The second entry of season five finds House dealing with his own grief.
Over the course of four seasons of House, MD, we have observed its central character (played to perfection by newly-minted executive producer Hugh Laurie) go through a lot. We’ve seen him battered and bruised (emotionally and physically); we have watched him cynical, sarcastic, sappily romantic, desperately ill and in the throes of withdrawal. He’s been depressed and even occasionally happy.…
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26 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks Andree. Not to be too "meta," I believe that what I write in this space are reviews. No, they are not "thumbs up/thumbs down" "reviews," ala Roger Ebert, but they review (I hope) the heart of each episode, analyze motivation, overarching themes and ideas. They're actually not recaps (resumes?) I try to avoid (sometimes its not possible) the linear "he said this/she said that/then this happened" of episode recaps. What I write is opinion, because it's my interpretation of what happened.
But whatever you call them, I do hope you enjoy reading them :)
I agree with you about Hugh Laurie, and welcome to the club of those who are happily addicted to House!
27 - pollyg
If Wilson doesn't blame House, and his relationship with House (which to me is the same thing as at least partially blaming him), then why is he cutting House out of his life? For some reason completely unrelated to Amber's death? How else do you explain it?
28 - Maineac
For me, this blog has replaced all the episode discussions on TWoP and HHoW, which inevitably degenerated into whining and bitching about 'ships' and minutia while overlooking the major themes of the show. It is so refreshing to find a source of discussion that's both intelligent and enthusiastic. Yay Barbara for bringing that off.
29 - Barbara Barnett
Pollyg--I think that Wilson doesn't believe he's blaming House for Amber as much as he feels that House is radioactive and is a destructive force in his life. He needs to sever his relationship with House, and as much as I think Wilson is being incredibly cruel (especially after what Wilson asked of House in WH), Wilson believes that it's best for him. It's harsh and cruel and he's dismissing the notion that House is also at a particularly fragile stage right now. He's on a tear to be out for #1.
Maineac--I'm flattered and delighted that you find this space worthy of comparison with TWoP (Televsion without Pity) and HHOW (which I visit often--for the overall information an quality as well.) When I got booted from participation at TWOP (me and a lot of other regulars), I was sad at the direction that forum had taken, both in the level of discussion and the moderation of the site. Haven't been back there for a long, long time.
Glad that you (all) are here, enjoying the discussion. Plenty of room for diverse opinion and analysis. Stop back often, and bring along your friends :) --by the way, lovin' your new fanfiction effort, maineac.
30 - Orange450
Hi Barbara, I still haven’t seen the episode, but I couldn’t resist reading your article. I never mind spoilers. In fact, I usually read books from back to the front, because once I know what happens in the end, I can relax and enjoy finding out how it all comes about :-) It works the same way with me for House episodes " I always enjoy them more if I’ve done my homework first.
“She saw an ugly world, one that was not quite up to the beauty that her doctors predicted she would find once she regained her sight.”
I’d read about the blind architect in several other House discussion venues, and this line of yours reminded me about a story " probably apocryphal - about Monet. Apparently, he’d been nearsighted for almost all of his life, and got glasses when he was in his eighties. As the story goes " when he put them on for the first time and saw the world spring into focus, he said “bah!” He then threw them on the floor, stepped on them, and continued painting the world around him as he had always seen it.
I probably won’t get to see the episode for a while, so I just wanted to wish you a shana tova. Ketiva v’chatima tova, and best wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful year. I agree with Maineac " I’ve spent a lot of time on the Fox forum over the past few years, but your blog is fast becoming my favorite House discussion, for all the reasons Maineac listed. Thank you for really enhancing my enjoyment of the show.
p.s. I noticed that you used the words “Stacy” and “betrayal” in the same sentence. When I have some more time, I think we may have to talk about that ;-)
31 - pollyg
Barbara, I don't want to belabor the point, but I can't understand how Wilson's conviction that House is radioactive and his consequent decision to cut him out of his life for his (Wilson's)own sake can be separated from the idea that House (and his radioactivity) are responsible for Amber's death. I can't help but wonder if Wilson is thinking, not House calling Wilson for a ride but his whole impact on their lives is what caused Amber's death. But maybe future episodes will reveal to me what you and others are seeing....
32 - Dominique.
Wilson's behavior is just very frustrating to me... I mean it has been his goal for years to get House to open up like he did in this episode and now he gets House to be open and as vulnerable as he can possibly get and he just throws it away! I mean I get that he's mourning but if this causes a relapse in House's behavior... I really believe that Wilson needs House just as much as House needs him, so he's gonna get over the gross of his grief sometime and he'll remember what House means to him in a positive way and end up on his dootstep but House would've regressed by then: this showed him being open really hurts, that it really only causes pain... he'd get back to his safe zone, which is simply not caring about anyone except a faceless, nameless patient and just refuse to let Wilson in ever again...
it just frustrates me beyond compare that Wilson would cause a relapse in House's behavior like that cause that's just having the right to walk away and kicking him as he goes, isn't it?
