I went into this episode with high hopes. Not just because I happen to like the immensely talented Vincent Spano but because anything involving House-Wilson hijinks catches my attention. Remember the chickens. Need I say more? LOL!
The POTW interested me not because of his medical condition but because I know someone who is as paranoid as he is about preparing for the end of the world. Trust me when I say I could relate to that firsthand. It's too bad his paranoia stemmed from his illness but still his actions resonated all too well with me.
I did laugh three times in this episode. Once when Park was getting picked on in the beginning, then again with Wilson getting caught in House's net, then with House being locked in his bathroom.
In regards to Park, I feel for her. Yeah she annoys me but she really wants to be liked. It's important to her. It hurt her feelings when House told her people respect her but nobody likes her. Talk about brutal honesty. Is it because she's so different that she's so unlikeable? Park isn't mean so why would people not like her? Is it because she doesn't fit in? Park is a lot like Amber Tamblyn's brilliantly portrayed Martha Masters: badly in need of fashion advice, brilliant in medicine, young and impressionable, desperate for approval, a perfectionist, quirky, and not good with people. Except for the youth part and maybe the desperate for approval part, who does that sound like? Whereas House just wants to be respected, Park wants to be liked. There's a difference and House will teach her the difference and which one matters most in the end. House would rather be a great doctor than be liked. Park needs to learn that.
I wonder if House is attempting to take Park under his wing and help mold her in much the same way he molded Cameron (and Masters to a point). Cameron turned out a much stronger, more confident doctor and person thanks to House. We wondered early on why he rode her so often and it turned out to be because he knew she could be better. Now House has two young women he's taken under his wing. Adams is not so concerned with being liked as she is with soothing her rich girl guilt complex by doing good. Park on the other hand does have something to prove and she needs to learn that she is who she is and while she may never be able to change she should strive for respect rather than being liked. Besides, respect gets you farther, no?
In most House episodes, the POTW story mirrors the House's personal subplot. This week it did not and I found that odd. There was no paranoia on House's part other than checking his apartment for booby traps which he did find rather quickly. I just didn't see anything though that made me link the POTW and House. The whole discussion of paranoia and guns early on in the cafeteria with Wilson and House was fine, I mean sure they're talking about the patient's paranoia and naturally would lead to their own personal thoughts on it. But then the whole "You have a gun" - "No I don't" farce just seemed out of place and forced in there, eventually seeming like a plot device to bring about the final scene with House in his closet. While I enjoy a good House-Wilson "game on" this didn't fit. It's really annoying that nothing seems to be building on anything else this season, everything seems to be "stand alone" there's no growth or character development here. It is driving me crazy.
The talented writer Lisa Palmer over at TVFanatic gave a great review and listed some possibilities of the significance of the moment when House was in the closet with his father's sword and gun. Those of us who saw the Season 7 premiere "Now What?" know the significance of the sword in regards to Cuddy. And we also know its significance in relation to his father, knowing something about their history together. From the look on House's face, it almost seems to be that the sword brought back feelings of regret for House. Regret for what? And who? His father? Cuddy? Both? Regret about things never said, never done. I mean after all it's all too common people do not realize what they have till it's gone.
Remember, I'm putting on my assumption hat here based on what I know about my characters...
House may very well feel regret for the relationship he never had with his dad. It's possible House had some great moments with his dad sporadically throughout his childhood and he feels conflicted as he gets older. Maybe he wants to love John House but he hates him at the same time. It could be the older House gets and the closer he gets to his own mortality, the more he needs to feel the connection he never had with his dad and it pains him that he can't have it. There could also be some anger and resentment because House never really had a chance to know his biological father and maybe he feels cheated out of it, thinking that if everything had been different, he'd be a different man at this point in his life. Gregory House is a man who likes puzzles. He was born with the gift to solve them. He doesn't stop until he knows what happened and why. He's obsessive about the puzzles. But of all the puzzles, the one he hasn't been able to solve is himself. For all his achievements and experiences in life, House has never really figured out who he is and why he is the way he is. Not really.
Cuddy in "Now What?". Could be that seeing the sword triggered fond memories and also reminded him of things not said and done with Cuddy. House may regret that his screwed up upbringing led to his inability to get close to Cuddy and really communicate his feelings to her, letting her "in", letting her feel his pain and allowing himself to feel hers too. He may believe his inability to do this caused him to ruin his one chance happiness with her. Remember in the heart wrenching scene in "Moving On" she clasps his hands and apologizes and he tells her it was not her fault.
