5.13 - Big Baby
Cuddy decides to spend more time at home to take care of her newly adopted baby and passes some of her day-to-day responsibilities off to Cameron, including supervising House. Cameron is forced to play House’s games and becomes involved in a power struggle as he and the team take on the case of a Special Education teacher who collapsed after spitting up blood in the middle of class. As House tests Cameron’s tolerance for his extreme measures, the patient continues to fall ill and House insists the teacher’s seemingly inherent goodness is actually a pathology. Meanwhile, Foreman must make a critical decision regarding Thirteen’s participation in the Huntington’s drug trial in the “Big Baby” episode of HOUSE airing Monday, Jan. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/ PT) on FOX. (HOU-513) (TV-14 D) Cast: Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House; Lisa Edelstein as Dr. Lisa Cuddy; Omar Epps as Dr. Eric Foreman; Robert Sean Leonard as Dr. James Wilson; Jennifer Morrison as Dr. Allison Cameron; Jesse Spencer as Dr. Robert Chase; Peter Jacobson as Dr. Chris Taub; Kal Penn as Dr. Lawrence Kutner; Olivia Wilde as Thirteen Guest Cast: Erika Flores as Sarah; Andy Scott Harris as Johnny; Tammy Dahlstrom as Tammy; Saige Ryan Cambell as Jessica; Sam Gregory as Screaming Kid; Bobbin Bergstrom as Nurse

Oh, Jesus. That was good. Lisa and RSL were pitch-perfect in their scenes together. Absolutely wonderful. I was proud of Cameron. She did everything she was supposed to do. Maybe in a few years she'll feel more confident stepping into a similar position. Kutner was a complete bad-ass. I'm glad he's really taking stands. Oh, and bloody fucking hell, there was a fire drill in my dorm, so I missed the second act. While it was being described to me over the phone, I will have to wait to watch the episode again to give more coherent thoughts.

Wow. I really liked this episode, especially the supportive Wilson (and the dumb picture idea! LOL) and the bit between Foreman & Chase. They handled Cuddy's emotions well...they depicted it very true to life. You're handed this baby and then it's like a 'now what?' kind of thing where you wonder if you'll be more than just a diaper changer; the bond isn't always instant, in fact, I think that's a rarity. & House and baby. Not overdone, not mushy. Awkward, which was just right and how appropriate he has his a-ha moment while holding her. Have to re-watch, but I really enjoyed it.

The highlight for me was House cutting right through all Foreman's justifications and everything else with "I'm the last person you'd come to with an ethical problem which means..." and laying out the problem and possible solutions so clearly. I wish my brain worked like that. The low point was the surgery. Once the patient's brain was open, what possible reason was there to tell him to stop? The most dangerous part had already been done. And when Cuddy "bonded" with the baby by screaming "tell me what you want" was right down there with the Fetal Position baby grabbing House's finger for "gag me with a spoon" manipulative. Why couldn't anyone just explain to her that she's a foster parent now. Give it a little time and, if the bonding doesn't happen, then don't adopt. You don't have to make the decision on day 1.

Wow! I really liked this. LE was fantastic tonight. The writers were spot on with the varying emotions that a infant brings to a new mom. I thought is was very realistic. I liked Cam tonight and what little I saw of Chase I liked too. I have to re-watch but my first impression is a good one.

I don't know, I wasn't really big on this one. Maybe next time.

Obviously there is a leap of faith in terms of acceptance that real world situations don't apply (Cameron running the hospital, even if it's just parts and only temporarily, Foreman finding out about the placebo and telling everyone, etc.) But with that understood for sake of dramatic license, I love that they don't take the easy way. There's no instantaneous bonding -- after all these imaginings of having a child, Cuddy finds that she doesn't have that two-minute bond with her, and in a way even comes to resent the way that the child takes over her high powered life. No one has an easy answer for anything. None of Wilson's speeches (or the photo that came with the frame -- hee) work on the soft side. House's tough love doesn't work. Foreman can't find the answer that he wants. Love the conversation with Chase by the way, Chase's comments about Cameron dressing more like Cuddy now, and the benefits in the bedroom to her new power trip. Heeee. No one on "House" or in House's world ever has an easy route. Love is more of a rocky shore that the waves pound against, not a white sand beach. You don't get the fairy tale ending with your kid or your diagnosis or your medical trials. House's answer to Foreman is that Foreman's answer is very easy in a hypothetical sense ... until the moment emotions get involved. Oh and one final thing ... Does this mean that the patient who worked with special education kids literally had a bleeding heart? Cause that's kind of funny.

