5.15 - Unfaithful

You can get it here. Courtesy of the house_cuddy LJ. Thank you so much for that link. It really is a lovely composition, isn't it? Props to Hugh for that two minutes and eight seconds of sheer brilliance. I'm sitting here grinning like a fool after listening to it, and I don't even like Huddy. Regarding Cuddy's hypocrisy, if it is hypocrisy, it's a very common form. It's church as tradition, religious ceremony as rite of passage. It's the same way some people go to services only on Christmas and Easter, because that was what they did as kids. If the faith has no problem with it, neither do I. ITA. I have known many people raised in (insert faith here) who embrace such rituals as part of their heritage -- and Cuddy did use the word "heritage" -- even if they no longer believe chapter and verse of the faith it comes from. They do it not because the Deity of their faith commands it, but because "this is what our people do."

Taub is getting on my nerves. This is at least the third patient in S5 toward whom he's been unwontedly judgmental - and nasty with it. Who wouldn't be judgmental toward a pedophile? Sure we found out the guy was innocent eventually, but how many guys on "To Catch A Predator" claim to be innocent? Do we believe them? Toward a convicted pedophile, but Taub only had the barest bones about the story and treated him like judge and jury. But even more, this wasn't an isolated incident for Taub. He has major attitude with a lot of patients.

Taub is getting on my nerves. This is at least the third patient in S5 toward whom he's been unwontedly judgmental - and nasty with it. Who wouldn't be judgmental toward a pedophile? Sure we found out the guy was innocent eventually, but how many guys on "To Catch A Predator" claim to be innocent? Do we believe them? Toward a convicted pedophile, but Taub only had the barest bones about the story and treated him like judge and jury. But even more, this wasn't an isolated incident for Taub. He has major attitude with a lot of patients. Well, so do all the other doctors on the show. Cameron judged... almost everyone, Chase judged the patient in Heavy, Foreman in Histories, Acceptance, and House Training, Cuddy in Acceptance, Thirteen in Dying Changes Everything, House in Who's Your Daddy, and Wilson... okay, I don't think Wilson's ever judged a patient. And I guess Kutner hasn't either. But I'm sure their times are coming. Does it come up with Taub more than usual? I guess, sure. But it seems to be in his nature to be cynical about people.

Taub is getting on my nerves. This is at least the third patient in S5 toward whom he's been unwontedly judgmental - and nasty with it. Who wouldn't be judgmental toward a pedophile? Sure we found out the guy was innocent eventually, but how many guys on "To Catch A Predator" claim to be innocent? Do we believe them? Toward a convicted pedophile, but Taub only had the barest bones about the story and treated him like judge and jury. But even more, this wasn't an isolated incident for Taub. He has major attitude with a lot of patients. Well, so do all the other doctors on the show. Cameron judged... almost everyone, Chase judged the patient in Heavy, Foreman in Histories, Acceptance, and House Training, Cuddy in Acceptance, Thirteen in Dying Changes Everything, House in Who's Your Daddy, and Wilson... okay, I don't think Wilson's ever judged a patient. And I guess Kutner hasn't either. But I'm sure their times are coming. Does it come up with Taub more than usual? I guess, sure. But it seems to be in his nature to be cynical about people. Going by this season, yes. It's becoming his main characteristic on the job and verges on the inappropriate for me. House is rude to patients but usually doesn't seem to be passing judgment.

Wilson... okay, I don't think Wilson's ever judged a patient. That's because he's awesome. :D But, I guess you could count The Greater Good, he was pretty short with that POTW in their first scene, he did apologize but still, he should have kept it together better.

