House 4.9, "Games"

[bironic]

Remember Wilson's speech in "No Reason" when he described how patients who've gotten false positive results and then find out later that they're actually healthy don't get happy, they get depressed? It seemed like he forgot all about that when he delivered the "good" news to his patient tonight and expected the guy to be all smiles.

Then I remembered he was a hallucination in "No Reason," and so he wouldn't remember that at all.

But, honestly? I got scared when not-terminal-guy looked Wilson in the eye and said he was suing him for a lot of money. My mind flashed to Wilson trying to cut some kind of under-the-table deal, or letting the guy blackmail him into regular long-term payments, or going to court and somehow losing the case. I was scared for him, in a way I wasn't scared during Vogler's or even Tritter's arcs. The patient-villain wasn't threatening House along with Wilson, so it was possible within show rules for him actually do damage.

And then, that argument! That glorious argument! "You think you can cure pain!" "You think you can avoid pain!" "You have to control everything!" "You feel responsible for every patient who walks into your office!" The genuine bitterness, the essential conflicts that've poisoned their friendship since the infarction. I care about you. Leave me alone. Don't give in; don't give up. Don't let other people let your guilt destroy you.

Still don't quite get Amber, but I felt awful right along with her when she got fired. Those tears—those were good, sympathetic tears. And I liked that she went back to the patient to try to learn how not to care. I think everybody on the show would like to know.

Thank goodness Thirteen got to stay after all. I'm liking her, suspenders and accurate diagnoses and pixie looks and all, and like Cuddy said, it wouldn't have been fair for the team to be all male. Taub's got intriguingly thorny ethics, and Kutner should be good for comic relief and occasional good ideas. They should make an interesting team once they start really working together instead of playing the hiring game.

Punk rocker's seizure goes in the top five funniest patient moments list, along with things like the bicyclist's floppy collapse in "Spin" and... other stuff I'm forgetting.

Not much point bringing up the patient/House drug addict connection, since the writers made all the points for us. Theme of caring vs. not caring (House, House's patient, Amber, Wilson), ease of death vs. difficulty of life (House, House's patient, Wilson's patient). Theme of people not being what you expect, even if you expect the opposite of what's expected (Amber's not always just a bitch; the patient's both and neither a worthless addict nor a bleeding-heart Peter Pan; Wilson's patient isn't as grateful as he'd hoped; House continues to defy categorization; etc.).

Dunno, what else? Chase has thighs. House looked nice with his arm across the back of the couch in the beginning. Liked Cuddy's silk shirt. Chuckle-worthy meta comments about mood music and... something during the scene where House was doing an ultrasound on the patient's chest. House went snooping in Wilson's desk drawers and played a nastier than usual trick on him. House called Wilson "Dr. Wilson" and lounged behind him, smirking. House got in another dig about Foreman being gay and/or a girl. Lovely House/Cuddy flirtations. Wilson had another male patient. Am so relieved he isn't being sued for massive amounts of money for trying to do his job.

So now we have to wait until January? I guess that's a combination of the holidays, "American Idol" starting back up, and the rapidly dwindling pile of airable episodes.

Comments

[stephantom.livejournal.com]

Punk rocker's seizure goes in the top five funniest patient moments list

lol I agree. "Is he seizing or dancing?" "...Seizing..."

And good recap of the episode's themes. This reminded me of some of the older episodes that had clear themes like that -- for some reason I hadn't been noticing them in the others this season as much. But maybe I just wasn't paying attention, or didn't care. lol I kind of enjoyed this debate/study though.

I was both relieved and a little irritated when it was revealed it was House pretending to be the lawyer suing Wilson.

