on a couch watching a tape can be the sexiest thing ever.
13 - ns
I too have a "copy" of the cat in the show. I LLLLLLOOOOVVVVVVEEEED this episode. There were several moments where House's behavior made me cringe as well, and that's what I've always LOVED about House. This is the "old" House that I started watching the show for in the first place.
I love the last two episodes with the very minimal Huddy influence (I get sick of that) and more focus on the characters and on House back to his old tricks. It makes me smile!
Taub is good, he's been a good character from the start. House is just goading him, like he always does, with the end in mind of making the guy stronger. House only pushes the people he actually has some degree of respect for. He doesn't bother with the others.
I love that Kutner fought back and played the game with House. Reminds me of House and Wilson on Kutner is a more kid-like adversary and it's cool and it's fun.
Love Chase, Love seeing Chase, it makes me miss him and wish we could see more of him.
I thought it was, overall, a great episode.
14 - cj_housegirl
Mandy wrote: I also have a question: I know he didn't do it in this episode, but HL has not been limping as consistently or as much as in prior seasons. Is this a plot device, or was the strain causing by heavy fake-limping just too much? Thanks.
I noticed that too. I don't think I saw him take even one Vicodin in this past episode and his cane was absent in a lot of scenes where he was standing or walking. I'm not sure what is going on there.
So sorry about the long post about House-Taub Barbara, got a little excited about the topic. We were discussing House-Taub in my house after the show.
I agree House's medicine can be a tough swallow, but he pretty much is always making a point with it. I just felt the need to defend him on that one. He's still a jerk, just not an irrational or thoughtless one. He's an intentional jerk? *g*
15 - ns
Barbara, can you explain the previews they showed for the next House episode, I didn't get it at all.
16 - barbara barnett
no problem cj_housegirl.
ns--which preview? On television or on the fox official site?
17 - ns
The one on TV. I know I missed some previous Season 5 episodes, but I couldn't tell if they were just doing flashbacks in the preview or if Cuddy is actually looking at trying to get another baby, or what the heck was going on. Then when I went to the Fox website it had the "Locked In" episode, which is what I thought the next episode was going to be in the first place. So...now i'm confused.
18 - mandy
cj_housegirl: That's true, though his steps were still halting. I'm thinking it's a plot device; otherwise, it doesn't make much sense.
Jaim: I wondered if that *was truly* foreshadowing as well.
Taub has been pushing himself out of the family, especially in this episode--but House brought him back in [for the moment, at least]. Even with that gesture & Kutner's constant friendship, I'm not sure it's enough to sustain him. We'll see.
19 - barbara barnett
ns--the tv preview was for "Joy." The next new episode isn't until March 30. The network decided to delay "Locked In." It was a network decision, nothing that the House powers that be did. So next week a rerun (and that's what the preview showed!)
cj--maybe House is still trying new things for his pain. And don't forget, his pain levels rise and fall depending on lots of stuff. Maybe it was the kitty. I noticed that House (even House) couldn't stop himself from stroking the thing when it plopped itself on his desk.
20 - ns
Ok, thanks, now it makes sense. I did miss that episode.
21 - Sera G
Hello, Barbara and all,
I enjoyed "Hello Kitty" even though I agree that it was lighter in tone, on the surface, than the last few (and apparently, those ahead.)
The situation for Taub is anything but light. He is deeply unhappy and dissatisfied with his life. It was interesting to watch the deleted scenes on Fox's website. You see his wife wanting to be supportive and realistic about their finances and Taub 'lying' to her or at
least minimizing their circumstances. The second scene in the club when the young woman comes on to him, and he responds that last year he might have left with her was quite poignant and gave me reassurance that he was commited to his marriage (something I questioned).
I, too felt that House was quite harsh with him and continued to push and punish. It was hard for me to decide if it was testing or true anger. It has seemed that his dynamic with Taub is completly different than with any other fellow. I agree, Barbara, Taub is of a similar age and once held a lucrative and prestigious medical practice, an equal in essense to House, but there is also something else between them. It almost seems as if House is determined to break him. When Foreman was his most arrogant, or Chase his most self serving, untimately it was about the medicine for them. By the end of Chase's fellowship, he was on his way to be an abstact thinker. To me, much as I have grown to like Taub as a character, the patients/illnesses never really seem to matter that much to him. It's a case, solve it, get it done and move on to the next one. I agree with you and with the other writers who commented on House's look of concern at the end. We shall see where this all leads.
I LOVED the Cuddy/House scenes. It was wonderful to seem them relaxed with each other. When they were watching the video from the nursing home, it was like old times. Those two generate heat just sitting side by side on a sofa. I have stated my HUDDY love before and I won't belabor it. I love "Joy" and will watch it again. Looking forward to March 30.
Last comment: the "jumping the shark" was a hoot!
I took that as a poke at those who underestimate the writers/producers creativity and originality.
I love "Joy" and will watch it again.
