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House
May 21, 2008 1:48:44 GMT -5
Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on May 21, 2008 1:48:44 GMT -5
Yeah, boy howdy: he looked convincingly wrecked, physically- which is tough for a pretty boy actor to do- and emotionally. And he does, clearly, hate House when he goes in to the room and sees Cuddy asleep in the chair (and dayum, just her posture in that shot is a novel) and hating him is just adding to Wilson's burden of pain at that moment. I think the writers made some hinky choices in this story, but the actors, in general, did as best they could (still, as I said elsewhere, it doesn't look good next to Slings and Arrows, especially when it comes to writing, directing, and the general look of the show). Julia, watchiong the "Lear" season Cuddy was holding House's hand while she slept. Must've been more fuel on the fire for poor Wilson, and then he went home and found Amber's note. I think the arc of these last two episodes may be the best House ever, and Robert Sean Leonard was brilliant. Now that I've had time to think a little, there were some jarring elements (House seizing, for one, which looked silly, and the rushed-ness for another), but on the whole, it was pretty damn good. I haven't seen Slings and Arrows, but if it has Paul Gross, there's pretty much nothing that can compare anyway. Paul Gross, Martha Burns, Brian McKinney (Kids in the Hall, SNL, 30 Rock), Don McKellar (who wrote "Blindness," which opened Cannes last week), and random other people like Sarah Polley (Academy Award nomination as writer and director of "Without Her") and Rachel McAdams, all being utterly daft in service of the stage. I do not, as I said above, think that the actors are any less gifted, but there's so much in the way of writing and directing from people who are working on a smaller scale (six episode seasons) and in the latitude of language and subject matter that Canadian TV gets away with (F-bombs everywhere, running subplots about impotence, delusional schizophrenia, and terminal cancer) that even my current favorite US shows sort of pale in comparison. My favorite part of the House season finale, though, was Kutner sitting in front of his big screen TV with his giant bowl of cereal- combined with what he'd said earlier about his parents, you know that's his comfort zone. Julia, the Amber-on-the-bus scene was pretty, pretty, pretty, and Cuddy sleeping at House's bedside was pretty sweet, too
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House
May 21, 2008 7:29:39 GMT -5
Post by Anne, Old S'cubie Cat on May 21, 2008 7:29:39 GMT -5
Cuddy was holding House's hand while she slept. Must've been more fuel on the fire for poor Wilson, and then he went home and found Amber's note. I think the arc of these last two episodes may be the best House ever, and Robert Sean Leonard was brilliant. Now that I've had time to think a little, there were some jarring elements (House seizing, for one, which looked silly, and the rushed-ness for another), but on the whole, it was pretty damn good. I haven't seen Slings and Arrows, but if it has Paul Gross, there's pretty much nothing that can compare anyway. Paul Gross, Martha Burns, Brian McKinney (Kids in the Hall, SNL, 30 Rock), Don McKellar (who wrote "Blindness," which opened Cannes last week), and random other people like Sarah Polley (Academy Award nomination as writer and director of "Without Her") and Rachel McAdams, all being utterly daft in service of the stage. I do not, as I said above, think that the actors are any less gifted, but there's so much in the way of writing and directing from people who are working on a smaller scale (six episode seasons) and in the latitude of language and subject matter that Canadian TV gets away with (F-bombs everywhere, running subplots about impotence, delusional schizophrenia, and terminal cancer) that even my current favorite US shows sort of pale in comparison. My favorite part of the House season finale, though, was Kutner sitting in front of his big screen TV with his giant bowl of cereal- combined with what he'd said earlier about his parents, you know that's his comfort zone. Julia, the Amber-on-the-bus scene was pretty, pretty, pretty, and Cuddy sleeping at House's bedside was pretty sweet, too Yes, Kuttner made me sniffly, poor baby. I think Amber-on-the-bus was their take on the classic going towards the light dying scene - she was on her way, House had to decide if he was going with her, or going back to live with himself. Nicely and subtly done.
