But he *does* want to know. That's who he *is*. (House 4.?)

[bironic]

Two barking dogs, a chatty mother, a one-second delayed echo in my right ear from the TV upstairs, a pair of grumbling college boys: this is why I didn't want to watch House at A.'s place tonight. Needless to say, I missed a lot of lines.

Let's try this anyway:

Sara Hess has also written:

"Spin" – good
"Sleeping Dogs Lie" – awful
"Finding Judas" – okay
"Act Your Age" – good

This one belongs with "Sleeping Dogs Lie" for its Wilson content, which is to say, almost nil, and as of the foosball scene, as pointless and unsatisfying as the one in SDL where he only showed up to berate House about not pushing Cameron's article. The rest of the episode seemed all right, though: fairly clear developments in the medicine and fellows plots, even if the theme got muddled towards the end.

It finally being lupus was a complete anticlimax, no? I thought they were saving that for the series finale. Even barring that, it didn't get much fanfare; House didn't even announce the diagnosis in front of Allison "It's clearly lupus" Cameron. (Where the heck were she and Chase? They couldn't have been in a supply closet all episode.)

My favorite parts… I liked the "You're AB negative, you take from everybody" / "You're O, you donate to everybody" exchange. That's classic House/Wilson right there. And when Wilson pursed his lips and called him out on recklessly endangering his life again.

I thought it was very creepy when Cole and Thirteen knocked out House and biopsied him. He's the power center of the show, dominating everybody, always moving, always talking; to see him lying there, physically helpless, bested, at their mercy, just an unconscious body on a table, was very uncomfortable, in a way most of his encounters with Vogler and Tritter didn't invoke—I say "most" because an exception was when Tritter tripped him in the clinic, another instance of physically subduing him. They knocked him out and violated him with biopsy needles against his wishes; I'm surprised he didn't freak out more when he woke up, considering his reactions when Stacy, Cuddy and Wilson did similar things to him. But on the theme of my favorite parts, I liked when he woke up, tested his restraints, joked with Thirteen about moving fast on a first date, and then looked like he'd fallen a little bit more in love with her. And not just because it's more potential evidence that House likes bondage and domination. It looked like some mixture of being aroused and impressed; this is the kind of manipulation he likes in his team. With this new "eye for an eye" sense of justice, Thirteen is like where we left off with Cameron last season.

Clearly Cole had made a deal with Cuddy; I didn't guess that she'd made him promise something in return. I'd feel bad about the bad blood (heh) between Cole and Kutner if we'd had any real sense that they were friends in previous weeks. It's too bad, because he was the only one paying attention to the patient all episode. Well, him and Thirteen.

I wonder if almost-firing Amber and Kutner means that next week they'll actually fire Thirteen or Taub. That would suck.

Amber's become a one-note harpy already, which doesn't bode well for her in future episodes, if she's chosen. Dear Sara Hess, It is not a good idea to have a fairly new character summarize herself to another character who's been there as long as she has, Sincerely, a well-meaning fan. P.S. More Wilson plz.

I'm forgetting stuff. I missed stuff. I want to watch again to pick apart the points they made about knowledge and magic/wonder: especially the one about wonder not being real if it can be explained (wtf?), and whether House could ever run out of questions.

I have to say, though, a friend of the family has Huntington's Disease, and it sucks. If I were Thirteen, I don't think I could bring myself to take the test either. It can't be easy living with the uncertainty, but at least she doesn't know for sure that she's going to die a protracted, frustrating, terrifying death. It's an interesting argument she makes about how holding off on the test allows her the potential--or, in House's view, gives her an excuse she wouldn't need if she weren't a coward--and, ha, what a thing for him to say, considering how he's treating himself--to live a full life with the adventurous spirit of someone who lives for each day. We all noticed the parallels to the scene with Cameron's HIV results, yes? And how here House didn't check out the results beforehand (I guess that was a meta reference—"callback," right?—in Thirteen's question), and they didn't read the results at all? Yes.

You know House is going to fish that envelope out of the trash later, though.

