House 8x22: Series Finale
Given David Shore's comment that they "didn't do happy endings", I was expecting something much more devastating than we got. Driving into the city to watch it, I felt like I was on my way to an execution. I had to remind myself of the basic principles of driving (1. Go at the right speed 2. Keep the car in the lane 3. Don't hit anything) to make sure I got there in one piece, since some of my automatic functioning seemed to have shut down. A little part of me dared to hope, though, since the slash fan's idea of a happy ending isn't necessarily the same as the mainstream audience's.
Despite the fact that I am radiantly happy about the ending, I have some major reservations about what happened in the finale, which boil down to insufficient premeditation.
Yes, House gave up his professional life, everything he owned and everyone else he knew to spend those last five months with Wilson, but he did it on the spur of the moment while under the influence of illegal drugs, after his former patient died. The law doesn't penalise you as heavily if you commit a crime with no advance planning, right? So I can't give House as much credit for this decision as I could if he'd thought it out more soberly and if it didn't hinge on events he didn't plan. (If he did plan them, that would be murder!)
What would have happened if he'd successfully got out the front door, and on top of his former problems, had to deal with the consequences of taking heroin with a former patient who died in his presence? I'm not sure how the parole board would view that, but I think House probably cut off his chance to see any more of Wilson, or practice medicine again any time soon, by staying in the building with the dead man long enough to be discovered. He'd backed himself into a corner by that stage and faking his own death was just taking it one step further.
It's only good luck that he didn't die in the building, while Wilson watched, no less. The things Wilson said in his angry eulogy about House were mostly true. I guess Wilson has known full well for a long time that it's dangerous for his primary emotional bond to be with someone as volatile and risk-taking as House, so he has to take some of the responsibility if it all goes horribly wrong, but that doesn't mean I want him to suffer for it in his last few months alive.
That said, I think it would have been out of character for House to keep acting like an almost perfect friend for another episode without slipping up, so I thought the heroin use was a reasonable way to avoid that.
I'm also concerned that House is going to find the next few months boring and desperately miss his job. The first half of the episode really stressed how much he loves the problem-solving nature of his work. He might love Wilson more, but that doesn't mean he'll find it easy to walk away from the hospital.
I wonder why House didn't have his cane next to him on the steps. Maybe he didn't want to take the chance that someone would notice it and recognise him.
bardiegrub pointed out that they took every opportunity during the hallucinations to reinforce House's heterosexuality (including an alarming baby scene!) before they gave us the House/Wilson ending. Even less to my taste was House's hallucination of Stacy questioning whether he truly didn't believe in God. Still, if we have to have scenes like that to keep as many viewers happy as possible, I'll take them and be grateful if they mean I get my ending!
Stacy's "What about love? I lived with you for years, I know you believe in love." cuts directly to a House/Wilson scene:
House: Wilson. I don't want to lose this time with you.
I could have done without Wilson's lecture, which we've heard oh so many times before, but I enjoyed the way Wilson grabbed House's shoulder and spun him around. He doesn't usually manhandle House and it seemed to flow on from their increased physical intimacy from 8x19.
Wilson, about to go off script and rail against House in his eulogy
He lives (I originally typed lies, which is also true)
House saying with his eyes "None of those things matter to me as much as you do"
The fairy tale ending!
Wilson, checking in half a sentence that House is willing to help him die like he was Thirteen
House confirming in even fewer words that they don't even have to discuss it
Wilson acknowledging
Gratuitous Wilson picture
Riding off into the sunset in broad daylight
It doesn't worry me whether or not House plans to commit suicide after he helps Wilson die. Even if he does, I still consider that a relatively happy ending for this character.
That was the most engaging, rewarding month of TV storytelling I've ever experienced. Considering some of the lows this show has put us through, to say it exceeded my expectations wouldn't begin to cover it.
Despite the fact that I am radiantly happy about the ending, I have some major reservations about what happened in the finale, which boil down to insufficient premeditation.
Yes, House gave up his professional life, everything he owned and everyone else he knew to spend those last five months with Wilson, but he did it on the spur of the moment while under the influence of illegal drugs, after his former patient died. The law doesn't penalise you as heavily if you commit a crime with no advance planning, right? So I can't give House as much credit for this decision as I could if he'd thought it out more soberly and if it didn't hinge on events he didn't plan. (If he did plan them, that would be murder!)
What would have happened if he'd successfully got out the front door, and on top of his former problems, had to deal with the consequences of taking heroin with a former patient who died in his presence? I'm not sure how the parole board would view that, but I think House probably cut off his chance to see any more of Wilson, or practice medicine again any time soon, by staying in the building with the dead man long enough to be discovered. He'd backed himself into a corner by that stage and faking his own death was just taking it one step further.
It's only good luck that he didn't die in the building, while Wilson watched, no less. The things Wilson said in his angry eulogy about House were mostly true. I guess Wilson has known full well for a long time that it's dangerous for his primary emotional bond to be with someone as volatile and risk-taking as House, so he has to take some of the responsibility if it all goes horribly wrong, but that doesn't mean I want him to suffer for it in his last few months alive.
That said, I think it would have been out of character for House to keep acting like an almost perfect friend for another episode without slipping up, so I thought the heroin use was a reasonable way to avoid that.
I'm also concerned that House is going to find the next few months boring and desperately miss his job. The first half of the episode really stressed how much he loves the problem-solving nature of his work. He might love Wilson more, but that doesn't mean he'll find it easy to walk away from the hospital.
I wonder why House didn't have his cane next to him on the steps. Maybe he didn't want to take the chance that someone would notice it and recognise him.
bardiegrub pointed out that they took every opportunity during the hallucinations to reinforce House's heterosexuality (including an alarming baby scene!) before they gave us the House/Wilson ending. Even less to my taste was House's hallucination of Stacy questioning whether he truly didn't believe in God. Still, if we have to have scenes like that to keep as many viewers happy as possible, I'll take them and be grateful if they mean I get my ending!
Stacy's "What about love? I lived with you for years, I know you believe in love." cuts directly to a House/Wilson scene:
House: Wilson. I don't want to lose this time with you.
I could have done without Wilson's lecture, which we've heard oh so many times before, but I enjoyed the way Wilson grabbed House's shoulder and spun him around. He doesn't usually manhandle House and it seemed to flow on from their increased physical intimacy from 8x19.
Wilson, about to go off script and rail against House in his eulogy
He lives (I originally typed lies, which is also true)
House saying with his eyes "None of those things matter to me as much as you do"
The fairy tale ending!
Wilson, checking in half a sentence that House is willing to help him die like he was Thirteen
House confirming in even fewer words that they don't even have to discuss it
Wilson acknowledging
Gratuitous Wilson picture
Riding off into the sunset in broad daylight
It doesn't worry me whether or not House plans to commit suicide after he helps Wilson die. Even if he does, I still consider that a relatively happy ending for this character.
That was the most engaging, rewarding month of TV storytelling I've ever experienced. Considering some of the lows this show has put us through, to say it exceeded my expectations wouldn't begin to cover it.