Fox
(Season 5, Episode 7)
The fun I was missing in last week’s mean-spirited episode came at me with a vengeance tonight. Yay! There were so many quotes that I couldn’t even get them all down (but after the jump you’ll get to read most of ‘em!).
We had relationships explored, an interesting case of the week, and the theme of being afraid to be happy. Is it worth taking the risk to be happy? The juxtaposition of the agoraphobic and House in their quests for happiness was a stroke of brilliance on the part of the writers, as usual, and I was so, so glad that the funny was back.
So, who was afraid to be happy?
House: He just couldn’t admit his feelings for Cuddy. He spent the entire episode pointing out the problems in everyone else’s relationships just to avoid facing his own fears. And ironically, they each worked out their issues: Cameron and Chase, Taub and his wife, Stewart the patient. It was House who couldn’t scratch the itch, so his mosquito bit came out of control (thanks Wilson, for the insight).
Cameron: Because she’s damaged goods from her husband’s death, she pushes Chase away. Glad she finally cleared out a drawer for Chase; it is a step in the right direction, and it’s nice to see someone in the regular cast overcome their fear of being happy.
Stewart the agoraphobic patient: I love that House got to this guy, and Stewart finally decided to leave his house. And I was so elated for him that he was successful. The writers did a brilliant thing here, when they juxtaposed Stewart’s success with leaving his house, with House’s failure at entering Cuddy’s house, and life.
Wilson: I think there is something to the accusation House makes of Wilson. Because Wilson is afraid to be happy because of what happened with Amber, he wants House and Cuddy to be a happy couple so badly so he can live vicariously through them.
Cuddy: It is clear that she wants House badly enough to have thought about what it would be like to be with him; Wilson’s point is that it doesn’t have to end badly, like it does in Cuddy’s rationalization for not taking the plunge.
Quotes
This and That
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Nov 11, 2008 @ 21:02 EST5EDT
With respect, I agree with you that alot of the humor that was missing last week was back, which is great, but I have to disagree that the parallels drawn between all the characters were “a stroke of brilliance on the part of the writers.” To me, especially this week and last, but more and more lately, the writers are just being way too heavy handed with the theme of the week. With all the characters going through variations on the same problems, it’s almost getting to Seventh Heaven levels of being hit on the head with the point they’re trying to make. Okay, perhaps it’s not quite that bad yet, but seriously, they do need to be more subtle.
I agree. The theme of the week parallels so blatantly with almost every characters inner demons that it almost reaches “Grey’s Anatomy”‘s level. And it makes me feel like the writers think I am stupid… It is not brilliant, it is lazy writing in my eyes.
Don’t get me wrong, though, “House” is still a great show. But I find myself not enjoying it as much as I used to. But I am sure there is an episode waiting for us that will knock it out of the park :)
*POST AUTHOR*
Bah! I am crazy about tight writing and connections, and what House is doing just feels right to me. Perhaps it’s my English Literature background … ?
The one thing about this episode that really left me wondering
Was Wilson being sincere when he told Cuddy he had feelings for her and always has? I half think he was serious, half think he was joking, and fully think Cuddy thought he was joking. Makes me wonder
Kevin
*POST AUTHOR*
I think there was some truth in Wilson’s confession to Cuddy, but I do also think he was manipulating to get House jealous.
I thought the same thing, Kevin, and I concluded he was being somewhat truthful. I think the conclusion is supported by the director’s decision to have Cuddy kiss him on the cheek — a cruel blow for the suffering hero.