Or maybe… not? What would it mean if House were somehow swayed by, or wanted to be swayed by, the magician's and Thirteen's brief arguments about letting a little mystery into his life? I just don't see that he could sustain that willful ignorance. Part of what makes House House is his relentless search for answers. If the writers/producers are not going to change him, they certainly can't change that. Eh. Probably it will have been forgotten next week. If not, good for them; I look forward to where they might take it.

Comments

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

I thought it was very creepy when Cole and Thirteen knocked out House and biopsied him.

Agree completely. Actually found myself having to look away from the screen. Just creeped me the absolute fuck out and made my skin crawl.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

And they drugged him in front of everybody, which completely freaked me out. Uh, Cut-Throat Everybody now.

Maybe it's just me, but the game has gone on too long. I'd have been perfectly happy if he fired Cole and then told everyone to vote on Cole's picks, thus booting Amber out.

I want more Wilson. I miss Chase. I'm happy Taub's sticking around because he's a wily little rascal and I think he could stand up to House's crap.

My son says Thirteen's turning into the new Cameron, and I think he's right. *sighs heavily*

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I agree that Thirteen is the new Cameron. Cole was the new Foreman, but House has got the real thing back, so Cole had to go. Taub is Wilson, so he'll stay. If Kutner is Chase--could Kutner be Chase?--, that means Amber's the odds-on loser.

Remind me why they feel the need to rebuild the team they got tired of last season before they'd explored everything?

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

Bleah. I don't think I can stomach two versions of Cameron on the show. And I'm quite happy with the current Wilson, writers—in fact, we need more of him.

I wonder whether TPTB know (or care) that they're in danger of losing a lot of their hardcore fans.

[purridot.livejournal.com]

I wonder how you would have felt, Nightdog, if it had been Wilson lying there *g*

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

*grins back*

You think I'd be happy to see Wilson lying there, drugged and in restraints, waking up slowly in pain from the biopsies ...

... um. What were we talking about?

;-D

[brynnamorgan.livejournal.com]

I kept making comments of outrage at the screen, very creeped out. My sons finally said simultaneously, "Mom, it's just a tv show."

My response was along the lines of "so what?"

That scene did NOT sit well with me at all.

A fairly decent show, but certainly not nearly as good as the rest of this season so far.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I think that scene underscored the difference between enjoying character-whumpage in fanfiction and being horrified by it in RL -- even if the equivalent of RL in this case is the series/canon.

[purridot.livejournal.com]

Yay! You found time for a recap!

I really, really like this season. I hope my saying that doesn't jinx it.

Myy favourite part was the House/Wilson exchange too (of course). Wilson was not *too* lecture-y, yay again! And of course we'll probably never find out (in canon, anyway *g*) what kind of blood testing of Wilson House might have done, but it fits with House's obsession with spying on Wilson so well :D

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I figured he'd looked up his medical records, like he'd looked up his personal records in "Histories." But they dragged it out enough that I wondered whether there wasn't supposed to be something else there. *shrug*

Yep, got home early because A. kicked me out so she could watch Tia Tequila or whatever it's called. Well, she invited me to watch, but, no, so then she kicked me out. If only she had been so adamant about being on time and quiet for House...

[mer-duff.livejournal.com]

The only thing I found surprising about House knowing Wilson's blood type was Wilson being surprised. And I thought he wasn't paying alimony to Bonnie any more. Real estate market get worse in New Jersey?

Nowhere near enough Wilson in this episode to make me happy, but I'm willing to forgive a little for the Sophie's Choice reference.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I don't think you can reinstate alimony after you've cancelled it. I don't think. Also, if Wilson's paying alimony to Julie (who CHEATED on him) then he's a total chump. I realize the "three alimonies" was needed for House's joke, but I wish Wilson had corrected him.

My thought was that House tested Wilson's blood for Rh factor (and Tay Sachs) when Cuddy was considering Wilson for her sperm donor. But given the way they ignore continuity on this show, the reason will probably never be mentioned. Or, House will end up donating blood to Wilson at some point even though their blood types make that impossible. *rolls eyes*

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

Or Wilson will end up donating blood to House. As long as they clarify that House is AB+. (Or Wilson is O-.)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

My thought was that House tested Wilson's blood [...] when Cuddy was considering Wilson for her sperm donor.

