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ship_manifesto2010-03-27 01:22 pm
soophelia.livejournal.com) wrote in ship_manifesto2010-03-27 01:22 pm
Entry tags:
(You're) Better Than Vicodin (Part 1): House/Wilson
Title: (You're) Better Than Vicodin
Authors: (listed in alphabetical order):![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
geelady, graceasaur, and lilapaddy.
Pairing: House/Wilson
Fandom: House MD
Spoilers: spoilers for seasons 3-4.
Notes: screencaps are courtesy of House M.D. HD Screencaps, HughLaurie.Net,lusciousspike, and theunknownsoul. Quotes for seasons 5 and 6 are courtesy of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
clinic_duty, a House MD transcript community.
Please note that these are their opinions on why they love House/Wilson and how they view the pairing. Your interpretation of the pairing and how you view the individuals involved in the pairing may differ.
Season 3 - bygraceasaur
Season Three was an excellent season for House and Wilson. Not only for great scenes between them that showed how much love and care they had for each other, but also how strong their relationship held under pressure. That pressure threatening not only the bonds between them, but their careers and even their freedom.
But before we get to that, let's take a look at early in the season before the Tritter arc reared its ugly head.
During the first two episodes [3x1 "Meaning" and 3x2 "Cane & Able"], Wilson is watching House carefully with his new found lack of leg pain, and when he notices that House's pain is coming back, and House isn't doing his physical therapy like he should be, he does everything he can to convince him to start exercising again, including offering him Vicodin.
Wilson is usually against House's drug use, and would be glad he is off the Vicodin, but watching him run around the hospital, take on multiple cases and generally be happy, it's clear Wilson doesn't want him to go back to being miserable and crippled, and is willing to hand over drugs to him as long as he tries to maintain his leg, and happiness.
When House cures his patient miraculously with a wild idea, Wilson stops Cuddy from telling House that he was right because he felt he had to learn the meaning of 'no'. Things weren't exactly pretty when House found out, but Wilson's reason behind not telling him was touching [3x2 "Cane & Able"]:
House: So, what was the plan? I'd feel so humbled by missing a case that I'd re-evaluate my entire life, question the nature of truth and goodness and become Cameron?
Wilson: Something like that. More that if we told you the truth, that you solved a case based on absolutely no medical proof, you'd think you were God. And I was worried your wings would melt.
House looks hurt before snapping, "God doesn't limp."
Aww... You can't deny how sweet that was. I think Wilson cares about House more then everyone else combined. Another thing to look at is House's experiment back in Season Two where he was borrowing more and more money from Wilson to see where he would draw the line. This money spending continues into Season Three.
Wilson: Look, I'll pay for it myself. What is it, a thousand dollars to carpet a room? [3x4 "Lines in the Sand"]
And then House's bail [3x6 "Que Será Será"]:
House: What took you so long?
Wilson: Sorry, I didn't have fifteen grand in my loose change jar.
Wilson is willing to spend any amount of money in his friendship with House, and I doubt he'll say 'no' to him because the pricetag is too large.
The next thing to look at is House's jealousy when he thinks Wilson is interested in Wendy [3x5 "Fools For Love"].
House: Who's he talking to?
Cameron: What?
House: It's got an ass. Technically that makes it a who.
Cameron: New nurse in peds. Wendy something.
House: You've seen her here before?
Cameron: I tried following her home, but she gave me the slip.
House: *leaves the room and goes over to Wilson and Wendy* You think that's funny? Ask him about the time he sabotaged my cane. Wendy: Are you serious?
Wilson: There was a point to it. Wendy, this is House.
House: Something about not getting too uppity with normal folks who walk good.
Wendy: You're everything I'd heard. Nice to meet you. *leaves* Wilson: Why so rude?
House: You've sprinted through three bad marriages into an affair with a dying patient, now a naughty nurse? How many failed relationships are we both gonna have to deal with before you learn to love yourself? And I mean that in the literal way.
Wilson: It's amazing how you not only know it's a relationship, but that it's a bad relationship, based on nothing but nothing.
House: I know you.
Wilson: I'm not with her, not even trying.
House: You're lying to me. That's interesting. Wilson: Well, as long as it's interesting.
Now, if we examine Wilson's point, "It's amazing how you not only know it's a relationship, but a bad relationship, based on nothing but nothing." He is entirely right and I must point out how Wilson is making this essay very easy to write. House saw Wilson talking to a girl and instantly saw that they were going to get in to a relationship, and said relationship was going to fail. House was jealous, and didn't want a woman in Wilson's life.
Now why would that be? Why don't we look at something Cuddy said in a later episode when House kept interrupting her date
[3x14 "Insensitive"]
Cuddy: There are only two reasons anyone would want to screw with me tonight. Either they're an altruistic, decent person who's worried about my well-being, or they want me for themselves.
Now, I'll just leave you to speculate House's motives when you put this evidence into light. ;)
My theory is later given more proof during this conversation.
Wilson: You're a miserable jerk who can't stand to be alone.
House: I didn't try to break up your marriages. You did that yourself.
Wilson: My marriages were so crappy, I was spending all my time with you. Your real fear is me having a good relationship.
House: Yes, it keeps me up at night. That and the Loch Ness monster, global warming, evolution and other fictional concepts. Although a big romantic weekend in the Poconos could change everything.
Wilson: *points back and forth* You don't... no..
Why did Wilson immediately assume that House meant that the two of them should go on a big romantic weekend if they were talking about Wilson someday having a good relationship? House easily could have meant that if Wilson and Wendy went to the Poconos, their relationship could turn out to be a good one, and 'change everything' meaning Wilson's record of crappy relationships. But no, Wilson assumed House meant the two of them should go and 'change everything' by going from a friendship to a real relationship.
Perhaps that is what Wilson was hoping? Take a good look at this essay, much of the Season Three love came from Wilson. I'm not saying that House does not have the same feelings. I'm saying that Wilson is more aware of them and seems to be constantly showing said feelings, even as House tries to break apart relationships (the one that never existed with Wendy, as well as the short spurt of Wilson and Cuddy seeing each other on a more personal note), being self-destructive (the lack of care to his once healed leg pain, getting back on Vicodin, nearly killing himself with an overdose of alcohol and Oxy), and nearly destroying Wilson's life during the Tritter arc (his money and car being taken away, forcing him to shut down his practice, and almost going to jail for refusing to testify). No matter what House did, Wilson was still helping him and expressing his love for him. I see no other motive for Wilson's actions other then that he loves House.
Okay everyone, buckle up because we're about to take a bumpy ride into the Tritter arc, where friendships are tested and stretched to what would be the breaking point for most.
The start of Wilson getting involved with House's problem with Tritter was when Tritter brought over some prescription pads and asked Wilson if he wrote them for House. Wilson told him that he had, and his answer did not change when Tritter showed him the prescription that was written in different handwritting. He gave the (lame) excuse, "Sometimes I sign my name differently." An obvious lie.
The next episode, Wilson continues to ask House why he had stolen his prescription pad when he could have easily taken one of his ducklings. While they were on the road trip looking for a sandwich for Vegetative State Guy, he finally came up with this, Wilson: Any relationship that involves choice you have to see how far you can push it until it breaks. And one day, it will break, and that'll just prove your theory of everything being conditional.
Not long after, when House realised the only way for Vegetative State Guy's son to live was if he killed himself so his son could have his heart, House got quiet in thought then said,
House: Wilson, get out.
Wilson: No.
House: You lied to the cops enough for me. Maybe I don't want to push this until it breaks.
He looks up at Wilson, looking serious and vulnerable, and Wilson nodded a little before leaving with House's cane to set up an alibi.
So this proves that Wilson isn't the only one with feelings, but keeping House's personality in mind, he doesn't show how he feels very often, and this was an excellent scene with House being vulnerable as he said he didn't want to lose Wilson.