22 - JL
As I'm in Australia, I won't get to watch this episode for several weeks (yeah, yeah, I know I could try to download it - whatever). I'm *really* enjoying this discussion and your review, Barbara! I'm looking forward to a lighter episode (especially because I know 'The Softer Side' tonight is going to be a heavy one...).
I remember noting during the break between Seasons 4 and 5 that I didn't care about Taub or Kutner. And, even in the early part of this season, most comments I read described the two as 'boring'. Not that anyone debated them much, because there was nothing to discuss.
I've expressed my belief that much of the '13 hate' arose because viewers hate to feel pressured to care about a character, but want to arrive at that decision for themselves. I think 13's story was pushed too hard, too early, and the viewers pushed back.
It's been really fascinating to watch people gradually warming to Taub and Kutner over this season. First they became funny, then they started relating to the other characters, and now we're starting to get development.
And I've watched the comments change from *nothing* to "Did you see the funny thing they did this week?" and, ultimately, to whole discussions about a character (see above). Like or dislike, people have started to care enough about these two that they now warrant their own dissection.
Maybe it's the actors growing into their characters. Maybe it's the writers finding each charcter's niche, or finding the best way to write for the actors. Whatever it is, I'm just loving watching these two become 'real' people. Well done, show.
(And if Taub goes, I'll break my heart over him - something I wouldn't have believed I'd be saying a couple of months back.)
23 - ns
Well, it would be a real drag if they got rid of Taub, especially now that his character is developing and becoming interesting. But, it wouldn't be a stretch. His whole scene is kind of depressing and I'm not sure where else things would go with him, unless he starts having an affair with Cuddy or something. He does want kids, she has one, his wife doesn't want any, etc., etc. He is the one who snitched on House to Cuddy this episode and House does come down pretty hard on him for some reason. Maybe a bit of a stretch but.........who knows. Also, Wilson used him to hide the fact that he was going to see his brother, so it is interesting the role he is playing with Cuddy and Wilson vs. House.
24 - j.i..m.
Barbara, Thanks again for starting off the House debate with such a fine and able summary.
I too was dismayed and chagrined by House's taunting of Taub because it went into forbidden territory, one's fundamental worth as a human-being. In connection to this, I was creeped out by 13's sardonic and appreciative smile in reaction to House's goading of Taub. Her reaction shot to the taunting called to mind the function of Mini-me in the "Austen Powers" films(I have a teen-aged son). House made that one step over the line when he derided Taub's entire value as a man. It sounded like an echo from House's military father. "You are a mindless, useless instrument until I say different, etc." And with the cat sitting by Taub at the end of the episode, we have our truth and consequences prepared for House and Taub. Cuddy is always careful, when negotiating conflicts between Taub and House, to never give House any doubt about her immediate and complete loyalty to House. I like this about her.
There was more of an ensemble feel to this episode and I think David Shore is heading in that direction. Hugh Laurie does deserve some time-off. But rich issues that were never satisfactorily nurtured between House, Cuddy, and Wilson could be allowed to lay fallow because of an ensemble focus. Sometimes it feels like side-stepping. The next episode will deal with it but doesn't. There are only 42 minutes to work with at a time. The problem is too many writers which is the case because of too many episodes that must be written. Because we get more, sometimes we end up getting less.
The House and Cuddy scenes attained a new level of on the job comfort. House addressed Cuddy as Dr. Cuddy when she took away the mice, perhaps beginning to mark their professional versus personal relationship. When they were alone in Cuddy's homey office and he was sprawled on her sofa, House seemed blessedly content and went so far as to ask her to speak in a more pleasing tone to him. She did. The, "You have 24 hours.", was practically a purr. This is another important instance where House is now expressing his personal wishes to Cuddy. In previous episodes we heard something akin to, "Take me as I am.", and "Enjoy my admiration of your beauty." And now we have, "Use your sweet voice on me, please." The negotiations for a personal relationship are well under way.
Wardrobe afterthought: Cuddy dressed with care for this episode after House's flattering words last episode. Her suit was very feminine and sensuous but more appropriate than not. She seemed to subtly bask in his admiration and he knew it.
25 - Andree
"Maybe it was the kitty. I noticed that House (even House) couldn't stop himself from stroking the thing when it plopped itself on his desk." #19
Oh my, this "stroking the thing" is absolutely hilarious, Barbara. I can see that you don't like cats. Well, I am definitely a dog person (have 2 Bernese mountain dogs), but I had cats (4 Persians) too in the past. So I have seen both sides. And I prefer the dogs, that's for sure.
"Stroking the thing" (being that a cat or any other pet going up to a donkey or horse) can really help people relax and take away some of their worries. How often do you see that they take animals to homes for elderly and sick people, for the sake of both sides? And have you watched the faces of these people after such a session?
I could really see this "stroking the thing" in this episode helping House alleviating his pain, be it only for a little while.
Thanks for your recap, Barbara, which I read with great interest.