Are House and Cuddy getting stronger?

The case of the week on House this week was amped up a bit, simply because the patient was Cuddy’s mom, and there was some nice commentary on why doctors should not treat their own family members. How can you be an objective doctor when your patient tells you she loves you, but she doesn’t really like you? Ouch. It was pretty great that Cuddy’s mom didn’t turn out to be a hypochondriac, though. Her character is anything but stereotypical and I think even that small attention to storyline detail really did her justice.

I think my favorite part of the episode was the dynamics between House and Cuddy. She clearly values his dishonesty when it benefits her, and he can be ridiculously honest at times, a House we don’t often get to see. When House told Cuddy that she never confronts her mother and that it pisses him off, that was a really important moment in their relationship. And Cuddy respects House enough to finally tell her mother off and save her life.

Throughout all of the tense moments in this drama, House and Cuddy remained united and strong — and to me, that’s telling. I hope they keep this up and don’t contrive a reason to split them apart.

Now, the thing that bugged me most about this episode is how stupid it was that they didn’t just talk to the attending physician assigned to Cuddy’s mom’s case. Was all that sneaking about really necessary? For the storyline, perhaps; but honestly, they could have just talked to the guy first. The last seven seasons have been about House’s ego, but if this doctor wouldn’t listen to his staff or House and Cuddy, then he’s the one with the ego problem.

This and that:

• They bugged Cuddy’s mom’s room … that’s all kinds of awesome.
• No Wilson, I mean none at all. WTF? Robert Sean Leonard had better be filming some huge blockbuster or something, because you don’t have an episode of House without Wilson.
• The lupus reference was brilliant — brilliant! You don’t know what I’m talking about? Watch and learn:

• I really don’t want to say much about Masters. She’s clearly not long for this show (especially since Olivia Wilde‘s movie is as good as released) and I can’t stand her clothes (her and Rachael from Glee shop in the same children’s stores) and I’m pretty done with her all around. House says he needs her around to keep him from doing something Cuddy would regret … yeah, no he doesn’t.
• I want to say even less about Taub … a crappy husband, but a good person? He has spent half an episode not being a selfish, lying bastard. In my book, we’ve got a long way to go before good person fits the bill. Yeah, brain bleed kid, whatever.

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Feb 07, 2011 @ 21:00 EST5EDT