The next episode is when things start to get rocky and House's shoulder starts to hurt which he has various excuses for, such as he pulled a muscle playing fantasy football. But everyone can see the real reason. House feels guilty that Wilson has to lie to the cops for him, and being House and not wanting to express that, he kept it bottled up and it started to come out as physical pain.
Here's a couple examples,
Cuddy: Any changes in your life lately? A fight with the wife maybe? It's good, it means your arm is human.
Now, let's not spend too much time focusing on how House and Wilson are fighting and Cuddy said, "Fight with the wife, maybe?".
I'll let you decide what Cuddy meant. ;)
Wilson: You already feel guilty. The arm pain is from your conscience. I always knew deep down you gave a damn and that used to be enough. But I knew you were either going to help me through this or you weren't. I got my answer.
At the end of the episode, Wilson is sitting on a bench outside waiting for the bus since Tritter took his car, and House goes by on his motorcycle, and they both look at each other silently. Wilson looks angry, and House hurt before he speeds away.
The next episode doesn't have much interaction between the two since they're still fighting, but House is acting like he misses Wilson though he keeps his distance and follows him around silently. House sees Wilson in the doctors lounge where he steals half of his sandwich, and also in the clinic where he points his laser pointer on him from the balcony.
It's like House really wants to apologise to Wilson, but he may be afraid of making himself vulnerable and getting his apology rejected. House knows he's done wrong, and knows Wilson is right to be angry at him.
After Wilson heard that House nearly had a little girl cut in half and that he punched Chase, he decided things were getting out of control and he went to Tritter and told him he did not write the prescriptions that had different handwriting and had a deal set up where House would get two months in rehab in exchange for a guilty plea. House wouldn't have to go to jail and he wouldn't lose his medical license.
House is angry that Wilson ratted him out and refuses the offer, so Wilson suggests to Cuddy that she cut off his Vicodin until he accepts the deal, which she does, as well as throwing him off his latest case.
House starts slowly self-destructing as he detoxes and tries everything he can think of to try and get his hands on pain medication. It even gets to the point where he starts cutting himself to try and relieve the pain with the rush of endorphins.
House isn't the only one under pressure as everyone accuses Wilson of setting up the deal for his own personal gain (he got his car, money and prescribing privileges back) and people start to turn against him, including Cameron and Cuddy. Wilson defends himself and insists he's trying to help and he didn't do it so Tritter would give him his life back. And if you look at Wilson's actions throughout, it's clear he is telling the truth.
Everything he did was to help House, he wouldn't just start trying to save his own ass. That's not his character and he wouldn't do that to House.
Wilson: Sometimes doctors have to do things that make people uncomfortable to help them.
After Wilson sees the state House is in when he comes into the hospital and just about begs him for pain meds, and he catches House trying to steal pills from his dead patient off the bedside table, he starts to doubt what he did and he tells Tritter he won't testify against his friend. Even after Tritter tells Wilson that he will go to jail for interfering with a police investigation, Wilson merely shrugs and says,
Wilson: Statistically, better me than him.
Wilson was willing to give up his life and go to jail if it meant House would go free. If that isn't love, I don't know what is. It's very clear, WILSON LOVES HOUSE.
Afterwards, when Wilson has no way to back out of the deal, he goes to House's office, asking if he had any plans for Christmas. Now that House is about to be going to jail, and Wilson HAS to testify, he's looking for forgiveness from House.
Wilson looks hurt when he says,
Wilson: I thought you might prefer people over pills...
House scoffs and leaves Wilson alone in his office with the saddest damn look on his face.
Wilson didn't give up, and showed up at House's apartment, letting himself in with the key he apparently still had from when they lived with him last season.
Wilson: House? Are you okay? I tried calling... There's something wrong with your machine, there's not even a message...
He trails off when he sees House lying on the floor with a bottle of Oxy and a puddle of vomit. Wilson checks to see if House is alive, then sees the name on the prescription bottle and leaves, disgusted with him.
Now, there's speculation about if this was an actual suicide attempt, or if it was just one of House's 'I can do whatever I want and I don't care what happens' things.
In my opinion, everything points to House doing it on purpose. First off, he's a doctor. He knows that mixing drugs with alcohol is bad. And he knows how much could kill him. Also, he called his parents who he's not too fond of and wished them Merry Christmas (note he knew they were at Aunt Sarah's and he still called their house). Not very House. And his answering machine was off, obviously he didn't want anyone to interfere.
I think House had nothing left to live for. No drugs, no puzzles/medical cases, he was about to be sent to jail, and his best friend was testifing against him. House finally surrendered and went into rehab, even though he cheated the whole time and 'Voldemort' was slipping him Vicodin the entire time, he apologised to Wilson.
[3x11 "Words and Deeds"]
House: I had no business blaming you for any of this. I know you were just trying to help me, protect me. That's what friends do.
Wilson: Is this an apology?
House: It's part of the program. If you don't like it, I can stop.
Wilson: No, it's just so unfamiliar. Please, go on.
When everything finally smoothed out and House only had to stay in jail for one night, Wilson quickly figured out House hadn't really been detoxing from Vicodin, he realised House had given him a genuine apology.
Wilson: The apology. You didn't have to do that to make this work.
House: Believe what you want. *smirks and looks happy*
Thank God all that is over. The boys are back to being best buddies, no more asshole cops making everything suck. Now nothing can come between them after surviving that, now can it? Wrong.
The trouble starts when House gives Wilson tickets to a play [3x19 "Act Your Age"]
House: Play. Interested?
Wilson: Sure. Want me to pick you up?
House: Well, I'm not going.
Wilson: You said two tickets.
House: You thought this was a date?
Wilson: I-I should... *tries to leave*
House: Want the tickets or not?
Wilson: Why don't you want to go with me?
House: It's a play. Dudes only go to plays if they're dragged by women they're hoping to see naked.
Wilson: So, why are you giving them to me?
House: Maybe there's someone you want to see naked.
Wilson: All right. *takes tickets and leaves*
Later, Wilson rushes to House.
Wilson: You were right.
House: I know. But about what? They printed my letter.
Wilson: Great. About Cuddy.
House: You want to see her naked?
Wilson: No. She wants to see me naked. She sent me flowers.
House: She was just thanking you for the play. Because some people feel an emotion called gratitude.
Wilson: There's a card. House: I suspected. That's how you knew who they were from.
Wilson: *gets out card* 'Let's do it again. Soon. XX Lisa.' X's are the kisses, right?
House: No... I think they are the hugs. I think O's are the kisses.
Wilson: No, X's are definitely the kisses. *Wilson runs off when he sees Cuddy*
Cuddy: What's up with Wilson?
House: He's just a little freaked out.
Cuddy: Why? House: I sent him flowers. *smirks*
*Cuddy makes WTF face*
House could have just as easily screwed with Cuddy to get her and Wilson to break up, and if you think about it, why didn't he? House could have sent Cuddy flowers, and it would have been cute, and House really just wanted to break them up because he wanted Cuddy. But no, he sends Wilson the flowers.
Well, this essay is coming to a close, and I'd just like to add a couple miscellaneous things that I couldn't fit in, but don't want to leave out. Wilson was slipping House anti-depressants because he wanted him to be happy, and Foreman's view on Chase/Cameron.
Foreman: House would do Wilson before you'd do Chase.
Chase and Cameron got married. Nuff said.
So, there's Season Three from a Hilson shipper's viewpoint. Wilson is good at expressing how he feels, and House is still working on it, but it's all good. I hope you've enjoyed this and you have a greater respect for my ship.
Season 4: Revelations of Don't Ever Change - bylilapaddy
A/N: This goes in chronological order and it's quite long (over five pages in MSWord, oy). It started out as a meta on the state of H/W, but then I realized how unnecessary and repetitive that would be. So it turned into an argument for House's canonical bisexuality, and again, it starts from my subjective opinion of the first important scene and goes on to analyze seven more major exchanges. The way I did this was by naming each relevant scene only for the sake of summary, and then quoting the most important parts, followed by analyses.
