HOUSE 7X09 LARGER THAN LIFE
Ha ha, new year's resolution to be better with LJ my ARSE. I'm sorry, guys - I've been back at work two weeks and it feels like six months or more have passed. I have failed at keeping up with my flist though I promise to TRY this weekend. Anyway, I really wanted to post my silly, flaily, inevitably capslocky thoughts about the latest episode of House, but after I got done photoshopping the crap out of the episode, I fell dead asleep. I am a ridiculous old lady. SIGH.
But here I am, because this episode was so glorious after that insanely long hiatus, and I'm going to watch it again and live-blog it while I do... beware - spoilery images galore beneath the cut!
Just a couple of quick thoughts on the episode based on my first viewing:
- I LOVED IT. After the weird, oddly forced angstiness of the last three episodes, this was such a breath of fresh air. Actually, it felt like that whole angst-ridden "HOUSE IS - SURPRISE, SURPRISE! - A LIAR" stuff from the last three episodes hadn't even happened and House and Cuddy were still on that honeymoon trajectory of figuring out a life with each other.
- Actually, that's the one beef I have with this episode... it's like House's promise not to lie to her ever again in 7x08 didn't mean jackshit or hadn't happened at all - not just because she didn't find out about his lies, as was presumably the case at the end when he got to bond with his tv and a glass of scotch. But the first time, when he played her and Wilson off each other = BLATANT LIE. THEY STALKED HOUSE TOGETHER TO CONFRONT HIM ON IT. So, Cuddy, let me get this straight - lies to your face about personal life details, including when your boyfriend is trying to get out of dinner on YOUR BIRTHDAY, are totally okay and par for the course, but you're 100% not cool with lies when he's trying to save a patient's life that couldn't otherwise have been saved because of your need to stick to bureaucratic guidelines and rules? OKAY, NO FLAW IN THE LOGIC THERE. DEAR WRITERS, THIS IS CLEARLY NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL.
- Otherwise though - omg. I loved it because it was House being AUDACIOUS AS FUCK again. That scene in which he drugged BOTH Arlene Cuddy and Wilson? FAVOURITE FOR ALWAYS. Or when he turned Taub into the poster child for Nazism (ahem) and asked, "Inappropriate?" OMG, HOUSE, YOU THINK?? AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS BEAUTIFUL. The way House, Cuddy and Wilson seem to be in this awesome three-cornered marriage and each has to accommodate the other... the exploration of House's desire for some 'alone' time - which I thought was so realistic even though I was admittedly also, like, DID YOU JUST TURN DOWN SEX WITH LISA CUDDY?!?! Because, can you imagine - he's gone from being a lonely, bitter bastard to a man still trying to adjust to not being completely maladjusted anymore. All of a sudden, he has a girlfriend, who has a daughter and a family he has to deal with, and a grieving best friend, and he has to spend time with both of them - I actually thought it was so real how he tried to get some time to himself, even if it was through lies and playing Cuddy and Wilson off each other.
- DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE HOUSE/CUDDY STUFF. THAT WAS SO PERFECT I CAN'T EVEN. I mean, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT. It was so easy and lovely the way she forgave him for pissing her mom off in the clinic, and SO FUNNY when she threatened him and said "We average our misery" - OMG SO PERFECT. Funny in the moment, and just kind of beautifully poignant and quirky-sweet when you think about that line in the context of their entire history, you know? They're together now - and so she will average his misery, just as he averages hers. ♥ ♥ ♥ AND THEN WHEN HE DRUGGED HER MOM AND WILSON? AND THEY WERE WASHING UP TOGETHER? OMG MY OTP, YOU MAKE ME THINK THE WEIRDEST THINGS ARE ROMANTIC. I thought that was so adorable, the way they were washing up like a married couple and Cuddy ducked her head and smiled - she'd never have admitted it but she just LOVED his brand of audacious evil = omg it was SO ROMANTIC I COULD DIE. And that last scene. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THAT KISS AND "SWEET, SWEET MAN" AND CUDDY'S LEGS AND HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG.
Okay okay. Oops, that got long. Now I have that out of my system. On to the live-blogging.
