Have Yourself a Merry Little Housemas

[bironic]

Sick last night, maybe from dehydration. Went to bed immediately after House wondering if my eye, head or stomach would explode first, and was haunted by the image from the next-to-last scene all night in between graphic dreams, the last of which featured a prolonged escape attempt and getting shot and enlisting the help of the head of our billing department to slice into my right wrist with a scalpel to extract the bullet, but the incision opened my whole forearm about an inch deep (weirdly, there was no blood, but I could see all the layers of skin and fat and nerves and muscles) and we had to go to the hospital to get it stitched closed, only it took so long to find the place that the wound had mostly sealed itself up into a long, dotted pink scar. And at one point House was there, so drunk he was slurring, the alcohol loosening his self-control enough that he used his observational/intellectual skills to help his friends for a change and in his usual "you are all idiots" tone was telling Wilson and then Stacy exactly how to solve their problems.

Who knows. I've had far stranger dreams, but the thing with the bullet and nerve fibers was the most vivid of late. I blame House and the fact that when I woke up, both my arms were crossed under me and tingling.

Still feeling weird today. Haven't read everyone's episode reactions and haven't written mine yet. Getting there. All I can offer right now is this list of some of what I want to touch on in the actual recap, if I get around to it more than I thought.

House 3xWhatever: "Merry Little Christmas"

- Loved the opening scenes, with the ironically jaunty music and House, Wilson and Tritter's intervention/conversation in which they covered everything that needed to be covered, which was nice because we didn't have to wait for it. All the spoken and unspoken dynamics among the men in that room—Wilson and Tritter joining forces to achieve the same goal but for different reasons, Wilson pleading for House to be reasonable, Wilson stepping back to let Tritter have a go because he's had no luck, House pissed at Wilson for taking the enemy's side, House and Tritter butting heads over something that at its heart has nothing to do with the investigation... All there, brilliantly conveyed, and so quickly. You could tell from the teaser that it was going to be a swift, tight episode.

- So the oncologist thought it was cancer and the immunologist thought it was autoimmune, and there were possibly more instances of this in the big diagnostics scene in Cuddy's office. Way to learn from House's teaching, people. He's been trying to break you out of your specialties, get you to see a diagnosis outside your little boxes, for going on three years now (or four, in Chase's case, but he took the sullen brat backseat this week while nursing his bruised ego jaw). Clearly that's been effective.

- In fact, the episode was riddled with instances of characters not having learned things, or coming to the same conclusions they did at the beginning of the season or last season or first season. More on this when I can remember half of what happened last night, but what I do recall is House being surprised that Foreman's willing to get him his pills so he can do his job (hello, "Detox"? "Take your damn pills"?), Cuddy realizing (again) that House solves cases nobody else can despite his reckless behavior and appalling tactlessness, Wilson realizing (again) that Vicodin allows House to focus enough to save patients, Cuddy and Wilson realizing (again) that House is an addict but also a chronic pain sufferer and oh my God could this plot get any more repetitive? Wait, it can—House refusing to bend to the big scary bully despite increasing threats, and finally taking a deal only to have the deal changed on him, and costing his friends their jobs, and...

Bonus points for consistency, though: Cameron turning her nose up at Wilson for his inferior morality, Wilson getting peeved at her in turn, Cameron sniping at Cuddy for doing something "unjust" to House, Foreman getting/trying to get House's pills for him, House hurting himself to dull the leg pain (everyone say it together: HOUSE IS A CUTTER!), Tritter having his job instead of a family (alone in his office at 1:30 a.m. on Christmas), Wilson being totally incapable of sustaining a lie... er, and other stuff.

- Cuddy had some great moments, facing off against Wilson for going over her head (poor guy, he was sure he had an ally there) and telling House she was willing to kill one patient now and make him take the deal. Which of course turned out not to be true.

- Please tell me I am not the only one who had a blinding moment of OMGWilsonandTritteraresofucking when they were both sitting in the car. Seatbelted Wilson again, and nervous laughter, which I imagine is part nerves and part patented master manipulator method of disarming other people, only it doesn't work on Tritter, which is consistent with his ineffectual hair-smoothing at the end of "Que Sera Sera."

