FOX's House presented "We Need the Eggs" last night. Romance and soul mates were the focus, as a patient named Henry (Kevin Christy), who keeps an expensive, customized sex doll for a girlfriend, checks in. As the docs treat him, House (Hugh Laurie) calls out each of his fellows on the obstacles standing in the way to their true loves. They turn this back on him, as House tries his best to sabotage the relationship of his long-time regular hooker, Emily (Noelle Bellinghausen), after she quits on him.
House is nearing the end of the series, and many shows finish with happy romantic pairings for their central characters. Romance has always been a part of House, but rarely the central theme. Still, it's hard not to want to see the people viewers have grown so invested in over the years, and even the newer docs, find fulfillment in their lives. And despite trends away from marriage, most Americans still view finding a stable, long-term relationship as one of the necessary steps towards total satisfaction.
Does anyone on House have a chance at achieving that goal in the last few episodes? "We Need the Eggs" reminds us that none of them are close. They are all drawn towards House, and he to them, because of damage in their lives. This little group is messed up, and because it's their version of normal, surrounded by peers who are the same, they've been content to let it stay that way. "We Need the Eggs" introduces understanding of this arrangement, and just about everyone seeks to break the old patterns, with varying degress of success. Which is essential to move on and find serenity.
House might just be the one closest to real romance. Not with Emily, who lies about the relationship, but is quitting House anyway. No, House has grown close Dominika (Karolina Wydra). She helps him with his scheme against Emily this week, and Emily is the one that points out to our titular doctor that there seems to be something real between them. A couple of scenes between House and Dominika, one on one, really paint the picture of this possibility, and it looks beautiful.
While discussing House with House expert and co-executive editor of BlogCritics.org Barbara Barnett on The Good, The Bad, and the Geeky podcast a couple of weeks ago, Barbara mused how interesting it would be if House found love with Dominika, a marriage of convenience. She has a point. After fighting with Stacy, flirting with Cameron, and crash and burning with Cuddy, wouldn't it be fun if House's real gal just sort of falls into his lap? They have great chemistry, and she seems like a nice girl who genuinely enjoys his personality. Why not?
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Article comments
1 - Camila
There are thousand of reasons why she can't be his love. Iwouldn't mind if it had been growing for seven years now, but you guys can't get a 3 episodes relationship and say it's better than a 7 season old one, or a marriage that ended up with his leg being cut open, or even one with your team. Anyone could be with House now, really. I'm a huddy, but i wouldn't mind to see 13,Cameron or Adams with him. What I can't stand is he finding a girl, being three episodes with herand then already go for a happy ending.
Glad that she will be gone after the finale!
2 - Camila
*before the finale
3 - housemaniac
Amen, Camila! I just can't stomach the idea that House would end up with Dominika. It is just wrong on so many levels. Not only, as you say, that it would be way too quick, but wrong as a pairing; wrong as a road to House's happiness; wrong to so severely undermine the preimse that "people don't change," which I never liked but would hate even more if suddenly they do. My only hope is that [H]ouse has always been a much too cynical, dark, complicated show for a romantic ending or even the possibility of a romantic ending. If there's even a hint that House and Dominka could or would end up together in a more permanent, serious sense, I would find it a pitiful ending, worse even than the demise of the X Files! Although I liked House and Cuddy together (or, more accurately, the idea of them together, as opposed to the execution of their relationship on the show), I am forced to admit that a romantic ending involving the two of them would not have made sense either. I am not saying that they would have had to break up, but to remain true to the show the ending would have ahd to entail strong, lingering doubts that their relationship would not make it, at the very least.
But that's all for naught of course.
Maybe there's hope in something you said, Camila: that Dominka will be gone before the finale? Is that true? Do you know this for a fact? If so, please do tell and help me out of my misery.
4 - Gerry
I think the worst part of the House/Domenica scenario is the idea that a relationship based on a prostitution model is a healthy one for House. Domenica may not be a practicing prostitute right now, but she clearly looks at her sexuality as a bartering tool to get what she wants. She expected sex to be part of the bargain with House and was surprised when he said no.
What she still does not do is put any emotional demands of her own on the table, while anticipating House's every need. No wonder the relationship isn't messy. For Domenica, it's a business arrangement where she gets safety in exchange for whatever House wants.
It's the opposite of healthy. I think it would be a travesty for House the show to devolve into Pretty Woman, but the show seems determined to devolve. Pity.
5 - emmy4hugh
I agree with all of you commenters. Maybe Emily has seen something in the way they look at each other, but I haven't seen it on my screen. I believe House likes her companionship and would deceive her about the letter from the INS to keep that going, but I've seen love in those baby blues and I'm not seeing it now. Maybe the show is saying that House can't get what he wants (love) but can get what he needs (FWB?), but I would find it more satisfying if he didn't settle...at least not in the end.
6 - tipitinatoo
OK, guys/ladies: Dominika gets my vote because she's a smart woman who scoped out Greg House early on and knew not to put pressure on him, but to let him decide HE needs HER, i.e.,Man Trap 101! He's comfortable with her, and at his stage of life, I think he's grown weary of fighting and is now looking for comfort, not a complicated "do you love me baby like I love you" scenario. She's a savvy businesswoman; therefore, I doubt seriously that she went into this deal without seeing him as more than a green-card seller. She wants the green card AND THE MAN, and I say she's well on her way to getting the whole enchilada by giving him all the rope he needs to realize he needs her. As a wily poker player and tactician who has lived by his wits as well as his diagnostic skills, I think he admires her smarts and can very well see her as a potential equal partner and helpmate. Go for it, Dominika! Ladies, pay attention and take good notes!
7 - waris kantroo
the best thing about house is :house and wilson:
8 - housemaniac
Hi Barbara,
For some reason this review is not in the normal "Welcome to the End of the Thought Process" slot. Instead, it's under "video." I stumbled across it because I follow you on Twitter! :) Any chance of moving it so more people might be able to find it and weigh in?
Thanks in advance. And thanks for your review and the comments. All very thoughtful
9 - housemaniac
Oops.
Just realized this was someone else's review! (I thought it was weird to quote Barbara in a reivew written by...Barbara! Sorry, was very tired when I read it.
Anyway, I also wanted to say in response to tipitinatoo #6 that I think it's more accurate to say, with Gerry, that Dominka lives by her sexual guile. I'm not saying she is dumb--not by a long shot. But she's a seductress, first and foremost, a wily businesswoman, or anything else, second. And here, as the show winds down, I will tip my hand and say I am a woman, or a lady, as you like to call us. No notes necessary. But thanks anyway.