- Oh hey, I actually quite liked this POTW. I am probably not going to talk much about him when my H/C flail starts, but I liked how his story tied in with Taub's. I have had just about enough of Taub's "I'm a compulsive cheater" storyline, but I love how this episode tied it all together - and made you think about what constitutes bravery, heroism and altruism. There's the POTW's heroic act, saving that epileptic girl in the subway - but he couldn't be brave enough to stay with his family when they so clearly needed and wanted him. And then Taub - as Masters points out - was hardly brave in wanting to stick with the familiar even though he and his wife, however much they loved each other, kept hurting and punishing the other person in the relationship. But he was ultimately brave, in finally asking for a divorce and admitting that his marriage couldn't go on in this fashion and that he couldn't be selfish just because he was afraid of change ("I don't know how not to be with her"). So yes, I really liked it, suspect I won't be talking much about it from now on, but suffice to say I liked it. XD
- "House's world view doesn't include random acts of self-sacrifice." Awww, this kind of ties in nicely with how House DID try to be nice - which counts as an act of self-sacrifice for him, surely - to Cuddy's mom. He tried to be nicer to random Jewish ladies for months!! He held his tongue at dinner! Of course, he also drugged Arlene, but nobody's perfect...
- "So humanity is apathetic and self-serving." "Yeah!"
- Wow, House, you manipulative bastard. IT'S CUDDY'S BIRTHDAY. HER BIRTHDAY. You were going to get her to tell Wilson to let you out of going to her birthday dinner!
- And LOL omg "I know, I'm definitely coming" in the exact same lilting tone to Wilson. "She has [a birthday] every year!" AHAHAHAHA.
- OMG House, you arse. How have you NOT alienated Cuddy and Wilson completely before this?!!?!?!?
- Taub on a billboard is hilarious.
- DDX AT THE BUS-STOP IN FRONT OF LIFE-SIZED TAUB. OMG SO MANY ZINGERS IN THIS EPISODE, I LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AT HOW AUDACIOUS AND MEAN HOUSE WAS THROUGHOUT. God, when this show is good, it's so very very good. "Now we know what Taub would look like if he was life-sized!">
- "That's my elbow in the corner, what's your wife doing later?" AHAHAHAHAHA CHASE YOU MAN-WHORE, YOU'RE MY FAVOURITE PRETTY BOY ALWAYS.
- LOLOLOL HITLER!TAUB. "INAPPROPRIATE? I MEAN, BECAUSE OF THE JEW THING?" LOLOLOLOLOLOL HOOOUSE.
- That moment when Masters figures out House still believes it's in the brain - "can't fool you!" was so cute for some reason.
- I love that House takes a bite out of someone else's bad apple from the fridge AND PUTS IT RIGHT BACK.
- #1 of what I call Horror Movie Moments - I thought this episode was so brilliantly, slyly done on that count - I definitely think it was conscious to have House react to these growing pressures on him to be responsible, and sociable, and hang out with his girlfriend and best friend like he was in a horror movie. Epic double- takes and all. This was a great one - House turning back, tupperware in hand, and double-takes and flattens himself against the fridge, the camera flashes quickly across the pantry (shaky camera work = so horror movie) to reveal the sources of his concern - Cuddy, and Wilson, double-teaming him as always. XD See:
LOLOLOLOL
- I LOVE THIS OT3 IN A WAY THAT REALLY HONESTLY IS ILLEGAL. "I forgot - you guys talk... if I have to act like a decent human being, you know what a strain that puts on me." I LOVED THAT LINE. And I thought it was so cute that House was really being HONEST when Wilson asked him what could be so exciting that he'd blow them both off for it - everyone must have figured THAT was a lie, but really, House the introvert, that part of him that's used to alone time, really DID want to have one night off to himself. Awww.
- CUDDY MAKING HIM CHOOSE. OMG, how did she not hit him for choosing Wilson?!?! Sassy though. I've missed Righteously Sassy Cuddy. She can be on my screen ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
- "I do not whine." AHAHAHAHA OMG I LOVE THAT CUDDY AND WILSON TALK TO EACH OTHER SO MUCH ABOUT HOUSE. HONESTLY, THEY ARE ALL IN SOME KIND OF ODDLY FUNCTIONAL THREE-WAY OT3 MARRIAGE, I LOVE IT.
- Ooh, I even loved the Chase and Foreman moments - OMG, this episode with Foreman saying he doesn't expect to be trusted because he's black. I love this scene. "So race is your excuse and not the fact that you usually look like you want to punch someone in the face?" OOOH FOREMAN, BURN BURN BURN ACCURATE ACCURATE ACCURATE. XD
- "That's because my assumption is backed up by millions of men - and Taub - who cheated on their wives." Ha, Peter Jacobson's reaction shot!