1. Amber's Apartment
Amber: “So, which is it, House? Am I in this for you, or am I in this for him?”
House: “Give him back his sweatshirt. Pit stains don’t become you.”
I think Amber has House figured out on this one, which might be why she cattily asks him to join Wilson and her later on their lunch date at the Asian fusion restaurant. I think Amber knows the deal even before House does.
As for House’s threat, it can’t possibly be construed as anything but. That was a death glare if we ever saw one—and I’m not sure we ever have seen such a look wrt a Cuddy relationship or a Cameron relationship…
2. At the Asian Fusion Restaurant
House: “She’s the anti-Wilson, she’s a force for evil.”
Wilson: “She has an annoying quality, perhaps even two. If I was perfect, I would date perfect.”
House: “You like that!”
Wilson: “It’s annoying, but she’s good at it.”
House: “Wait a second. This is not just about the sex. You like her personality, you like that she’s conniving, you like that she has no regard for consequences, you like that she can humiliate someone if it serves—oh my god. You’re sleeping with me.”
How good are RSL and HL in this scene? It’s a campy scene, no doubt about it, but they play it like the pros they are. It’s really a thing of beauty—the only thing that elevates that kind of dialogue above witty gossip to the level of brilliance it achieves is through the facial expressions and inflections that HL, primarily, but then RSL, too, delivers. Qualities of tone and facial expressions are obviously up for interpretation, but my take on House’s expression is that he really is realizing this for the first time. It’s not a joke. He’s clearly shaken up. HL doesn’t meet RSL’s eyes after he finishes his proclamation, just shoves the drink at him and runs off. Which is so perfect, but moving on…RSL, by contrast, has an almost unreadable expression, one I would love to read any and all of your opinions on, but to me it seems a simple look of contemplation. He’s not repulsed by the idea, and most importantly, he doesn’t immediately resist or reject the notion—a clear fear of House’s, as demonstrated by the next H/W scene.
But first, the first major Thirteen-House parallel scene.
3. Foreman and Thirteen Test the Patient
Thirteen: “We oversimplify people. It’s how the human mind works. Everything’s either on or off, everything’s got a category.”
Very analytical, Thirteen. Whose pet peeve does this resemble? Way to learn from your mentor.
Foreman: “You don’t like it. You don’t want to be oversimplified.”
Thirteen: “No one can describe themselves in ten words. Why would we want to hear anyone else do it?”
Foreman: “So you keep it a mystery. No categories if no one knows anything.”
Thirteen: “Do you think maybe you’re oversimplifying me now?”
Foreman: “No. I’m sure you have many reasons for keeping yourself a mystery, besides the fact that you’re bisexual...The denial would’ve worked before the long vacant stare.”
Wow. None of your business, first off, Foreman, but we as the audience wouldn’t know it for sure unless someone on the show explicitly said it, and since, for whatever godforsaken reason, it is more socially accepted for women than men to be loudly accused of being bisexual on network television, we have to assume that this completely random facet of Thirteen serves a secondary (deeper?) purpose within the context of this episode.
Foreman: “People who have a problem with boxes are people who don’t fit in them.”
Aha. Here’s what I would argue is the first major hint that TPTB are drawing an intentional parallel between House and Thirteen. House has a problem with boxes—everyone lies, no one’s ever who they say they are, even the rant about not being “that guy” (from “Ugly”) is all about House hating to be put in a box. We’ve also seen that this is true of Thirteen as well; she resists being characterized in any way at any time by anyone, an annoying quality we should assume is meant to further validate her place on the show as someone similar to House in some significant ways.
4. Next to the Elevator
House: “Went by your hotel this morning. They told me you moved out.”
Damn. We’ve been waiting for Wilson to move out of that hotel for, what, two years? Chances are, it’s indicative of Amber’s staying power. This is likely not just a two-episode arc, which maybe some of you already guessed, but to me, this proves it.
House: “Moved in with CB?”
Wilson: “No, apparently I moved in with you.”
If only. Wilson at first seems to be taking this whole revelation pretty lightly. Anyway, confirmation that yep, Wilson and Amber are officially living together. After four weeks.
House: “The very fact that you’re resisting my insight proves to me that—“
Wilson: “House, you’re right. Why not? Why not date you?”
Whoa. Back up. First of all, Wilson’s not resisting your insight. Paranoid much, House? (Actually, that question’s been answered about three hundred times this episode already.) Second of all, I think that line from Wilson actually killed some fangirls.
Wilson: “It’s brilliant. We’ve known each other for years, we’ve put up with all kinds of crap from each other, and we keep coming back.”
Thank you! Thank you for calling every shipper that has known this for years brilliant! But where the hell can this conversation be going?
Wilson: “We’re a couple!”
House: “Are we still speaking metaphorically?”
Wilson: “Amber is exactly what I need, and you would agree, if you weren’t so mired in self-loathing, topped by a thin crust of megalomania.”
House: “Hey, that’s my best friend’s girl you’re talking about.”
Best. Line. Ever. I’m sure everyone here will have their own opinion on which line or exchange makes “Don’t Ever Change” the best episode in the history of television, but for me, that last bit from House makes it. It’s characteristic humor, maybe, but it’s also incredibly sweet. Consider what Wilson’s saying: that the female version of House is perfect for him and that House would see that if he didn’t hate himself so much and/or if he weren’t so blinded by his own attachment to Wilson. Furthermore, the kind of analysis Wilson always does for House (the self-loathing and megalomania accusations) registers as unhealthy to House for maybe the first time. And I’m pretty sure that was House defending himself by way of declaring himself “my best friend’s girl,” after which Wilson points at him to further imply the same thing. Whoa. Dense stuff, here. I may have missed something, there's so damned much going on.
House: “I was wrong.”
Wilson: “House, you’re right!”
Not as lightly confirmed this time.
House: “She’s not me. Well, she is me, but that’s not why she’s attractive. She’s a needy version of me.”
Wilson: “Hard to imagine such a mythical creature.”
This cannot possibly be House’s brilliant theory. We all know he’s needy as hell.
House: “You started seeing her right after I fired her.”
Wilson: “I started seeing her four months ago.”
House: “No, she told Kutner it was four weeks. You lied to me. There was money on the line—“
Wilson: “Because I knew how you’d react and I knew you wouldn’t pay me anyway.”
Presumably, Wilson knew House would declare that he was following his old pattern. Wilson didn’t necessarily know House would freak out THIS hard, but that’s up for debate, as always.
House: “Because you knew that I was right.”
Wilson: “She wasn’t needy, she was in a bad situation! There’s a difference.”
House: “Not to your libido.”
Holy son of a mother. Did he just actually say that? Wilson’s need to be needed has been addressed time and time again, but this is the first time that is put into a box by House as being a highly sexualized thing. Before this, it had been somewhat vague, and we know(!) that Wilson sticks around with House because of House’s perennial neediness. Which is of course confirmed in the second scene between House and Cuddy in this episode when she reminds House that he’s “the long-distance runner of neediness”. Most excellent.
Wilson: “Wait a minute, wait a minute. Why are you doing this? Every time I agree with you, you find a new argument. What are you trying to avoid?”
Emphasis mine, though the music underscoring Wilson’s line is the usual “mysterious/realization” score, the same one they used in “Top Secret” when Wilson informed House about the Village People’s military guy. This was the second major hint that there is something serious and deep happening in terms of House’s self-awareness this episode.
Wilson: “Well, if you’d looked at me with those flashing eyes before I was involved…C’est la vie. And I use the French because you’re an ass.”
Ah, playful!Wilson. You are so fun when we’re in the boring department of backstory or when a patient’s illness is depressing the hell out of the audience. When House is actually coming on to you? Not the right time! You should not toy with the shippers in this manner! It is cruel and unusual. But moving on, House smiles half-heartedly when Wilson goes into his office, and he has that preoccupied look that he wears for at least 60% of this episode.
