The mother was obviously aware of the abuse, yet did nothing, choosing only to declare the pedophile father deceased. Was it shame? Guilt? Fear? What would cause a parent to push something so significant into the closet with the other skeletons?
Although this story thread doesn’t overtly connect to House’s story, we know that House was the victim of (at least) verbal abuse at the hands of his father while his mother, ever the peacemaker, likely allowed it. Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) reminds House (and us) that House is the product of an illicit affair. When Wilson contrasts House’s biological “good guy” father with John House, a brutal, unforgiving man, House reminds him that good guy, though he may have been, he wasn’t good enough to have resisted an affair with his mother while his father was overseas. There is a distinct note of bitterness in House’s voice. House is clearly still affected by those actions and the secrets that followed.
The affair had been a deeply held secret; House had suspected it since he was 12, but never confirms it until his father’s death in season five (“Birthmarks”). But the cost of keeping that secret likely has had a high price tag, having likely played into his mother’s passivity in the face of John’s treatment of his son. This week’s medical case and House’s story both raise the question about the potentially destructive power of parenting, and illustrate House’s contention that all parents damage their children in one way or another—albeit some worse than others. And on a tragically ironic note, this story of sexual abuse and its consequences comes amid the stunning and horrifying revelations about the Penn State football program.
The rest of the episode’s threads also play on the theme of parenting and how parents can make or break us, nurture or destroy us. Obviously, House’s needling of Taub (Peter Jacobson) about his twin girls reflects on it, and the way he presses Adams (Odette Annable) as well. Even parental perfection has its costs! The clinic patient and House’s amusing boxing match plan also suggest parental issues (of a different sort).
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - filmlover
Right now I'm not ready to see Foreman as a parental figure to House alongside Wilson. I can't see him as Wilson's partner in crime like Cuddy was, at least not yet. Now that being said..I did enjoy the episode.
I am always fascinated with House's parental issues.
House says all parents screw up their children. How does House see his mother as having screwed him up? The end scene with Taub about the heart wanting to tell him but the brain knowing he was better off not knowing- could that also relate to his situation? Is that what his mother went through in regards to telling or not telling him the truth about his parentage?
I've had the same thoughts as you in regards to her passivity being a result of her guilt for the affair. I'm just not sure if that is right. I wish they would explore his issues with his parents more. Go more indepth. Sometimes I worry that I am seeing more there than what they are actually trying to show.
2 - RobF
Yay!! A really good episode!
I don't really have anything to add to the nice review; I'm just so happy the season may actually turn out ok.
Thanks for sticking with House through thick and thin, Barbara!
3 - 20V
I don't like how the Adams C-plot(or D-plot?) wrapped itself up. It seemed like a huge stretch to convey she was screwed up. Portraying her as a person who actively seeks being damaged just makes me like her a lot less. I understand how the whole "cheated woman scorned" ordeal can seem cliché, but there is a reason for that. It's believable.
Other than that, and literally just that; the scene in the lab with Chase was well done; I enjoyed the episode a lot. House believably plays devil's advocate throughout the entire episode, blaming his jerkdom at lunch with Wilson on "bad parenting." Taub can still miraculously pull sympathy out of me, which is probably all Peter Jacobson. It seems rather spiteful of Rachel and Ruby that both his daughters have identical names. Those girls are sisters and are going to be in each others lives; it's not just Taub they're messing with. I don't see why one of them couldn't have picked a different name.
4 - bigHousefan
Thanks for the great review Barbara!
Wow! I loved this episode! You're exactly right about Foreman helping House recover some dignity - while reminding Wilson about the importance of his role as House's best friend.
I like how Foreman has grown to respect and care about House; and lookout for him in a behind the scenes way that started last season. It makes me care about Foreman in a way I never did before. His friendship with Taub has also helped.
I love how House can count on Chase to be a willing participant in House's games. I was reminded of Season Four's 'Mirror Mirror' and the fixed bet.
Foreman and Chase accept and appreciate House for who he is. Along with Wilson, House has real friends he can count on and that's a great improvement in his life. With the loss of Cuddy those relationships are even more important to him.
I'm stunned that in just a few episodes I feel so comfortable with the new team. I do hope they continue to delve into House's childhood. I would love to see an episode (or more) that brings back Diane Baker as House's mother.
5 - tipitinatoo
Not much I can add, Barbara, except my own kudos to you for always managing to perfectly capture the subtexts of each episode. "Parents" hit the mark in every way, as much in the mold of the old "House" as I've seen this year, and it was such fun to watch. Maybe DS was saving this for Sweeps Month, but no matter--it was such a tremendous "upper" for every loyal "House" fan I know. I think we all breathed a collective sigh of relief that our favorite diagnostician is back in fine form and that Foreman finally decided it was time for him to fully accept the mantle of Department Head. The team also seemed cohesive, with Charlyne Yi and Odette Anable hitting their stride as fully contributing, valued members. Let's hope the snap, crackle and pop of this episode has set the tone for the rest of Season 8.
6 - Duskybatfishgirl
Oh how I feel uplifted when not only Barbara but also other commentators are mutually positive of a House episode! I believe that House M.D.'s golden age is not yet over; & eagerly await "Parents" when it screens here in Australia this Friday.