- Also I kind of like Masters and how she worries away at House like a perky little puppy. Not annoying yet, surprisingly enough.
- ARLENE CUDDY IT'S MURPHY BROWN IT'S CANDICE FUCKING BERGEN Y'ALL SFDLHSGSLFSHLFHSDLFHDLFSLDSFLHFS omg actual best fandom collision moment ever. So much snark and sassy acting flying back and forth in this scene. "I've never met your daughter." "That's hard to believe, considering you're currently schtupping her." XD XD XD OMG MAMA!CUDDY, WHY YOU SO SCARY.
- Horror Movie Moment #2: when House looks completely bewildered coming out of the clinic room, slightly spooked and freaked out. I LOVE HUGH LAURIE'S FACE AND ITS THOUSAND AND ONE EXPRESSIONS. The way his eyes scan the corridor, and then he calls Cuddy - "We have a situation." PERFECT.
- I love that House knows Masters has "secret sputum cultures" and can't wait to mock her when they come back negative. XD
- HOUSE HAS BEEN NICE TO OLD JEWISH LADIES. "FOR MONTHS NOW" - FOR MONTHS NOW, CAN I REPEAT THAT FOR YOU ALL. ADORABLE COUPLE HAS BEEN ADORABLE FOR MONTHS NOW. Sorry, I get fixated on such random things. XD
- Favourite scene forever though. REMEMBER HOW I USED TO PINE FOR MORE CUDDY BACKSTORY? OMG WE'RE GETTING TO MEET HER MOTHER. And find out more about their relationship. "I'm not blaming you for this, she's the one who ambushed you to find out what you were like since 'I never tell her anything'." <-- favourite Cuddy line reading omg.
- Horror Movie Moment #3 (my favourite!):
LOLOLOLOLOL OMG TERRIFYING!CUDDY IS SO TERRIFYING I CAN'T EVEN
I love how the camera closes in on Cuddy's face - which is so DEAD SERIOUS that, honestly, quite a bit terrifying. No wonder House looks so spooked at the end and whimpers, ALMOST imperceptibly. LOVE. SERIOUSLY, FAVOURITE SCENE ALWAYS. Her lines are SO PERFECT: "House, I need you to come to that dinner for two hours, keep your mouth shut and behave like an adult. Yes, you will be in hell, but I will feel better having you there. That is what a relationship is. We average our misery." OMIGOD I CANNOT GET OVER HOW GREAT THIS SCENE IS, AND HOW EPIC SCARY LISA EDELSTEIN IS IN IT. SLDFHSDLHGSDLHGDLHFLSDFSLDFS
- "She's a student, somebody's got to go with her." OMG ROCK PAPER SCISSORS. CHASE AND FOREMAN, HOW. SO. CUTE. See how good this episode is - I'm flailing about FOREMAN.
- DINNER AT CUDDY'S. FAVOURITE FAVOURITE FAVOURITE. HOW difficult is Arlene Cuddy, omg?? So so mean to Cuddy - I love that Cuddy looks at House and he dutifully just... controls his tongue/temper and asks for salt. Awww. HOUSE, YOU'RE A SWEETHEART SOMETIMES. I love the way this scene was shot - House's reaction shots are great. "I didn't read any studies, I just raised children." OUCH, WILSON, DID YOU FEEL COMPLETELY EMASCULATED. I BET YOU DID.
- Awww - I kind of love it how when House shouts that he'll be right in to the ducklings, Cuddy looks so upset - she really IS relying him to stay at the dinner, to make her feel better for having to be there with her mom. HE MAKES HER FEEL BETTER JUST BY EXISTING, GUYS.
- "Say you two got married" AHAHAHAHA OMG ARLENE IS JUST HITTING ALL THESE NAILS ON THE HEAD. "and why do you call him House? The man's name is Greg - it makes it seem like you're not serious." LOLOL WILSON, WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON. OMG Arlene - what a HARRIDAN. Slapping Wilson down for bringing Sam and the Poconos up during a festive occasion, CALLING HER DAUGHTER A SLUT. OMFG.
- AND THEN FAVOURITE FAVOURITE PART OF MY FAVOURITE SCENE EVER, dutifully gif-spammed by yours truly:
House: Okay, I got this. First of all, Mom…
[Arlene’s head lolls back and she’s out cold.]
Cuddy: Oh my god! [She checks Arlene’s eyes.] Did you… sedate my mother?