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House
May 22, 2008 7:41:52 GMT -5
Post by SpringSummers on May 22, 2008 7:41:52 GMT -5
Have had no time to do anything but skim comments at the speed of light, but my two cents:
I LOVED THE EPISODE!!
Amber: Great character, wonderfully acted.
Wilson: OMG. He killed me.
Wilson & House: I love the set-up here.
I read Wilson as conflicted, about House, as he looked at House lying in bed. Yes, Wilson is hurting like hell, but Wilson is a thoughtful guy, and that's the feeling I got from the way he looked at House. He was thinking. He was ruminating; contemplating.
House has been his best friend for years; but more than that, I think there was a subtext to Wilson asking House to "risk his life to save Amber" and House agreeing to do so.
The subtext of the deal, to me, was this: "Yes, I'm asking you to risk your life for Amber, and yes, I've got the nerve to do that plainly and unashamedly and without a smidge of begging or apologies. And you know why. Because YOU OWE ME, in more ways than I can count. But mostly, you owe me because it was you who got Amber into this. Do this, and MAYBE, MAYBE, MAYBE I'll let you off the hook, if Amber dies. Otherwise, you haven't got a prayer of redemption."
No, Wilson didn't say that. But to me, he might as well have shouted it. Think about the way he almost casually said "yes" to House's question about whether he was saying House should risk his life. And think about how quickly House agreed. Why? Because it was the only chance that House had, to have a life worth living, if Amber died. The only way that Wilson, or House himself, could imagine he might be forgiven.
So anyhow, my point is: He might be forgiven. Not immediately, and not without some changes. But he might be. And I think "Will I ever be able to, and under what conditions will I be able to, forgive him?" was the question in Wilson's mind as he looked at House. Because there is loss for Wilson too, in losing House.
No doubt, part of Wilson will want to forgive him, just as part of him will want to hate him forever.
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House
May 22, 2008 12:37:49 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on May 22, 2008 12:37:49 GMT -5
Have had no time to do anything but skim comments at the speed of light, but my two cents: I LOVED THE EPISODE!! Amber: Great character, wonderfully acted. Wilson: OMG. He killed me. Wilson & House: I love the set-up here. I read Wilson as conflicted, about House, as he looked at House lying in bed. Yes, Wilson is hurting like hell, but Wilson is a thoughtful guy, and that's the feeling I got from the way he looked at House. He was thinking. He was ruminating; contemplating. House has been his best friend for years; but more than that, I think there was a subtext to Wilson asking House to "risk his life to save Amber" and House agreeing to do so. The subtext of the deal, to me, was this: "Yes, I'm asking you to risk your life for Amber, and yes, I've got the nerve to do that plainly and unashamedly and without a smidge of begging or apologies. And you know why. Because YOU OWE ME, in more ways than I can count. But mostly, you owe me because it was you who got Amber into this. Do this, and MAYBE, MAYBE, MAYBE I'll let you off the hook, if Amber dies. Otherwise, you haven't got a prayer of redemption."No, Wilson didn't say that. But to me, he might as well have shouted it. Think about the way he almost casually said "yes" to House's question about whether he was saying House should risk his life. And think about how quickly House agreed. Why? Because it was the only chance that House had, to have a life worth living, if Amber died. The only way that Wilson, or House himself, could imagine he might be forgiven. So anyhow, my point is: He might be forgiven. Not immediately, and not without some changes. But he might be. And I think "Will I ever be able to, and under what conditions will I be able to, forgive him?" was the question in Wilson's mind as he looked at House. Because there is loss for Wilson too, in losing House. No doubt, part of Wilson will want to forgive him, just as part of him will want to hate him forever.**big nods over the bit in red there - nicely put!** I can see Wilson forgiving House faster than House forgives himself (even if on the outside House seems to think he doesn't feel guilty or doesn't feel guilty anymore). 'Cuz I think Wilson will be able to get to the place where he can think realistically and know that really the chain of events were no one's "fault", even though House's general selfishness was at the heart of why Amber was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But House? He's still all twisted up in how much of his life he actually hates and how he took that out on Amber and Wilson. And that's gonna be hard to get past. That conversation on the bus with Amber!in his head at the very end? I still get shivers over its wonderful honest simplicity. We saw the real House there and, ouch!!