And I agree that their argument this episode was a good one.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

I'm old enough to vividly remember punk rock, and if he'd been upright instead of in bed, I'd have called 'dancing.' :)

Chase not only has thighs, but I bet women all over America burned their tongues on the TV screens. And fainted at the smoldering look House gave Cuddy at the end, when she realized he'd played her just the way he'd wanted.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

The argument really was glorious. It wasn't the bitch-bitch-bitch we sometimes get, but true emotion on Wilson's part - true anger, true caring (loved how RSL played it) - and then House genuinely admitting the poignancy... Excellent. Stupid Kutner and his stupid interruption. *pouts*

[jdr1184.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to like 13. I really am. I'm hoping it is just the competition that's making me cringe. I was so annoyed when she smirked after Amber was fired because she was sure she would stay. Amber needed to go because what do you do with that kind of person after the comp but I wish House had had better reasoning. It seemed forced. Kutner is funny, but I keep expecting him to appear on screen with a kegger and find it hard to see him as a doctor. Taub could be boring as tears after the comp or a nice balance to Foreman. It could go either way. I'll predict now that either the new fellows or the old ones will not last the season. Too many docs throws off the flow of the eps. *it too lazy to babble in her own LJ* :)

[purridot.livejournal.com]

I was also so worried about the patient suing Wilson! All sorts of dreadful "review board" scenarios came to mind. Thank goodness it was just a set up for The Glorious Argument. Which Should Have Gone On Much Longer And Had More Resolution.

I know I'm in the minority generally but I like the new ducklings -- new interactions for House and everyone else (oh no, will Wilson fall for 13's gentle despair?). If the old ducklings had remained in their old jobs, things would have gotten stale, I think.

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

Oh, I definitely wanted new fellows. Just not warmed-over versions of the old ones, like 13. Plus, having the old ones hang on in cameo roles seems pretty silly. Just write them out!

[ahab99.livejournal.com]

God, that argument was great, wasn't it? After that scene was over (far too soon!) I started to worry that it was twisted to find that kind of scene so satisfying. But I got over that quickly. ;) I was saying to krisdia that Wilson still surprises me sometimes with how seriously he takes House's interference, but he obviously wouldn't be our Wilson if he could just totally blow off the shenanigans House pulls. Oh, boys...

And my favorite moment? House's smile at the end, because good god did Hugh Laurie make me swoon all over again. I had to rewind and rewatch that moment just a few more times after the episode ended.

[(Anonymous)]

Not only are there no new episodes until January, but on December 11 they're reairing the most depressing episode of all time so we'll have a Merry Little Christmas- not!

[purridot.livejournal.com]

It seems so demeaning for the old ducklings to be hanging around in reduced roles. Unless... they are setting them up for bigger, non-duckling roles. Foreman is House's... foreman. Who knows, next House might take up romantically with Chase and adopt Cameron. :S

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

*sighs with relief*

I thought I was the only one who saw all the concern and ... love, even, behind what House did tonight. Yes, he was frustrated with Wilson. It started the moment House realized that Wilson felt guilty for something that was not his fault. And it wasn't. Wilson didn't do anything wrong.

Then the patient reacted so oddly, and House knew Wilson well enough to know what Wilson -- with all his stupid, self-destructive guilt -- was likely to do.

And he cared, and wanted to put a stop to it, so he went digging for the waiver and the checkbook, and found them. He confronted Wilson, hoping to pound some sense into him. But Wilson wouldn't admit what he was planning to do, so House dosed his coffee with amphetamines told the patient he had grounds to sue.

Not for a moment did House believe the guy had a case. He was trying to get Wilson to stop being stupid before someone came up with a real case against him, or before his unwarranted guilt wrecked him in some other way.

That was how I read it, anyway -- and Wilson also scored home with that horribly trite "dying is easy" thing. Wish the Argument had been written a little better, but I sure saw the love Wilson has for House, too. Even through the fury and frustration.

[spoopy.livejournal.com]

The whole Wilson/patient thing really bothered me. The argument really was glorious, though a couple of things were raised during that argument that also didn't sit well with me. But despite that, I too picked up House caring for Wilson in his really screwy way. It was very sweet and it was nice to see an actual friendship dynamic for once this season. We haven't really been given much of that at all this season so far.

The House/Cuddy, on the other hand, was just sublime. So much wonderful chemistry. *drools*

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Yes. Yes.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Oh no! *g*

Actually, thanks for letting me know; I have a WIP that relates to that episode, and now there's a deadline to work towards.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to watch the end again, because clearly I missed something -- lots of people are talking about how House looked at Cuddy, and I hadn't noticed any sizzling. I must have glanced away at the wrong moment.

