House 5.3

[bironic]

Was that Tim McInnerny (D'Arling from Blackadder) playing Taub in the agnosia scene? … Hm, his IMDB page doesn't list it. That would've been cool.

First Wilsonless episode in more than four years. This was not an achievement I hoped the show would make.

Continue to enjoy Kutner's unflappability and focus on the patient despite House's distractions.

Character-inspired drug names FTW.

While PI guy is good with comebacks and generally entertaining, he is creepy, too much like House, and an insult of a Wilson replacement. I do not like that House offered him embarrassing information about his college days. I do not like that they played a duet. We never saw him play a duet with Wilson. ("At least House didn't pay Wilson to be his friend," my viewing partner pointed out. That is some consolation.)

Similarly, what's with meeting Taub's wife after never meeting Julie? This episode seemed to be all about the Wilson-dismissal. No one even mentioned his name. Which would be fine except we are in the middle of an arc about how House can't deal with Wilson leaving him.

I liked Mrs. Taub, though. Guess there was nothing not to like about her. The show's getting optimistic in its old age. She wasn't having an affair, she got him a gift; the patient's girlfriend didn't leave him, she proved their relationship was stronger than he thought. In season two, she would've left him, and House would've said "told you so."

Taub's wife may still leave him. Then House can say it.

Breckin Meyer (POTW) is a funny guy. Disappointing that he didn't have the chance to show it tonight.

Foreman was pretty much wallpaper, wasn't he?

Chase throwing down the sponge when House called made me laugh.

ETA: So Chase and Cameron are still together, then. Good to know.

House/HL pasted onto the cheerleading picture reminded me of Giles/ASH pasted onto Sid Vicious' body with the guitar in "Band Candy." Fun and embarrassing and both of their heads looked a little too big.

Bezoar! Call up Hogwarts; the Potions Master could always use another.



On the next ep: Road trip! I hope it's as awesome as the setup promises. I guess they were storing up all of Wilson's screen time for then? As if RSL suddenly has a time limitation in his contract?

It looks interesting, though. How will House deal with his father when he can't even argue with him anymore? And he never did hear his father say the words he wanted him to say. (Guess that's what Foreman is for now.)

Also, I'm going to have fun comparing the way House deals with his father's death & funeral to the way Sheppard handled it. And then one day maybe I'll write that post about problematic fathers on the two series. Maybe.

Comments

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

This episode seemed to be all about the Wilson-dismissal. No one even mentioned his name.

I saw the entire episode as being about Wilson and his importance to House, in an odd kind of way. I think House saw Taub and his marital problems as a stand-in for Wilson and his past problems, just as he is trying to use the PI as a substitute for Wilson. I think he'll discover that the substitutes just aren't as good as the real thing. (At least I hope that's where House will end up eventually!)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I saw the entire episode as being about Wilson and his importance to House, in an odd kind of way.

Yes, very true -- PI was meant to be Wilson, Taub has always been like Wilson, etc., but his name never came up, even with the PI there the whole time (not even a "So you're moving on from Wilson now? Am I the new Wilson?" or a mention from the fellows about how he suddenly substituted Wilson-obsession for credit report etc. obsession), and House seemed too comfortable with PI by the end, so while House had to have been thinking about him, and we viewers were thinking about him, it all seemed very weird.

I think he'll discover that the substitutes just aren't as good as the real thing.

I hope so too!

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree that House was way too comfortable with the PI in the last scene. Territorial, emotionally stunted people do not let new people into their personal space (literal or figurative) that quickly.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Unless House has CHANGED. You know how last season was all about CHANGE and whether people can CHANGE and specifically whether House could CHANGE.

*facepalm* No, it was just weird. Especially when PI had been lying in wait in his apartment in the dark twice, reminiscent of no one else so much as Tritter.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm ... I got the distinct impression Taub's wife was having an affair, hence his less-than-joyful reaction to the car. From the expression on his face, I think it was the wrong color or the wrong make -- a great car, but not the car.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Be interesting if she bought him the car as her guilt offering. But I was under the impression that his less than thrilled reaction was because he felt too guilty to accept the gift without confessing what he'd done, after watching the patient confess and be forgiven.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

*grins*

And I view the glass as half empty. Hee.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Taub made some outstanding money as a plastic surgeon if she could siphon off $83,000 in a year without him noticing. What a bummer for him to go back to fellows' wages (something under $100,000).

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Do we know what she does for a living?

Other theories: She's the family accountant, and/or Taub doesn't bother checking the balance that closely (confidence born of having been a plastic surgeon for so long?). Okay, no, that's stretching things. (Same for suggesting that Mrs. Taub has been mislabeling withdrawals the same way House has been mislabeling his PI expenses. :) )

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I got the impression she didn't work, but I don't know why that is. Even if she handles finances, it's a lot of money not to notice being gone.

Which, good for them! : )

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Count me among those who missed Wilson. Lucas is charming in a weird sort of way (his voice would eventually get on my nerves), but I think he's just the shiny new toy House is distracting himself with. There was a Wilson-shaped hole in the episode that needed his warmth and the ease he has with House.

[thewlisian-afer.livejournal.com]

I wondered if maybe they were filming this episode when RSL was busy getting married.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Supposedly he was married during the hiatus. He hasn't confirmed it, though. (The bum!)

[musicisbelievng.livejournal.com]

I was all ready for the "HOUSE PLAYS PIANO!!!11!!ONE1!" line and then it was the PI dude. Psh. So I had to say "HOUSE PLAYS GUITAR, TOO!"

[bironic.livejournal.com]

See also: my comment here (http://thewlisian-afer.livejournal.com/590766.html#cutid1). :)

[musicisbelievng.livejournal.com]

hehehehehe... so true.

Also BRECKIN MEYER <3

'cause I didn't mention it before.

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

While PI guy is good with comebacks and generally entertaining, he is creepy, too much like House, and an insult of a Wilson replacement.

Isn't PI guy getting his own spin-off from this? So they're probably establishing his character a bit here. I looked at your comment to thewlisian_afer's post, and I think you're right. He's a House Jr., only more likable.

I do not like that they played a duet. We never saw him play a duet with Wilson.

Maybe Wilson doesn't play? And why can't House bond with Lucas over music? House's old friend Crandall was also a musician IIRC.

This episode seemed to be all about the Wilson-dismissal. No one even mentioned his name.

I agree with elynittria here. IMHO, House is trying to grow, re Lucas, yet he's still essentially the same, re the background checks on his new minions. Seems to me House is trying to work with a more equitable, less needy relationship with Lucas. Next ep, hopefully we'll see the difference in House when he interacts with Wilson.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

if you want to see a House/Wilson duet, read my fic "Infarction-tastic! the House musical". there are TWO House/Wilson duets in it.

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

I think Tim McInnerny is a whole lot taller than... whoever that guy was. It certainly freaked me out though! I really want to know who the hell Breckin Meyer is and why everyone is raving about him. Some comedy guy, I gather. He just struck me as annoying and unattractive - it must be one of those 'to know him is to love him' things *g*

[pun.livejournal.com]

So true that this episode was all about Wilson and yet his name was never even said. There's a Wiseguy episode like this, and it's just as annoying. Bleh.

Also, don't we think RSL is gay? He's getting married now? That's so lame.