33 - Barbara Barnett
Orange: Gam Lach. Interesting story about Monet. Regarding Stacy and Betrayal--I meant that (in my sentence) as House's perception of it. I believe she was trying to do her best to save the life of someone she loved (and perhaps, himself wasn't willing to save himself). On the other hand, House may have forseen the life that was ahead for him--a life where his feelings of worthlessness would be exacerbated by his disability (or maybe not being seen as a "whole person" by (perhaps) his father.) Something to explore, indeed.
Dominique--you raise a good point. And we'll see the effect of it on House as the season goes on. Wilson often frustrates me despite his good intentions (and we all know about good intentions) :-)
34 - Jewels
I am new to the House M.D. fanclub. :) I started watching (out of order no less) about 3 weeks ago or so (start of September/end of August 2008). I was a bit underwhelmed with 13's character at the season premier and since now going back and seeing the pilot and most of the first year I can see that she is not the best replacement for Cameron imho.
I was very impressed with the detective guy and think he keeps the quick and witty conversations House used to have with Wilson going for the show. I think he will be House's side kick for some time - and a good diversion/ally to watch and be Wilson's "replacement" for the time being. Great twist I thought by adding a detective. I was wondering how season 5 episode 2 would follow up with Wilson's "departure". I had heard rumours that Robert Sean Leonard has been on the set "more than ever" so wasn't sure how he could be and stay distant. Stalking is an interesting way to accomplish it. :) Hugh did look tired to me however and I'm aware he's a few years older than the beginning (remember I saw the pilot for the first time real recently) I wondered if in real life he's tired too. Seems to be in the news alot about his depression/grumpiness and missing his family. I'm sure you've all heard he finally did move his family to the US after his wife Jo insisted for his health/happiness. I wish them all the best, it's a terrific show and I've been impressed how consistent the quality has been even from the beginning. :) Quite a treat.
35 - Christine Roberts
After reading Jewel's post it looks like Jewels wants to be a stalker? I have 2 people stalking me already I wouldn't wish it on anyone. People no matter what their job is doesn't need stalkers. It is a crime. In case you have forgetten. Robert Sean Leonard and everyone else shouldn't have people talking about stalking them. It is horrible being stalked. I'm talking from experience.
36 - Barbara Barnett
Jewels, welcome. I think Jewels may have meant that House hiring a PI to investigate Wilson and keep an eye on him was slightly stalkerish, and a way to keep Wilson in the picture, but distant from House. Am I right, Jewels?
HL is on the set so many hours a day (and House--I believe--is supposed to be looking pretty haggard in these early episodes, so I wouldn't necessarily think Hugh, as Hugh, would look quite as haggard). And they went right from season four to five, which is gruelling for anyone. I'm happy for Hugh that he seems to have moved the family here, as it must be very difficult to have been apart for such long stretches.
That said, I'd sort of like to keep the conversation mainly about the episodes and the show--and certainly about the cast as it relates to the show. So, Jewels, welcome to the addiction that is House, MD :)
37 - Kizmet
I can't buy that Wilson's statement that he doesn't blame House for Amber's death. He recognizes that rationally House isn't to blame. But then he turns around, re-evaluates his life in the light of Amber's death and decides that he needs House out of his life. I think that pretty clearly says he does blame House for his unhappiness.
House's behavior with regards to Amber was actually pretty mild compared to say, the whole mess with Tritter or faking cancer among other things. Wilson actually does give the appearance of enjoying playing games with House at times, and seemed to be enjoying having Amber and House fighting over him. Wilson is actually fairly manipulative himself, he just limits the tendency to House, because it's acceptable since it's either a game between them or Wilson justifying the manipulation as being in House's best interest.
The thing the irritates me about Wilson's actions this season is: Wilson wants House out of his life because Amber died due to a chain of events that House couldn't possibly of predicted. But Wilson takes no blame at for asking House to undergo a procedure that they KNEW could have led to brain damage or death. House got unlucky and a garbage truck hit the bus he and Amber were on so he's unforgivable; Wilson got lucky and his best friend didn't die because of what Wilson asked him to do, so Wilson did nothing wrong? That seems a bit unfair to me.
38 - Barbara Barnett
Hi Kizmet,
Wilson is definitely manipulative. No question. And he did enjoy Amber and House vying for his attention.