Well, so do all the other doctors on the show. Cameron judged... almost everyone, Chase judged the patient in Heavy, Foreman in Histories, Acceptance, and House Training, Cuddy in Acceptance, Thirteen in Dying Changes Everything, House in Who's Your Daddy, and Wilson... okay, I don't think Wilson's ever judged a patient. And I guess Kutner hasn't either. But I'm sure their times are coming. Does it come up with Taub more than usual? I guess, sure. But it seems to be in his nature to be cynical about people. Evidence of Cameron judging people: Fidelity, Acceptance (although she never said anything directly to Clarence,) Spin, Hunting, Sleeping Dogs Lie, Informed Consent. That is six episodes out of how many? Several of those episodes had her dealing with people who were actually doing stuff that was fairly evil (I'll give her Acceptance and Informed Consent because I really don't think it is right to give babies Cancer, I'm probably a judgemental person as well and I've always had a problem with murder as well). Chase: Heavy, Que Sera Sera, Deception ('Probably a working Girl,) kind of mean to the Nuns in Damned if you Do (although I thought he redeemed himself in that one). Those are the only ones I can think of off hand, he seems to be the least judgemental of the three Original Recipe Ducklings. Foreman: Histories, Acceptance, Deception, Safe (I really thought his railing against the mother was inappropriate,) Needle in a Haystack, House Training. That really puts Cameron and Foreman even and I thought he was worse in Acceptance because Cameron made some out of line comments in the heat of the moment while Foreman stood by and did nothing while Clarence was dying. In general, I don't think it is canonically accurate to say that Cameron is much more judgemental than any of the other ducklings. Just from a philosophical standpoint, society can't work if their isn't some kind of rational mecahnism to judge peoples' actions. I mean, that is getting into the realm of arguing moral relativism. I don't know if it is right to say that we should never judge anyone's actions and use that as a basis for how we interact with them. Even from a medical standpoint, many times the diagnosises in House are based on stupid things the patients did. I mean, if you didn't judge peoples' actions, you couldn't determine if they were sick because of something they did or some other factor. It is more difficult to get a read on Cuddy and Wilson because they aren't always heavily involved in the POTW plots. It is harder to cross reference the Ducklings 2.0 with Colonel Sanders Original Recipe Ducklings because we have less than a season of them working together as a team. I don't really know if I see Taub as being judemental more than him just kind of being a jerk sometimes. I would think that his plastic surgery experience would condition him to be able to convincing lie or cushion the truth when talking to patients. I mean, we saw where he worked and it was one of those Nip/Tuck, 'What Don't You Like About Yourself?' kind of places, he wasn't fixing hairlips in Appalachia. Maybe one of the plusses for him, working with House, is that he doesn't have to sugar coat things. He doesn't have to be a salesman, the people he works with now definately do need treatment. There have been many highly publicized issues regarding the Catholic Church and molestation, so I could understand how people would jump to conclusions at the slightlest evidence of wrongdoing. I can understand why normal people would jump to conclusions in a case like this but, these aren't some uninformed high school graduates getting easily paranoid from watching too much CNN, these are doctors and I would expect them to approach these issues from a rational standpoint. I think that was the reason I thought Taub and House were kind of out of line for immediately assuming the worst. I mean, they never said he was convicted all they said was that they moved him around after an incident. I actually wasn't surprised by House, although I wasn't really sure how he would go on something like this.

wow
I just watched the last four minutes of this episode again (and again 4 more times). So lovely. I love how House: -takes a drink in the middle of playing the piece, without missing a note... -closes his eyes at the end of the song... -and -- he looks intent, almost fierce -- he doesn't smile once throughout the whole song. It was lovely.

These two refuse to communicate, refuse to take a risk on each other and continue to act like they're 12 years old. I'm fed up with the whole arc. I don't see Cuddy as damaged in any way; she has everything going for her. She has let House know in no uncertain terms - to the point of degrading herself - that she is available to him. If he wants HER, I don't see why they continue these childish games. Cameron, Stacy, and Cuddy have all expressed interest in him, they have all said or implied that they don't want to change him, yet he continues to hold back from a woman he supposedly has known for 20 years, and who supposedly knows HIM well. If it were not for the awful revenge pranks that Cuddy played on him in "The Greater Good," I would have said that Cuddy was NOT the kind of person who would hate House forever, or hold it over his head if they gave their relationship a try and it DIDN'T work out. I actually still believe that, although my belief is getting shaky. The whole "I have to fire one of you" plot was a ridiculous contrivance. Foreteen is no worse than Foreman and Thirteen are apart. The idea that Thirteen is in some sort of peril almost every single episode this season is ridiculous. Because really, I just don't care. Not only is that plot line getting old, but the continual interruptions in the interesting PotW's story to show us more and more Foreteen was a constant irritation for me. The episode was like someone trying to drive a stick shift for the first time. Every time the car started to move smoothly forward, the writer tried to change gears and all the jerking around ruined the ride for me, and it seemed as if there were about 20 gear changes to lurch through. This episode succeeded where the article theft, needle stab, and long resignation arc failed: I finally dislike Foreman. I hated that he was playing stupid games with House, and I would be very disappointed if they really did pull the wool over House's eyes. House has ALWAYS been able to read Foreman like a book, and since much of the audience knew House was being played, it doesn't make sense that House didn't know. And I still haven't figured out what the point was in that whole Foreteen thing, other than to give even MORE time to a character that had worn out her welcome long ago. It's too bad that in an episode about the priesthood and losing faith, they couldn't come up with anything better for Chase to do than to push Foreteen. Wordy McWord to that, Ariadne. The piano piece was lovely and haunting, but it could not save this latest installment of Princeton 90210 for me.