Now, what was up with Wilson saying, statistically, better House than him? Is that supposed to mean that House saves more people than he does? Impossible, with the difference in case loads. That House saves a higher percentage of his patients than Wilson? Entirely possible. That House is better at diagnosing than Wilson? Also possible, but that's why House is the head of Diagnostic Medicine and Wilson's a specialist. If Wilson seriously thinks House could do more good at the hospital than he can, he's more depressed than I thought. And that's awful.

- Moment of random delight: There were blinky lights and garlands hung up by the blinds, a Christmas tree in House's office (in the far corner, not the tiny one on the table), at least two Hanukkah ornaments, one of which was shown just before the Wilson and Cameron scene, and a menorah on Cuddy's bookshelf. And a brief reference to House as Santa Claus during the opening song. (See "Welcome to Whoville" ficlet if you have no idea what this is all about.)

- I still love Tritter and David Morse's portrayal to pieces, even though his investigation boils down to a personal vendetta.

- House looked like crap. Like, crappier than in the lows of "Detox." Good job, makeup department.

- Confirmation that he's tried other drugs and they don't work. Good to know. All the more reason people should be realizing that they're not dealing with a simple case of addiction (if it's a case of addiction at all, and I'm really tired of even thinking about it), but with a CHRONIC PAIN SUFFERER who has found that nothing helps but this specific drug.

- First (and hopefully last) instance of House mixing drugs and alcohol. Man, that was sad, when he called his mother. I wonder if he didn't deliberately time the call so they'd be at the relatives' house, or so that he had a good chance of missing them, because part of him didn't really want to talk to them, only make the effort and then tell himself he was really alone.

- The next-to-last scene. God. I can't think of another moment on the show that has stuck in my head like Wilson tripping over himself to get to House and then making sure he's okay before leaving him there. I'd thought House laughing in Wilson's face about spending Christmas Eve together was painful, but that topped it. Much as it hurt, badly, to see the two of them acting so (seemingly) awfully all episode—much as I wanted them to be nicer to each other—there was really nothing else for either of them to do. Wilson still thinks it's best for House to be off Vicodin and still cares for him despite being pushed away again and again; he tried to contact him several times after being rebuffed, and though he's got to be used to his messages going unanswered, he came over anyway, and let himself in even though House could just have been ignoring him, and then that panic when he saw House on the floor... Yeah, no question that he still cares, a lot. Leaving House on the floor was for his own good. Wilson can't let himself help anymore; he's helped since the infarction, probably, and look where it's gotten both of them. Or rather, now his help has to come in the form of unyielding insistence on managing, rather than abusing, his pain meds. On abandoning him when he acts like a drug addict. And it must have worked, because next thing you know, House decides to take the deal.

It's almost sweet, now that I think about it—Wilson told Cuddy earlier that the way to get a child to do what you want is to take something away from him that he wants. Taking away the Vicodin didn't do it, but taking away his friendship did. House can't steal another Wilson from a pharmacy.

- WHEN, for heaven's sake, are we going to find out something about Wilson's brother? So many missed opportunities, again, the most memorable of which was Wilson saying that House will tell any story to get the drugs he wants, sounding as if he's been through it before and knows all too well how an addict will take advantage of him. He knew to check House's pocket for the oxycodone just as he knew to steal back the joint in "Need to Know"; did his brother used to swipe drugs in front of him? He made his decision to cut House off and he stuck to it, which may have cost him House's friendship (but won't, once House starts dragging himself up from rock-bottom), much as he may have cut off his brother from drugs or money and cost him that relationship. MORE, dammit!


Yeah. Glad we're on hiatus again, because it's going to take some time to digest what's going on. Downside of watching episodes only once while exhausted.

* * *

Post-ep fic: "Merry Little XMas" by kiwi_from_hell (Wilson and House, 170 words), "This Is How It Ends" by theninth (Wilson and House)

Note to self: Commentaries to read: elynittria-not-noydb, daasgrrl, firestorm717, fallen_arazil, stephantom, topaz_eyes, asynca, bethctg, bettina_elvina

Comments

[purridot.livejournal.com]

House can't steal another Wilson from a pharmacy.

