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Premierewatch: 'House M.D.'
Tonight saw the return of everyone's favorite misanthropic genius with the premiere episode of season five of House M.D. After last season's wrenching final episode, we were left with lots of questions. Well, we got a few answers. They were less pretty than the leprosy.
We start by meeting our patient of the week: the assistant of a women's rights organization who keeps her over achieving, continent hopping, high powered boss's life in check. At least that's what she did before suddenly hallucinating bugs all over her body. Meanwhile, Wilson has returned to the hospital after two months leave mourning the loss of Amber and House is still hanging out in coma-guy's room and using his hand as a cup holder. Cuddy wants to give the case of the hallucinating assistant to another doc so House will concentrate on Wilson's return, but House wants the distraction.
The team theorizes several possible diagnoses for POTW, until 13 points out that they are chalking up her ailment to her high profile job, as if they are threatened by the idea of powerful woman. The team jumps back and forth between quizzing House about Wilson and the POTW until House reveals to the team that 13 has Huntington's. When they ask her if it's true, she denies it, attributing House's behavior to an attempt to deflect attention away from his situation with Wilson. Which gets far more complex when House finally does go talk to Wilson, only to find out he's resigning from the hospital and moving.
The episode evolves into a series of struggles with the team trying to get House to pay attention to the POTW, House trying to bully Wilson into staying and Cuddy trying to force them both into confronting how their relationship has been affected by Amber's death. In this, we saw a break from the usual House formula as the POTW is little more than a piece of blackmail for House, while offering significant interaction with and development for 13 alone. Since she does actually have Huntington's, with her life span drastically shortened, she sees new preciousness to the value of life.
This is pretty clear as they find a dangerous pregnancy in the POTW, with the fetus gaining it's blood supply from her intestines rather then her uterus. House immediately announces "Yank the pregnancy. If she survives the surgery, she'll be fine", in his usual callous manner, tossing a box of tissues to the dazed POTW. He leaves the room with 13 bounding after him, demanding to know what they should do if the POTW decides she wants to keep the baby. It's a pointless debate since the POTW doesn't want to do any such thing. However, during the surgery to terminate the pregnancy, 13 can't watch the actual removal of the fetus.
Beyond facing mortality,13 additionally struggles with her role in the hospital and as part of House's team. She clearly seems to sense parallels between the POTW, who works under an overbearing but wildly successful boss, living in the shadow of another. It's a life station the POTW is fine with, explaining that she would rather spend her life around birds than waste it wishing she could fly. It's a concept that doesn't sit well with 13 and every time the POTW asks to speak to House, 13 tries to deflect by asserting that any member of the team is just as capable as he is. A claim that the rest of the team knows is sadly short of reality and proven when Cuddy asks them what they would do if House were there and Taub answers that they would be asking him what to do.
House, on the other hand, is too busy calling Wilson an idiot and trying to connive ways to force him to stay. He suggests that Cuddy block his references and tell him he is not allowed to hand off his cases. She tells House to talk to Wilson instead and apologize for his part in Amber's death. House argues that he didn't kill Amber, the pills she was taking did, an assertion which seems to amaze Cuddy as she asks him "You don't feel any sense of guilt?"
Not one that he is willing to admit to yet! Instead, he decides to blackmail Wilson into staying by refusing to do any more work on POTW until his friend agrees to stay. Wilson recognizes the obviousness of the move and asks House why he doesn't just hold a gun to his own head, to which House accurately responds "Your conscience bleeds more freely than my head". House goes home and refuses to answer the calls from his team, leading Cuddy to confront him at his home. She spouts off a lot of truth at him. At least, she tries to, until he closes the door in her face.
House only returns to the hospital when Cuddy has his cable cut off and he risks missing his favorite soap. She takes the opportunity to attempt to play counselor to Wilson and House's dysfunctional relationship, but it is a process that neither of them are interested in participating in. She tries to coerce them, finally confronting Wilson by telling him he is only running away from his grief by leaving the hospital and Amber would not have wanted that. Wilson shuts down the therapy session by pointing out that no one in the hospital even liked Amber, a claim Cuddy can't dispute in regards to a woman who earned the nickname "Cut-throat bitch".
Meanwhile, POTW continues to display unusual symptoms and the team continues to struggle without House. Chase, who removed the fetus, refuses to believe he missed a possible ganglioma and rejects the team's request that he go in for a second time on the basis that the POTW won't survive the anesthesia. So, instead the team goes in with a rectal scope, pushing the possible ganglioma to the surface of the POTW's existing scar from the previous surgery so they can reopen it. Sans anesthesia. Let the cringing begin! Even more so when they find out they were wrong. Again. They go to Wilson for help who tells them he sees cancer because he's an oncologist. They move forward with chemotherapy, which is the first treatment to make the patient feel better.
