House 3x11: "Words and Deeds"

[bironic]

That was nice.


Four scenes stood out: House's apology to Tritter, whether sincere or not, for its clear description of what House goes through every day; the tie-giving and apology later at rehab; Tritter proving that he was not a heartless villain; and the last bit, coming in from Cameron's line about starting fresh with people who love you, with Wilson's disbelief/exasperation/anger mitigated by pleasure when he realizes House didn't have to apologize, "Goodnight, Wilson," and the small smiles we've missed so much.

Cuddy lying for him. Who saw that coming? Aside from the spoiler readers, I mean. Sweet and risky and even though I don't fully understand why telling the judge the pills were placebos instead of oxycodone would change the decision to go to trial, since it still means House was trying to steal meds, it was an unexpected and pleasantly character-based escape from the trap. Also, just as Cameron's sentiments to the patient were moving, so too were the judge's when she told House that his friends are better than he deserves. Nobody may be able to trust his words or his deeds, but his friends and fellows will stick by him and stick up for him to the end.

Now taking bets on how many episodes this new semblance of peace (going by his comment to Wilson about whether that apology wasn't really necessary and his final sigh on the prison cot) will last.

Miscellany:

I'd heard murmurings of a "pelvic thrust" being involved in a scene with Wilson and House and the adjustment of a jacket, and scoffed. But, uh, that was one weird maneuver, RSL. Not slashy, just … weird.

Fellows got to work on their own again, each chipping in his/her hypotheses, Chase supplying the extra kick, and getting farther than they ever have on their own, but still needing House to pull everything together at the end.* Which is why they're still undergoing their fellowships, and we have a show.

*Someone should make them matching buttons that say "What would House do?"

Was going to write about how lecturer!Wilson made his unfortunate reappearance while House smoked and how it would have been nice to see him be supportive now that House checked himself into rehab, but then it occurred to me that he had started out trying to be supportive, and House as usual cut him down by attacking him where it hurt (Grace and loneliness). And then the latter two House/Wilson scenes made up for the distasteful dynamic, moving into tentative forgiveness with the apology (and Wilson still hadn't given up on him, brought him the tie and came to court and everything) and reintroducing the good ol' camaraderie with those half-smiling goodnights. They won't come out of this unscathed, but they're on the mend.

In the first differential scene when Cameron was trying to convince House to take the case, Chase looked down at the table as soon as House turned to him and Foreman. Definitely nonconfrontational in normal situations.

Was amused by House's discomfort when Cameron hugged him. Again, House/Cameron might not be terrible given the right conditions and characterizations, but right now House's awkward stiffness fits in well with his usual protestations that she's inappropriate for him.

Lastly, if someone would be kind enough to clarify: The patient -- would they have still had to do the shock therapy to erase memories of the woman if they'd gotten the diagnosis right earlier? I'd watch again to get the answer, but tonight was the first night in two and a half years that the VCR didn't record the episode. :( That was one of the saddest things that's happened to a patient on the show either way, erasing his memories. All his childhood, his family, the woman he loved, everything -- gone, with his foreknowledge and consent. He seemed so composed about it, too, when Cameron came in to talk with him. I'd have been a wreck. It would have taken a long time to make that decision. I'd have wanted to write things down to read when I woke up a blank slate. Whew. Then again, we're talking about a patient who kept quiet about a series of heart attacks and what he perceived as tragic, unrequited love; he must be used to repressing pain of all kinds.


Actually, one of my favorite parts of the hour was when this ad came on for Fox News with the teaser, "Romance is blooming on House -- find out which two co-stars got engaged, tonight at 10," and the clip playing during the voiceover showed Hugh Laurie-as-House to catch viewers' attention, followed by Jennifer Morrison and then … Robert Sean Leonard. WTF. Do they not know who Jesse Spencer is?

ETA (Yes, I got out of bed to add this): Voldemort!


Commentaries & Discussions: elynittria, asynca, topaz_eyes, nightdog

 

Comments

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I was somewhat underwhelmed by this episode but I will mention two things ...

... House as usual cut him down by attacking him where it hurt (Grace and loneliness).

This is something I mentioned on TWoP. Out of all the possible things House could've mentioned to hurt Wilson, why those two? They're old. I would've thought House would be much more angry about the lie Wilson perpetrated (sp?) at the beginning of the season regarding Wheelchair!Guy's diagnosis (after the Tritter Arc, does anyone even remember that?).