7 - Josie123
Excellent review, Barbara! I really enjoyed this episode, too.
In "One Day, One Room", House said that to Eve, his clinic patient who had been raped, his father disciplined him with ice baths and making him sleep outdoors at night. Since he knew that he would most likely not see Eve again, I don't think he had any reason to lie about his past. Ice baths is physical abuse. I don't think the viewer is supposed to think that House is exaggerating the abuse in order to bond with Eve so that she would open up to him.
8 - Jane E
I also enjoyed last night episode. I thought the script was great and I very much agree with all your analogies regarding the parenting theme. I do belive this was a good House script with the medical mystery primary, House's antics secondary. I also liked the way Forman handeled the situation. It made for a great ending and I have to tell you I was laughing so hard my kids heard me in the other room.
9 - tohper_stinkbutt
House is running sore, running from himself and society. And yet one day his scab wil heal us all.
10 - Eve K
It is usually said that untreated victims of child molestation is likely to molest childern themselves as adults. And working as a clown with acces to a lot of children? Seriously. He has got to be told and treated. The series could do damage with that attitude. If new research shows differntly, I take it back.
11 - Barbara Barnett
I don't think House exaggerated at all with Eve. I would call what John did abuse, but others might call it militaristic/harsh, not considering the decade, not call it technically abuse.
Eve, I agree (and I'm writing a novel right now with that idea firmly in the mind of my protagonist). I don't think the series was advocating that the boy become a clown. And I agree that he needs treatment. He has suppressed the memory. His desire to become a clown may be an effect of PTSD, something I've always believed House suffers from.
12 - Eve K
Thank you for your answer Barbara, but I do tend to differ between physical abuse and child molestation. I think everybody (as they said in the serie) has some damage from their parents. But child molestation is by far so much worse (on so many levels) than any other form of abuse. Of course everybody could gain from treatment for their wrong upbringing, but this is a different matter. I do not fear House for to hit his (unborn)children, or any other children. But I do fear for this kid, he is a time bomb. IF the current research is right.
I also believe in genetic inheritage. How do they know that Houses biological father is "all good"? Just because he is a priest? He was a friend of the family, but that doesnt mean that House knew his private sides. He could be a jerk also.
13 - Barbara Barnett
Eve--That was precisely House's point in his rejoinder to Wilson. I agree. This kid is a ticking time bomb.
14 - blacktop
Thank you, Barbara, for another excellent review. I was much more engaged in your commentary than I was in the episode itself. This is because, unlike the episode, you devoted the overwhelming majority of your essay to discussing House's troubled history and his complicated parental issues. This is exactly where I want to go as a long-time fan. Unfortunately, the episode was glaringly unwilling to do this. Most of the episode -- measured in time, dialogue, and emotional energy -- was precisely NOT focused on House and his issues. The parallels the script sought to draw were between Taub's dilemma and the conflict within the POTW family. The episode was purposefully not about House.
Imagine how differently the show would have felt had it ended with a silent scene of House at home musing over a family photo or a treasured exotic object. Without such a character-delving moment, we are not at all sure that the horrific revelations of the medical case had any impact on House at all.
It has to mean something important that our take-away view of House this episode is of him gaily enjoying the prize-fight after a road trip to Atlantic City with Foreman. That we saw him on a TV screen underlined how distant the audience is from the character at this point in the season. We are separated by screen upon screen, quite literally.
Your thoughtful piece brought a wealth of understanding of House's backstory to the analysis. Unfortunately, none of this was on screen or in the script we were given Monday night. Mysteriously, the episode itself skirted these questions with only a glancing reference. The actual episode was almost entirely about the POTW and his secret-laden family, Taub and the Taubettes, the uncovering of Adams' family dysfunction, and the caper of the boxing match. House played only a subordinate role in the episode, although his shadow looms large in the imaginations and memories of devoted fans. Not so much on screen.
This was a huge missed opportunity to further explore House's character. One has to wonder why TPTB skipped out on what could have been truly compelling TV?
15 - BrokenLeg
14 @Blacktop
Agreed!!Altough a quite good episode,as all written by Elie Attie, was a missed opportunity to explore House's character deeper.
Said that, I was also moved or engaged more by BB's review than by the episode itself. (BTW,thanks Barbara)
And colleague, your "Taub and the Taubettes" and the mention of the "Adam's,-or Adams?-, family" is great!
16 - Eloise
Loved this episode! Its a shame that ratings have dipped because imo its really back on track!
I also noticed House's bitter voice when talking to Wilson. Really good review from you not much to add.
I enjoyed the ending in particular with Wilson's little smile of good grace!
Really looking forward to the next episode too.
17 - where-is-house
I want dramas, ep7 looks better than this one.
I don't care about the team, Taub and his two childs with same name (this is stupid).
Did they speak about House's father?
I hope they'll come back to basics by exploring House's character and not Taub's childs.
18 - where-is-house
blacktop, you're right "about further explore House's character", for the last season, I think they should go this way.
19 - Paulac45
great review of an absolutely fantastic episode. I hope that the rest of the season is written as well, and acted as brilliantly, as this one.