I’m just going to briefly assess the scene between House and Cuddy, and obviously, I’m hoping other people write metas on this meaty episode and cover anything and everything I’ve missed. I do think the fact that House’s reaction to the conversation he’s just had with Wilson is strange: he goes immediately to a female surrogate and tells her to sleep with Wilson. Interesting.
5. After Roz's Reactions Confuse Kutner
This DDX scene surpasses the normal subtext and actually uses the B plot explicitly to diagnose the patient.
House: “The body’s doing the opposite of what it’s supposed to. Her body’s Wilson. How do we respond to that?”
Foreman: “We accept that he’s happy.”
House: “We do the opposite.”
Thirteen: “So you want us to, what, send the patient home?”
House: “An infection means that something’s been added to the body, something that should be expelled. What’s the opposite of that?”
My guess is that he’s talking about getting rid of Amber, but I could easily be wrong.
Kutner: “Something missing from the body.”
Another clear hint to the audience that House is not formulating his equation right wrt Wilson’s relationship, either—some important fact or perspective is missing.
I have absolutely no idea of what to make of the Wilson/Cuddy scene, except that it’s adorable that Cuddy does, in fact, follow House’s suggestion and talk to Wilson. Maybe a bone toss to the Huddy shippers? Anyone feel like following up on that?
6. Chase Involved
And the token House/Chase scene! We’ve missed that.
Chase: “I had a rabbi called. She’s adamant.”
House: “She’s not a masochist, she’s suicidal. Nice work, Chase.”
Chase: “Yeah, I should’ve had twin rabbis called. Can I go?”
Besides the prerequisite in-joke about David Shore’s brothers (aren’t they twin rabbis in Israel?), this scene serves to demonstrate a critical emotional change in House.
House: “We need you. So now instead of a few days, we have a few hours to figure this out. Nice work, Chase.”
Chase: “Why do you need me?”
House: “Saying ‘nice work, Chase’ when you’re not here is pointless. Seriously, we need you.”
So House is using a new technique to get what he wants—positive reinforcement. Complimenting Chase because he really does need him for this DDX: another genius foreshadowing about how House is changing this episode.
At first, as you know, Chase leaves, and House looks disappointed and frustrated, but his new tactic worked, and Chase comes back to help them solve the problem of sundown.
I want to point out that the gorgeous Eastern European violin music that plays over the husband wishing the POTW “Good shabbas” (basically “Shabbat Shalom”, though I’m a lapsed Jew in the same vein as Taub, so feel free to correct me) is referenced later when the husband sings the blessing for his wife over a shot of House looking melancholy out a window. It’s an interesting choice, given that the episode ends with House and Wilson wishing one another the same thing.
Going to ignore the Amber-House scene where he tells her to drop Wilson to get the job. I have absolutely no idea how this arc is going to pan out, and while Amber’s speech about love and respect is enough to make any shipper squeal in jealousy, and while Anne Dudek’s performance is a refreshing series of unexpected choices, I’m going to leave that scene untouched because it doesn’t really serve my purpose at the moment.
The scene between Taub, Foreman, House, and Kutner in which House shoots down nearly every diagnosis also seems to have a double meaning, though it might be going too far past the “delusional” line to suggest that it’s mirroring the internal thought process House is going through over his feelings for Wilson. Or maybe it’s not going far enough. House actually says at the end of that scene, “Things aren’t where we want them to be just because we want them to be there,” which may be reinforcing the (new to him?) notion that he can’t take Wilson for granted, because Wilson might actually find happiness with someone else. This line also leads to House realizing…something. Maybe two somethings. At least one thing he realizes is the final diagnosis of floating kidney for the POTW, of course, but there’s usually a double meaning to almost everything in this show.
7. After Finally Diagnosing Roz
The final DDX is followed by a pretty significant exchange between House and Thirteen.
House: “You do it both ways, right?”
Thirteen: “What?”
House: “The ultrasound, you do it standing up and lying down. What else would I mean?”
Hopefully, we can agree that House is not talking about the ultrasound. I think it’s pretty clear to any viewer worth their salt that House is asking, crass as ever, if Thirteen is bisexual. It’s kind of rhetorical, because he somehow has figured it out already, and seems to just want to see her reaction. She’s predictably surprised and somewhat affronted, so he covers by invoking the ultrasound procedure, which is obviously not what he meant the first time, as evidenced by HL’s delivery, the music playing beneath the scene, and OW’s expression.
And then he winks at her. You could, and I know some will, read that wink as a typically lascivious House move, since we know he fantasizes about lesbians, or at least jokes often that he does (see “Who’s Your Daddy” and “Needle in a Haystack” for evidence). I’m gonna go down that unpopular road of optimism and suggest, as I’m sure some of you have already as well, that this was the kind of wink that’s given in solidarity. As in, yeah, House “does it both ways,” too. I’m not suggesting this for the sake of being controversial; that is literally the way I saw that exchange before I even went online to see what other people thought. If you doubt the validity of that interpretation and have access to viewing the scene a second, third, or fourth time, please do. HL smiles knowingly at the end of it. Knowingly, not lasciviously. He’s not fantasizing about Thirteen, that’s for sure.
And consider the placement of the above exchange: right before the last, critical scene with Wilson. I read a number of comments yesterday night that said the episode should have ended without the last scene, but I think the fact that they did throw in a H-W scene right after House’s apparent bisexual revelation is huge.
8. Another Episode Ending With House and Wilson
House: “I’ve decided you could do worse than a female proxy for me.”
Anyone else notice (upon obsessive re-watching), that House took the elevator down, and in the short time it took him to go from Wilson’s office to the first floor in the elevator, Wilson had run down the steps? He runs at House from the stairwell. Desperation. I like it. Looks good on everyone in this show.
Wilson: “So you’re going to acknowledge that people can change?”
House: “No.”
Wilson: “You think I’ve changed or Amber’s changed?”
House: “Nope.”
Wilson: “Then you’ve changed.”
House: “If you do change, can it be the part of you that chases me down halls trying to change me?”
In case you missed it, which I’m sure you didn’t, that was canon confirmation that something major has changed with House.
Wilson: “Do you know what this means?”
House: “That you made one good dating choice. The fabric of the space-time continuum can unravel.”
Wilson: “My world could expand. I could form a long-term connection that isn’t with you. And since you put the darkest possible construction on everything, you could end up losing a friend. You’ve thought of all this, and yet you’re going along with it. Are you being…self-sacrificing?”
House: “I’ll sacrifice a lab rat, I’ll sacrifice a fly, I’ll sacrifice two hundred on a mudder at Monmouth Park, I don’t sacrifice self. Shabbat shalom, Wilson.”
Wilson: “Shabbat shalom, House.”
Well.
Echoing other episodes that were notoriously full of Hoyay is a great way to end an episode (“Words and Deeds”, “Act Your Age”, “What a Wonderful Lie”), but it’s not just the last goodbye (for an indeterminable amount of time, no less) that kills me.
Wilson acknowledges House’s change, that he’s being maybe just a tad less selfish/possessive/unhealthy. And why is that?
I’ll argue until canon says otherwise (which I don’t think it will) that it’s because House has realized and accepted his bisexuality, or at least a funny little quirk of an otherwise heteronormative sexuality that is romantically and physically attracted to Wilson. Once House realized he was, essentially, in love with Wilson (yeah, I’m going there, no point in backing off now), he realized he loved him enough to let him go.
Closing thoughts: One of the beautiful things about this episode was that one didn't have to analyze it in the context of every other episode ever. It was such a natural progession, which is pretty cool when you think about it.
Also,kiwi_from_hell noticed the clever use of the word "proxy" on the show, as opposed to my calling Amber a "female version". There are some major differences between those words. As she and others pointed out, a proxy is a substitute. Very clearly. Deliberate choice of word on the part of House and TPTB.
