6x14 - 5 to 9
S.p.O.i.L.e.R.s.
Yesterday's episode "5 to 9" was easily the best so far of season 6. As my icon says: "'cause it's all about Cuddy"! Lisa Edelstein is a beautiful, talented and underused actress, that's the bottom line. The episode had great drive, the many pieces of the plot interweaving and conflicting: a believable, grabbing "Day in the Life of." Instead of little or no Cuddy as has been all too common lately, this shows that House M.D. needs more of her: she's the heart, House is the brain. They need each other. The hospital needs both. Neither is appreciated as much as they should be, which is understandable in the misanthrope's case but less so for Cuddy. Being a woman in charge, it's still harder to get recognition than for men. Sad but true. She's a "bitch," because she's female and strong. But don't take my word for it:
Yesterday's episode "5 to 9" was easily the best so far of season 6. As my icon says: "'cause it's all about Cuddy"! Lisa Edelstein is a beautiful, talented and underused actress, that's the bottom line. The episode had great drive, the many pieces of the plot interweaving and conflicting: a believable, grabbing "Day in the Life of." Instead of little or no Cuddy as has been all too common lately, this shows that House M.D. needs more of her: she's the heart, House is the brain. They need each other. The hospital needs both. Neither is appreciated as much as they should be, which is understandable in the misanthrope's case but less so for Cuddy. Being a woman in charge, it's still harder to get recognition than for men. Sad but true. She's a "bitch," because she's female and strong. But don't take my word for it:
- "It was great to see Lisa Edelstein in the spotlight, and she really did shine." "I can't decide if I've found a new role model or if it was a cautionary tale. Because seriously, you guys, she must have superhuman powers to put up with everything that's thrown at her every day. Which makes me think you'd have to be a crazy person to take that job, ..." "But by the end of the episode, I understood why she wants to keep [House] around aside from his diagnostic skill: He served as a useful (if rather abrasive) sounding board as she worked through her dilemmas. It seemed like even when he disagreed or just made fun of her, it helped to have someone to challenge her so she could shore up her arguments for when it counted." "Did anyone else think something was going on when Lucas accidentally took the babysitter's cell phone and turned the ringer off the home phone? Not anything between Lucas and the babysitter, necessarily, but that he was trying to hide something about Rachel from Cuddy? It just seemed like a big coincidence." (Liz Pardue, Zap2it) - I would add that him hanging out with House on a stake-out doesn't sound right to me either: odd
- "... the biggest question entering this episode was whether Lisa Edelstein could shoulder the responsibility of carrying an hour of compelling television, righting the Princeton Plainsboro ship after weeks of inconsistent voyages. Not content with simply bridging the gap between House-centric episodes, Ms. Edelstein delivered an Emmy-worthy performance filled with smarts, sass, and vulnerability." "As a consequence of logistics, the challenges of being a working mother are rarely told effectively on network television. Babies, in particular, are rarely seen due to scheduling restrictions (and the unpredictable moods) of infant actors. Cuddy’s baby Rachel has been a footnote in story arcs since being adopted, ... Despite these challenges, I was moved by Lisa Edelstein’s ability to show a mother’s love despite a myriad of legitimate distractions. By telling this story in a single day, viewers witnessed the true impact of Rachel’s presence in Cuddy’s heart. By resisting the impulse to make this another round of the House/Cuddy/Lucas entanglement, the story ended authentically, with Cuddy’s eyes fixed on the most important person in her life." "Lisa Edelstein’s talent has always been evident to viewers with the keenest attention to detail. Cuddy’s job demands that she be smart, formidable, nurturing, and decisive. This episode showed that these traits must be utilized differently in a moment’s notice." "... pleased with what this episode did to disarm people who use the 'B' word ignorantly. If a man made the same series of decisions that Cuddy did, he would be labeled a hero and a rising star. For much of this story, Lisa Cuddy retreated to elevators and stairwells to hide the emotional impact of her actions. There remains a double-standard in corporate America, and Cuddy’s day encapsulated that fact without preaching about it." "this episode provided the best House/Cuddy moments in the two seasons I have written about this show. As Cuddy wrestled with the weight of her tactics with Atlantic Net, she turned to Wilson for advice. He wondered, along with the audience, why she had not asked House. Yet, we all know why. Absent the prepubescent theatrics, Cuddy respects House’s opinion enough to move forward in her career without relying on him. In return, House appreciates Cuddy’s commitment to the hospital, saying 'the place needs you. That matters to you.' I enjoy Hugh Laurie’s subtle scenes with Lisa Edelstein, because they behave like grownups. As Cuddy breaks the news of her victory to the Princeton Plainsboro staff, it was refreshing to see House looking on with pride and, in my opinion, a hint of envy. The victory was entirely hers, with no one else to reign [sic] on her parade." "... this episode is the show’s best effort since the Season Premiere. Lisa Edelstein realized the potential of her character in one magnificent hour, and I was blown away by the results." (Erik, GiveMeMyRemote.com)
