House season four concluded with the heartbreaking resolution to last week's "House's Head."
“It doesn’t hurt here. I don’t want to be in pain; I don’t want to be miserable; I don’t want him to hate me.” — House, hovering between life and death with Amber…
Article comments
26 - Barbara Barnett
I had the opportunity to watch both episodes, back to back with no commercials yesterday (yay Amazon Ubnbox!) It is, indeed a masterpiece. I've had people calling me for the last two days (friends and colleagues) asking me if I had recorded it and could they borrow it to replay! That's NEVER happened before. People were moved, touched and blown away.
Veresna--I was absolutely planning on doing a season retrospective, trying to find the lines and themes in the season as I did with season three (the various "acts" of the season). The choppiness of it will make it interesting (and necessary). Funny you should ask about a piece on the house/wilson dynamic. I started one about a month or so ago and dropped it because I was too busy at the moment. It is somethig I will pick up again over the summer. Thanks for the input and the reminder!
Always feel free to leave multiple comments. Discussion is an integral part any column of this sort, so feel free to discuss ;)
27 - Jo
Great review, Barbara, as always.
I am ecstatic for Hugh Laurie's sake that the season finale finally showcased his amazing range and depth and gave him a worthy Emmy submission. His acting has always been top-notch, but up until the last two episodes, he hasn't had anything meaty enough this season to sink his teeth into or stand out among the other male drama contenders. He, Leonard, and Dudek were absolutely breathtaking in this episode.
Unfortunately for me, these last episodes won't make up for the rest of Season 4. I still dislike it and think it was terribly disjointed. I won't be putting Season 4 on my Christmas list this year. I simply cannot find any interest in Taub or Thirteen, and dread the idea of Thirteen now becoming the focus in Season 5 as a sad, noble little trooper who bravely faces her fate. (gag)Kutner, though, is refreshing and definitely a keeper.
I'm going to look at the last scene with Cameron, Chase, and Foreman together as a hopeful sign for the next season - dare I hope they will be back together again? The writers have teased us over and over again with hints that Thirteen and Taub are unhappy with their jobs, and that House wants both Cameron and Chase to return. So far, their promises to give Cameron and Chase more screentime have come up empty. It's time they kept their promises. As someone who has loved and been interested in all SIX characters in the first three seasons, I find myself bored to death with the new team's interactions.
28 - Amanda
I can't say much more than everyone else has said. The episodes were a MASTERPIECE.
Hugh Laurie as HOUSE is AMAZING.
But I have one question I hope someone can answer for me. HOW did House know that Amber had a rash on her back?
Can't wait until Season 5.
29 - Barbara Barnett
Jo--Glad you liked the review. I think that everyone has strong opinions on the direction of the series, and a lot of people do have issues with how the old team are being used.
I like the new team; I like Chase (and how they've developed the character)--I could do without Cameron and esp. Foreman. It will be interesting where they take everyone next year. Hey, and I hear there will be a cast commentary on the season four dvd!
Amanda--All I can think is that House saw the rash when tending to her on the bus. Remember, he tended to her leg wound and saw her being rescued from the bus. So maybe there; maybe when they moved her to the ambulance, like W said.
30 - blacktop
I agree with those above who are looking forward to Barbara's summary of this season as a whole. I thought this was an exceptional outing, breathtaking in its bold decision to up-end the show's formula and introduce major new characters. It will be particularly rewarding to re-examine the development of the character of Amber throughout the season and the fantastic subtlety and flair for comedy and tragedy that Anne Dudek brought to that tough part.
The shifts in the role that Cuddy played through the season will also be of considerable interest also as she moved from House's exasperated boss to his games-playing collaborator to his devoted partner and savior. Magic, illusion, games, mortality, impermanence, and fate: these large themes were explored in worthy fashion by a great show.
31 - Ratha
Hi Barbara,
I've been a long time reader of your reviews but this is the first time I have ever posted a comment. But after "House's head" and "Wilson's heart" (especially "House's head") I just felt compelled to write.