It doesn't make House or Wilson feel any better, though. House finally sees the POTW, in order to stop the chemotherapy. In a scene that feels perfunctory from the character's stand point, he makes the correct diagnosis at last. The POTW has "pretty leprosy" - a strain that tightens the skin, diminishing the appearance of wrinkles so that a 37 year old woman looks like she's in her early 20's. The chemo helped at first, but if not stopped it would allow the leprosy to kill her. It fits all the symptoms perfectly in such a way that 13 can't help but hide her disappointment as it seems House is the one who can fly. All the same, the POTW gives a final bit of wisdom by telling 13 she's going back to her job with her overbearing boss, because by working for her, she feels like she matters. It's the very same thing 13 wants for her own truncated life and something she can gain by continuing to work for House.
It's a sentiment that doesn't work for Wilson, however. House finally goes to talk to him at the end of the episode, after nearly every other member of the team has offered their own opinions to Wilson on whether he should stay or go. In an emotionally charged scene, House apologizes to Wilson, saying " I know I didn't try to kill her. I know I didn't want her hurt. I know it was a freak accident. But I feel like crap and she's dead because of me". Wilson assures House that he doesn't blame him for what happened, although he tried to. House asks if they are OK, which is when it all really spills out.
Wilson tell him that no, they are not OK. He adds that he was never leaving the hospital because of his grief over Amber. He's leaving because of House. He tells House that spreads misery, because it's the only emotion he can feel and that he manipulates everyone around him because he can't handle a real relationship, admitting to his own role in enabling House's behaviors. He drops the final bomb by telling House that if he learned anything from Amber, it was that he needs to protect himself, with his last words on the matter being "We're not friends House. I don't think we ever were".
Best Moments:
POTW: Wait, who are you?
13: This is Dr. House. He's too brilliant for introductions.
House (about overweight ER patient being treated by Cameron): Treating professional sports injuries?
ER Patient: Oh, I'm not -
House: - familiar with the concept of sarcasm.
Cameron: You haven't lost anything.
House: What did you do when your husband died?
Cameron: ...I got a new job and moved.
House: See how crappy that worked out?
Cuddy: Mind if I come in?
House: Not at all. Mind if I leave?
Cuddy: Why do you think Wilson is leaving?
House: How many times do I have to use the word 'idiot'?
The somber mood of this episode was unmistakable, but I know Wilson will return. All the same, how will all of this impact his relationship with House? As much as I enjoyed seeing the team flounder without its fearless (peerless?) leader, I still feel that Cameron and Chase are woefully under utilized. I also ended up feeling like too much time was spent exploring a case that actually added little to the greater arc of Wilson and House. Instead, it focused too much on 13. While I don't mind the development of her character, I think it would have felt a little more organic if it happened a few episodes in, after we dealt more with the bereavement of Amber. What did you think?
I agree it was a very somber episode - but it was necessary. Whilst the two-part finale was absolutely incredible and also very tragic, coming into this premiere was never going to be a 'pleasant' experience per se. But you are right, Wilson will be back. Interesting to see how though. Also, 13, yes its sad that she has been diagnosed with Huntington's but the more pressing issue was House and Wilson - perhaps now that will be explored more than 13
Tyson | Sep 17, 2008 12:53:30 AM | #I'm interested in 13 for personal reasons - my wife of 37 years has Huntington's. I am curious to see how it plays out. As to Wilson - the worst thing that could happen is for House to have an epiphany and change. Wilson is perhaps the only person House really hears - except his ex wife. Also would House be as brilliant in his work if he became a kinder, gentler soul? Robert Sean Leonard did an even better job than usual in this episode - he and Hugh Laurie are outstanding at their craft.
Shackman | Sep 17, 2008 3:26:16 AM | #Episodes like this make me feel like the writers have almost made a cariacture of House. He's not a stupid guy, which is why when he spends the entire episode being a jackass to the man whose beloved he killed, it just seems silly that in the last five minutes he has an epiphany that causes him to finally apologize. In any case, the whole thing seemed like a rehash of the episode where Foreman wanted to leave; the only really interesting part was when Wilson finally unleashed at the end, and even THAT is diluted by the certainty that sooner or later Wilson will be back.
Eh | Sep 17, 2008 4:44:47 AM | #AMAZING episode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
House/Wilson final scene broke my heart!
I LOVED Cuddy! yelling at House/cutting the cable/couple's counseling! After last years ending I think they how Cuddy wants House to feel something not only for Wilson but also for herself.