- "But Cuddy isn’t quite the pushover she seems to be, and both the negotiator and the [pharmacy] tech vastly underestimate her resolve." "It’s neat trick, seeing the hospital, House-and even the clinic-from Cuddy’s point of view. ... We get House in short bursts, annoying and seemingly capricious; wise and serious. It’s nice to see House slide into this role as an honest advisor to Cuddy, especially as her confidence erodes during her game of brinkmanship with the insurance company. He seems to know everything that’s going on, from the details of the negotiation to the issue with the pharmacy tech. It’s almost as if he’s in the background guarding Cuddy’s back, knowing when she most needs his brand of honest consultation. And when she’s at the end of her emotional rope, feeling as if she’s lost the power game with the corporate big guns at the insurance company she flees to the solace of her car, certain the game is over. House finds her there, counsels her, and from that she seems to derive resolve and gain confidence." "Lisa Edelstein does a great job showing Cuddy’s frustration, fluctuating confidence and ultimate resolve. She knows how to play the game and isn’t afraid of the big boys. I like this Cuddy, and I like the way Cuddy and House relate to each other, perhaps getting back to some sort of normal-for them. It is truly a pleasure to see the wry grin of obvious pride House holds for Cuddy as she addresses the entire medical staff at the end of the episode-victorious in every way." (Barbara Barnett, blogcritics.org)
- "If '5 to 9' was supposed to put us in Cuddy’s shoes, boy did it - and yeah, they’re impractically tight and tough to maneuver in." "... a quickie, which turned out to be a little too quickie. 'Now I’m late, stressed out, and frustrated,' she complained. Gee, if only there were some way to take matters into one’s own hands, Cuddy. If…only…" "I wasn’t crazy about the episode, but Lisa Edelstein is pretty fantastic." (Margaret Lyons, Entertainment Weekly) - re the plot: she doesn't like the departure from the mould, basically
- "The episode’s strident arguments about the destructive place of profit in medicine take a back seat to its central message. In some ways, Cuddy is to Princeton Plainsboro Hospital what Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) is to TGS on '30 Rock' - the sane den mother who keeps the lunatics in check." (Kevin McDonough, The Lawrence [KS] Journal-World)
- "Cuddy's long day's journey into night" "... it showcased Lisa Edelstein's acting chops and her connection with her character. I'm thrilled that they gave this talented actress something to do other than sigh over House's antics or roll her eyes at his blatant sexual harassment." "... Cuddy's day begin at 5 a.m. when her alarm goes off. The attention to detail in this small moment of quiet is really fantastic -- I love that she reaches out to the empty side of the bed as if hoping someone will be there. I also took note of the book on her nightstand: Isabel Allende's 'Ines of My Soul.' It's a story of a Spanish conquistadora who had an invaluable hand in building the nation of Chile, though her contributions are often forgotten. Apt, isn't it?" "The sheer amount of time she spends in this episode just doing House-related damage control is incredible. With her level of patience, she should qualify for sainthood." "For the first time this season, I'm glad Lucas is around -- his private eye gear came in handy for recording that conversation and getting Cuddy, House and the hospital off the hook for Gail's habit." "... Cuddy gets stuck with House's clinic duty ... Meanwhile, House is napping. It's only logical. After all, he's got to rest up for the candle-lighted massage he later gets in his office." "Personally, I loved this episode. It shouldn't have taken six seasons to arrive at this closer look at Cuddy's life. She's been a rather one-dimensional love-interest figure this season instead of a strong, capable doctor, so it's nice to see that role reversed." "My favorite parts of the episode were the quiet moments Cuddy stole for herself. Watching her whisper, 'You can do it,' to her reflection in the morning gave the viewer great insight into just how much determination it takes to get started. Her distraught stairwell pacing and the hide-out in her car only made the weight on her shoulders more obvious." (Carina MacKenzie, Los Angeles Times)
- "For years [Cuddy]'s been portrayed as a cat's toy for House to bat around, but that's because we've never seen things through her eyes. As it turns out, she's a much more complicated character, and by the end of the episode, we learned beyond a shadow of a doubt why she's in charge. Maybe it's because I've been underwhelmed by this show for a few weeks that I had low expectations going in, but this episode totally caught me off-guard. In short, it was amazing. Perhaps the most important idea I took away was how insignificant Dr. House seemed in light of all the other craziness going on at Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital." "... a great showcase for Lisa Edelstein, whose acting chops got a workout as she ran the gamut of frustration, understanding, vulnerability and fortitude." "... if FOX ever wanted ideas for a spin-off, this is the episode to show them. Juxtaposed against House, with its own niche in the medical drama landscape and its own unique main character, Cuddy might be a bit more traditional. However, television is littered with successful traditional dramas, and if it came from the minds of those who bring us House, I have no doubt they'd find a way to pull it off and make it interesting." (Jonah Krakow, IGN UK)
- "... House is just one more counter-irritant in Cuddy’s pressured life, and an amusing, even benevolent one at that. It’s all part of the gradual softening of House’s character that we’ve been seeing throughout Season 6, though House would be the first to deny it. (You can almost hear him say, ‘What-me, nice? Are you mad, woman?')" (Melinda Beck, Wall Street Journal)
- "What a wonderful showcase for Cuddy and Lisa Edelstein." "Edelstein clearly knows this character well. She never gives in fully to any doubts Cuddy may have, but mixes her bravado with occasional vulnerability and hesitation when the situation calls for it." "Cuddy and Lucas still don't click as a couple." [no kidding!] "... Patients of the Week can grow a bit tiresome. One of our favorite scenes was when House was about to make a diagnosis, but Cuddy's elevator doors shut before he finished. No time for smaller cases this week, House. There's an entire hospital that needs saving! Wasn't it refreshing to mix things up a bit?"
