(S05E11) "Merry Christmas, Cuddy." - House to Cuddy on the potential adoption of her new baby
Once again it's Christmas at Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital. Or, rather, it was Christmas at a Princeton-Plainsboro of an alternate reality. That's because our favorite characters were opposite of their normal selves. Foreman was out of House's shadow, Kutner was angry, Cuddy came up with the diagnosis instead of House, Thirteen was smiling, and House was ... House was ...
House was kind. And he wore a tie! Oh, wait -- that's just because he was trying to win a bet with Wilson. It was the normal reality after all. Well, that's a relief! I was actually setting my left-handed dimensional shifter to return my television to this universe. Now, I can have it make some dehydrated water instead. So, while my snipe is doing that, let's take a look at this week's episode.
It was a good episode, if not a bit uneven. It was almost like they forgot there was a medical case to solve after they added in everything else. It turned out to be a pivotal mystery. Not for the patient, who wasn't going to make it beyond the episode, but for Cuddy in a few ways. One, it was she who had the epiphany on the patient's condition (eclampsia). Two, she finally got the baby she always wanted.
Thinking further, it really was Cuddy's episode -- House was just a supporting character (which he seems to be doing a lot of this season). She replaced Foreman at the head of the differential table, she spent most of the time with the patient, and she ended up getting her wish. I will admit that I had a bit of a lump in my throat when she and the baby were alone together.
Speaking about Foreman ... has he finally gotten out of House's shadow with this clinical study? Though his partner thinks that he hasn't (hence, the reason she hired him in the first place), it does seem like he has shed the Greg House skin and become his own type of diagnostician. He also seems like he's gotten Thirteen to turn her life around and continue with the clinical trial. That's a pretty big accomplishment, because Thirteen was headed down the quickest path to her death. Speaking of Thirteen ...
Uh, her and Foreman? Oh sure, you could see them getting together this episode all the way from Alpha Centauri (well, you would technically see it about four years from now), but it was still strange to see. If anything, it may refute my above statements that Foreman is no longer House. Think about it for a moment: there was always some sort of electricity between House and Cameron. Perhaps this little thing between Foreman and Thirteen is an extension of that relationship.
Now House. How weird was it to see him being pals with the clinic patients? Especially since these were the stupidest patients ever to step through the door. They were so stupid that the Stupid family would probably be laughing at them. Nevertheless, because of his fake kindness, he was able to win Wilson's bet. It wasn't all for show, though. When he wished Cuddy a Merry Christmas in the NICU ward, he was being genuinely nice to her. Now, if they would just hook up, we could close that little sexual tango they do every week.
Okay, last thing. There was some enjoyable interaction between the boy docs when it came to the gift House left on the conference table. Particularly when Wilson weaved that heart-wrenching story about the 'one that got away' from House. For the merest of seconds, I thought that he was telling the truth. The other moment came when Taub tried to provoke House into admitting his love for Cuddy. Yeah, you knew House wasn't going to fall for it -- particularly with Kutner and Thirteen holding in their laughs. Still, it was good to see House on the other side of a practical joke.
Well, that's it for House in 2008. Thanks to the unruly juggernaut known as American Idol, the show will be moving to Mondays at 8:00 pm. When it returns, you'll have some new reviewers to praise and berate (at the same time). I thank you for indulging me for the last season and a half. I'll see you next year.
Fringe' Show & Cast Photos
FRINGE Walter (John Noble), Peter (Joshua Jackson), Olivia (Anna Torv) and Broyles (Lance Reddick) enter a governement warehouse to examine a mysterious cylinder found among the debris of a construction site explosion in the episode "The Arrival." Airs Tuesday, September 30, 2008.
Fox
FRINGE Peter (Joshua Jackson), Olivia (Anna Torv), Walter (John Noble) and Broyles (Lance Reddick) return to the lab to gather more information on a mysterious cylinder found among the debris of a construction site explosion in the episode "The Arrival." Airs Tuesday, September 30, 2008.
Fox
FRINGE Olivia (Anna Torv) chases a suspect through the woods in the episode "The Arrival." Airs Tuesday, September 30, 2008.
Fox
FRINGE Walter (John Noble, L) and Peter (Joshua Jackson, R) examine a mysterious cylinder found among the debris of a construction site explosion in the episode "The Arrival." Airs Tuesday, September 30, 2008.
Fox
FRINGE Olivia (Anna Torv) chases a suspect through the woods in the episode "The Arrival". Airs Tuesday, September 30, 2008.
Fox
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Actress Jasika Nicole attends FOX's "Fringe" premiere during the 2008 New York Television Festival at New World Stage on September 13, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jasika Nicole
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Executive Producers John Wirth, Josh Friedman and James Middleton arrive at The Paley Center and TV Guide
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Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Molly Stanton arrive at The Paley Center and TV Guide
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Jesse Tyler Ferguson arrives at The Paley Center and TV Guide
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-10-2008 @ 2:30AM
comctrl6 said...
Am I the only one who misses House's clinical duty hours? They were always short, entertaining pieces, much like the Asthma lady and her use of her inhaler in this episode.
Reply
12-17-2008 @ 5:17PM
Igor said...
Yeah, that part of the asthmatic woman was great; when he asks her to show how she uses the inhaler... even if you know from the moment he enters the room that she's going to do exactly that :-)
12-10-2008 @ 4:13AM
StillBash said...
Ha ha.
I guessed Foreman getting it on with someone last episode. Said there was nothing left to show except House/Cuddy and maybe that blond chick with the blond guy (you know, those "have beens" from previous seasons - yes I know their names this is just talking them down).
