"Words and Deeds" 3x11
First? I need y'all to help me figure out where the heck January went. Last I knew it was three weeks ago, and I was eagerly awaiting the new House episode at the end of January. Well not only have we seen that ep, we've now moved into a new month. As Virgil said, "Tempus fugit!" (Yeah, I just learned this week that Virgil was the first to use that phrase, so I'm just showing off {g}.)
Anyway, on to the episode at hand, "Words and Deeds." In which House goes to rehab, Wilson gives a gift, Cuddy recaps perfectly, and Cameron sybills us with yet another one of her seemingly endless personalities.
Certainly the easiest interpretation of this episode's title is words and deeds (hereafter referred to as W&D), while not the same, all have consequences. No great insights there. What I found interesting was the weight the various characters put on one or the other (or even both).
Let's get the POTW subplot out of the way first (which I didn't like at all). Derek is a firefighter brought to PPTH after an attack of some sort at a fire scene. The diagnostics team at first suspects MRSA as the cause of his symptoms but, in true House style, the first diagnosis is totally wrong. After a few other not-quite-100%-on-the-mark diagnoses, Cameron determines that he has Broken heart syndrome, brought on by Derek's love for his partner Amy, who he tells Cameron is in love with and engaged to his brother. Because of his physical condition after a series of heart attacks, no pharmaceutical treatments are possible. The decision is made (and approved by Cuddy) to perform an electro-shock treatment that will remove his entire experiential memory. After the procedure, it's revealed that Amy and Derek's brother aren't even dating, much less engaged to be married.
Excuse me, WTF? I realize Derek is an adult and doesn't need any next-of-kin permission to consent to any treatment, but is there no way the reason for Derek's needing to have his memory erased woulda/coulda/shoulda been discussed with his family (his brother is the only one we know about)? That just was wrong, wrong, wrong-o in my book. Yes, I hear you...dramatic license and all that. But still, WTF?
Title tie-in?If Cameron had kept her trap shut, all would have been OK. Lack of the right words shared with the right people resulted in actions that resulted in a tragic, unnecessary loss of a young man's memory and personality.
As the team realizes that Derek experienced false memories, they are led to a final diagnosis of spinal meningioma, a tumor restricting blood flow to the brain, leading to the false memories. Surgery removes the tumor, and all is fine. Except Derek has no memories of his life. See? If they'd have talked everything out before the electro-treatment, they would have realized the cause of the false memories and so have the same end result. *sigh*
And overall, what in heaven's name was up with Cameron? "I just want you to do your job." Who does she think she is? While I loved the callback to Cuddy's line in the very first episode, I hated that Cameron delivered it. And, honey, the dude is in rehab trying (allegedly) to overcome his drug addiction. Doesn't he get any time off work for that? No, not as far as Dr Cam is concerned. All I can do is shake my head in wonderment.
Now, on to the Housiness. Again this week, House was a patient, this time of PPTH's in-patient rehab clinic.
Lots of people threw lots of words at House that got him to go into rehab. Cuddy (OMG she was awesomeness in a bottle!) in no uncertain terms laid out every misstep House took during the whole Tritter arc (nice job on the recap!). She even made the comment that Tritter had been trying to help House all along but House just pushed him away. She finally got it through his head that he needed to apologize to Tritter once and for all.
Which House does. Sincerely (allegedly). And Tritter doesn't accept: "I've never been interested what you have to say. It's about what you do." Which, come to think of it, is another callback to the pilot; Rachel Adler makes a similar comment to Wilson after she asks if House cares about him.
So W&D as relates to House. At the extreme ends of the spectrum we have Wilson and Tritter. Wilson, thought skeptical, believes House's W&D. He has faith in House whereas Tritter has no faith in an addict. The detective doesn't give credence to anything House says or does, whether it's the apology (yes, House actually says, "I'm sorry"!) or entering rehab.
House also apologies to Wilson. "I had no business blaming you. You were only trying to protect me. It's what friends do." Wilson, of course, has never heard words anything remotely like these out of House's mouth before: "Wait, is this an apology?" House confirms that is it and offers to stop if Wilson doesn't like it. Wilson says that it's just that it's "unfamiliar" but that House should definitely keep going.
I've not yet mentioned that House is in court in this episode. It's the pretrial hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to go before a jury. By the end of the show, Cuddy perjures herself to save House (cool, but huh?). For some reason I found it very interesting the Cuddy was the one who rescued him, not Wilson. I'll be curious to see if that has any implications in the future.
And Tritter concedes that he hopes he's wrong about House.
Which we find out that he isn't wrong. In the last scene, where House is in jail for the night due to a contempt citation (are you surprised?), Wilson discovers that the rehab attendant had been sneaking Vicodin to House all along.
Wilson: So nothing's changed?
House: Nothing's changed.
Wilson tries to process this as he turns to leave. He stops, then turns back to ask if House's apology was real. "Believe what you want," is House's reply along with a smile that would melt glaciers. And Wilson's heart. Wilson again turns to go, saying he'll see House tomorrow.
Wilson: Goodnight, House.
House: Goodnight, Wilson.
I loved that. So Walton's Mountain-ish.
Two awesome shout-outs this ep: House nicknamed the rehab attendant "Voldemort" (Hee! House reads Harry Potter!) and later makes a comment about "turning the dial to 11" (not surprised he's a Spinal Tap fan; actually, if I remember, in some interview Hugh mentions that This Is Spinal Tap is his favorite movie).
And House claims Andre the Giant for his Higher Power. Can we claim that as a Princess Bride shout-out? I'm going to!