So, it is possible that the sword reminded him of one or both. The thing is we just don't know because so far this season we've gotten no real insight into House's character. I crave to learn more about what he's thinking and feeling. Fans are resorting to making some reasonably intelligent assumptions about House's thoughts and feelings by listening to the little things House says and watching the little things he does, and also knowing his character as well as well as they do. It also helps that Hugh Laurie conveys with the simplest of facial expressions a vast array of feelings, things that the character House can never convey with mere words. When someone asks me, "how do you know House feels that?" I simply tell them I don't know but I believe it because I've watched the show long enough to have the insight. You get more out of what he doesn't say than what he says. You know this is true as House himself has said he is a man of action over words.
But...it's all assumption and speculation, but it fills us with hope, which we desperately need right now.
There are a few other things to discuss before I close. One is Foreman. *Snore* Ok I don't even know where to go with Foreman. I can't stand him anymore. I miss the old Foreman. Now all he seems to be obsessed with is making sure House does his job. (I need to go back and rewatch "Family" so I can revel in Foreman sticking that biopsy needle into that very much awake little boy as he screamed in terror.) So far House has been doing his job and I doubt it has anything to do with Foreman. I don't even want to address the whole Foreman messing with he married ho thing because it also feels like it was thrown in there without thought at the last minute in an effort to give Foreman a badly needed storyline. Not working, at least not for me.
Also, the Park-Chase-Adams thing. I thought it was cute that Park asked Chase out for drinks. The looks on the faces of all three in the elevator was actually pretty funny, a lot of nonverbal stuff going on there. This isn't about Park hitting on Chase, she just wants to be liked, wants to be "one of the guys". I'm still trying to figure out if Chase was really hitting on Adams calling her hot in the lab. He did not even have that look on his face. If I'm Chase, I'm going to stay as far away from that chick as possible. He already knows firsthand what happens when you start dating a coworker. You marry her, she wants you to change, you murder a third-world African dictator, she can't handle it and she dumps you. Seriously, I like Chase right now, I wont' like him if he starts messing with Adams who is likely even MORE screwed up than Cameron was.
I'd like to add another comment here but this one is about the song used at the end of the episode. One of the most incredible things about the series is that they NEVER fail in choosing the most appropriate tune for closing the episode. It seems every time they nail it and choose something that matches the mood, the feelings, of the characters, the story. This episode was no different. The lyrics to the song "Waking Life" used at the end were really appropriate for House. The lyrics in addition to his his facial expressions at least gives us some hint that House is hurting and doesn't want to hurt anymore. But given that all he's ever felt for so long is pain, he just doesn't know how not to hurt.
Here's an excerpt of the lyrics played while he was in the closet with John House's gun and sword:
"There's an anchor that's pulling on my heart
And it's deep int he water but it can't take me down.
Tracin' faces with fingers and we're just the same as we were,
Just our eyes never found what I see now,
That my feet are on the ground.
Cause I'm not lost, just looking for footprints.
I'm taking it, one step at a time and I'm getting by.
By the way,
It's you on my mind,
It's you on my mind.
And here comes the night pulling puppet strings on my heart again,
Shows me all of this time I've been blind to this waking life.
Now I see it everywhere."
We can only guess what House is thinking and feeling because nothing in the show so far has addressed House's heart and soul directly but those lyrics seem so appropriate for House in regards to how he feels about Cuddy and John House, two people for whom he feels so much regret and sadness over so many missed opportunities. I can see how at this time in his life, House is really thinking about the rest of his life and feeling a little lost.
Is this episode the beginning of an arc for Greg House? We're more than 1/3 through the 22 episode season and now going into the holiday hiatus. I'd like to think the ending, with the sword, is offering us a hint of something to come. But we've been down this road and I just don't want to disappoint myself by hoping for too much, for something we deserve, the character deserves, and something that has been building for seven years on the show and a lifetime for Gregory House.
Hugh was great as always. Bob still cracks me up, he is such a funny guy! Even Peter, Charlyne and Jesse had a few funny moments. TPTB still need to work on character development and direction of the show.
Editing in this paragraph because I forgot to post it last night. Did anyone else notice that House took a vicodin for the first time since the premiere episode? (Am I right? Has it been that long?) He took the bottle out of his desk, shook it, then we have a shot from behind him as he takes the pill and pockets the bottle. I kept wondering why we did not have the usual shot of him tossing it into his mouth without water? Why the view from behind? Is it possible that TPTB are reading our comments considering he took one in this episode? However by not showing him actually putting it in his mouth, they're removing any focus on it? We were told TPTB did not want to make Vicodin a focus of the season but really, how can it not be a focus? It's as much a part of House's journey as anything else.Vicodin masks his pain, he takes it so he won't feel pain--physically or emotionally. House's fear of pain is what hurt his relationship with Cuddy. The Vicodin has been his crutch for many years, I find it interesting that TPTB chose not to make it a focus and yet House took one last night. Food for thought.