What pod person took over House to make him say something like, "Unless you love her?" or whatever it was that he said about Foreman loving 13. Is 13 so fantastically wonderful that Foreman loves her after one night when he didn't love Wendy after months of being with her? The 14 crap was about to make me hurl. I was disappointed that they had to play the Ham ship in the first scene with Cameron saying she took the job because she'd "put out." It became obvious that Cameron isn't able to say no to House when it comes down to it. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I liked the Chase/Foreman scene, but it would be nice to see Chase doing something other than eating or surgery once in a while. He looked like he needed to wash his hair--not a good look for a surgeon whom you would expect to have higher standards of cleanliness than the next guy. Of course, I guess that could be the look of a surgeon who's been working all day and really does need to go home and take a shower. The way Kutner was acting, it makes me think he's getting fed up with House and his ways. Cuddy's situation didn't make me feel much of anything. I thought it was weird to hear Wilson and Cameron both call her Lisa.

Excellent episode. As chippers said, all of LE and RSL's scenes together were so perfect. Loved his picture frame gift! Really liked all of JM's scenes with HL. And great scene with Foreman going to House with his ethical dilemma. Must re-watch the scene when Cuddy brought the baby to House's office. It was played just right. Why couldn't anyone just explain to her that she's a foster parent now. Give it a little time and, if the bonding doesn't happen, then don't adopt. You don't have to make the decision on day 1. Totally agree. I guess Wilson was trying to do that, but she really needed to talk to someone about the emotions she was going through. All in all, well done. And script was written by Shore/Kaplow, so kudos to them.

What show is this? House telling Foreman it's different if "he loves her" and not as a joke - 13 being all giggly and wanting babies, and of course feeling better so that Foreman feels guiltier and guiltier about the placebo thing.....that 'photo' thing was the lamest thing ever...why is wilson hanging around her house just to hear her cliche adoption woes . Cameron was so ridiculous...like she would just be handled such a hard job that requires so much knowledge of medical ethics...especially since she feels its more important to mess with House than follow them. It was of course topped off by that ridiculous scene with Cuddy screaming at her baby during brain surgery...I mean what? And how cliche was that? And of course, a sudden connection! All better now! And the baby spit up on House! I think I've seen that scene in every bad sitcom and chickflick in existance...the obviousness of that pretty much summed up the ep. Officially the worst House ep I've ever seen...I'm so disappointed at the decline its taken, but this ep was nearly unforgivable. ETA: I guess I'm in the minority...most people seem to like this ep. I :blushing:

Great eppy, loved Wilson & Cuddy. House & Cameron was fun, just disappointed as they could of extended her 'in charge' time. I loved him checking her out as she left the cafeteria & the 'i need oral sex' LOL Far too much Boreteen tho for my liking, i really hope thats nipped soon....Yawn.

I was with her for that part. I was annoyed at Wilson for trying to create a bond for her and the baby and at House for saying "fine. Give it back." I just wanted one of these people to say "you don't have to decide right now." But her screaming at the baby until it shut up being the miracle bond -- that was incredibly fake to me.

Anyone else think that when Foreteen were in the classroom and she said, "I want kids," that Post-Not-Partum-Depression Cuddy would end up giving her Rachel? Thank goodness it didn't turn out that way. Loved Cam in this. Loved House's exchange with Foreman. Loved him holding the baby. Loved Kutner. Wilson ... I loved his scenes with Cuddy (he called her "Lisa" -- sweet!) but I can't believe he blabbed to House about her "I don't feel anything" issues. More of his misguided attempts at matchmaking? Can't speak to whether any of the medicine was unrealistic or not, but I'm pretty sure a crying infant doesn't instantly shut up and get happy because her frustrated mom is yelling at her. But hey, it's teevee. And once again, Hugh in a surgical mask demonstrates that he can act more with his eyes than most actors can with their whole bodies.