House: Kicked in just in time. She’ll wake up in a couple of hours, and be as good as new. Think of it as my birthday gift to you. You told me to keep my mouth shut. It’s the only way I had a chance.
Wilson: Leaving aside the fact that House is a sociopath, I have to admit that I’m… I’m honestly relieved. Your mom is quite a… quite a handful. I feel f… Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. You drugged me again?
House: Sorry. I honestly thought you’d be worse. [Wilson’s head hits the table.] That was my gift to myself.
PERFECTION PERFECTION PERFECTION THIS SCENE IS BEYOND PERFECTION I HAVE NO WORDS ASLFHSLDFHSDLFSLFSD I CAN'T BELIEVE HE DRUGGED ARLENE. AND WILSON. POOR CUDDY. THIS IS YOUR BOYFRIEND, CUDDY. THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE. THINK ABOUT YOUR CHOICES. AHAHAHAHAHAHA OMG. XD
I LOVE WILSON'S REALISATION THAT HE'S BEEN DRUGGED - AGAIN??!!!? "That was my gift to myself." ACTUAL DYING HERE.
- ONLY IN THIS SHOW. ONLY IN THIS SHOW WOULD TWO PEOPLE WASHING DISHES WHILE TWO OTHER PEOPLE WERE PASSED OUT IN THE BACKGROUND BE THE MOST GORGEOUSLY ROMANTIC THING EVER. I LOVE THAT THIS IS HOUSE'S BIRTHDAY GIFT TO CUDDY, ESSENTIALLY, AT LEAST THE FIRST PART. SO INTENSELY ADORABLE. JUST LOOK AT HOW SHE DUCKS HER HEAD AND SMILES AFTER HER ASKS "ISN'T THIS NICE?" - BECAUSE YES, IT IS NICE.
MY HEART ♥
- "You are the worst gloater ever!"
- HEY GUYS, REMEMBER HOW ARLENE CUDDY SHIPS HOUSE AND HER DAUGHTER? BECAUSE SHE DOES:
Arlene: I do know I can be difficult.
House: You were a little bitchy.
Arlene: In the clinic, you were a complete schmendrick! But once you knew I was Lisa’s mother, you held your tongue. That’s because you love her. I still think you’re a pain in the ass with a God complex and I’ll kill you if you hurt her… but I’m glad she has you.
House: We don’t have to hug now, do we?
Arlene: What do you think?
SHE'S GLAD CUDDY HAS HOUSE. HOUSE LOVES CUDDY. CUDDY HAS HOUSE. ARLENE'S GLAD CUDDY HAS HOUSE. HOW MANY TIMES CAN I SAY THIS?!?!
ALSO, MOTHEREFFIN' CANDICE BERGEN. DON'T THINK I CAN ACTUALLY SAY THIS ENOUGH. MOTHER. EFFIN'. CANDICE. BERGEN. FOR THE. MOTHER. EFFIN'. WIN.
- House's impressive chicken pox diagnosis. He's so sexy when he's right. XD
- "That's impulse - it's easy. Dealing with family is hard." And he dealt with Cuddy's family! In his fashion. Awww. XD
- I really did like this scene between Taub and his wife. :(
- HELLO FAVOURITE SCENE IN AN EPISODE FULL OF FAVOURITE SCENES. LOOK AT HOW SASSY AND SEXY AND GORGEOUS AND FLIRTY AND PRETTY AND SWEET AND ADORABLE THEY ARE. ALSO, HE'S HER SWEET, SWEET MAN. HNNNNNNNNNNNNNG. SEXY GORGEOUS AMAZING.
House: You know, you turned out remarkably close to normal considering the genes in play.
Cuddy: Thanks.
House: Here. [He reaches into his jacket pocket and produces a prescription bottle of pills, tied with a red ribbon.] In case your mom comes back. Happy birthday.
[She takes the pill bottle and laughs.]
Cuddy: Oh, you are a sweet, sweet man. [She kisses him.] Coming over?
House: Yes. Oh no - I can’t.
Cuddy: Wilson?
House: Yes - uh, bowling night. He’ll never forgive me if I don’t… Ohh, screw it, I’m coming.
Cuddy: No no no, I’m not going to be responsible for that. You drugged the man - you go bowling with him.
House: Well, my chances of sex are considerably lower with Wilson… fine.
I LOVE HOW GORGEOUSLY SWEET AND SEXY THIS KISS IS. Just so... full of affection and so intimate.