Ari | Sep 17, 2008 4:48:42 AM | #I thought the episode was ok. My only problem was that the episode was very focused on 13,( who after a season still needs a name). To be honest i'm just happy its back.
Dory Miller | Sep 17, 2008 5:31:35 AM | #I am sickened by House’s lack of concern for his patient, putting his relationship, or lack of, with Wilson first. In my opinion, his arrogance has gone from tolerable to just plain unacceptable. He’s no longer someone I can respect or even remotely like. As for 13, what a boring character. Get rid of her already!
Kathy | Sep 17, 2008 5:44:10 AM | #Two things:
1. It really bugged me that House just tossed off the correct diagnosis as the final minutes of the episode were ticking away. It was as if he KNEW what was wrong with POTW all along, but held the information back. Surely that's malpractice???
2. Cuddy's suit. It was ugly and ill-fitting. It gapped between the buttons. It drove me crazy! I couldn't concentrate on what she was saying because of it! The administrator of a hospital would not show up in such ill-fitting clothing.
Way too much 13 in this episode. For me, the show seems to be forcing 13 into the spotlight at every opportunity, demanding that the audience care about 13, but this particular member of the audience is just waiting for 13's scene to be over, so she can get to the interesting part. On the plus side, this season 13 looks more like a living human being this season and less like a perfect walking, talking manniquin, so good job camera people! Photographing her like a idealized robot girl always made her deficiencies as an actress too visible.
The final scene with House and Wilson was SO good and while worth waiting for. House should still have hope - Wilson has pretty much admitted that he is leaving PPTH because he doesn't think he can resist the lure of House's friendship. He's afraid of falling back into the same old destructive patterns if he has to interact with House, and who can blame him? Their friendship works much better for House than for Wilson. Loved the part where Wilson fell back into his old self-abnegated patterns of thinking - "I should have been on that bus" - and then corrected himself, and refused to take the blame for events beyond his control. Shows he's trying to heal himself but it's a lot of hard work.
JustDroppingBy | Sep 17, 2008 7:08:04 AM | #Anne in Wisconsin -- I totally thought the same of Cuddy's suit!!
e | Sep 17, 2008 8:28:05 AM | #i knew i was going to be stressed out when house came back. I was right. All these years i have wanted wilson to grow a pair and tell house off so i am happy that the show is playing with this story. I think its going to be great. I also loved 13's stuff....i thought it was awesome. Still miss cam and chase...
Meiko | Sep 17, 2008 9:03:19 AM | #WAY TOO MUCH 13!!!
Final scene between House and Wilson....heartbreaking.
I sure hope HUGH wins that Emmy on Sunday. He truly deserves it for his AMAZING work on HOUSE.
I'm SO GLAD I know that Wilson is coming back.
Lisa | Sep 17, 2008 9:11:03 AM | #I'm so glad that HOUSE is back...Like a few of you the ending was heartbreaking. This is Must See T.V. Am waiting to take the ride with them this season..
Monya | Sep 17, 2008 11:05:01 AM | #did i just see somebody type "malpractice"??
you think this is "quincy" or something?
and, too much 13? damn, y'all, it's a LOOOOOOOONG season!! i'm sure there are eps that are going to orbit around EACH of the new faces.
call me when 13 infests 3 out of 5 eps.
NonImus | Sep 17, 2008 5:47:16 PM | #This last season the writers never knew what to do with the characters who came in to "replace" the old team. Sure, they had fun with House running them through the rat race to see who would finally make the team, but once they got them they did nothing with them as people we could really care about. Heck, I can't even remember their names! I suspect most viewers care more about Cam, Chase and Foreman than they do about any of the new people.
I don't see how they can get out of this unless they cut out the old team---who get little air time but are shown at the opening credits as if they were still part of the team---and really go with the new team, or ditch the new team and go back to the old.
Anyone out there really so much in love with the new team that they would be heart broken if they packed up and left and House had to go back to the old team? Anyone really care if 13 is gay or bisexual? (Yawn!) Do the other two guys even have a conflict within themselves or a conflict with House beyond the usual "who is right" stuff?
Chase, Foreman and Cam were "better drawn" characters than any of the new guys. These new people would be best off as secondary characters who appeared now and again.
The old team has grown a little bit, except maybe Foreman who seems to just hang around and shake his head in a passive manner, so maybe they could all come back changed a bit.