This line made my heart just glow!

Now, what was up with Wilson saying, statistically, better House than him?

Another *possible* interpretation I thought up was that there are lots of cancer specialists out there, but House is uniquely talented at what he does. But the other possibilities that you list make me so sad for Wilson too.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like that interpretation.

This line made my heart just glow!

Like E.T.? How sweet.

Because there *was* sweetness lurking in this episode, in all those moments of people reaching out to House amidst his spiral into disaster.

[firestorm717.livejournal.com]

That last scene seriously made me tear up ;_; especially when Wilson just shakes his head and tosses the empty bottle down at House in disgust. For all everyone's anger at him, he's the one having the most trouble letting go - which he finally did at the end, instead of bailing House out like he always does. And a good thing too (though perhaps not from an ethics-of-the-physician standpoint, but then Wilson has done worse), since House finally took responsibility on his own.

I don't think that scene where House was looking for Vicodin at St. Sebastian's was indicative of his having tried other drugs. I think that the physician saw he was deliberately making these excuses up because he wanted Vicodin, and Vicodin only, so because he's a doctor he can figure out ways to make every single other drug not applicable to him.

So much deja vu in this episode though, with what everyone did >_>. Several times wanted to smack people for not realizing from before...and again and again...but most surprising (although I shouldn't be, because we've seen it a lot in bits and pieces before) is how mercenary Cuddy was about it. As long as it's good for the hospital, let's pull statistics...yeah, you could say she was distancing herself, but it felt really cold for her to calculate things out like that. In the end, the only people who cared about House personally were Wilson and Cameron (and anyone else think it was rather hypocritical for Cameron to berate Wilson about making the deal, only to later tell House to take it? Hey, remind me again whose practice was ruined, car impounded, bank accounts frozen first...I'm waiting for the day Wilson completely snaps)

Hehe, I like it. Wilson "sleeping with the enemy" so to speak. Very manipulative, that scene. He was worried for House, sure, but I think he had a good portion of his own interests at heart.

So next Christmas episode, I expect TPTB to make up for dragging us through the gutter angst with a sweet, sweet scene of House and Wilson preferably naked in bed together again.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Under the mistletoe. :)

I wasn't referring to the clinic scene but rather to an earlier one where Wilson was telling House that he'd get painkillers in rehab, just not Vicodin, and rattled off a few kinds, and House shot back that he'd tried those and they hadn't worked. When he tried to get the clinic doctor to prescribe something other than the second medication, you could surmise that that was one of the drugs he'd tried, or you could think he was after Vicodin to feed his addiction as well as dull his leg pain.

I guess Cameron's argument was that it was despicable to tell House to take the deal when you're the one whose stuff has been taken away. Her motives were pure because her accounts hadn't been frozen and her practice wasn't shut down, you see. That, and Wilson's her #1 competition for House and has to be shot down.

[firestorm717.livejournal.com]

You know, now I'm regretting the ketamine thing being...dumped so suddenly (they mentioned something about psychosomatic pain - so much for that now, huh?) because I really want Wilson to teach House how to dance ;_; on the night of Christmas Eve. With the cover of just giving dating advice, of course XP. Hehe, I still can't get over his "I can teach you swing!" comment to that woman <3 sweetheart.

Ah, right, forgot about it. But the oxycodone seemed to work just fine for him, so maybe it's just more powerful painkillers, or does oxycodone have the same addictive chemical in it as Vicodin, in which case he could get his fix?

Clearly. I'm just miffed that everyone keeps jumping at Wilson's throat for doing something that - seriously - just about any other doctor in the entire hospital would've done without batting an eyelash, and without even bothering to get a deal. Cameron's more in love with her ideals than anything else. I'm sure she'd go down on principle alone. In that way, I suppose a bit like House.