House bears no responsibility in Amber's death. Not logically, rationally or factually. But Wilson's not at a point in his life where he's thinking in least bit rationally. he's grieving. He's angry (can't remember which of those five stages of gried that is, but its' one of them). House is an easy target for him. He wakes up, reviews everything that's wrong with his life and decides that every bad thing in his life for the past xx years can trace back to House. So that's where he directs his anger. House is an even easier target because House, himself, feels guilt over Amber's death as well. And House's own psychology, which (we know from at least two statements made in the series) tells him that he's not a worthy individual. Stacy had asked him "You don't think you deserve to live?" Wilson in Son of Coma Guy also referred to House's not feeling deserving.
So it's not right, it's not fair and House doesn't deserve what he's going through with Wilson after risking his life to save Amber (and more than through the deep brain stimulation)but it's human as much as it is tragic for both House and Wilson.
39 - pollyg
"He wakes up, reviews everything that's wrong with his life and decides that every bad thing in his life for the past xx years can trace back to House. So that's where he directs his anger."
Yes. And I would add it also allows him to absolve himself from any blame for all those bad things--he's using House as his scapegoat. Understandable? Yes. Forgivable? In the circumstances, probably. Honest? No. Selfish? You bet! He's diverting a large chunk of his own pain onto House who--because of his vulnerability about his own worth, his own guilt towards Amber and his need for Wilson--accepts it. It's cruel of him and to me again underscores how little he truly "gets" House. I guess the tragedy is that Wilson is hiding from his own imperfections by hurting the one person in the world who cares most for him and most needs him. I am really not liking Wilson now. (Can you tell? ;o) )
40 - Barbara Barnett
pollyg--
I feel your pain! Although I'm not hating Wilson quite as much, I have long held that he simply doesn't "get" House completely. Oh, he has flashes, but he misreads (at times) House's fragility (as well as his genius). I really disliked Wilson in season three. From Meaning pretty much all the way through Merry Little Christmas.
41 - Sue
Barbra,
Happy and Healthy New Year!
To me, this was another arrogant David Shore script, in the vein of No Reason and One Day, One Room. It was too loaded with rapid banter that was hard to understand and it had meaningless or poorly established scenes that detracted from what was going on. What was it with ringing the nurse's bell so many times? The dialogue with House and the PI in the truck when the PI was watching someone was overdone to the point that it lost the meaning it was supposed to have (not the part where House waits to hear what Wilson said). This PI character is so weak, he has no impact compared to a strong personality like House. He is supposed to be smart and on the ball, but he comes off as wimpy to the point that I don't find his supposed intelligence believable. He mumbled his words so badly I couldn't understand what he was saying. He never escapes the "dippy exterior" to emerge as clever and qualified. The biggest sin is that he did not make me care about what he knew or what he found out. This script was a "throw it all against the wall and see what sticks," and there was very little spaghetti in it.
I wasn't convinced that the patient picked up on House's unhappiness; to me, her words came out of left field. If Shore wanted me to believe it, he had to establish the opportunity for her to "get it" about House, and that was not there. Had she ever seen the world before her eye problem? She must have, if she was an architect. When did her eyes go bad? Did she realize the world didn't look the same after the transplant as it did before the transplant? Did she expect the world to look different from how she had remembered it? All these questions went through my mind. Because her character and her history were sloppily written, I had no idea of her perspective when she "saw the world" after her transplant. If there had not been so much time devoted to the PI, we would have had more information to understand this better.
A Kaplow script would have done this much better. A Shore script would just throw this in and expect the audience to "get it." Like I didn't "get" the "Cameron is stuck with another dying patient" in One Day One Room." (That entire part of that episode is still a mystery to me.)
When a script is so jam-packed with dialogue, a lot goes over the viewer's head and the impact of the words is lost. In seasons 1-3, I "got it" throughout the entire episode, without having to figure it out later. As the story unfolded, I could appreciate the words, the acting, the meaning, and the impact of the whole package. In this episode, the few scenes that weren't "quick," like the scene where House was at Wilson's door, had a powerful punch. Loads of words weren't necessary.
I found this episode very choppy. There were poignant moments interspersed with messy scenes that had little impact. Foreman was more interesting in this episode than he has been. The new team members continue to bore me and put a drag on the series. The DDX scenes have become dull, lacking the characterization and humor that CC and F brought to them. I have read a lot of comments about this episode on forums and from critics, and it universally was not as well-liked as past House episodes.
This was not a typical Kaplow script in the vein of Autopsy or No Reason. Those episodes were heart-felt stories with better structure and character development. The dialogue in a Kaplow script is much more meaningful and has more impact. I think David Shore has more to learn from Kaplow than Kaplow has to learn from Shore.
42 - Sue
I forgot to mention that there is now a podcast of a House MD blog at www.thedifferential.net. They are inviting viewers to participate. There is a medical expert who will comment of the medical aspect of the story.
43 - Pat
"It's not hate; it's much more difficult to overcome than simple hate. It's the sort of indifference that comes at the end of a bad marriage, when one partner finally decides that there's no longer anything there and become immune to anything (good or bad) that the other partner can say."
