Using the camera as a prism through which we view the characters, “Ugly” continues exploring this season’s theme of perception (particularly visual perception). The case of mistaken identity in “Alone;” the astronaut (“The Right Stuff”); patients with visions and hallucinations in episodes three and four; the smoke and mirrors of “Mirror, Mirror,” (episode 5); and the hall of illusions that is the CIA (episode 6) all provide variations on this theme.
The themes of perception and normality are nicely interwoven within and across the shifts from real-time color to the high-contrast black and white of the camera’s lens. Placed in front the camera, where images, words and perceptions are captured in perpetuity, no one behaves as they normally might. Everyone’s putting on a show. Their motivations are clear enough: no one wants to look like an idiot in front of the camera. (And, as Taub points out, in front of potential future employers.) And House hates every second of the attention it casts on him.
Last season House, MD was all about "normal." House’s tantalizingly torturous taste of “normal” in the season premiere was ripped away by episode two. Remnants of that taste still lingering, House’s world crashed and burned during the Tritter arc that followed. “Normal” was something that seemed to be just beyond House’s grasp (after foiled attempts to grow pain-insensitive nerve cells in “Insensitive” and to participate in a pain study in “Half-Wit”). The battered House offered patient after patient a "ticket out of the freak show” and to join “normal” society. (“Merry Little Christmas,” “Insensitive,” “Half-Wit,” etc.)
House believes that being normal has less to do with what you look like, and more to do with how you view the world — and how you are viewed in return. Normal is what you feel inside. Even if House had been successful in his efforts last season, the years of damage would not have fundamentally changed him. He would still be "House" with all of the baggage caused by the betrayals, hurts, and other emotional issues caused by his "differentness." Fixing the outside can't undo the years of damage. Ugly is a state of mind that surgery or (in House's own case) radical treatments and Vicodin can't undo. This is what House suggests to this week’s patient. House not only feels "not normal" on the outside, he isn't normal on the inside either. And Taub finally says it. In front of a lot of people. With the camera rolling. For the first time, and with the same sort of brutal honesty House uses, Taub calls him on it. And everyone is stunned into silence. Including House, who is rendered speechless.
Article comments
1 - hl_lover
I agree, House was not telling the patient that he shouldn't have his surgery, just that he should wait until it is safe to do so. Some have wondered if this contradicted his advice to the patient in Merry Little Christmas, but it doesn't. He wouldn't discourage anyone from having at least the outward appearance of 'normal', the ticket out of the freak show, as he put it.
Kudos to the writer of this episode of "House", and kudos to you, Barbara, for summarizing so well the major themes and revelations of this excellent episode in a (to-date) excellent season of "House". How unfortunate that it will be terminated so prematurely!
2 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks as always, HL_L for your kind words. House has never begrudged anyone their ticket to normal. He's risked his life and career to make that possible. He just understands that you'll still be the person that lifetime of misery has wrought. I found no contradiction either.
Also apologies for mistakenly calling Kenny Darnell. Darnell is the name of the interviewer. The boy's name is Kenny. I wasn't totally out my mind, however. In the season 2 episode Daddy's boy, the patient's name was Carnell.
3 - Louise
Barbara,
Another wonderful review. Thanks for focusing in on (a pun, I know) the perception theme in this season. Right on target. This episode will take me four or five times through it to catch all that was going on. It particularly satisfying--and simultaneously annoying--to see the empirical House not able see and hear reality as he "blinded" by lust.
Then we have reality TV frameworks within a narrative fiction television series with a storyline where documentary film-makers distort the reality of a supposedly actual situation. Nothing like a bit of jump-cutting among genres to delight and confuse the senses.
Louise
4 - Barbara Barnett
Hi Louise,
There are just too many potential plays on words that would work with this episode; lots of symbols to play with. Focus, perception, distortion (as the camera is able to accomplish), image, lens, prism.
Some people, I know, were confused at House's sudden blindness regarding Terzi. After all, he's surrounded by beautiful women who like him and find him attractive. Why Terzi (who's nowhere as pretty as 13, and nowhere as sensual as Cuddy) And why now? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And like those of us who find Hugh Laurie more attractive than say Patrick Dempsy, when Dempsey is more conventionally handsome, none of us know who and why we find ourselves deeply and inexplicably attracted to someone. To me, my husband is the most handsome man on the planet; my sister might say "eh" about his looks. Also, post season 3, House may be in a better place emotionally (for now anyway)and more open to that sort of infatuation. It was funny to see House doubt himself around not only Terzi, but 13 as well, when his own lens went soft-focus on him regarding Terzi. Loved it.
Thanks for stopping by.
5 - Robin
I loved House's reactions to Terzi's medical comments. Like he was trying to shake himself from a love spell. And had to depend on Foreman to tell him the truth. Or any of the guys when the women spoke. I was surprised Foreman didn't make any comment about House's weakened state. He seemed to have figured out what his place is on this new team, which is back up support while others try to learn from House. I liked Wilson's comment "you were protected by Foreman" during his fuzzy moments.
6 - Barbara Barnett
I loved House's "guy-ness." And his horror that he's acting like a middle aged guy having a mid-life crisis.
Late breaking news: Writers Guild Negotiations will be resuming on 11/26. Good luck to all concerned.