Part 2
Authors: (listed in alphabetical order):
geelady, graceasaur, and lilapaddy.Pairing: House/Wilson
Fandom: House MD
Spoilers: spoilers for seasons 3-4.
Notes: screencaps are courtesy of House M.D. HD Screencaps, HughLaurie.Net,
lusciousspike, and theunknownsoul. Quotes for seasons 5 and 6 are courtesy of clinic_duty, a House MD transcript community.Please note that these are their opinions on why they love House/Wilson and how they view the pairing. Your interpretation of the pairing and how you view the individuals involved in the pairing may differ.
Season 3 - by
graceasaur Season Three was an excellent season for House and Wilson. Not only for great scenes between them that showed how much love and care they had for each other, but also how strong their relationship held under pressure. That pressure threatening not only the bonds between them, but their careers and even their freedom.
But before we get to that, let's take a look at early in the season before the Tritter arc reared its ugly head.
During the first two episodes [3x1 "Meaning" and 3x2 "Cane & Able"], Wilson is watching House carefully with his new found lack of leg pain, and when he notices that House's pain is coming back, and House isn't doing his physical therapy like he should be, he does everything he can to convince him to start exercising again, including offering him Vicodin.
Wilson is usually against House's drug use, and would be glad he is off the Vicodin, but watching him run around the hospital, take on multiple cases and generally be happy, it's clear Wilson doesn't want him to go back to being miserable and crippled, and is willing to hand over drugs to him as long as he tries to maintain his leg, and happiness.
When House cures his patient miraculously with a wild idea, Wilson stops Cuddy from telling House that he was right because he felt he had to learn the meaning of 'no'. Things weren't exactly pretty when House found out, but Wilson's reason behind not telling him was touching [3x2 "Cane & Able"]:
House: So, what was the plan? I'd feel so humbled by missing a case that I'd re-evaluate my entire life, question the nature of truth and goodness and become Cameron?
Wilson: Something like that. More that if we told you the truth, that you solved a case based on absolutely no medical proof, you'd think you were God. And I was worried your wings would melt.
House looks hurt before snapping, "God doesn't limp."
Aww... You can't deny how sweet that was. I think Wilson cares about House more then everyone else combined. Another thing to look at is House's experiment back in Season Two where he was borrowing more and more money from Wilson to see where he would draw the line. This money spending continues into Season Three.
Wilson: Look, I'll pay for it myself. What is it, a thousand dollars to carpet a room? [3x4 "Lines in the Sand"]
And then House's bail [3x6 "Que Será Será"]:
House: What took you so long?
Wilson: Sorry, I didn't have fifteen grand in my loose change jar.
Wilson is willing to spend any amount of money in his friendship with House, and I doubt he'll say 'no' to him because the pricetag is too large.
The next thing to look at is House's jealousy when he thinks Wilson is interested in Wendy [3x5 "Fools For Love"].
House: Who's he talking to?
Cameron: What?
House: It's got an ass. Technically that makes it a who.
Cameron: New nurse in peds. Wendy something.
House: You've seen her here before?
Cameron: I tried following her home, but she gave me the slip.
House: *leaves the room and goes over to Wilson and Wendy* You think that's funny? Ask him about the time he sabotaged my cane. Wendy: Are you serious?
Wilson: There was a point to it. Wendy, this is House.
House: Something about not getting too uppity with normal folks who walk good.
Wendy: You're everything I'd heard. Nice to meet you. *leaves* Wilson: Why so rude?
House: You've sprinted through three bad marriages into an affair with a dying patient, now a naughty nurse? How many failed relationships are we both gonna have to deal with before you learn to love yourself? And I mean that in the literal way.
Wilson: It's amazing how you not only know it's a relationship, but that it's a bad relationship, based on nothing but nothing.
House: I know you.
Wilson: I'm not with her, not even trying.
House: You're lying to me. That's interesting. Wilson: Well, as long as it's interesting.
Now, if we examine Wilson's point, "It's amazing how you not only know it's a relationship, but a bad relationship, based on nothing but nothing." He is entirely right and I must point out how Wilson is making this essay very easy to write. House saw Wilson talking to a girl and instantly saw that they were going to get in to a relationship, and said relationship was going to fail. House was jealous, and didn't want a woman in Wilson's life.
Now why would that be? Why don't we look at something Cuddy said in a later episode when House kept interrupting her date
[3x14 "Insensitive"]
Cuddy: There are only two reasons anyone would want to screw with me tonight. Either they're an altruistic, decent person who's worried about my well-being, or they want me for themselves.
Now, I'll just leave you to speculate House's motives when you put this evidence into light. ;)
My theory is later given more proof during this conversation.
Wilson: You're a miserable jerk who can't stand to be alone.
House: I didn't try to break up your marriages. You did that yourself.
Wilson: My marriages were so crappy, I was spending all my time with you. Your real fear is me having a good relationship.
House: Yes, it keeps me up at night. That and the Loch Ness monster, global warming, evolution and other fictional concepts. Although a big romantic weekend in the Poconos could change everything.
Wilson: *points back and forth* You don't... no..
Why did Wilson immediately assume that House meant that the two of them should go on a big romantic weekend if they were talking about Wilson someday having a good relationship? House easily could have meant that if Wilson and Wendy went to the Poconos, their relationship could turn out to be a good one, and 'change everything' meaning Wilson's record of crappy relationships. But no, Wilson assumed House meant the two of them should go and 'change everything' by going from a friendship to a real relationship.
Perhaps that is what Wilson was hoping? Take a good look at this essay, much of the Season Three love came from Wilson. I'm not saying that House does not have the same feelings. I'm saying that Wilson is more aware of them and seems to be constantly showing said feelings, even as House tries to break apart relationships (the one that never existed with Wendy, as well as the short spurt of Wilson and Cuddy seeing each other on a more personal note), being self-destructive (the lack of care to his once healed leg pain, getting back on Vicodin, nearly killing himself with an overdose of alcohol and Oxy), and nearly destroying Wilson's life during the Tritter arc (his money and car being taken away, forcing him to shut down his practice, and almost going to jail for refusing to testify). No matter what House did, Wilson was still helping him and expressing his love for him. I see no other motive for Wilson's actions other then that he loves House.
Okay everyone, buckle up because we're about to take a bumpy ride into the Tritter arc, where friendships are tested and stretched to what would be the breaking point for most.
The start of Wilson getting involved with House's problem with Tritter was when Tritter brought over some prescription pads and asked Wilson if he wrote them for House. Wilson told him that he had, and his answer did not change when Tritter showed him the prescription that was written in different handwritting. He gave the (lame) excuse, "Sometimes I sign my name differently." An obvious lie.
The next episode, Wilson continues to ask House why he had stolen his prescription pad when he could have easily taken one of his ducklings. While they were on the road trip looking for a sandwich for Vegetative State Guy, he finally came up with this, Wilson: Any relationship that involves choice you have to see how far you can push it until it breaks. And one day, it will break, and that'll just prove your theory of everything being conditional.
Not long after, when House realised the only way for Vegetative State Guy's son to live was if he killed himself so his son could have his heart, House got quiet in thought then said,
House: Wilson, get out.
Wilson: No.
House: You lied to the cops enough for me. Maybe I don't want to push this until it breaks.
He looks up at Wilson, looking serious and vulnerable, and Wilson nodded a little before leaving with House's cane to set up an alibi.
So this proves that Wilson isn't the only one with feelings, but keeping House's personality in mind, he doesn't show how he feels very often, and this was an excellent scene with House being vulnerable as he said he didn't want to lose Wilson.
The next episode is when things start to get rocky and House's shoulder starts to hurt which he has various excuses for, such as he pulled a muscle playing fantasy football. But everyone can see the real reason. House feels guilty that Wilson has to lie to the cops for him, and being House and not wanting to express that, he kept it bottled up and it started to come out as physical pain.