OMG SHIP. ILU SO VERY VERY MUCH.
SUCH A GOOD EPISODE. SO HAPPY.
AND HOUSE LOOKS SO PEACEFUL AT THE END. I love it that he gets to be happy, in small moments and for the most part, this season. :)
But here I am, because this episode was so glorious after that insanely long hiatus, and I'm going to watch it again and live-blog it while I do... beware - spoilery images galore beneath the cut!
Just a couple of quick thoughts on the episode based on my first viewing:
- I LOVED IT. After the weird, oddly forced angstiness of the last three episodes, this was such a breath of fresh air. Actually, it felt like that whole angst-ridden "HOUSE IS - SURPRISE, SURPRISE! - A LIAR" stuff from the last three episodes hadn't even happened and House and Cuddy were still on that honeymoon trajectory of figuring out a life with each other.
- Actually, that's the one beef I have with this episode... it's like House's promise not to lie to her ever again in 7x08 didn't mean jackshit or hadn't happened at all - not just because she didn't find out about his lies, as was presumably the case at the end when he got to bond with his tv and a glass of scotch. But the first time, when he played her and Wilson off each other = BLATANT LIE. THEY STALKED HOUSE TOGETHER TO CONFRONT HIM ON IT. So, Cuddy, let me get this straight - lies to your face about personal life details, including when your boyfriend is trying to get out of dinner on YOUR BIRTHDAY, are totally okay and par for the course, but you're 100% not cool with lies when he's trying to save a patient's life that couldn't otherwise have been saved because of your need to stick to bureaucratic guidelines and rules? OKAY, NO FLAW IN THE LOGIC THERE. DEAR WRITERS, THIS IS CLEARLY NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL.
- Otherwise though - omg. I loved it because it was House being AUDACIOUS AS FUCK again. That scene in which he drugged BOTH Arlene Cuddy and Wilson? FAVOURITE FOR ALWAYS. Or when he turned Taub into the poster child for Nazism (ahem) and asked, "Inappropriate?" OMG, HOUSE, YOU THINK?? AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS BEAUTIFUL. The way House, Cuddy and Wilson seem to be in this awesome three-cornered marriage and each has to accommodate the other... the exploration of House's desire for some 'alone' time - which I thought was so realistic even though I was admittedly also, like, DID YOU JUST TURN DOWN SEX WITH LISA CUDDY?!?! Because, can you imagine - he's gone from being a lonely, bitter bastard to a man still trying to adjust to not being completely maladjusted anymore. All of a sudden, he has a girlfriend, who has a daughter and a family he has to deal with, and a grieving best friend, and he has to spend time with both of them - I actually thought it was so real how he tried to get some time to himself, even if it was through lies and playing Cuddy and Wilson off each other.
- DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE HOUSE/CUDDY STUFF. THAT WAS SO PERFECT I CAN'T EVEN. I mean, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT. It was so easy and lovely the way she forgave him for pissing her mom off in the clinic, and SO FUNNY when she threatened him and said "We average our misery" - OMG SO PERFECT. Funny in the moment, and just kind of beautifully poignant and quirky-sweet when you think about that line in the context of their entire history, you know? They're together now - and so she will average his misery, just as he averages hers. ♥ ♥ ♥ AND THEN WHEN HE DRUGGED HER MOM AND WILSON? AND THEY WERE WASHING UP TOGETHER? OMG MY OTP, YOU MAKE ME THINK THE WEIRDEST THINGS ARE ROMANTIC. I thought that was so adorable, the way they were washing up like a married couple and Cuddy ducked her head and smiled - she'd never have admitted it but she just LOVED his brand of audacious evil = omg it was SO ROMANTIC I COULD DIE. And that last scene. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THAT KISS AND "SWEET, SWEET MAN" AND CUDDY'S LEGS AND HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG.
Okay okay. Oops, that got long. Now I have that out of my system. On to the live-blogging.