First of all I just want to say that if Hugh Laurie does not win an Emmy there is seriously something wrong with the Emmy people's heads. Whoever they may be, I have no idea. I thought he was fantastic in "Merry Little Christmas" (still do) but I was just totally blown away watching "House's Head". I may even go as far as saying it is now my favorite House episode thus far. And I never thought I would say that about a season 4 episode as I have not been overly thrilled with this season.
And RSL and Anne Dudek surely deserve Emmy nominations for their wonderful performance. In fact they deserve Emmy wins.
I don't think I've been so emotionally drained after watching a television show before! I'm still finding moments throughout the day where I think back to the episode and I can feel the emotions I felt watching it all over again.
I can't believe how much I've "fallen" for a TV show! And Hugh Laurie!! Well don't even get me started!
As I mentioned earlier, on a whole season 4 has been a tad disappointing and like many I can't wait to read your review of the season. I love both Cameron and Chase and I miss them. Alot. I find 13 and Taub extremely dull and uninteresting. I miss the clinic patients and I felt that for the most part, I have found the POTW's and their medical mysteries boring. The only exception being Cate in "Frozen", the soap actor in "Living the Dream" and Amber in "Wilson's Heart. In general season 4 has felt so different compared to the first 3 seasons. Many time I have wondered "where is the "House" I love?" And to me the medical mysteries have been the B stories when they use to be the A stories and it was from the characters interactions with the patients that we find out more about their character. And the writers strike sure didn't help. Saying that though, since "Frozen" I have enjoyed the season much more.
I'll always continue to watch "House" no matter what direction the show takes because I love Hugh Laurie and the character's House, Wilson and Cuddy (and it doesn't look like they'll meet the same fate as Cameron and Chase) but I am very much anticipating what will happen next season in regards to the old team and I hope I won't be too dissapointed.
Sorry for this very long post and sorry if I've droned on. I'm looking forward to season 5 and thank you Barbara for your reviews of what is the BEST show on tele.
32 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks Blacktop and Ratha. And Ratha--welcome. Never apologize for a long comment. Thoughtful commentary is what this column is all about!
I so agree with you about the Emmys. He has to win this year. Nuanced, emotional and restrained performance in what could have been wild and over the top. Every range of emotion was felt and expressed. Yeah, my husband is always teasing me about my middle-aged crush on Hugh. what can I say, other than confess.
33 - Susanne
Don't worry, I too have a major crush on Hugh Laurie. At least your husband only teases you on it, mine gets jealous :)
There must be something wrong with the Academy if HL doesn't get the emmy. It is so overdue.
I felt that this season overall was a dissapointment though. I understand the themes of the show and I understand what the writers were trying to achieve however I felt that it was the execution of it that made me feel nagative about the season not to mention being bored to death on 13 and Taub. But I have my fingers crossed for next season.
34 - hl_lover
In reference to the rash on Amber's back:
House's mind did know, all along, that Amber was ill with the flu and he had witnessed her taking amantidine tablets, but he had suppressed it very deeply under a layer of 'retrograde amnesia'.
I think the dream sequence of Amber showing House the rash (how incredibly creepy to watch her rise from the undead...kudos to the makeup dept. on that one) was his mind processing information subconciously, coming up with other clues to her condition that would fit the diagnosis of influenza.
It took the break-through of the deep-brain electrical stimulation for the full remembrance of Amber's flu and the medication to become a conscious thought again.
Did that make any sense? Anyway,
Sorry for the interruption, and carry on! :)
35 - Barbara Barnett
It makes total sense, HL_L! I agree with you on your assessment ;)
36 - Iranu
I honestly think that was the best 1.5 hours of television I've ever seen (I'm English and downloaded each episode, without ads).
I don't know if anyone's already mentioned this, but if Chase hadn't told House to ignore Amber while under hypnosis, he might have uncovered there and then that it was Amber on the bus with him. At least that's how it seems to me.
What has been mentioned is that Hugh Laurie deserves an Emmy for his performance, and I agree wholeheartedly, both because he is amazing and because his acceptance speeches are hilarious.