Here's a couple examples,
Cuddy: Any changes in your life lately? A fight with the wife maybe? It's good, it means your arm is human.
Now, let's not spend too much time focusing on how House and Wilson are fighting and Cuddy said, "Fight with the wife, maybe?".
I'll let you decide what Cuddy meant. ;)
Wilson: You already feel guilty. The arm pain is from your conscience. I always knew deep down you gave a damn and that used to be enough. But I knew you were either going to help me through this or you weren't. I got my answer.
At the end of the episode, Wilson is sitting on a bench outside waiting for the bus since Tritter took his car, and House goes by on his motorcycle, and they both look at each other silently. Wilson looks angry, and House hurt before he speeds away.
The next episode doesn't have much interaction between the two since they're still fighting, but House is acting like he misses Wilson though he keeps his distance and follows him around silently. House sees Wilson in the doctors lounge where he steals half of his sandwich, and also in the clinic where he points his laser pointer on him from the balcony.
It's like House really wants to apologise to Wilson, but he may be afraid of making himself vulnerable and getting his apology rejected. House knows he's done wrong, and knows Wilson is right to be angry at him.
After Wilson heard that House nearly had a little girl cut in half and that he punched Chase, he decided things were getting out of control and he went to Tritter and told him he did not write the prescriptions that had different handwriting and had a deal set up where House would get two months in rehab in exchange for a guilty plea. House wouldn't have to go to jail and he wouldn't lose his medical license.
House is angry that Wilson ratted him out and refuses the offer, so Wilson suggests to Cuddy that she cut off his Vicodin until he accepts the deal, which she does, as well as throwing him off his latest case.
House starts slowly self-destructing as he detoxes and tries everything he can think of to try and get his hands on pain medication. It even gets to the point where he starts cutting himself to try and relieve the pain with the rush of endorphins.
House isn't the only one under pressure as everyone accuses Wilson of setting up the deal for his own personal gain (he got his car, money and prescribing privileges back) and people start to turn against him, including Cameron and Cuddy. Wilson defends himself and insists he's trying to help and he didn't do it so Tritter would give him his life back. And if you look at Wilson's actions throughout, it's clear he is telling the truth.
Everything he did was to help House, he wouldn't just start trying to save his own ass. That's not his character and he wouldn't do that to House.
Wilson: Sometimes doctors have to do things that make people uncomfortable to help them.
After Wilson sees the state House is in when he comes into the hospital and just about begs him for pain meds, and he catches House trying to steal pills from his dead patient off the bedside table, he starts to doubt what he did and he tells Tritter he won't testify against his friend. Even after Tritter tells Wilson that he will go to jail for interfering with a police investigation, Wilson merely shrugs and says,
Wilson: Statistically, better me than him.
Wilson was willing to give up his life and go to jail if it meant House would go free. If that isn't love, I don't know what is. It's very clear, WILSON LOVES HOUSE.
Afterwards, when Wilson has no way to back out of the deal, he goes to House's office, asking if he had any plans for Christmas. Now that House is about to be going to jail, and Wilson HAS to testify, he's looking for forgiveness from House.
Wilson looks hurt when he says,
Wilson: I thought you might prefer people over pills...
House scoffs and leaves Wilson alone in his office with the saddest damn look on his face.
Wilson didn't give up, and showed up at House's apartment, letting himself in with the key he apparently still had from when they lived with him last season.
Wilson: House? Are you okay? I tried calling... There's something wrong with your machine, there's not even a message...
He trails off when he sees House lying on the floor with a bottle of Oxy and a puddle of vomit. Wilson checks to see if House is alive, then sees the name on the prescription bottle and leaves, disgusted with him.
Now, there's speculation about if this was an actual suicide attempt, or if it was just one of House's 'I can do whatever I want and I don't care what happens' things.
In my opinion, everything points to House doing it on purpose. First off, he's a doctor. He knows that mixing drugs with alcohol is bad. And he knows how much could kill him. Also, he called his parents who he's not too fond of and wished them Merry Christmas (note he knew they were at Aunt Sarah's and he still called their house). Not very House. And his answering machine was off, obviously he didn't want anyone to interfere.
I think House had nothing left to live for. No drugs, no puzzles/medical cases, he was about to be sent to jail, and his best friend was testifing against him. House finally surrendered and went into rehab, even though he cheated the whole time and 'Voldemort' was slipping him Vicodin the entire time, he apologised to Wilson.
[3x11 "Words and Deeds"]
House: I had no business blaming you for any of this. I know you were just trying to help me, protect me. That's what friends do.
Wilson: Is this an apology?
House: It's part of the program. If you don't like it, I can stop.
Wilson: No, it's just so unfamiliar. Please, go on.
When everything finally smoothed out and House only had to stay in jail for one night, Wilson quickly figured out House hadn't really been detoxing from Vicodin, he realised House had given him a genuine apology.
Wilson: The apology. You didn't have to do that to make this work.
House: Believe what you want. *smirks and looks happy*
Thank God all that is over. The boys are back to being best buddies, no more asshole cops making everything suck. Now nothing can come between them after surviving that, now can it? Wrong.
The trouble starts when House gives Wilson tickets to a play [3x19 "Act Your Age"]
House: Play. Interested?
Wilson: Sure. Want me to pick you up?
House: Well, I'm not going.
Wilson: You said two tickets.
House: You thought this was a date?
Wilson: I-I should... *tries to leave*
House: Want the tickets or not?
Wilson: Why don't you want to go with me?
House: It's a play. Dudes only go to plays if they're dragged by women they're hoping to see naked.
Wilson: So, why are you giving them to me?
House: Maybe there's someone you want to see naked.
Wilson: All right. *takes tickets and leaves*
Later, Wilson rushes to House.
Wilson: You were right.
House: I know. But about what? They printed my letter.
Wilson: Great. About Cuddy.
House: You want to see her naked?
Wilson: No. She wants to see me naked. She sent me flowers.
House: She was just thanking you for the play. Because some people feel an emotion called gratitude.
Wilson: There's a card. House: I suspected. That's how you knew who they were from.
Wilson: *gets out card* 'Let's do it again. Soon. XX Lisa.' X's are the kisses, right?
House: No... I think they are the hugs. I think O's are the kisses.
Wilson: No, X's are definitely the kisses. *Wilson runs off when he sees Cuddy*
Cuddy: What's up with Wilson?
House: He's just a little freaked out.
Cuddy: Why? House: I sent him flowers. *smirks*
*Cuddy makes WTF face*
House could have just as easily screwed with Cuddy to get her and Wilson to break up, and if you think about it, why didn't he? House could have sent Cuddy flowers, and it would have been cute, and House really just wanted to break them up because he wanted Cuddy. But no, he sends Wilson the flowers.
Well, this essay is coming to a close, and I'd just like to add a couple miscellaneous things that I couldn't fit in, but don't want to leave out. Wilson was slipping House anti-depressants because he wanted him to be happy, and Foreman's view on Chase/Cameron.
Foreman: House would do Wilson before you'd do Chase.
Chase and Cameron got married. Nuff said.
So, there's Season Three from a Hilson shipper's viewpoint. Wilson is good at expressing how he feels, and House is still working on it, but it's all good. I hope you've enjoyed this and you have a greater respect for my ship.
Season 4: Revelations of Don't Ever Change - by
lilapaddy A/N: This goes in chronological order and it's quite long (over five pages in MSWord, oy). It started out as a meta on the state of H/W, but then I realized how unnecessary and repetitive that would be. So it turned into an argument for House's canonical bisexuality, and again, it starts from my subjective opinion of the first important scene and goes on to analyze seven more major exchanges. The way I did this was by naming each relevant scene only for the sake of summary, and then quoting the most important parts, followed by analyses.
1. Amber's Apartment
Amber: “So, which is it, House? Am I in this for you, or am I in this for him?”
House: “Give him back his sweatshirt. Pit stains don’t become you.”