- Oh hey, I actually quite liked this POTW. I am probably not going to talk much about him when my H/C flail starts, but I liked how his story tied in with Taub's. I have had just about enough of Taub's "I'm a compulsive cheater" storyline, but I love how this episode tied it all together - and made you think about what constitutes bravery, heroism and altruism. There's the POTW's heroic act, saving that epileptic girl in the subway - but he couldn't be brave enough to stay with his family when they so clearly needed and wanted him. And then Taub - as Masters points out - was hardly brave in wanting to stick with the familiar even though he and his wife, however much they loved each other, kept hurting and punishing the other person in the relationship. But he was ultimately brave, in finally asking for a divorce and admitting that his marriage couldn't go on in this fashion and that he couldn't be selfish just because he was afraid of change ("I don't know how not to be with her"). So yes, I really liked it, suspect I won't be talking much about it from now on, but suffice to say I liked it. XD
- "House's world view doesn't include random acts of self-sacrifice." Awww, this kind of ties in nicely with how House DID try to be nice - which counts as an act of self-sacrifice for him, surely - to Cuddy's mom. He tried to be nicer to random Jewish ladies for months!! He held his tongue at dinner! Of course, he also drugged Arlene, but nobody's perfect...
- "So humanity is apathetic and self-serving." "Yeah!"
- Wow, House, you manipulative bastard. IT'S CUDDY'S BIRTHDAY. HER BIRTHDAY. You were going to get her to tell Wilson to let you out of going to her birthday dinner!
- And LOL omg "I know, I'm definitely coming" in the exact same lilting tone to Wilson. "She has [a birthday] every year!" AHAHAHAHA.
- OMG House, you arse. How have you NOT alienated Cuddy and Wilson completely before this?!!?!?!?
- Taub on a billboard is hilarious.
- DDX AT THE BUS-STOP IN FRONT OF LIFE-SIZED TAUB. OMG SO MANY ZINGERS IN THIS EPISODE, I LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AT HOW AUDACIOUS AND MEAN HOUSE WAS THROUGHOUT. God, when this show is good, it's so very very good. "Now we know what Taub would look like if he was life-sized!">
- "That's my elbow in the corner, what's your wife doing later?" AHAHAHAHAHA CHASE YOU MAN-WHORE, YOU'RE MY FAVOURITE PRETTY BOY ALWAYS.
- LOLOLOL HITLER!TAUB. "INAPPROPRIATE? I MEAN, BECAUSE OF THE JEW THING?" LOLOLOLOLOLOL HOOOUSE.
- That moment when Masters figures out House still believes it's in the brain - "can't fool you!" was so cute for some reason.
- I love that House takes a bite out of someone else's bad apple from the fridge AND PUTS IT RIGHT BACK.
- #1 of what I call Horror Movie Moments - I thought this episode was so brilliantly, slyly done on that count - I definitely think it was conscious to have House react to these growing pressures on him to be responsible, and sociable, and hang out with his girlfriend and best friend like he was in a horror movie. Epic double- takes and all. This was a great one - House turning back, tupperware in hand, and double-takes and flattens himself against the fridge, the camera flashes quickly across the pantry (shaky camera work = so horror movie) to reveal the sources of his concern - Cuddy, and Wilson, double-teaming him as always. XD See:
LOLOLOLOL
- I LOVE THIS OT3 IN A WAY THAT REALLY HONESTLY IS ILLEGAL. "I forgot - you guys talk... if I have to act like a decent human being, you know what a strain that puts on me." I LOVED THAT LINE. And I thought it was so cute that House was really being HONEST when Wilson asked him what could be so exciting that he'd blow them both off for it - everyone must have figured THAT was a lie, but really, House the introvert, that part of him that's used to alone time, really DID want to have one night off to himself. Awww.
- CUDDY MAKING HIM CHOOSE. OMG, how did she not hit him for choosing Wilson?!?! Sassy though. I've missed Righteously Sassy Cuddy. She can be on my screen ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
- "I do not whine." AHAHAHAHA OMG I LOVE THAT CUDDY AND WILSON TALK TO EACH OTHER SO MUCH ABOUT HOUSE. HONESTLY, THEY ARE ALL IN SOME KIND OF ODDLY FUNCTIONAL THREE-WAY OT3 MARRIAGE, I LOVE IT.
- Ooh, I even loved the Chase and Foreman moments - OMG, this episode with Foreman saying he doesn't expect to be trusted because he's black. I love this scene. "So race is your excuse and not the fact that you usually look like you want to punch someone in the face?" OOOH FOREMAN, BURN BURN BURN ACCURATE ACCURATE ACCURATE. XD
- "That's because my assumption is backed up by millions of men - and Taub - who cheated on their wives." Ha, Peter Jacobson's reaction shot!
- Also I kind of like Masters and how she worries away at House like a perky little puppy. Not annoying yet, surprisingly enough.