More thanks to my #House pals Michelle, Veronique, Anne, Iane, Kelly, Claudia, Katie, Mila, LeakeyLover, HughsBlues, Andree, Anthony, Lisa, Max, Mindy, Meg, and Maya AND the ladies of the H-C LiveJournal for helping me keep sane during the insanity.
One more note. To the lovely ladies at the H-C LJ, THANK YOU for reposting the link to the comments from the live viewing of the Season Six Finale "Help Me". After re-reading the 1000+ comments made the night the episode aired, I remembered how it felt that night to be sitting in front of the television gripping the arms of my recliner screaming at my television in awe, enjoying one of the most incredible feats of acting, writing and directing I have ever seen on television. Also, you guys crack me up. Those are truly THE FUNNIEST comments ever, in the history of television fandom. You guys rock!!
So much to talk.
ReplyDeleteI loved all the things that you said because I agree with most of them and also it makes me so happy to find people who feels the exactly way I do.
First quoting;
"It's really annoying that nothing seems to be building on anything else this season, everything seems to be "stand alone" there's no growth or character development here"
In spite of the fact that this is the beginning of the season and bla bla bla it appears sometimes to me that they're taking the season in a slow motion. Ok, some good cases (?) but where's this season going to take us? They're waiting to see if the show is renewed or not to develope things? Or they already decide that House is now going to manage to resolve a situation between his birth father and "the other father"? Is This going to be the arc on this season?
I agree with you that Foreman's life is not a good storyline but it has to be done. Because they have to take the focus off from House. At least until they decide what to do with this season's arc and this explains Foreman and Taub's twins. So the triangle (Parks-Chase-Adams). And about this I honestly hope that Chase can be/act more than a superficial guy that what he used to be because deep down I know the character is. Going out with Parks makes him gain some points to me.
About the sword Who can blame us? For us it's all about Cuddy. It's all about Huddy. I want to believe that they're preparing themselves for something that envolves or House dealing with his fathers issues or Cuddy's back. Or both. And I'd like to see both.
Anyway, we'll have to wait not for the next episode but the confirmation or not that the show is going to be canceled because for me this is what the producers are waiting too to see how they are going to manage this 8 season. Let's see!
Jess, I really enjoyed your review and can almost feel the enormous effort it took for you to find something positive about this lackluster episode.
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing felt somewhat forced. The show use to be celebrated for its superb writing craftsmanship, the ability to interweave the patient dilema as a parallel to House's issues. That craftsmanship is glaringly missing these days. Example: the clumsy effort to explain away inexplicable actions. In this case, Taub was scripted to excuse missing information by admitting House's POTW diagnosis was completely pulled out of nowhere (and which also applied just as oddly to the clinic patient stealing from petty cash). A major red flag of weak writing.
Great writing was what gave credibility to House's unbelievable observation skills. The lack of great writing, plot cohesion and continuity and now makes House's assessments feel unsubstantiated and lacked that supportive detail that made him appear to be a genius.
Perhaps the writers are preoccupied with other things these days like finding their next job or just updating their resumes?
Shore's idea to go in direction that makes the show episodic rather than a continuous drama is a big mistake. Nothing so far is driving viewers to tune in next week to see how things resolve from week to week in the lives of the team. The patient diagnosis process formula got old years ago but it was the characters relationships and connections and underlying tensions that kept viewers tuning in. Now that's gone.
Is that because there are so few women on the writing/producing level of the show? Is Katie Jacobs even involved anymore? We never hear about her and her absence could explain the poor direction and the negative views of women characters on the show. The current Shore-n-boys have chosen ease over effort. Instead of striving for character development, we get the useless insistence that people don't change. We get hijinx over depth, immaturity and grade-school level dialogue over adult maturity and wit. All of it comes off as fake given the ages of the characters.
Still, I watch with the hope that something will rise out of the ashes and spark awe and delight in the show once more. Hope dies last. Let us hope House meets his daddy, resolves his own puzzled direction and finds his way back into a life worth living. One that includes fixing the disaster of s.7's finale. I still want Cuddy back but don't blame Lisa Edelstein for leaving this frat boy work environment that devalues women's worth and contributions. Hope dies last.
--Andree