I think Amber has House figured out on this one, which might be why she cattily asks him to join Wilson and her later on their lunch date at the Asian fusion restaurant. I think Amber knows the deal even before House does.
As for House’s threat, it can’t possibly be construed as anything but. That was a death glare if we ever saw one—and I’m not sure we ever have seen such a look wrt a Cuddy relationship or a Cameron relationship…
2. At the Asian Fusion Restaurant
House: “She’s the anti-Wilson, she’s a force for evil.”
Wilson: “She has an annoying quality, perhaps even two. If I was perfect, I would date perfect.”
House: “You like that!”
Wilson: “It’s annoying, but she’s good at it.”
House: “Wait a second. This is not just about the sex. You like her personality, you like that she’s conniving, you like that she has no regard for consequences, you like that she can humiliate someone if it serves—oh my god. You’re sleeping with me.”
How good are RSL and HL in this scene? It’s a campy scene, no doubt about it, but they play it like the pros they are. It’s really a thing of beauty—the only thing that elevates that kind of dialogue above witty gossip to the level of brilliance it achieves is through the facial expressions and inflections that HL, primarily, but then RSL, too, delivers. Qualities of tone and facial expressions are obviously up for interpretation, but my take on House’s expression is that he really is realizing this for the first time. It’s not a joke. He’s clearly shaken up. HL doesn’t meet RSL’s eyes after he finishes his proclamation, just shoves the drink at him and runs off. Which is so perfect, but moving on…RSL, by contrast, has an almost unreadable expression, one I would love to read any and all of your opinions on, but to me it seems a simple look of contemplation. He’s not repulsed by the idea, and most importantly, he doesn’t immediately resist or reject the notion—a clear fear of House’s, as demonstrated by the next H/W scene.
But first, the first major Thirteen-House parallel scene.
3. Foreman and Thirteen Test the Patient
Thirteen: “We oversimplify people. It’s how the human mind works. Everything’s either on or off, everything’s got a category.”
Very analytical, Thirteen. Whose pet peeve does this resemble? Way to learn from your mentor.
Foreman: “You don’t like it. You don’t want to be oversimplified.”
Thirteen: “No one can describe themselves in ten words. Why would we want to hear anyone else do it?”
Foreman: “So you keep it a mystery. No categories if no one knows anything.”
Thirteen: “Do you think maybe you’re oversimplifying me now?”
Foreman: “No. I’m sure you have many reasons for keeping yourself a mystery, besides the fact that you’re bisexual...The denial would’ve worked before the long vacant stare.”
Wow. None of your business, first off, Foreman, but we as the audience wouldn’t know it for sure unless someone on the show explicitly said it, and since, for whatever godforsaken reason, it is more socially accepted for women than men to be loudly accused of being bisexual on network television, we have to assume that this completely random facet of Thirteen serves a secondary (deeper?) purpose within the context of this episode.
Foreman: “People who have a problem with boxes are people who don’t fit in them.”
Aha. Here’s what I would argue is the first major hint that TPTB are drawing an intentional parallel between House and Thirteen. House has a problem with boxes—everyone lies, no one’s ever who they say they are, even the rant about not being “that guy” (from “Ugly”) is all about House hating to be put in a box. We’ve also seen that this is true of Thirteen as well; she resists being characterized in any way at any time by anyone, an annoying quality we should assume is meant to further validate her place on the show as someone similar to House in some significant ways.
4. Next to the Elevator
House: “Went by your hotel this morning. They told me you moved out.”
Damn. We’ve been waiting for Wilson to move out of that hotel for, what, two years? Chances are, it’s indicative of Amber’s staying power. This is likely not just a two-episode arc, which maybe some of you already guessed, but to me, this proves it.
House: “Moved in with CB?”
Wilson: “No, apparently I moved in with you.”
If only. Wilson at first seems to be taking this whole revelation pretty lightly. Anyway, confirmation that yep, Wilson and Amber are officially living together. After four weeks.
House: “The very fact that you’re resisting my insight proves to me that—“
Wilson: “House, you’re right. Why not? Why not date you?”
Whoa. Back up. First of all, Wilson’s not resisting your insight. Paranoid much, House? (Actually, that question’s been answered about three hundred times this episode already.) Second of all, I think that line from Wilson actually killed some fangirls.
Wilson: “It’s brilliant. We’ve known each other for years, we’ve put up with all kinds of crap from each other, and we keep coming back.”
Thank you! Thank you for calling every shipper that has known this for years brilliant! But where the hell can this conversation be going?
Wilson: “We’re a couple!”
House: “Are we still speaking metaphorically?”
Wilson: “Amber is exactly what I need, and you would agree, if you weren’t so mired in self-loathing, topped by a thin crust of megalomania.”
House: “Hey, that’s my best friend’s girl you’re talking about.”
Best. Line. Ever. I’m sure everyone here will have their own opinion on which line or exchange makes “Don’t Ever Change” the best episode in the history of television, but for me, that last bit from House makes it. It’s characteristic humor, maybe, but it’s also incredibly sweet. Consider what Wilson’s saying: that the female version of House is perfect for him and that House would see that if he didn’t hate himself so much and/or if he weren’t so blinded by his own attachment to Wilson. Furthermore, the kind of analysis Wilson always does for House (the self-loathing and megalomania accusations) registers as unhealthy to House for maybe the first time. And I’m pretty sure that was House defending himself by way of declaring himself “my best friend’s girl,” after which Wilson points at him to further imply the same thing. Whoa. Dense stuff, here. I may have missed something, there's so damned much going on.
House: “I was wrong.”
Wilson: “House, you’re right!”
Not as lightly confirmed this time.
House: “She’s not me. Well, she is me, but that’s not why she’s attractive. She’s a needy version of me.”
Wilson: “Hard to imagine such a mythical creature.”
This cannot possibly be House’s brilliant theory. We all know he’s needy as hell.
House: “You started seeing her right after I fired her.”
Wilson: “I started seeing her four months ago.”
House: “No, she told Kutner it was four weeks. You lied to me. There was money on the line—“
Wilson: “Because I knew how you’d react and I knew you wouldn’t pay me anyway.”
Presumably, Wilson knew House would declare that he was following his old pattern. Wilson didn’t necessarily know House would freak out THIS hard, but that’s up for debate, as always.
House: “Because you knew that I was right.”
Wilson: “She wasn’t needy, she was in a bad situation! There’s a difference.”
House: “Not to your libido.”
Holy son of a mother. Did he just actually say that? Wilson’s need to be needed has been addressed time and time again, but this is the first time that is put into a box by House as being a highly sexualized thing. Before this, it had been somewhat vague, and we know(!) that Wilson sticks around with House because of House’s perennial neediness. Which is of course confirmed in the second scene between House and Cuddy in this episode when she reminds House that he’s “the long-distance runner of neediness”. Most excellent.
Wilson: “Wait a minute, wait a minute. Why are you doing this? Every time I agree with you, you find a new argument. What are you trying to avoid?”
Emphasis mine, though the music underscoring Wilson’s line is the usual “mysterious/realization” score, the same one they used in “Top Secret” when Wilson informed House about the Village People’s military guy. This was the second major hint that there is something serious and deep happening in terms of House’s self-awareness this episode.
Wilson: “Well, if you’d looked at me with those flashing eyes before I was involved…C’est la vie. And I use the French because you’re an ass.”
Ah, playful!Wilson. You are so fun when we’re in the boring department of backstory or when a patient’s illness is depressing the hell out of the audience. When House is actually coming on to you? Not the right time! You should not toy with the shippers in this manner! It is cruel and unusual. But moving on, House smiles half-heartedly when Wilson goes into his office, and he has that preoccupied look that he wears for at least 60% of this episode.
