I am so surprised that I like Masters. That means they’ll probably get rid of her. Don’t get me wrong — I like Thirteen, too (unlike CliqueClack commenter Oreo), but I haven’t really missed her. I’m impressed that Tamblyn’s acting is as nuanced as it is. I thought she would be cringe-worthy when Masters was first introduced, because the character was written to be a prissy disaster: Last week when she went to gather more data by asking the Swedish prostitute to continue reading the journal, and then by convincing House that she was right.
I continued to like her tonight. Even though she insists on honesty, which House seems determined to beat out of her, I don’t think she’s going to change. However, she is starting to see that in some cases, her responsibility to be a doctor who saves her patient’s life may be more important than her responsibility to her morals.
My husband didn’t think Sam would have truly broken up with Wilson over the fact that he thought she had fudged data on five files. I thought her reaction was pretty genuine. What House failed to realize — when Taub said that he didn’t realize that his wife was still upset about his infidelity, that the hurts had just accumulated over time — was that that is going to happen with Cuddy. He got away with an apology this time, but how many more times?
With Sam, it was a matter of seeing old and emerging patterns. Wilson went straight to believing that Sam — albeit with high morals — had deliberately used more radiation than necessary on patients who were terminal anyway. Well, actually, House went straight to pointing that out, and Wilson agreed. It seems to be more that Wilson has finally been around House for too long that he now lives in a world where people are dishonest professionally constantly for the greater good. The assumption is what foiled him. Nobody who is honest, though, likes to be accused of any kind of dishonesty, no matter how noble.
A word about the case: How many times do we have to see someone with faith cling to it in the face of House’s atheism? He never convinces anyone, and it’s getting a little worn thin. “How is House going to lie this time?” has become the new theme of the show, which is ultimately overshadowing the intriguing process of diagnosis. But maybe that isn’t very good for ratings.
Cuddy was wrong to force House to apologize, especially when she knows that he lies. She needs to start separating their personal from their professional relationship: I agree with House when he says that he was lying to his boss — who happens to be Cuddy. She can’t compete with his dedication to his cases when he feels he is right, and if she tries, she is going to end up hurting him. I don’t like to be lied to, either, but I didn’t walk with open eyes into a relationship with someone who has years of history lying to me; she did.
I know that all of this is fodder for the show, drama, etc., but when some shows are truly fantastic, dammit, I want them to exceed my expectations.
Clacked by Jen Creer
on Nov 23, 2010 @ 00:18 EST5EDT
As the husband in question, who didn’t buy Sam leaving Wilson when she suspected he suspected her research results, perhaps I’m not seeing the pattern between them since I’m not a House completist. But unless their first divorce was in large part caused by Wilson constantly, if subtly, discrediting her work to her face, I don’t see this as a cumulation of old patterns, especially since I haven’t seen this theme introduced between them since they’ve reunited. (Correct me if the foundations have been lain, and I missed them.) So to me the message of the scene was that Sam wasn’t really that invested in the relationship, and there was nothing larger than her professional pride at stake. Since I don’t believe that’s true for her character, how that really read for me was as a plot device to get the four male characters moping into their drinks at the wedding’s bar and to move Wilson into whatever singleton storylines the writers have planned.
A more satisfying and fitting reaction for me would have been for Sam to say essentially what Wilson did — that once upon a time, this thing you’re doing here would have been a deal-breaker, but now, not so much, because I’m committed to you, not to ferreting out the truth behind your actions so I can judge you. Which would have paralleled Masters’ emotional arc – it’s more important to save lives (bigger picture) than to be scrupulously honest all the time.
But again, I might have missed developments in the Sam-Wilson story that would have put this in context.
Ha! It sucks when your husband can read the stuff you’ve said about him.
I think (because I am a House completist) that they have just made enough allusions to what happened in their past that I am just assuming things broadly. I was trying to make it fit with the other themes of honesty versus dishonesty. I still bought it, but you’re right: Smacks of not really invested, which isn’t her stated reason for leaving.
Thanks for reading, honey! xoxo
I think the atheism was ok since it took so much of a backburner. The whole episode was about relationships of the doctors and the case of the week was a nice “sidegag” at best. I didn’t really care at all about it, and (like always) we got to no conclusion on the matter anyway. Fuggetaboutit.
All I can say is that Morrison is better off on HIMYM and 13 is awesome in “Cowboys & Aliens” so all in all these were all good decisions for “House”. It could be worse. Like Season 5 or 6 worse.
“Cuddy was wrong to force House to apologize, especially when she knows that he lies.”
That is my whole problem with that stupid storyline!
yo, Jen. Been keeping up from abroad. I really enjoy reading your take on House, 98% of the time I agree with you!
I really enjoyed this last episode of House, despite the over-done atheism vs. ridiculously religious patient act.
I also enjoyed that Cuddy and House’s relationship seems to be flowing more like before, minus the lying issue. Especially when House nailed her for lying about being married. Her only response was “Well played.” I think that’s more on par with how their relationship professionally works.
The newbie is growing on me too, even though she feels a lot like a fourth wheel at times.
I’m hoping Sam will come back, even though it seems doubtful right now. I’m liking the Lost chic being on my TV again, she’s done well and fits in naturally with the flow of the show and the rest of the cast.
Keep it up Jen, look forward to you helping me de-frag after watching House.
xx