I love being in a group of people where perfect explanations like this fall from the sky.

"It explains everything" -- Wilson's surprise that House knew, the reason House hadn't taunted him with the knowledge before, etc.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

...Which I missed. Which line?

Yes, I'm not sure why Wilson was so surprised (and stayed surprised) to find out that House had intruded on his medical records. It's not like he isn't an expert on House's utter lack of personal and professional boundaries by now.

Is there any way to explain away the alimony line without claiming inconsistency? If he'd used a past tense, it would've been fine. Er, except for Dee's point that he'd better not be paying Julie money for cheating on him. Hm.

[mer-duff.livejournal.com]

It was after House told Cole to think about who he was going to pick. Cole made noises like he didn't want to choose anyone, and House said something like, "Forget it, Sophie."

I can't remember if he used past tense or not - my VRC died, so until clips go up on Youtube... I suppose it could be explained anyway by saying House was exaggerating to make his metaphor sound better.

If Julie argued emotional abandonment and/or there's a huge discrepancy between their earning potentials, it might be possible that Wilson's paying something. Adultery doesn't guarantee that alimony won't be assessed.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Oh, ha! I didn't hear that Sophie line at all.

I'm pretty sure House didn't use past tense, although considering the circumstances in which I watched last night, I could be wrong. Will confirm when I get a chance to watch the recording.

Huh -- so you could cheat on your spouse and still be entitled to payment? Plus, heh, we are talking about Wilson, he of the soft heart and guilty conscience. Can't you just hear him saying, "Yes, she cheated, but only because I was so emotionally distant and absent from our home that I pushed her to it"?

[mer-duff.livejournal.com]

Totally. House did say Wilson was obsessive about staying on good terms with his ex-wives. And the sense I got from "House Training" was that he would have been happy to continue paying alimony to Bonnie (or child support for Hector).

Adultery is taken into consideration, apparently, but isn't a precluding factor.

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

I liked the "You're AB negative, you take from everybody" / "You're O, you donate to everybody" exchange.

Is that what they said? Because that is incorrect. House would have to be AB+ to be the universal recipient. Wilson would have to be O- to be the universal donor. (Fitting, though. House can take from Wilson, but Wilson can't take from House. *g*)

I'd feel bad about the bad blood (heh) between Cole and Kutner if we'd had any real sense that they were friends in previous weeks.

I thought that Cole would go this week, early in the episode, except I thought he'd sacrifice himself, not Kutner. It was too bad they didn't build up a friendship between Cole and Kutner, because that was an interesting angle. (Yay for fanfic!)

It's an interesting argument she makes about how holding off on the test allows her the potential--or, in House's view, gives her an excuse she wouldn't need if she weren't a coward--and, ha, what a thing for him to say, considering how he's treating himself--to live a full life with the adventurous spirit of someone who lives for each day.

It all comes down to hope, doesn't it, and how hope sustains both of them. 13, who hopes that she doesn't have Huntington's, and House, who would run out of hope the minute he runs out of questions. Does hope lie in the realm of the not knowing? The magician's point is yes, it does. 13 consciously chooses that path of not knowing, but OTOH living with the sword of Damocles over her head can't be easy.

We all noticed the parallels to the scene with Cameron's HIV results, yes?

They couldn't have been more blatant, could they? Though, it sort of figures--recycling Cameron via 13.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Does hope lie in the realm of the not knowing? The magician's point is yes, it does.

Mostly I am with House on this one. I disagree with his claim that wonder didn't exist at all if it dissipates when the mystery is explained, but I do think that if hope is only possible where there is mystery, then you (and by "you" I mean the magician) are saying all answers must lead to hopelessness/despair, which means you are arguing for a meaningless universe. Like an existentialist; like House. Like House has been since the beginning, which is why I don't see him changing his ways now, envelope in the garbage or not. I just don't think he can sustain the suppression of the urge to ask and to know.

Anyway. I probably misquoted the AB type. In fact, I thought I took the "negative" out, because I couldn't remember whether they'd used it for House's or Wilson's type. It is gloriously fitting for them to be the universal recipient and donor types!