Seriously could not stop laughing at how they sniped at each other. It totally oozed jealous lovers' spat *giggle*

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

I love reading your commentaries. You notice a lot of really cool things and have a unique perspective. :) I hope you're feeling better now!

All the spoken and unspoken dynamics among the men in that room

I particularly liked that the "Get out of my office" was directed first only at Tritter, and by the end at both of them. It was subtle, though: you had to look at where House's eyes were directed in order to follow his growing irritation with Wilson. (Who really couldn't catch a break in this episode.)

oh my God could this plot get any more repetitive?

Think "theme and variations." Think "fugue." I swear it's deliberate!

Confirmation that he's tried other drugs and they don't work. Good to know.

Yeah, but as Wilson pointed out, that was years ago. The situation has changed, and House's reliance on Vicodin may have thwarted the effectiveness of other drugs. So there's no absolute confirmation of what we're supposed to think of House regarding the addiction matter. I'm really getting tired of the addict vs. chronic pain sufferer argument, though, and wish the show's writers would just move on. House has a hell of a lot more interesting emotional hangups that they could explore.

The next-to-last scene. God. I can't think of another moment on the show that has stuck in my head like Wilson tripping over himself to get to House and then making sure he's okay before leaving him there.

Yeah. That really hurt. I'm glad you think that Wilson did the right thing by leaving, though. It seems quite a few people in other forums aren't willing to forgive him for that.

House can't steal another Wilson from a pharmacy.

LOL! Great line. I wish Wilsons were available from a pharmacy—I'd beg, borrow, or steal one immediately!

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I think we have reversed positions from a few weeks ago, when you posted when you weren't feeling well and said your post wasn't great, and yet it was very good (I thought). I'm surprised and glad to hear this post makes sense; it feels like a lot got left out, and it took all day to write in between assignments at work.

I particularly liked that the "Get out of my office" was directed first only at Tritter, and by the end at both of them.

I wondered about that. Couldn't tell whether he'd been addressing Tritter and Wilson the first time or Tritter alone. Since he'd made that crack about Tritter being "with you," I figured he'd ordered both of them out because Wilson had brought Tritter in and he didn't want anything to do with either of them.

Think "fugue." I swear it's deliberate!

Ack, I meant to put in something about your theory! It's kept me sane through all this repetition.

House has a hell of a lot more interesting emotional hangups that they could explore.

And professional liberties. I'd like to see an episode where he has to work with other physicians as good as he is, or nearly so, or under someone who forces him to actually follow rules to diagnose a patient.

I'm glad you think that Wilson did the right thing by leaving, though. It seems quite a few people in other forums aren't willing to forgive him for that.

(That's why I stay away from discussion forums -- I suspect I'd get exasperated.) I do think he did what he thought was right, and what may indeed have been the right thing. Cameron wouldn't have let House lie there. Neither would Cuddy. They would have helped him up, and he would have accepted their care, and nothing would have been accomplished. Wilson took the time to ensure that House would survive, then left him to take responsibility for his own actions.

I wish Wilsons were available from a pharmacy—I'd beg, borrow, or steal one immediately!

I think we'd be fighting through a long line for a prescription of Wilson. "Take twice daily."

OMG!

[litalex.livejournal.com]

You said everything I wanted to say! Though I'd say that House has also (or pretending to have) given up on Wilson. But in the end, that has to be a good thing, 'cause Wilson needs to stop wanting to "save" House for their friendship to truly work.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I wish we knew more about what their friendship was like before the infarction and/or in the months after it, so we could better understand where they're both coming from now/since the show started. Has Wilson always wanted to save House, or has it developed since House stepped up his pill-popping? We know from "Detox" that Wilson thinks House has changed, and not just because of the leg. How has Wilson's approach to him changed, I wonder.

[litalex.livejournal.com]

well, I assume not, since we know how House reacts to people who go in wanting to save House (e.g. Cameron). And it really wasn't Wilson's place to try to save House anyway (the whole "I'm lying to you for your own good" is what a...spouse or family member would feel like they can get away with; most "best friends" wouldn't dare, afaik); the fact that Wilson does, I think, says a lot about Wilson and his relationship with House.