So the only guy left who didn't get some action is Kutner. Yikes.
Seriously, that makeout scene was just ugly. I mean that beard Foreman sports is just ridiculous.
Ah well. I guess I'm just jealous.
Reply
12-10-2008 @ 8:00AM
JB said...
Irene Adler was the patient House was obsessed with because he missed the diagnosis and she died IIRC(from the Casino Night episode). If you knew that, it was immediately obvious Wilson was BSing the team
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12-28-2008 @ 2:45AM
Jae said...
No, that was Esther.
12-10-2008 @ 8:03AM
Takayo said...
This episode was like the last one- more comedic than dramatic, and I'm glad House has started to turn for that mold instead of focusing so intensely on drama. I'm also glad the show's become a more ensemble endeavor instead of just focusing on House and maybe throwing a little bit of a story to another character per episode. And I was laughing my ass off at the Irene Adler story- from the moment the name came up I knew Wilson was lying since she's Sherlock Holmes' would be girlfriend.
And damn the move to Mondays! Now I'll have to choose whether to watch Chuck or House MD!
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12-10-2008 @ 10:31AM
Happy Steve said...
same here. I laughed as soon as I heard "Irene Adler". That plus the Joseph Bell mention made me wonder if this ep was going to be ladened heavily with Sherlock references.
12-10-2008 @ 9:19AM
Dafyd Jones said...
Couple of meta-jokes that I enjoyed...
- The book that Wilson gave House was Dr Joseph Bell's Manual of Surgery - Bell was Arthur Conan Doyle's teacher, and is widely thought to be the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. Another House/Holmes reference.
- House complaining about Wilson spoiling his joke, asked if he told people that Kevin Spacey was Keyser Soze. The Usual Suspects was, of course, directed by Bryan Singer, who executive produces House.
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12-10-2008 @ 9:56AM
Cyn said...
Irene Adler is also a Sherlock Holmes character. She is one of the few to ever beat Holmes.
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12-10-2008 @ 10:01AM
greyhoundverona said...
House and Cuddy are over. That's what was on House's face at the end. She has what she wanted - a child. She doesn't need House anymore. Hell, she won't want to subject a child to him. And he knows it, and knows she's right. They're over. Count on it.
The Irene Adler name-drop was a bit too self-aware. I've always enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes comparisons - he lives at 221B, his name, his addictions, his best-friend Wilson/Watson. But to be so blatantly heavy-handed with this reference was poor writing. And automatically makes me question if Wilson is aware of the Holmes connection. Otherwise, why that name?
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12-10-2008 @ 10:29AM
bruce said...
The reason Wilson's Irene Adler story was initially believable was because they were playing the "serious/emotional/revolation" music while he was telling it. The high-octave dum da dummm music. It was somewhat disingenuous to play that music over a prank, as music gives emotionalal cues to the audience, subliminal or not. I only picked up on the music the second time I watched the episode, already knowing Wilson was just kidding about "the one that got away."
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12-10-2008 @ 11:03AM
Kim said...
I'm not buying the whole Thirteen/Foreman relationship. There's just no chemistry there.
Ok, now that House has told the pregnant couple that she is having this miracle child, what will happen when this couple ends up on The Oprah Show?
I'm also not buying that the grandparents wouldn't want to keep the baby because it will be a bad reminder. That's just a crock!
This just wasn't a good or believable episode.
Reply
12-10-2008 @ 3:58PM
Max said...
This episode started out funny, but:
1- I could see Cuddy getting the baby coming from a mile away, after she goes to search the crack house alone. This whole Cuddy/baby storyline along is enough to make me puke and
2- The 13/Foreman thing. Yuck.I guess all any lesbian really needs is a good man, right? Anyhow, it seemed completely forced and contrived.
I consider this episode the jumping of the shark for House, sorry. Fox has to ruin every good show it gets, doesn't it?
Reply
12-11-2008 @ 4:29AM
Stigmata said...
you're a racist, plain and simple.
12-11-2008 @ 8:48AM
pointfour said...
They never said she was a lesbian - she's bisexual.
12-11-2008 @ 6:40PM
Jimmy said...
a) Though the 13/Foreman kiss seemed forced and out-of-nowhere, just kinda contrived. Will see what becomes of it.
b) If I remember right, Irene Adler was the name of the school-teacher patient in the pilot episode?
Generally a funny, very good episode. But at times the pacing seemed off and again I didn't like the kiss too much.
Reply
12-28-2008 @ 2:49AM
Jae said...
Nope, her name was Rachel or Rebecca, I forget which.
1-06-2009 @ 4:17PM
rachael said...
it was rachel cuz wilson kept calling her rebecca and foreman called him out on it
12-24-2008 @ 7:37PM
Mary W said...
Does anyone know the name of the actor who played the male bully (sold Mallory vodka, got her pregnant, brought her homework)? I think his name was Simon.
Reply
2-03-2009 @ 4:20PM
gracieray said...
Actually, I think that the House/Cameron electricity was a really good story line that could've been taken down a longer, interesting path. I really miss having Chase/Cameron/Foreman working with House on cases-
I just saw the episode with House and his ex, when they get stranded in the airport, due to snow. I thought it was CLASSIC House for them to put him IN the airport writing his thoughts on the wall to try to figure out a patient's case! Has anyone else ever thought that it really doesn't seem like House, himself, solves the cases, but goes on the help/brainstorming of his team(aka Chase, Cameron, Foreman) I still think that there will be more between House and Cuddy- I saw the episode during which he covers his steak with salad, so that he only has to pay for the salad! I thought that was classic House!! Loved it!
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