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House
Sept 16, 2008 19:53:37 GMT -5
Post by Onjel on Sept 16, 2008 19:53:37 GMT -5
So, my stupid telephone rang and it was a relative so of course I missed damn near the entire show tonight. *Whine*
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House
Sept 16, 2008 23:20:47 GMT -5
Post by Squeemonster on Sept 16, 2008 23:20:47 GMT -5
The bromance is over!!! At least, for now it is. Poor Wilson. Poor House. Wilson was pretty harsh there at the end. I mean, what he said was way harsher than blaming House for Amber's death. This was exactly what House was afraid of, deep down wherever his heart should be. Cuddy kept pushing him, telling him to apologize even though he didn't think he had a reason to be sorry, because (partly, IMO) she thought that was all there was to it, and they'd make up and the relationship would be on its way back to normal. Boy did that backfire. She wanted him to see the rewards of putting the other person first for a change, and for him to see he wouldn't lose Wilson if he'd just show some empathy. If only it were that simple. House could definitely use some consoling right about now. I suppose I'm up for the task . . . .
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House
Sept 17, 2008 7:21:32 GMT -5
Post by SpringSummers on Sept 17, 2008 7:21:32 GMT -5
Good episode!
Interesting how Wilson has managed to think it all out to the point where he puts the blame for Amber's death (and consequently the control) squarely back in his own hands - where he likes it.
Wilson figures that he's responsible because he exposed Amber to a situation where she would be the recipient of House's needy requests . . . a situation Wilson should have rid himself of, long ago.
Which . . . you know, why can't either guy figure out that Amber made her own decision, here? That no one but Amber is responsible for her - nothing if not clear-eyed, and perfectly good and understandable - decisions to be with Wilson, and to go help House? And to accept whatever risks these things might entail?
And of course, no one but the driver at fault is to blame for the accident, so I'm not trying to blame Amber for that. Just saying that she's a responsible adult who took a minor risk and paid dearly and unfairly for it.
There's such paternalism to Wilson's view here - but that's Wilson all over. He sees it this way: "It was my fault Amber died because I exposed Amber to this risk; I should have protected her better." and further "It was my fault House stayed so needy that the situation came to be; I enabled him and now it's time to deal out the tough love."
Underneath it all, Wilson - after an experience that has shown him that ultimately, he can't control ANYTHING - is manuevering to keep himself in a situation - in a world - that feels comfortable and familiar to him: A world where he is a "Responsible Adult in charge."
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House
Sept 17, 2008 8:47:02 GMT -5
Post by Michelle on Sept 17, 2008 8:47:02 GMT -5
The bromance is over!!! At least, for now it is. Poor Wilson. Poor House. Wilson was pretty harsh there at the end. I mean, what he said was way harsher than blaming House for Amber's death. This was exactly what House was afraid of, deep down wherever his heart should be. Cuddy kept pushing him, telling him to apologize even though he didn't think he had a reason to be sorry, because (partly, IMO) she thought that was all there was to it, and they'd make up and the relationship would be on its way back to normal. Boy did that backfire. She wanted him to see the rewards of putting the other person first for a change, and for him to see he wouldn't lose Wilson if he'd just show some empathy. If only it were that simple. House could definitely use some consoling right about now. I suppose I'm up for the task . . . . *nods* Good analysis of Cuddy. I feel for Wilson. RSL really nailed that last scene. But yeah, I'm like you, I'm more worried about House. Funny how that works.
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House
Sept 17, 2008 10:23:14 GMT -5
Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 17, 2008 10:23:14 GMT -5
The thing is that both House and Amber were doing the right thing. Rather than House driving impaired or Amber driving an impaired House, they took public transportation. The accident was not the fault of either of them but of the driver of the bus and the car that hit them.
While Wilson has plenty of good reasons to end his friendship with House, he chose none of them. He is leaving a destructive relationship and settinghimself up to form another one sometime down the road.
