302 "Cane and Able"

[rubberbutton]

I thought this episode was an improvement over last week’s, thank god. More people were more in-character.

House: Was pretty much on. I was initially surprised he wasn’t furious with Wilson for lying to him, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. He understands that his best friend (and lover, sorry, couldn’t help myself) was doing it for his own good. He accepts that Wilson has to be Wilson in the same way that Wilson accepts that House has to be House. And apparently House is more ready to forgive and forget than most of the audience, who seem to have blacklisted poor Jimmy.

Wilson: He’s pretty much redeemed himself in my eyes. The Icarus line was downright heartbreaking. He may be misguided, but it’s his deep and abiding love for House that motivates him. It’s hard to stay mad at that. I do wish he’d been in more of the episode, though. But that’s going to be true pretty much all the time. Every scene should be a Wouse scene, IMHO.

Cuddy: The anti-Cameron snark? Priceless. Otherwise, she seemed more or less in form.

Cameron: The bit where she talked to Richard was almost cute. And she mostly managed to not be heinously annoying the rest of the ep.

Chase: I’ve done a complete 180 on Chase. I used to dislike him since he was a sycophantic backstabber. And now I like him because he’s a sycophantic backstabber. He’s the only really interesting duckling. The Yo Momma joke nearly killed me. It was beautiful in its grotesqueness. And his interaction with Clancy was adorable. He really is good with kids.

Foreman: Um. The gossip with Cameron was kind of cute, I suppose. I found it odd that he reminded House of his ‘failure’ in the very next scene. If he’s trying to undermine House’s confidence, I don’t think he’s doing it for House’s own good.

Comments

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

And apparently House is more ready to forgive and forget than most of the audience, who seem to have blacklisted poor Jimmy.

Heh. I don't think House has forgiven Wilson at all. His tone of voice? His body language as he stalked out of Wilson's office? Wilson's reaction (head in hands)?

Nope, I think things are going to be mighty chilly for awhile.

I don't know how many spoilers you know so I won't say anything else.

...well....

[rubberbutton.livejournal.com]

I don't think things are all good between them now. I imagine Wilson will be paying for this for a long time. It's just...I expected more gnashing of teeth. House didn't seem as surprised or upset as I would have thought a betrayal of that magnitude would have warranted. House doesn't have a problem picking fights with Wilson but this seemed almost like he was letting him off the hook. At least for a bit. Here every fangirl is ready to rip Wilson a new one, but House's reaction was just a tad underwhelming.

I think that's what I'm trying to say. Maybe...?

Lemme go watch again and reconsider.


I'm a spoiler whore, so if I don't know, then I want to.

Re: ...well....

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Here every fangirl is ready to rip Wilson a new one ...

Yeah, Wilson seems to be the new Cameron in terms of Sheer Unadulterated Hate.

;-D

I'm a spoiler whore, so if I don't know, then I want to.

Do you know about the upcoming "cop arc"?

Re: ...well....

[rubberbutton.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it sounds pretty kickass. House need a archenemy. I thought Vogler was great. It's this running amok without opposition that's really stalling S3.

Re: ...well....

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

House need a archenemy.

*nods*

And that's how I think House and Wilson will finally make up -- the cop will go after not only House but also Wilson, in order to get information on House.

The two of them will discover that they need to come together to save each other, or they will both be lost.

Of course, I could be totally wrong. Heh!

[purridot.livejournal.com]

I don't think House has forgiven Wilson at all. His tone of voice? His body language as he stalked out of Wilson's office?

Perhaps. But I also remember House treating Wilson quite nastily in the past when Wilson is "trying to help" (e.g., smacking him with his cane, and throwing the Grace thing in his face -- completely uncalled for -- during "Euphoria"). So I actually think Wilson is expecting abuse from House for this, so that won't stop him from following House around with puppy dog eyes, even though House will no doubt still be angry.

What I find a bit distressing about all the Wilson-hate is that I wonder how often House -- a genius and also a master manipulator -- has not stepped in to stop Wilson from doing something incredibly stupid. He's aware of the stupid things Wilson does, but other than make sarcastic (though truthful) observations about them, does he really try to stop him, the way Wilson tries to stop House's self-destructive behaviour? I dunno.

[rubberbutton.livejournal.com]

He's aware of the stupid things Wilson does, but other than make sarcastic (though truthful) observations about them, does he really try to stop him, the way Wilson tries to stop House's self-destructive behaviour? I dunno.

You know how they say misery loves company? House loves miserable company. I might be going wildly astray here, but I think House likes it when Wilson’s life is going badly- because who does Wilson run to? If Wilson’s issue is neediness, House’s is control. Wilson may need House to need him, but House needs Wilson to need to need him. O.o That sentence made sense in my head.

I think House is extremely jealous of everything/one else in Wilson’s life. Time and energy Wilson spends on not fucking up his relationships with others and on his job is time that he’s not spending with House. He doesn’t really seem to mind Wilson’s philandering and womanizing, as long as it’s A. strictly casual and B. House can keep close tabs on it (best illustrated in House v. God. House isn’t mad about the job-risking or being lied to, but that he wasn’t actually on top of Wilson’s sexual affairs.)