Or maybe they have too much guts to go back to being the whipping boys and girls of House?
jc | Sep 18, 2008 5:55:45 AM | #I agree with JC that the old characters were more interesting as characters (as people) than the new ones. They were introduced as part of a contest, a special event to raise interest in House M.D., which they succeeded in doing. However, they weren't well thought-out characters with interesting perspectives and pasts, and they weren't designed for the long haul. They've overstayed their welcome, and it would be terrific if David Shore and his team of writers/producers put their heads together and thought of a credible way of losing them and bringing back the old team. They were compelling characters played by talented actors, who are being wasted on 45 second snippets of dialogue.
JustDroppingBy | Sep 18, 2008 6:50:35 AM | #Great, GREAT, episode. I am so tired of the new crew. I don't mean to be crass but I couldn't care less about 13. Why is she getting so much time?
I miss Chase, Foreman and Cam. Their characters had meat and we all fell in love with the infatuation that Cam had for House. Please go back to its roots and get rid of characters that don't add to the show. Wilson needs to be back soon and how about House and Cuddy going to a medical conference and having to stay at the same hotel (or room) while away.
As someone who has regularly watched House MD since the pilot in 2004, I thought this was just an average to below average episode, actually. It clearly set out to accomplish two things:
1) Deal with the aftermath of Amber's death and it's affect on Wilson, but more importantly, by extension, on House. Until the final minute, this episode failed to drum up any interest or sympathy for House as he acted like a total jackass throughout. The producers are going to have to slightly lighten up his character very soon as I doubt viewers will want to see House behave like a spoiled child that doesn’t get his way on a weekly basis.
2) This was also a showcase ep for Olivia Wilde in order to display that her character actually has more substance. As many have already pointed out, last season "13" was just a pretty face, void of any personality and barley contributing to the diagnosis, which irked a lot of people and immediately pegged her as the weakest of the three generally disliked newbie’s. This must have been recognized by the producers/writers and as a result, we get an episode where her Huntington's diagnosis has finally set in and how it relates to the POTW.
How Wilson’s departure (I’m sure he’ll return) will change House and what will become of the new team remains to be seen.
As jc pointed out, the opening montage of the show still has Cameron, Chase and Foreman walking with House. No Taub, Kutner or 13 in sight.
I wouldn't mind a bit if the 'newbies' all left....
especially 13!
They really are boring.
I think we WILL be getting more of Chase and Cameron though....I read a few spoilers. :)
BE PATIENT EVERYONE!!!
I kind of hope they do not go the romance route with any of the characters. I really can't see anyone really handling House.
House and Cam, a disaster.
House and Cuddy, well...maybe.
Chase and Cam back together on good terms, possible.
Wilson and Cuddy, sure.
Foreman and Cuddy, maybe.
JC | Sep 19, 2008 8:57:14 AM | #I really don't like anyone from the new or old teams. the newbies are boreing, chase was an annoying asshole, cameron was ok but y was she in love with house? and I just never liked foreman--he only cares about himself. aw hell, the all just care about themselves. accept for 13--that's why she doesn't fit in with the show. she's too nice. I'd rather see more of wilson. Oh! and I hate Cuddy too. She is such a busy body up-in-errybody's-business nagging ol' hag. ...why do I watch this show exactly? the case this week could've been better, I guess it just sucked cuz of 13. she wouldn't leave my telly screen!
vicious circle | Sep 20, 2008 9:46:31 AM | #Hoo Ray! I have been hoping for 4 seasons now that Wilson would go to Co-dependants Anonymous -- he has been a perfect candidate. Maybe that's what he did for two months.
Ya'll keep saying he will be back -- do you know something, or is that wishful thinking? I cannot imagine that they would write him out, but, then, look at what has happened with the first team.
Picara | Sep 20, 2008 4:43:07 PM | #Nice recap there Tangy. I too see Wilson coming back (how can they not have him come back?). The ending was heart breaking to watch, but appropriate, as House was told the truth abiut their friendship. I am very interested to see how they bring back Chase and Cameron into the fold and if 13, Kutner and Taub will be in for the long haul or gone by seasons end. And Really waiting to see the supposed hook up between Cuddy and House.
Brian | Sep 20, 2008 7:13:58 PM | #IIRC, House and Cuddy already did hook up once way back when she was "courting" him for the position at the hospital.
Clearly they have chemistry and she is concerned over him. Hmmm.
jc | Sep 21, 2008 2:15:06 PM | #The show has lost what made it great. House is only as good as the supporting players and since they sidelined Chase and Cameron, the show has gone to hell in handbasket. Hugh Laurie is good, but when he's playing off a performer as weak as Olivia Wilde, the seems unravel. The new characters have no chemistry with House or with each other. They need to ditch them and bring back Chase and Cameron.
Sonya | Sep 25, 2008 3:00:48 PM | #
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