FOX
(Season 5, Episode 6)
The cold open sucked me in right away. I’ve noticed this season that House is trying something different with their opens, and this one was unlike anything we’ve seen before. The recurring blackouts of the consumer product tester are dreamlike in his stark surroundings. Weird, David-Lynch-like vibes from this scene; very cool.
But what else did this episode have to offer us? Joy, or better explained, the lack thereof. The title was such a huge irony, and the way we finally got some joy at the end with the patient and his daughter probably wasn’t the joy you were looking for, if you want to see some happiness from the main cast, like I do.
I get that they are trying to delve deeper into the characters and their interactions, but I really didn’t enjoy the dynamics between House and Cuddy this week. Usually there’s a bit of a bantering feel, but it was just so mean-spirited. When House visits Cuddy at the end, she is frustrated with him because he tells her she’d make a great mother now that she has no baby, but when she did, all he did was undermine her confidence. We did see a touch of humanity from House when he admitted that he didn’t know why he said those things, but then that kiss at the end? I’m glad House expressed himself, but I was surprised that Cuddy accepted it. It will be interesting to see how they follow up with this in the next episode, which from the coming attractions looks like it will be a winner, with more of the humor that I enjoy.
So, back to joy:
The patient and his daughter were joy-less, because of their illness. It was nice to finally see them smile and interact at the end.
Cuddy wants to name her daughter Joy, and she is hopeful for a future of joy.
Seems like no one in the cast has any joy in their lives; Cuddy is looking for some in the form of motherhood, we know House’s story (and we kind of like him this way!), Wilson is still in an Amber-died funk, Thirteen is depressed because she’s dying, Taub thinks family life is a sham.
The most fascinating part of the episode: the joyless cast all thought the patient and his daughter were weird, although until House pegged it an the end of the episode, no one realized it was because they were incapable of feeling joy. Now, the cast is all capable, but not only are they joyless, they don’t recognize it in themselves. I loved this twist. They are a pathetic bunch, but still fun to watch each week.
A few things worth mentioning:
Songs in this episode:
Daniel Lanois – “Fire”
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Oct 29, 2008 @ 09:45 EST5EDT
I totally did not understand “the kiss”. Sure, there’s been 4 seasons of sexual frustration between the two characters, but I didn’t understand why he would try — and why she would reciprocate — at that moment in the dialogue. It totally baffled me.
Thanks for pointing out the “joy” dichotomy. Like so much of the smartly-written symbolism on House, I always miss it until someone points it out the next day :)
I got something different from why House was being such an ass all during the episode. One thing you have to give him is credit for is how well he can read people. I’m sure he was able to read the chick was not giving up her baby. He is not good at either pointing out the obvious or showing someone that he cares. So he did his House “thing” as his way to keeping Cuddy’s mind on the not-so-nice-element possibilities. When she asks at the end why he brought her down with the negative only to tell her she would be a wonderful mom after all, I think she figured that out, thus the kiss. He has a rather odd way of caring (as we saw last week as he pushed Thirteen toward the other possibly dying chick), but he does care. You’ve got to be cruel to be kind, in the right measure. Its a very good sign. LOL
Wow, that’s pretty incisive. Good pick up.
I know that kiss was suppose to be the big moment of show this week, but it was an after thought for me. I spent the whole episode fuming at House.
I know he’s Mister Hard to Get Along With, but I think he hit a new low this season, but particularly this episode. I was so angry with him for ruining Cuddy’s happiness.
Being a mom (or becoming one) is hard enough without some arrogant ass trying to pick you apart.
And then trying to show up at the end to comfort her (or ease his guilt for giving her a hard time) drove me nuts. If I were Cuddy I’d never let him in my house.
But that shows us that despite her exasperation with House at times, she has feeling for him, which explains the kiss.
A good episode in that he made me scream at the TV, but as a mom hard to watch.