[purridot.livejournal.com]

I *love* your train of thought - there are flickers of dark!House on the show in his treatment of Wilson. House is selfish. We love him, but there is no denying that, I think.

I see what you mean about House needing Wilson -- House will accept "coddling" from Wilson while pushing everyone else aside. He likes and expects Wilson to fuss over him (make him food, watch the L-word with him, help him with his leg) and he acts a bit like a spoiled brat when he doesn't get what he wants.

Does he do what's best for Wilson? Again, I dunno. He lied/manipulated -- and might even have sabotaged -- Wilson during Cuddy's sperm-donor hunt. Was House trying to protect Cuddy's privacy and/or Wilson's pride, stop Wilson from doing something stupid, or stop Wilson from doing something Wilson might really want (having kids, that is) that might take him away from House?

I like dark!Wilson so long as his intentions are to help House is whatever twisted way. But I wish people would consider that House is not the perfect friend either.

[rubberbutton.livejournal.com]

I think what it comes down to is that when Wilson manipulates House it's for his (House's) own good (i.e. the vicodin bet, about curing that dude) and when House manipulates Wilson it's for his (House's) own good (erasing the apartment message, lying about dinner with his parents, lying about needing $5,000, et cetera). Man, I would kill for some English reflexive prounouns.

We've seen far more examples of Wilson sacrificing (job, money, time, other relationships, countless mooched lunches) for House than vice versa (...can't think of *any*). I think the writers need to step up and show just how much Wilson means to House.

[purridot.livejournal.com]

I am just so incredulously happy that someone has the same opinion I do. Honestly, I was beginning to think I was crazy. The way people gush about House as though he is a helpless blind kitten incapable of making his own decisions.

I think the writers need to step up and show just how much Wilson means to House. And soon. Tonight's ending was a good start BUT WE NEED SOMETHING MORE. (Sorry, didn't mean to sound so desperate).

Man, I would kill for some English reflexive prounouns. See, now in ancient Greek we wouldn't have a problem with the pronouns -- it would be perfectly clear. *pats Greek reflexives on the head*

[rubberbutton.livejournal.com]

The way people gush about House as though he is a helpless blind kitten incapable of making his own decisions.

House sort of invites doting and coddling. He's so very charmingly broken and endearingly tragic. The gods know *I* want to fix him, give him a hug (and, okay, a whole lot more).

Wilson, however, fails to ellicit the same sort of sympathy. I maintain that he's just as broken in his way as House is. But he doesn't have a Vicodin bottle and cane to prove it. It's easier to translate his philandering as being an asshole than of deeper seated issues. Wilson functions better than House does, but I don't think he's any happier.

See, now in ancient Greek we wouldn't have a problem with the pronouns -- it would be perfectly clear. *pats Greek reflexives on the head*

Ever since I learned that reflexives and the 2nd person plural were *possible* I've be unendingly bitter about it. Stupid English, clunky barbaric language. Reflexives would so make slash writing easier.

[purridot.livejournal.com]

Wilson, however, fails to ellicit the same sort of sympathy. I maintain that he's just as broken in his way as House is. But he doesn't have a Vicodin bottle and cane to prove it.

YES! Society is more attuned to feeling sympathy for someone with a physical illness/problem, and is less considerate to people with emotional disorders -- how often are depressed people told, "Just cheer up already!" I think Wilson bottles things up inside most terribly. His profession sucks -- when you compare how much it affects House to lose *one patient*. He tried to hide the existence of his brother from House; he tried to talk to House about his marriage, and House didn't want to hear it. He moved in with House looking for sympathy -- yes, House offered it in his own unique way, but I sort of got the feeling Wilson wanted something more traditionally comfort-y (like making someone their favourite food). It's possible that if House had been more comfort-y, Wilson would not have moved out and in with Grace, who was perhaps more grateful to him.

It's funny how I don't see many opinions anywhere about why Wilson wouldn't move back in with House.

Reflexives would so make slash writing easier. You should write up a paper on that for some Classics conference -- how much easier slash is in Greek. It might explain a lot of social customs.

[rubberbutton.livejournal.com]

It's funny how I don't see many opinions anywhere about why Wilson wouldn't move back in with House.

I've kind of figured it was one of those "I really want it, but must do everything possible to keep everyone from knowing that" things. When he was just staying there while his marriage was going through a rough patch, it was okay. But when it was clear his marriage was over, he didn't have a convenient reason for not getting a place of his own. If he moved back in with House after that, it would be because he *wanted* to live with House and not because he didn't have a choice. And that would be giving House way too much ammunition.

[purridot.livejournal.com]

If he moved back in with House after that, it would be because he *wanted* to live with House and not because he didn't have a choice. And that would be giving House way too much ammunition.

Yep. I wish these two would get over their control issues. A little part of my brain also wonders if Wilson thought they were getting too close -- and he didn't want things to end the way his marriages did.