House: The Itch
By fred | November 12, 2008
(S05E07) Despite its name, last week’s episode didn’t really leave anyone happy, quite the contrary in fact. It’s something on House, people are not happy. Whether it’s why they were brought together in the first place or a consequence of being around House, and having him look into their lives and try to mess things up, it’s hard to find anyone happy.
This week’s episode was about that, really, about that itch that prevents them from being happy, allowing themselves to try, to dare it and be happy. And of course, while the show is all about the different characters, their emotional states and relationships, in the middle of everything was a new patient of the week. It’s not uncommon for House to have that patient have a story to be oddly enough just very similar to what one of the doctor is experiencing at the time of the treatment.
It’s not just this show, every show loves to do so, but I wish sometimes on House, they wouldn’t, or would do it with a little more subtlety, because otherwise it doesn’t really feel all that good. That being said, and while this was once again the case this week, I didn’t mind it if only for the way things ended. When House was making his little speech about how the patient was lying to himself, about everything in his life and how pathetic he was, he could as well have been talking about himself, or even Cameron, and they both knew it.
And that’s why it worked, at least it did for me, because it was fun to see saying those words and realizing what they really meant to him, and it was a very nice thing to see people finally trying to be happy. From Cameron to Stewart, our patient of the week, to House himself. And the parallel with Stewart finally walking out and House looking at Cuddy only to go back, seeing how in the end he was still unable, and scared, to take that risk, was really well done.
For quite a long time now we’ve all been wondering why the original team of House was still around, while having nothing to do really. Especially true for the gorgeous Cameron, who was barely seen - if at all - in previous episodes. This week she got to shine again, as the original team was back working with House while his current team took a step back and weren’t left all that much to do.
It was great to see Cameron back and involved on the case, working with House again, but I have to say that, as much as I liked it, I still don’t see how they can just keep everyone around. It was a one-time thing and as such it was fun, but on the long run both Cameron and Chase really don’t have much reason to still be around and involved in House’s cases.
Still, I liked having her around dealing with House again, and having House messing with her again, and it was also pretty cool to see that despite all her best efforts, House could still get to her and affect her relationship, she was still getting sucked into his games like before. Of course, it was good that she and Chase worked things out and moved in the right direction.
They still needed House to show them the way, sort of, but it happened. In fact, for everyone things were moving on the right direction, even Taub. Everyone but House, who couldn’t stop scratching that itch of his, Cuddy bugging him, he couldn’t find peace with it and do the right thing, preferring to focus on everyone else’s problems. Even though it was pretty obvious that both of them wanted it, neither could dare to take the risk to try it.
Because of course they had to deal with that kiss, what to do after House and Cuddy kissed at the end of the last episode. I loved that House simply didn’t bother coming up with any sort of lie, just his altered version of the truth, only saying “I kinda hit that last night, so now she’s all in my jock.” Even better was that no one even believed it for one second (”Wow, she looks pretty good for someone on roofies. - Thirteen), but Wilson, for whom the idea of it being a total lie wouldn’t even be considered a possibility.
As soon as he heard those words, Wilson just knew House wasn’t lying, not completely. Thought when you think about it, it was surprising at all, he’s known the guy long enough. What was surprising was that Cameron didn’t suspect a thing, despite hearing House say that and seeing him refusing to ever argue with her, while he usually loves to do so. Of course, not listening to hear and acting as he wants behind her back is a classic move, but he usually first makes fun of Cuddy a little, just for fun.
Cameron usually is quite good when it comes to seeing though House’s lies and behaviors, and I was surprised to always asked, but only asked what was going on between House & Cuddy and almost accepting House answer that it was nothing, he just didn’t see the point. Of course, Cameron’s game was a but off on more than one occasion, because I think only she was actually surprised that the guy, who knocked down firemen when they tried to bring him to the hospital out of fear of living his place, would actually freak out when she woke him up at the hospital, after he clearly stated he didn’t want to leave his house no matter what.
I do have a quick question about that opening scene though : Really well done, once again, but who called for help ? Stewart is living alone, had a seizure still inside his apartment behind locked door, and I doubt he had much visitors coming in, so who called for help exactly ? Might have been Cameron, but she was nowhere to be seen, so who?
What did you think of this episode ? Do you want House to dare and ask Cuddy out ? Do you want them to be a couple, or fear it would break the well-oiled dynamic of the show ? Wouldn’t Cameron look better as a brunette ?
