House, M.D. - "One Day, One Room" + related fandom vent
Okay, THIS is what I meant to post the other day when lj was being poopy:
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This is very House, M.D. fandom-related. If you don't watch House, this will make NO SENSE. Feel free to ignore.
I have been meaning for a long while to post my thoughts on recent House episodes. I've not posted much of anything about House at all in this journal, because 1) I wasn't aware of ANYONE on my list who even watches the show until just recently, and 2) I wasn't posting much, period.
I meant to post a near ESSAY weeks ago with regards to "One Day, One Room," but that was the point at which my home computer ran down the curtain and shuffled off it's mortal coil, AND I've been home sick for three weeks. It was really an essay in my head, although I've lost many of the main points to some random memory storage I can't access, sadly.
I came here to post a few thoughts behind a cut (as I'm sure you non-House fans couldn't care less) about the most recent episode, the subsequent hour-long conversation I had with my mother about TV characterization challenges and fandom perspectives, and how that ties into my thoughts on the WHOA promo for the next episode. I was just going to sum up "One Day, One Room" really fast - I was picturing some weakly "Bridget Jones"-style summaries.
Ep. amazing. Clinic hilarity nearly hernia-inducing. Conversation with girl v. deep. At least think conversation with girl v. deep, could be wrong.** House "secret" well-played, am reflecting on own past. Have new philosophy: Hugh Laurie world genius.
Have second new philosophy: fandom full of morons.
**In case anyone thinks that I really believe this is as "deep" as philosophy gets, I'm playin'.
...Like that. Possibly stuff about "Needle in a Haystack," too. But I realized when I got to the update box that there's some older stuff that I really, REALLY need to get off my chest which I've been swallowing. Should've just given in to the inevitable and said this sooner.
If you DO watch the show, feel free to follow along here.
[SPOILERS AHEAD]:
One Day, One Room:
Amazing episode, one of the best ever. Up there with "Three Stories," "All In" and "Son of a Coma Guy" as one of my faves. (Although the last one there was a medical atrocity, the character interaction alone allows me to forgive it.)
Loved the clinic scenes. "Haven't you ever seen Dawson's Creek?" actually reminded me of working in customer service and having to come up with lines to query and explain. (Like, "ANY burrito can be Big Baja size...no, ANY... Look. You've been to Starbucks, right? Well the Baja Burrito isn't a specific burrito. It's like...any burrito can be a VENTI burrito! Bajas are just venti.") Loved the back-and-forth with the girl, and trying to come around to face each other on so many levels. (And personally, liked the actress.) Loved the ducklings getting in their Three Stooges rountine - classic. And House was simply pitch-perfect, thanks to Hugh Laurie's talent. He can't play any scene wrong with this character.
House's "secret." Was it really a secret? I hated House's father on the spot because he was so OBVIOUSLY abusive in that quietly menacing, psychologically tormenting sort of way that many people will overlook in favour of accepting "good 'ole boy" charm. He's the kind of man who excuses his own actions as necessary evils, and therefore morally justified. House obviously learned early the dark reality that people prefer self-denial and comfortable actions to truthful ones: that came from somewhere, and it's fairly easy to guess where the bulk of that lesson came from.
[It's a one-sided point of view, but it IS true: everybody's out to get theirs. Generally, they don't give a shit about YOU.]
I could understand why people didn't want it to be sexual abuse because it would have come across as a cheap shock; and besides, it doesn't quite fit his character. But what the writers chose was entirely appropriate. Or maybe I just think that because I identify with House, and I know what it's like to try the front door late in the evening when your father KNOWS you're outside on your own, and discover it locked.
But I think I'll defend my bias as correct, anyway: it fits.
I was initially eager to hear what other people had to say about that episode, and was really aggravated that I couldn't get online. And then I did...
Fandom is full of some self-righteous bitches, I'ma say.