20 - Celia
#14 Blacktop: I couldn't have said it better myself, so I won't.
6.7 Million viewers & 2.2 M in the 18-49 category (?!) said it as well. 'House' has left the building.
21 - KMC
Good episode,great review Barbara! I liked Chase joining in House's antics. I liked the fact that Foreman decided that House needed a break..he's been good. I also liked the fact that Wilson was so upfront about the tickets...didn't try to hide the fact that he got them and wants to go...would take House with him if he could...but still wants to go. And I understand. Being a caretaker myself, I know the need for some "me" time...Wilson needed a break from "Housesitting" The fact that he got it...if not in the form he was planning on...may have been part of Foreman's plan all along.
I would also like to see them address House's feelings about his mother. He said he loved her in "Daddy's Boy", must he can't not have issues with her. He was verbally and physically abused by John House and presumably she didn't do much to stop it. Admittedly that could have been from the guilt that she felt about the affair (which back in the late 50's could have had major repercussions...I believe adultery was a court-marshal offence and John H.could count on his fingers as well as anyone..unless he didn't want to) So...there's a lot they could address if they get House and his mother in the same room again, which I hope they do.
22 - Visitkarte
@ 10 - Eve K
Nope, the memory of the molestation increases the risk, not the fact that it happened. Taub and the boy's mother were right. And he is a sucky clown, and a virgin. He won’t last in the job, and he wouldn’t molest a kid. No harm done.
I loved the episode. Need to see it the fourth thime ;-)
23 - AreKay
"Obviously, House’s needling of Taub (Peter Jacobson) about his twin girls reflects on it,..." I'm confused; can "twins" have two different mothers?
24 - Joan
I think you are right Barbara that it may be the best episode this season and yet that is damning with faint praise. There continues to be heart and soul missing from this season in all the characters that keeps me feeling a hollowness in the episode(s)and in House. There were some great meaty issues here about parenting and, as blacktop has noted, as regards House it got one (well done) line and then on to everyone else; a little more exploration could surely have been fitted in. More than that, everything is being played for quick laughs -- I don't even get what is so funny about Taub's two ladies naming the children almost the same thing, but then the writers thought marrying a mail order bride would be a laugh riot. House's teasing of Taub was bordering on cruel and there was no higher purpose as when he seemed to be trying to help his marriage in past seasons, here it was just to needle him that he was going to screw up his babies one way or the other so no big deal to let one go??
There is no indication of House or anyone's inner life or even history. Foreman and 13 didn't even speak in her big farewell episode -- this was the woman he loved enough to risk his career for one ep...but that was so past season, no need to revisit! Chase and Taub return and have not one comment to make to House about the whole blowing up of his affair with Cuddy, his prison sentence, Cuddy leaving...not one word? Wilson too has nothing to say, just enjoying the pranks and good times.
Prison was apparently very good for House because this season House is not particularly in pain, not apparently abusing (or even using from what we see) drugs or alchohol, he isn't miserable, he isn't lonely or regretful of anything, he does not think about what he did or about Cuddy -- really the whole prison thing and that 'incident' with his boss are just fodder for his street cred and a cool punchline to pull out now and then, no big. I can understand House appreciating being back in his life at the hospital but the writers refuse to show House having any moment of contemplation or emotion, even the end of ep piano playing sort -- he's just a jerk whose all about the games and solving his medical puzzles and playing with everyone and they all are ready to play along! There is no push-pull with Wilson being his conscience or at least second guessing him, no Cuddy to spar with personally or professionally, Wilson and Chase are completely ready to join in his Housian games, against Taub or the newbies. Even Foreman this ep seemed less like the designated grown-up to me as another of House's co-horts in gamesmanship. So its all light as a feather....and dull. House is not even an edgy bad boy anymore, everyone is just accepting his antics with a shake of the head, oh that House! Everyone has capitulated. Wilson and Foreman agree he's been doing everything he should?? -- wasn't he trying to cut his prison ankle bracelet off just to mention one this ep, but no one calls him on it, instead he is rewarded.
The two new girls have no real spark. Sure, Charlene had a line or two early on but they both are already mostly going along. That Adams held off sharing until the end of the ep was deeply anticlimactic. More typical of her was the return of the old team ep when House did his pointed truthtelling about everyone looking at her breasts and thinking of sex and she knows it and pretends not to, etc. Odette just sat and stared at him like a deer in headlights and then got up to do what she was told. Cuddy would have hit it out of the park with a snappy rejoinder that hit House below the belt just as hard; 13 could have given him back an equally harsh truth or a pointed so what stare, even Cameron would have responded to protest against his cynical view, etc.. Adams is no match for any of that. So, yes, a better plot this week, even laughed over the clinic patient and the apple juice, great joke, but where are the deeper relationships and feelings that we got in previous years and made us care so much about House and the others? Given the season so far, I don't expect real exploration of anything, but I suppose during sweeps they might do one episode in which they will suggest the boiling cauldron of emotion inside but no, thats not til later in the year. For now, bring on the clowns!
25 - housemaniac
Joan #24: Couldn't have said it better! Alas.