I was surprised by how genuine Robert Sean Leonard and Anne Dudek's performances were. They were as good as if not better than Laurie in this episode, and if that doesn't deserve an Emmy nothing does.
Why does everybody want Cameron and Chase to come back? I think it would be unrealistic and a cop-out if they did, plus I think they've ran their full course as characters although I guess their relationship could be explored. The only member of the new team I don't like is Taub, he just doesn't seem to gel with the other members or House, and there's something about his acting that I don't like. I like both Kutner and Thirteen, although the latter might just be because I'm a 17 year-old boy ;)
About House noticing Amber's rash, at the beginning of Wilson's Heart when House is in the ER, I think (but I'm not sure) he has a flash of memory seeing Amber being carried out of the bus while he is talking about noticing a symptom in somebody, so he might have seen it then. Or it might have been his subconscious coming to a rational conclusion from the suppressed memory of Amber saying she had the 'flu - bad flu = rash, not an unreasonable leap.
Unlike many I really enjoyed season 4. No more or less so than the previous seasons, although the different approach was definitely fresh. I think it takes something like this to keep a series "on its toes" if you like, stop it from becoming tired and dull. And of course there are bound to be people who do not like the shake-up, although I am surprised by how many articles and posts I've read stating disappointment with the season. Seasons like this I think act as a transition phase, whether deliberately or not, and next season I think will be a (welcome) return to the more traditional House format.
37 - Barbara Barnett
Iranu,
Thank you for your comments. I would agree that this is as fine a television experience as is possible. I watched the episodes again last night, no commercials and back to back. There are so many resonances from the begining that tie in a that end. From the song in the strip club sounding like a siren at the start echoing the sirens that House must've heard as he regained consciousness on the bus after the crash.
You are right, of course, about Chase's possible post-hypnotic suggestion that might have prevented House from accessing Amber's identity until the end when he pushed himself past every block.
I have also mostly liked this season. They've tried new things, and I do think it's worked. I like the new team; Taub is confrontational with House (and as experienced if not as gifted) without Foreman's arrogant whiny-ness. I like Kutner, who reminds me much of a big goofy kid. But very, very smart. I like 13 because, while she is very young, like Cameron was, she is wary and street smart as much as she is afraid. I do like where Chase has landed, and i would keep him (which is interesting, since I despised Chase through the first 2.5 seasons).
38 - Buds
Chase's character has been very nicely developed. He has gone from being one of the most despicable characters, to one of the most lovable.
I think the relationship between House and Chase (before season 4) was similar to a father-son relationship. This was shown in "Resignation", you see pride in House's eyes when Chase deduces that House is also ashamed of Foreman's reason for quitting. Then again in the season 3 finale, Chase is quick to figure out House's motives for agreeing with everything Foreman said. In the same episode, after House fires Chase, when House is sitting alone at home (when Esteban keeps calling and leaving him messages) for the first time you see tears in House's eyes (the season 4 finale wasn't the first time). It shows that firing Chase was probably the hardest thing House has had to do . It shows that House really meant it when he told Chase that he had learned all he can from working for him and that it was time for him to move on.
I've just been re-watching all the season finale's so I thought I would just add that.
39 - Ratha
I have to agree with Buds in that Chase's character has been developed beautifully. I too didn't care much for Chase at the start. The whole Vogler thing put me off him but now I adore Chase.
In fact Jesse Spencer is the reason I started to watch House when it first aired. I'm an Aussie and I had a major thing for him when he was in Neighbour so I was glad to see him back on tele.
Back to Chase though, he stepped up to the plate in numerous episodes (Finding Judas and Airborne are two in which he got the diagnosis right) and I love the look House gave him as you mentioned Buds when he called House on also being ashamed of the reason Foreman is quitting and also when Chase deduced that it was House who cancelled Foreman's job interview.
I hope they do bring him back a lot more next season and develop on his character. I love House/Chase scenes. There's so much more I'd love to know about Chase, Cameron and Foreman.
40 - Andy Murray
AMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!