One of my favorite arguments of House and Wilson's, I think! It was coherent and bitter and showed that they cared about each other at the same time, although, yes, it ended too abruptly. I hate when fights on TV get interrupted by other characters entering the room, as if the writers couldn't figure out where to take the argument next, or as if someone made up a rule about how much fighting audiences can take before they get bored. Same went for John and Rodney's fight in the S4 pilot (or second ep? I don't remember. You know the one I mean).

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I agree. I think there are maybe half a dozen of us who don't hate one or more of the new team. The disappointment is not that they're reproducing the first team (I don't think any of the candidates were/are exactly Cameron, Foreman or Chase, although everyone could be compared) so much as nobody has been developed very much even after eight episodes. That makes it hard to tell who would make the best Team Two and who would be the most intriguing foils for the senior crew (House, Wilson, Cuddy).

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I was so annoyed when she smirked after Amber was fired

Yes -- I think that's been the only moment so far that made me dislike Thirteen.

Amber needed to go because what do you do with that kind of person after the comp

The writers really boxed themselves in, there. I wish we'd gotten to see more of her personality in the seven episodes leading up to last night's, instead of just the "cutthroat bitch." As it was, we couldn't get any idea of what she'd be like after the competition was over -- if she'd be any different at all -- so it was impossible to tell whether she'd make a good addition to the team.

Same goes for all the new candidates, really. Not much development in eight weeks; who knows whether they'll start deepening now that (a) they have secure jobs and (b) the writers aren't focusing on the competition.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

true anger, true caring

Yes, that's it exactly.

ahab99 and I were just discussing (below) how irritating it is when arguments don't get to play out because other characters come in to interrupt. Grrr.

[ahab99.livejournal.com]

It was more just Hugh sizzling in general than at Cuddy specifically, though it was her folding on the hiring issue that caused it.

The thing that I loved most about the argument, upon re-watching it this morning, was the way Wilson delivered the line about the medical degree and they just shared this long intense look before House leaned over to turn off the music. It was such a heavy moment, and yet the way they handled it betrayed years of caring and understanding. And then of course House had to make the joke about it affecting his bottom-line to play off the effort he puts into trying to change Wilson. <3

[no-detective.livejournal.com]

"Dying is easy. Living is hard." Sweet zombie jesus, Wilson quoted Buffy.

(House has seen that ep, so he wasn't terribly impressed.)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I KNEW I'D HEARD THAT SOMEWHERE BEFORE. I figured it'd been on an earlier House ep.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

and they just shared this long intense look before House leaned over to turn off the music.

That line, and the significant pause afterwards, gave me chills. (Also, a wild thought went to, "House is suing Wilson?") Wilson looking equally as if he might punch House in the face or start crying, and House, like you said, turning and shutting off the music because he knows they're about to get into a knock-down drag-out fight -- which was as much about the love between them as the things they absolutely can't stand about each other.

Now with screencap, lifted from nekocatmanga:

[ahab99.livejournal.com]

Aw, Wilson! Don't break my heart!

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Too late! :D

[walking-miracle.livejournal.com]

Just a quick comment before I nod off to sleep...on my *cough*download*cough* there was no what I now consider usual House "Discretion is advised" disclaimer. I was just sitting there, had just finished my hamburger when ep 8 finished and 9 started up.

And then the guy vomits blood...

I was so close to having to run to the bathroom to do the same (minus it being blood) that it wasn't even funny. That is at the top of things that gross me out, and to see it after I just ate? *shiver*

And the episode number is 4.9, not 3.9 like in your heading ;)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

*facepalm* Thank you. That's the second time I've called season four season three.

Ecch, sorry you almost copied the patient. That was a particularly difficult vomiting-coughing scene to watch -- more realistic than the usual blood spraying across the room. I guess we need to assume at this point that any House episode comes with a viewer discretion warning...!