I’m just going to briefly assess the scene between House and Cuddy, and obviously, I’m hoping other people write metas on this meaty episode and cover anything and everything I’ve missed. I do think the fact that House’s reaction to the conversation he’s just had with Wilson is strange: he goes immediately to a female surrogate and tells her to sleep with Wilson. Interesting.
5. After Roz's Reactions Confuse Kutner
This DDX scene surpasses the normal subtext and actually uses the B plot explicitly to diagnose the patient.
House: “The body’s doing the opposite of what it’s supposed to. Her body’s Wilson. How do we respond to that?”
Foreman: “We accept that he’s happy.”
House: “We do the opposite.”
Thirteen: “So you want us to, what, send the patient home?”
House: “An infection means that something’s been added to the body, something that should be expelled. What’s the opposite of that?”
My guess is that he’s talking about getting rid of Amber, but I could easily be wrong.
Kutner: “Something missing from the body.”
Another clear hint to the audience that House is not formulating his equation right wrt Wilson’s relationship, either—some important fact or perspective is missing.
I have absolutely no idea of what to make of the Wilson/Cuddy scene, except that it’s adorable that Cuddy does, in fact, follow House’s suggestion and talk to Wilson. Maybe a bone toss to the Huddy shippers? Anyone feel like following up on that?
6. Chase Involved
And the token House/Chase scene! We’ve missed that.
Chase: “I had a rabbi called. She’s adamant.”
House: “She’s not a masochist, she’s suicidal. Nice work, Chase.”
Chase: “Yeah, I should’ve had twin rabbis called. Can I go?”
Besides the prerequisite in-joke about David Shore’s brothers (aren’t they twin rabbis in Israel?), this scene serves to demonstrate a critical emotional change in House.
House: “We need you. So now instead of a few days, we have a few hours to figure this out. Nice work, Chase.”
Chase: “Why do you need me?”
House: “Saying ‘nice work, Chase’ when you’re not here is pointless. Seriously, we need you.”
So House is using a new technique to get what he wants—positive reinforcement. Complimenting Chase because he really does need him for this DDX: another genius foreshadowing about how House is changing this episode.
At first, as you know, Chase leaves, and House looks disappointed and frustrated, but his new tactic worked, and Chase comes back to help them solve the problem of sundown.
I want to point out that the gorgeous Eastern European violin music that plays over the husband wishing the POTW “Good shabbas” (basically “Shabbat Shalom”, though I’m a lapsed Jew in the same vein as Taub, so feel free to correct me) is referenced later when the husband sings the blessing for his wife over a shot of House looking melancholy out a window. It’s an interesting choice, given that the episode ends with House and Wilson wishing one another the same thing.
Going to ignore the Amber-House scene where he tells her to drop Wilson to get the job. I have absolutely no idea how this arc is going to pan out, and while Amber’s speech about love and respect is enough to make any shipper squeal in jealousy, and while Anne Dudek’s performance is a refreshing series of unexpected choices, I’m going to leave that scene untouched because it doesn’t really serve my purpose at the moment.
The scene between Taub, Foreman, House, and Kutner in which House shoots down nearly every diagnosis also seems to have a double meaning, though it might be going too far past the “delusional” line to suggest that it’s mirroring the internal thought process House is going through over his feelings for Wilson. Or maybe it’s not going far enough. House actually says at the end of that scene, “Things aren’t where we want them to be just because we want them to be there,” which may be reinforcing the (new to him?) notion that he can’t take Wilson for granted, because Wilson might actually find happiness with someone else. This line also leads to House realizing…something. Maybe two somethings. At least one thing he realizes is the final diagnosis of floating kidney for the POTW, of course, but there’s usually a double meaning to almost everything in this show.
7. After Finally Diagnosing Roz
The final DDX is followed by a pretty significant exchange between House and Thirteen.
House: “You do it both ways, right?”
Thirteen: “What?”
House: “The ultrasound, you do it standing up and lying down. What else would I mean?”
Hopefully, we can agree that House is not talking about the ultrasound. I think it’s pretty clear to any viewer worth their salt that House is asking, crass as ever, if Thirteen is bisexual. It’s kind of rhetorical, because he somehow has figured it out already, and seems to just want to see her reaction. She’s predictably surprised and somewhat affronted, so he covers by invoking the ultrasound procedure, which is obviously not what he meant the first time, as evidenced by HL’s delivery, the music playing beneath the scene, and OW’s expression.
And then he winks at her. You could, and I know some will, read that wink as a typically lascivious House move, since we know he fantasizes about lesbians, or at least jokes often that he does (see “Who’s Your Daddy” and “Needle in a Haystack” for evidence). I’m gonna go down that unpopular road of optimism and suggest, as I’m sure some of you have already as well, that this was the kind of wink that’s given in solidarity. As in, yeah, House “does it both ways,” too. I’m not suggesting this for the sake of being controversial; that is literally the way I saw that exchange before I even went online to see what other people thought. If you doubt the validity of that interpretation and have access to viewing the scene a second, third, or fourth time, please do. HL smiles knowingly at the end of it. Knowingly, not lasciviously. He’s not fantasizing about Thirteen, that’s for sure.
And consider the placement of the above exchange: right before the last, critical scene with Wilson. I read a number of comments yesterday night that said the episode should have ended without the last scene, but I think the fact that they did throw in a H-W scene right after House’s apparent bisexual revelation is huge.
8. Another Episode Ending With House and Wilson
House: “I’ve decided you could do worse than a female proxy for me.”
Anyone else notice (upon obsessive re-watching), that House took the elevator down, and in the short time it took him to go from Wilson’s office to the first floor in the elevator, Wilson had run down the steps? He runs at House from the stairwell. Desperation. I like it. Looks good on everyone in this show.
Wilson: “So you’re going to acknowledge that people can change?”
House: “No.”
Wilson: “You think I’ve changed or Amber’s changed?”
House: “Nope.”
Wilson: “Then you’ve changed.”
House: “If you do change, can it be the part of you that chases me down halls trying to change me?”
In case you missed it, which I’m sure you didn’t, that was canon confirmation that something major has changed with House.
Wilson: “Do you know what this means?”
House: “That you made one good dating choice. The fabric of the space-time continuum can unravel.”
Wilson: “My world could expand. I could form a long-term connection that isn’t with you. And since you put the darkest possible construction on everything, you could end up losing a friend. You’ve thought of all this, and yet you’re going along with it. Are you being…self-sacrificing?”
House: “I’ll sacrifice a lab rat, I’ll sacrifice a fly, I’ll sacrifice two hundred on a mudder at Monmouth Park, I don’t sacrifice self. Shabbat shalom, Wilson.”
Wilson: “Shabbat shalom, House.”
Well.
Echoing other episodes that were notoriously full of Hoyay is a great way to end an episode (“Words and Deeds”, “Act Your Age”, “What a Wonderful Lie”), but it’s not just the last goodbye (for an indeterminable amount of time, no less) that kills me.
Wilson acknowledges House’s change, that he’s being maybe just a tad less selfish/possessive/unhealthy. And why is that?
I’ll argue until canon says otherwise (which I don’t think it will) that it’s because House has realized and accepted his bisexuality, or at least a funny little quirk of an otherwise heteronormative sexuality that is romantically and physically attracted to Wilson. Once House realized he was, essentially, in love with Wilson (yeah, I’m going there, no point in backing off now), he realized he loved him enough to let him go.
Closing thoughts: One of the beautiful things about this episode was that one didn't have to analyze it in the context of every other episode ever. It was such a natural progession, which is pretty cool when you think about it.
Also,
kiwi_from_hell noticed the clever use of the word "proxy" on the show, as opposed to my calling Amber a "female version". There are some major differences between those words. As she and others pointed out, a proxy is a substitute. Very clearly. Deliberate choice of word on the part of House and TPTB.Part 2
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We will in season 7 :) (Here's hoping that season 7 proves to be just as amazing for our ship as season 6 has been).
Also, is it possible to do a meta on H/W dialogue after each episode.
That would be a wonderful idea.
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