[fallen-arazil.livejournal.com]

Hmmm ... you know, my theory is that Wilson recognized the name on the pill bottle, and therefore knew the dosage and the number of pills inside (as he had prescribed them) not to mention that he knows House's pill taking habits. He would have had some idea how many pills were left in the bottle, and been able to see how many were in House's puke. Therefore, he would know whether House was in danger, or ... not. (or so I choose to believe) *points to icon*

~Djinn

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I agree. He picked up the empty bottle and saw the patient's name (and his name), knew House had taken some while still at work, and saw -- someone said 15, I think -- on the floor in that puddle. So yes, between that and the quick assessment of House's physical condition, checking that he was conscious and breathing, he'd have a rough idea of whether it was safe to leave him there.

[thewlisian-afer.livejournal.com]

House being surprised that Foreman's willing to get him his pills so he can do his job

I read that as House being surprised that Foreman's willing to break into Cuddy's desk to get him his pills. I thought it was more about the location of the pills than it was about the pills.


Cameron turning her nose up at Wilson for his inferior morality, Wilson getting peeved at her in turn

I LOVE THEM SO DAMN MUCH.


Please tell me I am not the only one who had a blinding moment of OMGWilsonandTritteraresofucking when they were both sitting in the car.

ahhahahaha You are not the only one. ♥


Now, what was up with Wilson saying, statistically, better House than him?

Yeah, I think he was speaking about percentages. And that line made me so sad. And you know if Cameron heard him say it, her little heart would melt.


Re: the next-to-last scene -- :((( I've been defending Wilson all day again. Dude, he hustled his ass over there to make sure House wasn't dead or dying at the moment. He didn't just totally abandon his friend. And I liked the symbolism or whatever. Wilson was telling House that nobody is going to pick him up off the floor anymore, literally and figuratively.


Anyway, gimme a poke on AIM some time during this hiatus and we'll bounce ideas off of each other. I love doing that with you; you always make me think about stuff I didn't think about before. :)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

You betcha. I want to finish that "Son of Coma Guy" fic, and I bet you've got some great ideas percolating. And more Wilson drabbles. The first batch of which I need to comment on. (*shamefaced*)

Heh, I knew you'd be all over the Wilson/Cameron bitch-fest. I can't wait to watch that again, properly.

And that line made me so sad. And you know if Cameron heard him say it, her little heart would melt.

I did like that Wilson didn't say anything to Cameron that would actually have made Cameron take his side. As if he doesn't want to show her his weakness, or just doesn't feel the need to justify himself--no, to open up to her, beyond the basics. And yet what she said to him had an effect.

[thewlisian-afer.livejournal.com]

And more Wilson drabbles. The first batch of which I need to comment on.

Yeah, nobody read those. :( Oh, well. They can't all be winners.

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

House can't steal another Wilson from a pharmacy.

That just made be go awww. And it's true. I felt for both of them so much this ep.

And yes, Wilson and Tritter - mainly because of the nervous laughter and general proximity.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Ah, good, that makes at least three of us. Because there was that jolt of Tritter/Wilson dominance in "Que Sera Sera," and then last night it all came careening back.

The whole episode was just so painful to watch, and I think that's because of how much we care and how much Wilson cares and ... yeah. (Be awestruck by my coherence.)

[synn.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to do a little dance of joy b/c I knew it was going to be *both* auto-immune and cancer. Hurray for the diagnoses always being relevant to the overall theme of the episode.
maybe it was obvious to everyone, I don't know, but I'm pleased.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I wish we could watch episodes "live" together more often. You have this... detachment, this neat way of watching, that makes you catch stuff that goes right over my head. Like recognizing the symbolism of Cameron and Wilson both being right.

[simple--man.livejournal.com]

It's almost sweet, now that I think about it—Wilson told Cuddy earlier that the way to get a child to do what you want is to take something away from him that he wants. Taking away the Vicodin didn't do it, but taking away his friendship did. House can't steal another Wilson from a pharmacy.

