House: No More Mr. Nice Guy
By fred | April 29, 2008
(S04E13) It’s been way too long. Of course, we were help with the return of other shows in the mean time, and we could obsess over Lost, that always takes some time, but regardless it’s been way too long since we hadn’t had the pleasure of welcoming America’s favorite doctor on the air. So before everything else, this episode was the first one produced after the strike, it was the first we got to see in a too long time, for that only I think it was great.
Of course, that’s not enough and we need more to actually have a good time watching it. But this is House, and the show was never disappointing, they have a great bunch of characters and they know how to make the most of it. For the big return, they tackle some pretty good questions, and of course we had to deal with the perfect topic for the show, and House : can someone be too nice ?
Is being nice a symptom that something’s wrong ? And if it is, does that mean that being mean is, too ? This episode opened with a nice hint at the writers’ strike, with the first thing on screen being a picket line ! I have to say, for a second here I thought we were in the middle of the actual writers’ strike, which seemed pretty odd.
But we were not, it was another strike, the one from the nurses. And in the middle of it was Jeff, Mr Nice Guy, husband to a hot nurse, who is too nice of a guy, it seems. He’s been waiting for hours to be treated, hasn’t seen anyone, and is happy about it, and truly smiling. House hits him, but he can only assume this was an accident, despite all evidence of the contrary.
He’s nice, he’s too nice, and - especially for House - that has to be a symptom. And soon the question evolved : if someone can be too nice because he’s sick, that means someone too mean would be sick as well, doesn’t it ? If so, does that mean our great House is actually sick ? A quick test later, results are in and yes, House as syphilis ! That is why he is who he is, why he acts the way he does, the source of his meanness, and it is all about to change as he’s being treated.
I don’t know about you, but I didn’t buy that. I liked the idea when Kutner first came with it, when the results were in I was shocked and confused, but I quickly thought that it had to mean one thing and one thing only : House left that infected blood on purpose, he’s manipulating everyone, this is just another one of his games. It had to be, because this is House, the TV show about the mean doctor, and that couldn’t change, and (more importantly) this is House, Gregory House, and he always does that.
I wasn’t sure why, and him wanting to talk to Wilson in private was a nice touch, but I knew it wasn’t the case. When I saw him starting to care about others’ opinions and stop caring about the puzzle, I knew what this was about. It was a bit predictable, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good, far from it. There were however a few things that didn’t work :
- How come everybody got fooled, from the new team to the old one, without ever doubting it ? I mean, this is House we’re talking about, he’s done things like this since forever!
- Why did no one bother to talk to Wilson or Cuddy about it ? Wouldn’t you expect them to be put in the known, and to react to the news ? Oh, I forgot, Wilson had to be told by House, and Cuddy, well, she was restricted to that stupid filler plot about the performance reviews.
- I don’t get it : House told Wilson, fully aware that he would repeat it to Amber. Yes he had him swear or whatever, we all knew he would, and so did House. And of course, he had to know she would then come in and repeat it, because that’s what she does, especially as they’re in the middle of a fight of their own, trying to screw with one another. So he had to know his team would find out, and how they would do so, then why did he act surprised,why did he event asked “Who?” when Kutner came to him ? Sounded quite off to me…
In any case if someone should leave the show because it’s too packed up that should be the new team. They’re useless.
I disagree, I think with how things went down this season so far, it’s the old team who’s become useless now. Not that I don’t like them, but they don’t do anything nowadays…
The point of the performance reviews was this ep was all about relationship contracts, and that was about House’s contract as a boss and Foreman’s wish to have his positon ratified with a contract. House’s syphilis game was his way of actually doing a performance review–Kutner got great marks for accepting that personality can be a symptom and following through on that. House and Amber did agree to follow Cuddy’s punishment when Amber amended the agreement to include penalty clauses–having included Cuddy themselves, they can hardly violate their own agreement without the whole contract going out of the window.
I think Chase lit up the episode and there was great integation with the new team, which also shone. Cameron I’m very meh on, and meh doesn’t begin to describe reviving the crush scenario. If that’s all the writers have in mind for Cameron, time to cut her loose.
I really liked the ep, all in all. Looking forward to next week!
I loved this episode and I imagine I’ll like the next three. I am a big Wilson, and H/W fan. I really wish they would get rid of Foreman, flat-faced short little blonde Chase, and Cameron, the annoying one. I can’t stand Cameron. I like 13, Taub, and Kutner is okay. As far as who should stay for S5. I don’t care who stays as long as Wilson is still there.
Now about Cameron sleeping with House. It is possible that she slept with House. Please take another look at Resignation, where StalkerCam was in House’s bedroom. Recall that neither House or Cameron mentioned her foray to his House in the middle of night and the NEXT scene is the next morning in House’s office. Listen carefully to the dialogue and who is speaking. I am pretty sure the skank slept with him.
I would like Cameron to stay just to see the look on her face when she finds out House and Cuddy’s one night of passion (S5). They can get rid of her after that. Can’t stand her.
@jackie: Well, ok, I get what you’re saying, but I still thought it was odd. I mean it wouldn’t have been the first time House said something or agreed to something, only not to do it. Sure this time Amber was in, and maybe it is because they both had to be punished, and both wanted the other one to actually go through with it, but of course for that to happen they had to submit themselves to their own punishment. Still, had only one of them had to do it, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have had happened (especially for a first time).
@DeDeDe: Jee, you really don’t like Cameron, do you!? I have to say I disagree on that, I like her, I’ve always liked her, more or less, but I agree that she’s completely useless now, just like Chase or Foreman for that matter. I’ve rewatched the scene you mention from Resignation (S03E22), and I don’t think she did. Sure no one mentions she went by last night, but I’m assuming it’s just because everybody knew. They were all trying to call, and she probably told them she’d just go to his house, which she did. I don’t think it went further than that, and I don’t think it would fit.
By the way, I know that many fans are, and that it might very well happen next season indeed, but I’ve never been rooting for a House/Cuddy romance myself. I would be more interesting in seeing him with either that “prostitute” who had him to go church on Christmas (It’s A Wonderful Lie), or Mira Sorvino’s character from Frozen…
Hey Fred,
Yeah I liked both the prostitute and Cate. I’m not a fan of the Huddy either but I think KJ said half jokingly that LE has it in her contract that she gets to make out and it appears it will be House. I can tolerate the Huddy. But really the only scenes I enjoy are between House and Wilson. I want more backstory on Wilson and how House and Wilson became friends. And I would really like to see more whodunit type medical mysteries.
Hey,
Yeah I heard the same, but I’m really not sure if “Huddy” would be a good idea. I don’t know if you’re watching Bones as well, but I kinda feel it’s the same as with Booth & Bones: there is a sexual tension between the two, but I believe it should stay like that and never really go any further, or else it’d break the magic. Of course, the writers could still managed to make it happen in a dream or something like that, so that it didn’t really happen, but…
BTW I like when House messes with Wilson, or when he now fights back (I mean he did destroy the guitar!! I’m still shocked ;)) but really, there’s more to enjoy than those scenes on that great show ! :)
“Still, had only one of them had to do it, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have had happened (especially for a first time).”
I think that’s why Cuddy said they both had to lose a finger! Wilson won’t arbitrate this struggle and neither wants to lose, so they both have to play by the rules they’ve agreed to. It was a nice look at a relationship contract, which are often odd to people outside the relationship.
I think the Cuddy thing could be done well, because no one involved, actors or writers, are going down any OTP route, true love fixing House, etc. I expect the aftermath will take the most focus. As long as they can preserve the friendship these two have, I’m onboard for the exploration.