Maybe that's why Wilson doesn't want to talk to House while he will talk to Cameron and Cuddy. There's nothing left to say for Wilson, he's trying to move on, and he doesn't want to say the ugly things he's feeling and get into a useless fight with House and hurt him.
44 - JL
I wish that I didn't agree with Sue's comments. Oh, how I wish.
I really appreciate your review, Barbara, but that's because it covers the House bits of the episode.
David Shore has commented in the past that the strength of the show is having the character stuff happening around the sidelines of the medical mystery, rather than as the focus (my paraphrase, but you get the point).
Apart from keeping things feeling too soapy, I think restricting character parts to brief and incidental moments has kept them REALLY strong (similar to the 'tragic moments mixed in with comic moments' thing for which this show is known).
I felt that, in this episode, the medical case got sidelined. It didn't seem to be the focus. And, ironically, that weakened the 'character bits', as they felt purposeless and cumbersome without a main storyline to take the weight.
My characters were all there, doing their thing - but it just didn't feel like my show.
I did like the P.I. ... but I think that cramming less into this episode somehow would have made for a more focussed story and better expression of the characters within it.
45 - Sue
In my last post, I meant to say Human Error instead of No Reason as great Kaplow episodes.
Barbara, I am interested in your reaction to my last post.
46 - Barbara Barnett
Sue, and all others...still catching up after the holidays. OY!
I did like "Not Cancer," although like you, I did feel that they crammed an awful lot into those 43 minutes. The dialogue was very quick (and maybe too quick.)
Patients have been pschoanalyzing House since season one going all the way back to Rebecca Adler, John Henry Giles, the presidential candidate in Role Model, etc. So, I'm not so bothered by the patient picking up on House's sadness. He is sad, and it pours off him sometimes. He's alot more transparent than he would admit to people who have no preconceived notions about him. His team, Wilson and Cuddy--and his other co-workers have been well immunized and have a hard time seeing beyond his hardshell case.
Not surprisingly we disagree about the new team (it wouldn't be the first time ;)).
I believe that this was a Kaplow script, even if Shore had his input, I think this was primarily Kaplow's. Of course I could be wrong (who me?).
I think the PI is pretty geeky, but he's smart (maybe too smart--to House-knowledgable, if anything). I like the dialogue between them.
Had she ever seen the world before her eye problem? She must have, if she was an architect. When did her eyes go bad? Did she realize the world didn't look the same after the transplant as it did before the transplant? Did she expect the world to look different from how she had remembered it? All these questions went through my mind.
Mine too, and I would have loved to see her explored further, especially since they were drawing a comparision between her and House.
Because her character and her history were sloppily written, I had no idea of her perspective when she "saw the world" after her transplant. If there had not been so much time devoted to the PI, we would have had more information to understand this better.
You may be right there, and I do think the show is getting a bit crowded. But I do like the PI (and he'll be gone soon enough). He does bring out House's playfulness (and his feelings) in a new way.
I'll also agree that it was no "Autopsy." Love to see one of those this year. but I'm patient. And after the spectacular House's Head/Wilson's Heart -- and the season opener, I believe there will be payoff ahead.
JL--my belief is that the "procedural" stuff--the patient story is the skeleton upon which the story of House is told. I've always seen House as a character study. A very detailed and striking study of a fascinating, compelling character. I love when the patient's story and House's interweave, and agree that it might have been a bit better interwoven in "not cancer."
47 - Jewels
Thanks Barbara for the warm welcome.
You are right that I meant that House hiring a PI to keep tabs on Wilson (surveillance, bugging devices) is stalkish type behavior that serves the purpose of keeping House at least "informed" about Wilson (connected) and keeps Wilson "in the loop" still for the writers to add again at any time. Clever storyline I would never have thought up. I also think seeds were planted when the PI mentioned that both Cuddy and Cameron are keeping in touch with Wilson (phone, group therapy, in person at his home). I suspect that is setting the stage for future plots/subplots.
I was not aware that they filmed season 4 and 5 back to back with no breaks. That would be exhausting. When was season 5 filmed exactly?
Lastly, in terms of the stages of grief, there are 5 and anger is one of them. :)
48 - Rachel
There was one fleeting scene in the episode where House is shown in his darkened office, tossing a ball up and down.
It was only for a few seconds.
I think that was the moment when I realized that he understood how isolated he was.
House is definitely the more vulnerable one in the relationship. I noticed that in the poker game (way back in Season 2?), Wilson was the only one who could tell when House was bluffing, and House only got "nine bucks for a straight." That was a lot earlier in the season than any of the later revelations, but it was a telling detail.
I can't wait for "Birthmarks." I'm beside myself with anticipation.