- ARLENE CUDDY IT'S MURPHY BROWN IT'S CANDICE FUCKING BERGEN Y'ALL SFDLHSGSLFSHLFHSDLFHDLFSLDSFLHFS omg actual best fandom collision moment ever. So much snark and sassy acting flying back and forth in this scene. "I've never met your daughter." "That's hard to believe, considering you're currently schtupping her." XD XD XD OMG MAMA!CUDDY, WHY YOU SO SCARY.
- Horror Movie Moment #2: when House looks completely bewildered coming out of the clinic room, slightly spooked and freaked out. I LOVE HUGH LAURIE'S FACE AND ITS THOUSAND AND ONE EXPRESSIONS. The way his eyes scan the corridor, and then he calls Cuddy - "We have a situation." PERFECT.
- I love that House knows Masters has "secret sputum cultures" and can't wait to mock her when they come back negative. XD
- HOUSE HAS BEEN NICE TO OLD JEWISH LADIES. "FOR MONTHS NOW" - FOR MONTHS NOW, CAN I REPEAT THAT FOR YOU ALL. ADORABLE COUPLE HAS BEEN ADORABLE FOR MONTHS NOW. Sorry, I get fixated on such random things. XD
- Favourite scene forever though. REMEMBER HOW I USED TO PINE FOR MORE CUDDY BACKSTORY? OMG WE'RE GETTING TO MEET HER MOTHER. And find out more about their relationship. "I'm not blaming you for this, she's the one who ambushed you to find out what you were like since 'I never tell her anything'." <-- favourite Cuddy line reading omg.
- Horror Movie Moment #3 (my favourite!):
LOLOLOLOLOL OMG TERRIFYING!CUDDY IS SO TERRIFYING I CAN'T EVEN
I love how the camera closes in on Cuddy's face - which is so DEAD SERIOUS that, honestly, quite a bit terrifying. No wonder House looks so spooked at the end and whimpers, ALMOST imperceptibly. LOVE. SERIOUSLY, FAVOURITE SCENE ALWAYS. Her lines are SO PERFECT: "House, I need you to come to that dinner for two hours, keep your mouth shut and behave like an adult. Yes, you will be in hell, but I will feel better having you there. That is what a relationship is. We average our misery." OMIGOD I CANNOT GET OVER HOW GREAT THIS SCENE IS, AND HOW EPIC SCARY LISA EDELSTEIN IS IN IT. SLDFHSDLHGSDLHGDLHFLSDFSLDFS
- "She's a student, somebody's got to go with her." OMG ROCK PAPER SCISSORS. CHASE AND FOREMAN, HOW. SO. CUTE. See how good this episode is - I'm flailing about FOREMAN.
- DINNER AT CUDDY'S. FAVOURITE FAVOURITE FAVOURITE. HOW difficult is Arlene Cuddy, omg?? So so mean to Cuddy - I love that Cuddy looks at House and he dutifully just... controls his tongue/temper and asks for salt. Awww. HOUSE, YOU'RE A SWEETHEART SOMETIMES. I love the way this scene was shot - House's reaction shots are great. "I didn't read any studies, I just raised children." OUCH, WILSON, DID YOU FEEL COMPLETELY EMASCULATED. I BET YOU DID.
- Awww - I kind of love it how when House shouts that he'll be right in to the ducklings, Cuddy looks so upset - she really IS relying him to stay at the dinner, to make her feel better for having to be there with her mom. HE MAKES HER FEEL BETTER JUST BY EXISTING, GUYS.
- "Say you two got married" AHAHAHAHA OMG ARLENE IS JUST HITTING ALL THESE NAILS ON THE HEAD. "and why do you call him House? The man's name is Greg - it makes it seem like you're not serious." LOLOL WILSON, WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON. OMG Arlene - what a HARRIDAN. Slapping Wilson down for bringing Sam and the Poconos up during a festive occasion, CALLING HER DAUGHTER A SLUT. OMFG.
- AND THEN FAVOURITE FAVOURITE PART OF MY FAVOURITE SCENE EVER, dutifully gif-spammed by yours truly:
House: Okay, I got this. First of all, Mom…
[Arlene’s head lolls back and she’s out cold.]
Cuddy: Oh my god! [She checks Arlene’s eyes.] Did you… sedate my mother?
House: Kicked in just in time. She’ll wake up in a couple of hours, and be as good as new. Think of it as my birthday gift to you. You told me to keep my mouth shut. It’s the only way I had a chance.