Oh and I nearly forgot: it's Chase's turn to say, "Everybody lies." At least he got to say something.
I leave you with a mental picture: House smoking. I know it's a disgusting habit (I'm a ex-smoker myself), but this is House. Smoking. Sexily. Need I say more?
Episode rating: 3 canes out of 5
Anyway, on to the episode at hand, "Words and Deeds." In which House goes to rehab, Wilson gives a gift, Cuddy recaps perfectly, and Cameron sybills us with yet another one of her seemingly endless personalities.
Certainly the easiest interpretation of this episode's title is words and deeds (hereafter referred to as W&D), while not the same, all have consequences. No great insights there. What I found interesting was the weight the various characters put on one or the other (or even both).
Let's get the POTW subplot out of the way first (which I didn't like at all). Derek is a firefighter brought to PPTH after an attack of some sort at a fire scene. The diagnostics team at first suspects MRSA as the cause of his symptoms but, in true House style, the first diagnosis is totally wrong. After a few other not-quite-100%-on-the-mark diagnoses, Cameron determines that he has Broken heart syndrome, brought on by Derek's love for his partner Amy, who he tells Cameron is in love with and engaged to his brother. Because of his physical condition after a series of heart attacks, no pharmaceutical treatments are possible. The decision is made (and approved by Cuddy) to perform an electro-shock treatment that will remove his entire experiential memory. After the procedure, it's revealed that Amy and Derek's brother aren't even dating, much less engaged to be married.
Excuse me, WTF? I realize Derek is an adult and doesn't need any next-of-kin permission to consent to any treatment, but is there no way the reason for Derek's needing to have his memory erased woulda/coulda/shoulda been discussed with his family (his brother is the only one we know about)? That just was wrong, wrong, wrong-o in my book. Yes, I hear you...dramatic license and all that. But still, WTF?
Title tie-in?
As the team realizes that Derek experienced false memories, they are led to a final diagnosis of spinal meningioma, a tumor restricting blood flow to the brain, leading to the false memories. Surgery removes the tumor, and all is fine. Except Derek has no memories of his life. See? If they'd have talked everything out before the electro-treatment, they would have realized the cause of the false memories and so have the same end result. *sigh*
And overall, what in heaven's name was up with Cameron? "I just want you to do your job." Who does she think she is? While I loved the callback to Cuddy's line in the very first episode, I hated that Cameron delivered it. And, honey, the dude is in rehab trying (allegedly) to overcome his drug addiction. Doesn't he get any time off work for that? No, not as far as Dr Cam is concerned. All I can do is shake my head in wonderment.
Now, on to the Housiness. Again this week, House was a patient, this time of PPTH's in-patient rehab clinic.
Lots of people threw lots of words at House that got him to go into rehab. Cuddy (OMG she was awesomeness in a bottle!) in no uncertain terms laid out every misstep House took during the whole Tritter arc (nice job on the recap!). She even made the comment that Tritter had been trying to help House all along but House just pushed him away. She finally got it through his head that he needed to apologize to Tritter once and for all.
Which House does. Sincerely (allegedly). And Tritter doesn't accept: "I've never been interested what you have to say. It's about what you do." Which, come to think of it, is another callback to the pilot; Rachel Adler makes a similar comment to Wilson after she asks if House cares about him.
So W&D as relates to House. At the extreme ends of the spectrum we have Wilson and Tritter. Wilson, thought skeptical, believes House's W&D. He has faith in House whereas Tritter has no faith in an addict. The detective doesn't give credence to anything House says or does, whether it's the apology (yes, House actually says, "I'm sorry"!) or entering rehab.
House also apologies to Wilson. "I had no business blaming you. You were only trying to protect me. It's what friends do." Wilson, of course, has never heard words anything remotely like these out of House's mouth before: "Wait, is this an apology?" House confirms that is it and offers to stop if Wilson doesn't like it. Wilson says that it's just that it's "unfamiliar" but that House should definitely keep going.
I've not yet mentioned that House is in court in this episode. It's the pretrial hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to go before a jury. By the end of the show, Cuddy perjures herself to save House (cool, but huh?). For some reason I found it very interesting the Cuddy was the one who rescued him, not Wilson. I'll be curious to see if that has any implications in the future.
And Tritter concedes that he hopes he's wrong about House.
Which we find out that he isn't wrong. In the last scene, where House is in jail for the night due to a contempt citation (are you surprised?), Wilson discovers that the rehab attendant had been sneaking Vicodin to House all along.
Wilson: So nothing's changed?
House: Nothing's changed.
Wilson tries to process this as he turns to leave. He stops, then turns back to ask if House's apology was real. "Believe what you want," is House's reply along with a smile that would melt glaciers. And Wilson's heart. Wilson again turns to go, saying he'll see House tomorrow.
Wilson: Goodnight, House.
House: Goodnight, Wilson.
I loved that. So Walton's Mountain-ish.
Two awesome shout-outs this ep: House nicknamed the rehab attendant "Voldemort" (Hee! House reads Harry Potter!) and later makes a comment about "turning the dial to 11" (not surprised he's a Spinal Tap fan; actually, if I remember, in some interview Hugh mentions that This Is Spinal Tap is his favorite movie).
And House claims Andre the Giant for his Higher Power. Can we claim that as a Princess Bride shout-out? I'm going to!
Oh and I nearly forgot: it's Chase's turn to say, "Everybody lies." At least he got to say something.
I leave you with a mental picture: House smoking. I know it's a disgusting habit (I'm a ex-smoker myself), but this is House. Smoking. Sexily. Need I say more?
Episode rating: 3 canes out of 5
Labels: season3
