(S5E18) "Cats make terrible doctors. Oh wait, that's women." -House
We get a break from the angst factory this week. The neurotic and usually enjoyable Judy Greer guest star's as the patient of the week, who arrives at PPH with fake seizures, green pee and a cat that can predict the deaths of old people. With all that, and some light-hearted pranking between House and Kutner, and this episode felt like it should have aired around Halloween, and not near the end of the season.
I enjoyed parts of this episode but didn't get any real dramatic tension from it. Even while crazy cat lady Judy was possibly dying, it was hard to muster up any emotion beside indifference to her situation.I had a moment of panic when it seemed that perhaps something actually was wrong with House, since we've been given clues in previous episodes that his pain problem is getting worse, but that passed quickly when it all turned out to be prank on Kutner. Aside from that, there was very little emotional drama in this episode. Even the dead step-son wasn't enough to engage me in the patients plight.
While House is often known for it's gut wrenching and heavy plots, I felt like they tried to shoe-horn in the dead kid here. It felt tacked on and forced, out of sync with the rest of the episode's tone.
Despite the lack of emotional engagement, there were some bright spots in and episode that was mostly filler.
We got to see a side of Taub that we haven't seen before, angry, impatient and kind of a jerk. While I am all for House getting some of his medicine handed back to him, Taub's attacks were passive aggressive and really had no direct bearing on House himself. He acted out of frustration for his own situation and lashed out at the closest target. It was a totally coward move.
It was good to see Chase again also. I like how they trot him out when a patient needs a sympathetic ear to listen to them whine about the lack of meaning in their lives. Though, the next time he pops up, I'll assume that we're in for another episode that ruminates on life, death, faith, chance and meaning. These are themes that when interwoven in well crafted episodes can provide real insight. Here, we got a few meandering thoughts with any real cohesive structure. It's all fine and good, and much better than a lot of shows can do, but lacked a lasting impact.
There were some funny moments as well, and I laughed out loud at the pee in House's chair. Kutner really did get him good.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-17-2009 @ 12:39PM
Parl said...
Yeah, it wasn't a bad episode, but it wasn't a good episode. I still think House is hands down the best show on TV. Whenever I watch reruns on USA I still marvel at how fresh they've kept the show throughout the years. Unfortunately, this won't be one of the episodes that makes me feel that way.
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3-17-2009 @ 12:48PM
ral said...
No joke...i've actually forgotten what was really wrong with the POTW. now, that might say something for my memory, but i'm taking it to mean that this episode just never really engaged me or got me to care about her in any way.
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3-17-2009 @ 12:49PM
Bill said...
House is a great show. This was a good epsiode, not great. I'd like to see them get Chase and Cameron back involved in the storyline. I guess that's coming.
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3-17-2009 @ 4:00PM
bc said...
I had fun watching the cat's body language. There were a couple of scenes where it was definitely unhappy with its role. I'm not sure that Hugh Laurie is an actor who likes working with animals, either, but he did a pretty good job of hiding that. I wonder if there were any offscreen "incidents."
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3-17-2009 @ 4:03PM
mrkorb said...
Title of this episode: Here Kitty
Guest Star: Judy Greer
Name of Judy Greer's character on Arrested Development: Kitty
In-joke anybody?
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3-20-2009 @ 10:28AM
Harry said...
Loved the in-joke! Kept waiting for her to say 'Say goodbye to these!'
3-17-2009 @ 4:11PM
C C said...
People will "get" this episode later on. A grey cat named "Debbie" with green eyes and a red collar who hangs around people about to die? Too funny.
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3-17-2009 @ 4:35PM
Michael said...
This episode was great. And that doesn't mean I don't agree with the comments above - I do. This script and the mystery was rather simple & contrived. That wasn't were the greatness resides - it was the opening scene.
We start with House trying to "jump the shark" with a toy car and Cuddy ultimately prevents it. Anytime writers make such a blatant homage you can count on symbolism. That scene was joined by very interesting - even suggestive - camera angles on Cuddy/House scenes.
What do I think it means? I think the writers are foreshadowing a blossoming romance between Cuddy & House in a effort to keep the show fresh.
I'm interested to hear what you think!
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3-18-2009 @ 3:41AM
btownfritz said...
Anyone think to comment on how Cuddy kept House from Jumping the Shark ar the beginning of the episode?
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3-19-2009 @ 2:23AM
Michael said...
check comment 7
3-21-2009 @ 12:32AM
been there done that said...
Hugh Laurie said something in interview in the last six months about wanting to keep in shape for his bedroom scenes with Cuddy.. Can't remember where I saw it.
Did no one notice that the POTW case wasn't wrapped up neatly at all? When House is in Wilson's office, the two of them figure out that she doesn't have Cushing's, she has cancer in the form of a tumor in/on her appendix. House then calls the OR to stop the surgery on her pituitary gland.. then we see him talking to POTW as she packs her things for her trip home. Hello? What happened to the tumor? Did the cancer mysteriously disappear? Remission by feline? What??
Gray Debbie/Red collar/green eyes/the dying.. Sorry, C C, you are apparently too hip for the room. At least, my room. What's the what?
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3-17-2009 @ 10:31PM
jffm said...
I thought Taub's story was the real center of this episode. He's really coming apart. I have to wonder if this isn't part of a very interesting thread for the season. They've already mentioned that Taub tried to commit suicide when he was younger.
But we're back to a repeat next week, so I'll have to wait for my answers.
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3-17-2009 @ 10:33PM
jffm said...
Actually, I should really say they've alluded to Taub having tried to commit suicide. We never got any confirmation of Kutner's assumption.
3-20-2009 @ 7:47PM
metz said...
I think we're starting to see the collapse of Taub. I'm expecting to see something pretty traumatic from him by the end of the season. the question is, will they portray House as the driving reason behind Taub's unhappiness?
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