Wilson: Leaving aside the fact that House is a sociopath, I have to admit that I’m… I’m honestly relieved. Your mom is quite a… quite a handful. I feel f… Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. You drugged me again?
House: Sorry. I honestly thought you’d be worse. [Wilson’s head hits the table.] That was my gift to myself.
PERFECTION PERFECTION PERFECTION THIS SCENE IS BEYOND PERFECTION I HAVE NO WORDS ASLFHSLDFHSDLFSLFSD I CAN'T BELIEVE HE DRUGGED ARLENE. AND WILSON. POOR CUDDY. THIS IS YOUR BOYFRIEND, CUDDY. THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE. THINK ABOUT YOUR CHOICES. AHAHAHAHAHAHA OMG. XD
I LOVE WILSON'S REALISATION THAT HE'S BEEN DRUGGED - AGAIN??!!!? "That was my gift to myself." ACTUAL DYING HERE.
- ONLY IN THIS SHOW. ONLY IN THIS SHOW WOULD TWO PEOPLE WASHING DISHES WHILE TWO OTHER PEOPLE WERE PASSED OUT IN THE BACKGROUND BE THE MOST GORGEOUSLY ROMANTIC THING EVER. I LOVE THAT THIS IS HOUSE'S BIRTHDAY GIFT TO CUDDY, ESSENTIALLY, AT LEAST THE FIRST PART. SO INTENSELY ADORABLE. JUST LOOK AT HOW SHE DUCKS HER HEAD AND SMILES AFTER HER ASKS "ISN'T THIS NICE?" - BECAUSE YES, IT IS NICE.
MY HEART ♥
- "You are the worst gloater ever!"
- HEY GUYS, REMEMBER HOW ARLENE CUDDY SHIPS HOUSE AND HER DAUGHTER? BECAUSE SHE DOES:
Arlene: I do know I can be difficult.
House: You were a little bitchy.
Arlene: In the clinic, you were a complete schmendrick! But once you knew I was Lisa’s mother, you held your tongue. That’s because you love her. I still think you’re a pain in the ass with a God complex and I’ll kill you if you hurt her… but I’m glad she has you.
House: We don’t have to hug now, do we?
Arlene: What do you think?
SHE'S GLAD CUDDY HAS HOUSE. HOUSE LOVES CUDDY. CUDDY HAS HOUSE. ARLENE'S GLAD CUDDY HAS HOUSE. HOW MANY TIMES CAN I SAY THIS?!?!
ALSO, MOTHEREFFIN' CANDICE BERGEN. DON'T THINK I CAN ACTUALLY SAY THIS ENOUGH. MOTHER. EFFIN'. CANDICE. BERGEN. FOR THE. MOTHER. EFFIN'. WIN.
- House's impressive chicken pox diagnosis. He's so sexy when he's right. XD
- "That's impulse - it's easy. Dealing with family is hard." And he dealt with Cuddy's family! In his fashion. Awww. XD
- I really did like this scene between Taub and his wife. :(
- HELLO FAVOURITE SCENE IN AN EPISODE FULL OF FAVOURITE SCENES. LOOK AT HOW SASSY AND SEXY AND GORGEOUS AND FLIRTY AND PRETTY AND SWEET AND ADORABLE THEY ARE. ALSO, HE'S HER SWEET, SWEET MAN. HNNNNNNNNNNNNNG. SEXY GORGEOUS AMAZING.
House: You know, you turned out remarkably close to normal considering the genes in play.
Cuddy: Thanks.
House: Here. [He reaches into his jacket pocket and produces a prescription bottle of pills, tied with a red ribbon.] In case your mom comes back. Happy birthday.
[She takes the pill bottle and laughs.]
Cuddy: Oh, you are a sweet, sweet man. [She kisses him.] Coming over?
House: Yes. Oh no - I can’t.
Cuddy: Wilson?
House: Yes - uh, bowling night. He’ll never forgive me if I don’t… Ohh, screw it, I’m coming.
Cuddy: No no no, I’m not going to be responsible for that. You drugged the man - you go bowling with him.
House: Well, my chances of sex are considerably lower with Wilson… fine.
I LOVE HOW GORGEOUSLY SWEET AND SEXY THIS KISS IS. Just so... full of affection and so intimate.
OMG SHIP. ILU SO VERY VERY MUCH.
SUCH A GOOD EPISODE. SO HAPPY.
AND HOUSE LOOKS SO PEACEFUL AT THE END. I love it that he gets to be happy, in small moments and for the most part, this season. :)