(M.L. House, TV Fanatic) - "A standalone superb episode 6.13 ... With all the talk about a House spinoff, this episode shows that a new show about Cuddy could work very well - except that she would still be needed on House, and House would be needed on Cuddy." "From her perspective, House can be a pain, but just one of many, and also a pain that can be a valuable ally." "It's a measure of how deeply the characters are drawn, how true their intellects and emotions ring, that House can be just as superb from another character's perspective as from House's." (Paul Levinson, Paul Levinson's Infinite Regress)
- "In the space of a few episodes this season, Lisa Cuddy had gone from being one of my favorite characters to my least favorite character on the show. It seemed that when the character was actually happy, she was more annoying (probably a horrible thing to say, but it’s true). Fortunately, the HOUSE powers-that-be decided to change up the tried and true HOUSE formula for one of the best done-in-ones in the show’s history - a template all serialized dramas should follow (more on that later) - that made me like the character once again - happiness and all." "That the writers were able to weave all of these elements into a seamless whole with nary a glitch is a testament to how good HOUSE can be when it lives up to its full potential - and which is why I rail on the show so much when it doesn’t. There’s nothing I hate more than wasted potential. Lisa Edelstein’s performance as Cuddy was the centerpiece of the show, and as always, she proved herself one of the most interesting and underrated actresses on television." "She brings the perfect balance of on-screen presence, charisma, brass balls, vulnerability, nuance, and yes, sexiness, to the role - that has (up until this point) been ignored by the HOUSE team for waffling about, figuring out new ways to show just how much House has changed. In short, her performance in this episode was one of the best I’ve seen on TV this season." "... an excellent performance by Lisa Edelstein at its core. Well-written, intriguing, and nuanced, it brought back my faith in and enjoyment of the Cuddy character - and at the end of the day, that’s the most important thing. Not that I love the character, or sympathize with the character, but that I’m able to EMPATHIZE with the character. Well done." (Tyler Weaver, Pulp Tone)
- "As I've said previously, I've largely given up on writing about 'House' because there's no point in my repeating the same complaints week after week after week, but last night's Cuddy-centric episode ... was of an order of magnitude so much better than most of this season that I felt it deserved mention." "I thought the execution was really effective, in part because Lisa Edelstein is really talented (and only occasionally gets to show off that talent), ..." "... kudos on a job very well done ..." (Alan Sepinwall, The Star-Ledger [NJ])
- "So why is it after this episode is over, I'm still not sure who Lisa Cuddy is? I can characterize House and Wilson, but when it comes to Cuddy, I don't know what she's really thinking. I can wager a guess, but I still don't feel entirely let in. Maybe this is purposeful. This is how she manages to stay sane. By choosing very few people to open up to, she can remain composed and less vulnerable. She definitely has it together, but is she happy? She seemed content enough by the end, but is she fulfilled in her relationship to Lucas? And where does this leave her and House? I was curious if House and Cuddy have interactions like the one in her car off screen. She so easily cleared the space for him and was willing to let him in to her car and more importantly, her thoughts. He relaxed her and consoled her. She is continually challenged and frustrated by him, but he's a real adult. He's an adult in that he understands adult problems, while Lucas is an adult in the way he emotionally supports Cuddy at home, but not much else. Combine two parts adult; get one ready-to-date-Cuddy man. She trusted House enough to ask his opinion. Didn't even see her broach that with Lucas." "Her stubbornness with Atlantic Net reminded me of House's unwillingness to make a speech for Vogler (season one). In the end, he didn't make the speech for his own principled reasons. And Cuddy, putting the hospital and her job at risk regarding Atlantic Net, made a similar gamble. While House and Cuddy's principles manifest themselves in different ways, they are two similar creatures. Glad we got this peek into her world. Props to Lisa Edelstein for flexing her acting chops for a full episode. And looking gorgeous while doing so." (Lisa B. Palmer, Buddy TV)