You're a genius. All my cloudy thoughts (mostly, 'BOO!! Wilson is NOT in the wrong here, BOO!!!') made clear in three clear, concise sentences. I can sleep now. (Seriously, this ep kept me up, thinking, and has hit me between the eyes no less than three times today. You're the best.)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Ha. Maybe that should be a new tagline: "Bironic's House reviews: They'll put you to sleep. In a good way."

Kidding. Thanks, and you're welcome -- glad to be of service.

[simple--man.livejournal.com]

Hee, sleep, it is a good, good thing. I love it. ^^

[theninth.livejournal.com]

One thing that's been bothering me this whole season is Wilson. As an oncologist he should understand about chronic pain and the need to properly medicate it. On top of that, He's house's best friend. He knows what House was like before the infarction and he of all people should know that House is still the same guy when he's taking vicodin. The drugs keep him level and able to function.

Cameron even said to House 'you were off vicodin for months' and he said it was because he wasn't in pain. THAT RIGHT THERE proves that he's not an addict in the 'street' sense of the word. If he's not in pain he doesn't need the drugs and he doesn't seek them out and he doesn't take them.

Vicodin is apparently more psychologically addictive than it is physically addictive (which isn't to say it's not physically addictive, just that the psychological is greater). If he doesn't need to take them when he's not in pain, he's clearly okay. Really, his biggest worries from taking so many Vicodin are building up a tolerance and liver failure.

You're already familiar with (and probably tired of) my theory that Wilson wants needs to save House to atone for his missing brother. Which is why I think he would have eventually gone back to make sure House was still okay.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Now, what was up with Wilson saying, statistically, better House than him?

It's also that Wilson is more equipped to survive in prison than House is. House isn't healthy - if he does go to prison, what is the guarantee that Tritter will allow him the treatment he requires? Not to mention the prison routine. Even emotionally - Wilson is no happy bunny, but from Wilson's perspective, House *needs* this world that he has now: his job; his minions; his Wilson and Cuddy. It's a very fragile world, and Wilson needs to protect that, in any way possible (although, without Wilson, that world automatically collapses. Maybe Wilson thinks House will manage, like he does without Stacy).

[bironic.livejournal.com]

(Hey there! Long time no see.)

Yes, true, on all counts. And then Tritter shattered that hope immediately by pointing out that they'd both go to prison. There was a fic today or yesterday that had Wilson think that House wouldn't last long in prison because he wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut. It makes a sad sort of sense that Wilson would consider sacrificing himself if it meant keeping House out of there.

[stephantom.livejournal.com]

An extremely trivial point to comment on, but

And a brief reference to House as Santa Claus during the opening song.

I loved that too, and I loved that they also called Tritter Santa Claus. Hee.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Did I miss the Tritter thing? Remind me.

[stephantom.livejournal.com]

Ah, heh. You must have missed it then. The song started out and ended the verse with, "Is that you Santa Claus?" just as House walked in, but then it did another verse and again ened with "Is that you Santa Claus?" just as the camera landed on Tritter sitting in House's chair (looking smug and drumming on his knees). lol I smiled.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Oh, brilliant. Yeah, I must have been blinded by the House/Wilson/Tritter moment to notice the lyric overlay.

[renoir-girl.livejournal.com]

If Wilson seriously thinks House could do more good at the hospital than he can, he's more depressed than I thought. And that's awful.

I think this is really quite true. Hell, don't you suppose they're all seriously depressed by now? I would be. And Wilson most of all.

Yeah, no question that he still cares, a lot. Leaving House on the floor was for his own good.

Absolutely.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Hey there. Thought you'd given up on the show.

I do think everyone on the show could use some counseling and/or Prozac, especially lately, and I think House and Wilson both have self-esteem issues, but what Wilson said still surprised me for what it revealed about how little he values himself -- at least, in relation to House.

...You've given me an idea about a Harry Potter crossover now, which is just what I need with all this other stuff that needs doing, thanks very much. :)

[renoir-girl.livejournal.com]

Nah, not giving up... haven't missed an ep... just took a step back from the analysis.

hee... sorry? :)