Instead House chooses two actions -- sleeping with Grace and moving into a hotel -- both symbolic rejections of House. Is that why House was really angry with Wilson and stole his prescription pad?

That was one of the saddest things that's happened to a patient on the show either way, erasing his memories. All his childhood, his family, the woman he loved, everything -- gone, with his foreknowledge and consent.

*fanfic brain speaks up, and subverts the episode-conversation* What if something happened to Wilson and he had to undergo this? No memories of his childhood would mean no memories of David -- what kind of a person would Wilson be afterwards? Would he leap at the chance to lose his childhood memories?

And ... um ... sorry for hijacking your post.

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

Instead House chooses two actions -- sleeping with Grace and moving into a hotel -- both symbolic rejections of House. Is that why House was really angry with Wilson and stole his prescription pad?

I think it's very suggestive that those are the particular actions that House is fixated on. He's used Grace against Wilson in several episodes, so you know it really bothered him.

[stephantom.livejournal.com]

Out of all the possible things House could've mentioned to hurt Wilson, why those two?

I think it was that those aren't directly related to House, actually - those were examples of Wilson's failure to cope with his own life and see his own issues. House wasn't criticizing Wilson for treating him badly or just doing something wrong, but for being a hypocrit for telling House to deal with things in a healthy, positive way.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was it -- Wilson was trying to preach, and House reacted by throwing Wilson's more spectacular failures back in his face. And then Wilson preached some more ("You're a coward..."). Was this episode written by the same person who did "Need to Know," perchance?

[stephantom.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yeah. I saw that exchange online already actually, a few days ago, and was ready to be pissed off at Wilson about it (so House is venting! at least he's there) -- but then, in context of the whole episode, I didn't mind, because House told them all it was a show (and then you think, maybe he's just saying that but secretly means it, but then in the end it turns out, no, it really was just a sham - but possibly some of it was real?)

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

Was this episode written by the same person who did "Need to Know," perchance?

Hee! It felt like it. I was hoping for more emotional support here, just as I was hoping for it in "Need to Know," but instead we got Lecturer!Wilson.

But I do think Grace bothered House, and not just because he thinks Wilson is a hypocrite. He really seems to want to hurt Wilson when he brings her up. I don't know what point I wanted to make...

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Hijacking? That's what these posts are for!

What if something happened to Wilson and he had to undergo this? [...] what kind of a person would Wilson be afterwards? Would he leap at the chance to lose his childhood memories?

Would Wilson treat House as a perceived addict any differently if he weren't trying to make up for his brother (if you buy into that interpretation)? Intriguing questions. You could probably work this into an AU/sequel of your latest story. Or there could be amnesia!fic. Or a Wilson-as-PotW story.

Anyway. I was not overly impressed with this episode until the last few scenes. Like I said, I thought the whole thing was... nice. And those were the nicest parts.

Out of all the possible things House could've mentioned to hurt Wilson, why those two?

1. What did Wilson say right before House lashed out? I (want to) think it made the Grace/hotel response more relevant than the wheelchair-guy lie. (*tears hear* Can't... check... tape...)

2. I still can't decide what to make of Wilson's lie and House's reaction to it, even after all these episodes. Did it really irk him, or did he expect nothing less from Wilson? Is he holding a grudge, has he just let go of the grudge, or was there never a grudge? Wilson withholding Vicodin seems to have had a much greater impact on House this season (they brought it up, what, twice more? At least the "one of your moods" comment in "Son of Coma Guy"). And I've just completely lost track of what I was trying to get at. Going to bed now -- catch you in the more coherent morning. :)

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't answer question 2 yet (still thinking about it; might produce an essay soon), but I can answer question 1. Here's the conversation:

Wilson: You've been here for two days—talk about wallowing in it! We all get it. We all know how much pain you have. You're here to deal with it and move on with your life!

House: Right. I should have an affair with a dying patient and move into a hotel.

[pun.livejournal.com]

Right, so those are examples of how Wilson hasn't dealt and moved on with his life post divorce. Which explains why he'd pick those to throw back in Wilson's face at that moment. But I still like your theory that they rankle especially because they were rejections of House. That can be part of his motivation too.

[purridot.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm. Affair. Interesting word choice; an affair implies that Wilson is technically involved with someone. And he is already separated from his wife.

There's only one person who is obsessing about Wilson's love life and where he sleeps...

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Hee! "Affair". I love it.

Post: I know, I loved it that Wilson is STILL THERE. Even at the beginning.