However, by the look on House's face, it's possible that this will be a chance for HIM to grow. I kinda doubt he'll take it, mysoginist that he is, but it's a chance that he's at least dimly recognizing that maybe it's a step he should think about.
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House
Sept 19, 2008 14:26:00 GMT -5
Post by Spaced Out Looney on Sept 19, 2008 14:26:00 GMT -5
Go Wilson for leaving House! Now if only all the other characters would come to that same realization. Of course, then we wouldn't have much of a show. And I really like Robert Sean Leonard, so I hope he comes back in some way, only not in a relapse sort of way, I hope.
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House
Sept 19, 2008 16:12:23 GMT -5
Post by SpringSummers on Sept 19, 2008 16:12:23 GMT -5
Go Wilson for leaving House! Now if only all the other characters would come to that same realization. Of course, then we wouldn't have much of a show. And I really like Robert Sean Leonard, so I hope he comes back in some way, only not in a relapse sort of way, I hope. Is Robert Sean Leonard really leaving the show? I sorta assumed that somehow or another, Wilson would stay on the show. There's nothing really wrong with having a relationship with a person like House, if you . . . do it clear-eyed and you know what you're doing. Wilson and House have a co-dependent relationship, and Wilson hasn't really changed it, not really. He's still describing his motives as being all about what House needs; he's still seeing himself as a rescuer . . . if we were seeing real change in Wilson, he'd be talking about what HE needs, and wishing House all the luck in the world.
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House
Sept 25, 2008 14:22:19 GMT -5
Post by Spaced Out Looney on Sept 25, 2008 14:22:19 GMT -5
House is despicable, but I think we already knew that. Love the PI guy though.
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House
Oct 2, 2008 13:31:20 GMT -5
Post by SpringSummers on Oct 2, 2008 13:31:20 GMT -5
Finally saw the ep from last week that introduced PI guy. I see that it was called "Not Cancer," though I think it should have been called "Inadequate Substitutes."
It WAS cancer after all, but what was substituting for heart wasn't heart, lung wasn't lung, brain wasn't brain. Just was faking it; was actually cancer. Couldn't do the job.
At the same time, we had House looking for a Wilson substitute, the PI acting as House's eyes and ears . . . and more.
And House - he thinks its cancer. Then he thinks it's not. Then he thinks it is. Then a bit of the poke and prod confirms that it is cancer, after all. It looks like brain, but it's not.
This is all juxtaposed against House trying to figure out if Wilson has really cut him off, and whether what "looks like Wilson" can really be Wilson.
Anyhow, quite an episode.
I don't know what to make of PI guy, who I believe deliberately looks like House.
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House
Oct 3, 2008 20:56:37 GMT -5
Post by Squeemonster on Oct 3, 2008 20:56:37 GMT -5
Finally saw the ep from last week that introduced PI guy. I see that it was called "Not Cancer," though I think it should have been called "Inadequate Substitutes." It WAS cancer after all, but what was substituting for heart wasn't heart, lung wasn't lung, brain wasn't brain. Just was faking it; was actually cancer. Couldn't do the job. At the same time, we had House looking for a Wilson substitute, the PI acting as House's eyes and ears . . . and more. And House - he thinks its cancer. Then he thinks it's not. Then he thinks it is. Then a bit of the poke and prod confirms that it is cancer, after all. It looks like brain, but it's not. This is all juxtaposed against House trying to figure out if Wilson has really cut him off, and whether what "looks like Wilson" can really be Wilson. Anyhow, quite an episode. I don't know what to make of PI guy, who I believe deliberately looks like House. Great analysis of it, and I completely agree. And I also agree that PI guy looks a lot like House deliberately. Great episode!
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House
Oct 3, 2008 21:28:01 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Oct 3, 2008 21:28:01 GMT -5
Hey! It's our Jossverse connection! Heeee! House and his "what did Wilson do for me" list. And of course he's now trying to find a replacement for all the things he doesn't care about that Wilson wasn't doing for him. "Are you checking me out?"
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