Dear House fandom:
You've got some real balls. Or ovaries, as the case may be. And a good lot of you are single-handedly keeping the whineyards in business.
You got in a good amount of childish foot-stamping when this episode aired. Then you threw in snide remarks about it following "Needle in a Haystack." And now, post-"Insensitive," you're continuing to complain! Could you give it a rest? It'd be nice to read some fandom-related communities for the next bit without reading someone's comment on how this episode knocked down their sand castle and stole their pail and shovel.
You don't want House explained? If you haven't been paying attention, this show has been chipping away at House since the first episode. It says more about you than it does about House OR the show that you think one revelation of abuse actually sums up the entire complex man. Of course he's beyond full explanation. We all are. But this show has emphasized many times that actions and events have consequences; and House in particular is keen on that point. Whether you like how this was written or not, please don't tell me that you really think this show would have come to a close without producing some background on the guy.
You didn't like the backstory? In real life, abuse actually, y'know, happens. It doesn't exist or not exist for your own shallow entertainment. It doesn't take the form that pleases you best, or which is the most fun to write in fic. And that goes for your attitude toward both House AND the girl.
Your attitude: it's sick in a way I can't quite put my finger on. I like to read fanfiction because I like to see what people will do with characters I know and love - where they'll take them, what they'll explore. I don't read it to see people use characters as playthings, and I ALSO don't read it to see people write things that they can't summon empathy for.
The writers may mess around with the characters somewhat, for better or for worse, but one thing is clear: they're taking the characters, and they're going for something that has meaning. That's a good part of the reason why so many people like this show; it's not just here to be cute, or sexy or cool. If you're annoyed with some part of that because it's not entertaining enough, then possibly you're watching the wrong show.
If you don't like the ride, then GET OFF. I'm sure Grey's Anatomy wouldn't mind more viewer ratings.
-Bean
Sheesh.
Okay, I'm going to have to run to work, so more recent stuff can wait until later.
--
Of course, I don't actually have to work tonight. But I DO need to go home soon. My freaking mp3 player needs to FINISH CHARGING ALREADY, jeezus.
--
This is very House, M.D. fandom-related. If you don't watch House, this will make NO SENSE. Feel free to ignore.
I have been meaning for a long while to post my thoughts on recent House episodes. I've not posted much of anything about House at all in this journal, because 1) I wasn't aware of ANYONE on my list who even watches the show until just recently, and 2) I wasn't posting much, period.
I meant to post a near ESSAY weeks ago with regards to "One Day, One Room," but that was the point at which my home computer ran down the curtain and shuffled off it's mortal coil, AND I've been home sick for three weeks. It was really an essay in my head, although I've lost many of the main points to some random memory storage I can't access, sadly.
I came here to post a few thoughts behind a cut (as I'm sure you non-House fans couldn't care less) about the most recent episode, the subsequent hour-long conversation I had with my mother about TV characterization challenges and fandom perspectives, and how that ties into my thoughts on the WHOA promo for the next episode. I was just going to sum up "One Day, One Room" really fast - I was picturing some weakly "Bridget Jones"-style summaries.
Ep. amazing. Clinic hilarity nearly hernia-inducing. Conversation with girl v. deep. At least think conversation with girl v. deep, could be wrong.** House "secret" well-played, am reflecting on own past. Have new philosophy: Hugh Laurie world genius.
Have second new philosophy: fandom full of morons.
**In case anyone thinks that I really believe this is as "deep" as philosophy gets, I'm playin'.
...Like that. Possibly stuff about "Needle in a Haystack," too. But I realized when I got to the update box that there's some older stuff that I really, REALLY need to get off my chest which I've been swallowing. Should've just given in to the inevitable and said this sooner.
If you DO watch the show, feel free to follow along here.
[SPOILERS AHEAD]:
One Day, One Room:
Amazing episode, one of the best ever. Up there with "Three Stories," "All In" and "Son of a Coma Guy" as one of my faves. (Although the last one there was a medical atrocity, the character interaction alone allows me to forgive it.)