I thought the whole patient thing was ridiculous, personally. I mean, I would have thought someone would have at least mentioned this to his brother and his 'unrequited love' before going through with something so incredibly drastic. Regarding the decision, though, if his brain was disordered enough to manufacture memories, then I would allow that it's possible his judgement wasn't working all that well either.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Firefox crashed when I posted my reply. That's new. :( It said something like:

What nagged me about the patient plot was that if House had been on the case instead of Cameron, he'd have caught on to the lie when the guy said Amy (was her name Amy?) was engaged. She wasn't wearing a ring. Cameron didn't notice or even think to check with them; House would have done at least the first and probably the second by throwing out some inappropriate comment about their engagement that would have provoked confusion instead of outrage, and either way would have started him down the right path. That's all aside from the faulty medicine that everyone's up in arms about.

[jdr1184.livejournal.com]

Tosses a carrot at this plot bunny. Me Like. No bad childhood, bad marriages, or other yet to be named angst. I personally value memories above all else, but I can see Wilson being the type to want to live in a denial shell and hide from the past. Why else wouldn't House know about David?

[renoir-girl.livejournal.com]

enh. I was disappointed. Not disappointed... unfulfilled. The payoff did not equal the investment. The TV magic wand that made everything 'normal' again.

It's like months of foreplay and a 'meh' orgasm.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Hm. I seem to be in the minority for not being bothered by the episode all that much. I thought it was nicely paced and a good way to wrap up the Tritter arc -- or at least, not as bad a resolution as we could have had. I didn't want a huge, melodramatic denouement and I didn't want a magical escape without consequences for anyone. "Words and Deeds" delivered something in the middle.

[renoir-girl.livejournal.com]

researchgrrrl seems to have loved the episode, if you want to share squee. :)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Dunno about squee, but I'll have a gander over there - thanks for the heads up.

[fallen-arazil.livejournal.com]

I don't fully understand why telling the judge the pills were placebos instead of oxycodone would change the decision to go to trial, since it still means House was trying to steal meds,

My understanding of it is that it's similar to me going to the downtown area, finding a shady guy and asking him to sell me pot, only to get it home and find it's oregano. No drugs, no crime, even if I thought they were drugs.

Also--hah! JM and JS got engaged? That puts all those dirty 'stamina' comments Cameron has been making in a new light. *giggles*

~Djinn

[bironic.livejournal.com]

No drugs, no crime, even if I thought they were drugs.

Would that be true, or could you still be arrested for attempting to purchase or sell illegal substances? Is it different, for example, when someone unknowingly propositions a cop posing as a prostitute and gets arrested for solicitation, even though there was never any sex?

Also--hah! JM and JS got engaged?

It would seem so. The only... possible... problem... *dawning horror* would be if Jennifer Morrison got pregnant, and they had to work it into the show....

Thanks for commenting even though I am terribly awfully horribly late in writing your mistletoe prompt.

[fallen-arazil.livejournal.com]

Y'see, you read my mind, because I was going to say that, as far as I know, the only crime where the solicitation itself is illegal is prostitution. And I believe that's really due partially to the Puritanical nature of the US--we want to punish people for even trying to exchange money for sex. (or possibly because with drugs there's an illegal substance present, whereas with prostitution there's only what the good lord gave ya?)

It would seem so. The only... possible... problem... *dawning horror* would be if Jennifer Morrison got pregnant, and they had to work it into the show....

Oh god ... *facepalm* I just had the most horrible image of Cuddy explaining to Wilson "Well, I miscarried, and I'm a bit older, so I was worried about carrying the child ... so I got Cameron to be my surrogate!"



*beaches brain*

~Djinn

Meh, don't worry about the finishing the prompt, I'm sure whatever you write will be worth the wait. ^_~

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Oh, God, the crack bunnies, they breed. Pardon me while I knock my head against my desk a few times.

And thanks so much for posting that photo again; I'd just managed to wipe the image from my brain.

I believe that's really due partially to the Puritanical nature of the US [...] or possibly because with drugs there's an illegal substance present, whereas with prostitution there's only what the good lord gave ya?

Time for some research, methinks. Unless there are any lawyers or law students hanging about?

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

HIJACK!

I finished my present fic for Nightdog (Wilson goes to prison), and wondered if you might be willing to take a look? I understand if you can't; it's 13,000+ words - yikes!

Was thinking about posting the first half tonight.

http://deelaundry.livejournal.com/24693.html

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Ooh, hijacked twice in the same post. I'll see if I can have a look this afternoon. Long is good! I liked the first draft and want to see how you concluded everything.