So what now?
I feel kind of strange trying to write something serious about a show I am not sure wants to be taken seriously anymore. But:
What was the purpose of this episode?
l. House and Cuddy have sex? Kinda knew that from last year and the promos.
2. They are going to give it a real try? Again, already knew that from promos.
3. Establish that it is going to be a bumpy ride? Please, you have the best writers in television, and they had to steal a "bumpy" line from an old Bette Davis movie? Also, anyone who has seen House, or any other drama for that matter, probably had a good idea that there would be complication.
4. Show House is a silly romantic? Again, not a news flash. Flowers for Cameron, the Steve McQueen scenes with Stacy, desk for Cuddy, goofy gay guy with Nora.
5. Complete "Help Me". since it was set up as a continuation from that episode.
So, all summer long there were posts and speculation on how the Hannah speech had changed him, let Cuddy see he could change. Except now, he says he can't change and she doesn't want him to anyway, so never mind that.
The other thought was it would get him into a relationship that would give us insights into his unique brand of mad. Well. maybe later. The only thing that surprised me is that he has a tripod. Never took him for a photographer, huh.
What did we get? Great shots of a "naked" Hugh Laurie
A cute (please non-huddies do not bolt for the door) Wilson scene.
A big 13 mystery that played out way too long.
Oh, and Chase is now a player.
There were two things I did find interesting;
At the end of Help Me House talked about being able to change, by the end of What Now he seemed to have decided it wasn't going to happen. Now, I know the first response will be: he is afraid to try. I have a minor revision on that. He spent the perfect day with a woman he has been chasing on and off for years. He expected instant change, He expected a soap opera moment where it was all clear and LOVE would rule his heart. Didn't happen and he figures it's out of the picture.
The second thing that I keep going over in my head, Doris E used two old episodes of House as the basis for his two big revelations. His "this will not end well" speech was basically a rehash of what he told Stacy. "We will giggle for a while, I'll be an ass again and it will fall apart" (not exact quote) and the "How am I wrong" mirrors a conversation he had with Wilson and Amber. Now DE (patron Saint of the Wilsonian branch of the House of House) does not need to borrow dialogue, so let the speculation begin:
1. people don't change. Scenes don't change just the actors.
2. Picking up from the past and moving on together (that's for PH)
Or the whole thing was just a nice gift to the romantics in the audience. And here is where it becomes a question of taste. Not just comparing apples and oranges but trying to prove one is actually better than the other. Dumb discussion, but just so it is on the record. Not everyone sighed when she kissed his booboo. The magic bath,I lobe you and the self gratification sock I thought might have been scenes that had been rejected by the writers of the latest J. Annison-Hugh Grant movie.
Now, actually I did not hate the episode, probably because I was afraid it was going to be worse. But for me it was like being cornered by a new grandmother who insists on showing you baby pictures. Cute and Sweet but unless you are personally invested in the kid, boring.
I will be watching next week at 8. Despite the promo with Cuddy grabbing his crotch, I guess they are going for a younger audience, say twelve maybe. But it is still House and there is still hope that we can get back to Housisms (remember those? so unique they needed their own category) and Huddy becomes something a bit more substantial. Oh yeah, and keep Wilson around, you might need him.