[pun.livejournal.com]

Remember Wilson's speech in "No Reason" when he described how patients who've gotten false positive results and then find out later that they're actually healthy don't get happy, they get depressed? It seemed like he forgot all about that when he delivered the "good" news to his patient tonight and expected the guy to be all smiles.

Then I remembered he was a hallucination in "No Reason," and so he wouldn't remember that at all.

Okay. Thank you SO MUCH! This was driving me insane because I remembered that speech from Wilson, but didn't remember which episode, and so I'm like, Grr! Why are they making Wilson look dumb by forgetting something he already knew?!

But I still think it kind of makes Wilson look dumb.

I guess I can assume that while he'd heard tell of this phenomenon, he'd maybe not experienced personally before, and isn't surprised so much by the patient's reaction but by how guilty the whole thing makes him feel. Perhaps.

But anyway, yes, the fight was delicious and wonderful and all about the LOVE!

[della2.livejournal.com]

..A couple of things I'm hoping is that...

1) You (bironic) don't mind me leaving a comment and 2) That what I leave as a comment doesn't come over as being harsh or anything like that - I've been called out so many times now about being harsh and what not that it's beginning to concern me. Well, that and the fact that I suppose overdosing on the wonderful character of House (and in a lesser degree Wilson's wonderful change of approach this season) might not be helping either - chuckle.

In all honesty, I've never really ever considered the friendship(?) between House and Wilson as being one-sided. I think there have been many occasions in the past where House has shown to great effect his affection for Wilson, with either a look or a conversation or him simply allowing Wilson to stay with him after his split with Julie, but most especially when House deleted the messages from the guy Wilson was buying an apartment from because he knew Wilson was not ready to accept that his marriage to Julie was over.

So this episode for me was just another showing of how much House feels for Wilson and visa versa.

I have to say that I'm thoroughly enjoying the change of dynamics in the Wilson and House friendship this season. It is almost as if Wilson is playing House at his own game. Wilson's remark of "Could you play that bit again - When she leans forward I think you can see through her dress" made me chuckle and also made me realise how much of the synamic has changed and for the better. Last Season I think Wilson would have most probably rolled his eyes and sighed with disappointment or some such thing if it had come from House, but this Season, (where the opening episode I think really set the change of pace concerning their friendship), that remark was, in my opinion, just fitting to be coming out of Wilson's mouth.

I am really looking forward to seeing where things go between the two of them, but since Wilson's comment of "Why were you checking my blood?" I have a feeling that it's not going to be all fun and games between the two of them this Season and that something drastic may occur. Eeep!

As for the others - I seriously miss Chase. Foreman and Cameron were too far up themselves for me to even begin to like.

Cameron reminded me too much of a stalker and she seriously freaked me out on a number of occasions, usually when she and House were alone. She's dense and immature too, but what really turns me off the character was her comment to House, somone she supposedly loved that she thought he was too screwed up to love anyone else. Christ! howinsulting cna you get?

Foreman is much of the same as far as I'm concerned. He's selfish, arrogant and completely delusional. His shadowing House this season has been the only *real* downer for me, though there have been a couple of others too.

Chase for me was the most fully formed character of the three and even though he had his selfish quirks they were forgiveable because he could actually reach out others and it not be something selfish.

For me, I think the closest to House, as in similarity of background, is Chase and maybe House firing him was not only a self-defence instinct from him, but also that of the three of them he felt Chase would be fine away from him? *shrug* Whatever though, I still wish it was Chase shadowing House this season and not Foreman.

'13' reminds me too much of Cameron for me to like her I'm afraid. Wounded Soul and all that and, yeah, that look she gave when Amber was fired made me want to slap her. I have a horrible feeling that they are going to be introducing some UST between her and House and it makes my stomach churn just the thought of it.

I can't stand the short guy and Kutner reminds me too much of 'dopey' Xander from Buffy, but without any redeeming qualities to him.

Soooo, all in all, bring on the House/Wilson friendship in much the same way as they have so far this season, more Cuddy and House and their friendship and snipes, bring back Chase as a shadow for House, get rid of Foreman and '13' and I suppose I can put up with the short guy and Kutner.

Take care
Della

:-)