Loved the clinic scenes. "Haven't you ever seen Dawson's Creek?" actually reminded me of working in customer service and having to come up with lines to query and explain. (Like, "ANY burrito can be Big Baja size...no, ANY... Look. You've been to Starbucks, right? Well the Baja Burrito isn't a specific burrito. It's like...any burrito can be a VENTI burrito! Bajas are just venti.") Loved the back-and-forth with the girl, and trying to come around to face each other on so many levels. (And personally, liked the actress.) Loved the ducklings getting in their Three Stooges rountine - classic. And House was simply pitch-perfect, thanks to Hugh Laurie's talent. He can't play any scene wrong with this character.
House's "secret." Was it really a secret? I hated House's father on the spot because he was so OBVIOUSLY abusive in that quietly menacing, psychologically tormenting sort of way that many people will overlook in favour of accepting "good 'ole boy" charm. He's the kind of man who excuses his own actions as necessary evils, and therefore morally justified. House obviously learned early the dark reality that people prefer self-denial and comfortable actions to truthful ones: that came from somewhere, and it's fairly easy to guess where the bulk of that lesson came from.
[It's a one-sided point of view, but it IS true: everybody's out to get theirs. Generally, they don't give a shit about YOU.]
I could understand why people didn't want it to be sexual abuse because it would have come across as a cheap shock; and besides, it doesn't quite fit his character. But what the writers chose was entirely appropriate. Or maybe I just think that because I identify with House, and I know what it's like to try the front door late in the evening when your father KNOWS you're outside on your own, and discover it locked.
But I think I'll defend my bias as correct, anyway: it fits.
I was initially eager to hear what other people had to say about that episode, and was really aggravated that I couldn't get online. And then I did...
Fandom is full of some self-righteous bitches, I'ma say.
Dear House fandom:
You've got some real balls. Or ovaries, as the case may be. And a good lot of you are single-handedly keeping the whineyards in business.
You got in a good amount of childish foot-stamping when this episode aired. Then you threw in snide remarks about it following "Needle in a Haystack." And now, post-"Insensitive," you're continuing to complain! Could you give it a rest? It'd be nice to read some fandom-related communities for the next bit without reading someone's comment on how this episode knocked down their sand castle and stole their pail and shovel.
You don't want House explained? If you haven't been paying attention, this show has been chipping away at House since the first episode. It says more about you than it does about House OR the show that you think one revelation of abuse actually sums up the entire complex man. Of course he's beyond full explanation. We all are. But this show has emphasized many times that actions and events have consequences; and House in particular is keen on that point. Whether you like how this was written or not, please don't tell me that you really think this show would have come to a close without producing some background on the guy.
You didn't like the backstory? In real life, abuse actually, y'know, happens. It doesn't exist or not exist for your own shallow entertainment. It doesn't take the form that pleases you best, or which is the most fun to write in fic. And that goes for your attitude toward both House AND the girl.
Your attitude: it's sick in a way I can't quite put my finger on. I like to read fanfiction because I like to see what people will do with characters I know and love - where they'll take them, what they'll explore. I don't read it to see people use characters as playthings, and I ALSO don't read it to see people write things that they can't summon empathy for.
The writers may mess around with the characters somewhat, for better or for worse, but one thing is clear: they're taking the characters, and they're going for something that has meaning. That's a good part of the reason why so many people like this show; it's not just here to be cute, or sexy or cool. If you're annoyed with some part of that because it's not entertaining enough, then possibly you're watching the wrong show.
If you don't like the ride, then GET OFF. I'm sure Grey's Anatomy wouldn't mind more viewer ratings.
-Bean
Sheesh.
Okay, I'm going to have to run to work, so more recent stuff can wait until later.
--
Of course, I don't actually have to work tonight. But I DO need to go home soon. My freaking mp3 player needs to FINISH CHARGING ALREADY, jeezus.