I don't see Cuddy as damaged in any way; she has everything going for her. To me, it's been obvious for years that Cuddy is someone who is highly accomplished in her profession, but let her personal life slip -- and in "Joy To The World," it was clear that she was uncomfortable and uncertain with what to do in personal/romantic relationships at least since her teenage years. There's been evidence since at least the second season. This isn't new, we're just seeing more evidence of it now. But then "House" abounds with people who appear to be stable on the surface, yet are highly flawed beneath. Why should Wilson be the only character allowed to be screwed up, yet appear normal to the outside world? House surrounds himself with damaged people. It's what he likes. No surprise that Cuddy is one of them as well.

I'm wondering if Taub might have been molested in the past. He was so instantly accusatory (okay, so it could be his nature) and quick to judge the priest. Molestation could be the basis for his infidelity and possibly his suicide attempt.

razor's highly useful summary of the judgmental record of this team of doctors underscored for me a thought I have had before. In these cases, the doctors are judgmental about some issue or problem that reveals a clue to their own past or psychological make-up. Foreman is particularly hard on people whose underprivileged backgrounds parallel his own struggle to overcome impoverished circumstances. Cameron has been toughest on patients who appear to have lost their ethical bearings. House has always been toughest on suspected cases of child abuse such as in "Skin Deep." I think that Taub's latest harsh evaluation is meant to signal to us that he has some kind of concerns about his own youthful development and accompanying issues of worthlessness. We had hints of this in the discussion of suicide in "Painless" and now with the molestation charges in "Unfaithful." I look forward to learning more about Taub and the other new fellows as the years unroll since this is the process of careful unpeeling that is characteristic of this show. House and Taub's rapid judgment of the priest in "Unfaithful" was also meant as a shorthand for the shunning treatment he had received from his superiors and his parishioners over the four years since the accusations against him surfaced. If two highly trained and widely experienced doctors leapt so quickly to such conclusions, how easy is it to imagine the soul-withering condemnation the priest must have received from his own community. namaste hits it right on the head with the insight into Cuddy's character and limitations. The five season arc for Cuddy has underlined that having a good job, lovely house, cool clothing, a great sense of humor and rocking body are not sufficient to provide a fulfilling satisfactory life. It is unsurprising that we are learning now that there is much more to Cuddy than her shiny external good fortune and that what we find when the surface is peeled back is not all sunshine and yellow roses. Given that House purposefully selects to engage with only a small circle of people he views as damaged, I would imagine it is precisely the damaged aspects of Cuddy's character that long ago attracted him to her. His sustained interest in her says a great deal about the damage he detects in her, I think.

namaste hits it right on the head with the insight into Cuddy's character and limitations. The five season arc for Cuddy has underlined that having a good job, lovely house, cool clothing, a great sense of humor and rocking body are not sufficient to provide a fulfilling satisfactory life. It is unsurprising that we are learning now that there is much more to Cuddy than her shiny external good fortune and that what we find when the surface is peeled back is not all sunshine and yellow roses. I like Cuddy - I really do - and I'm not trying to be difficult here, but I don't understand what we are learning now about Cuddy, other than the depths she has been willing to sink to this season to win House. If underneath the surface there is some reason for damage, then I would MUCH rather see that part of Cuddy. Show me. We've had no reason to suspect that someone has left her, as Stacy did House, or that she was abused as a child, as was House. She has a family, and we've been shown that she has friends. She also had a date with a very lovely man who was very interested in her, so it's not as if men wouldn't find her attractive. I hope the show is not trying to tell me that without a man, Cuddy's life is empty. All we see of her life right now is that personally and professionally, it revolves around House. Why is it that we've seen all this with regard to Thirteen in half a season, but not Cuddy in four and half seasons?

She also had a date with a very lovely man who was very interested in her, so it's not as if men wouldn't find her attractive. Up until the point where he said that he'd like to go out with a woman who'd show just as much interest in him as she does for House. And that was in season 3. She has also mentioned that she screwed up every relationship she ever had. Her "friends" seem irrelevant, since we only see her interacting with Wilson and maybe House as potential and only real friends she has and trusts. The same goes for House. We learned in season 3 that he has/had friends (friend, on this case) other than Wilson, which is also irrelevant to the plot, because as far as we're concerned, Wilson is his one and true friend. All we see of her life right now is that personally and professionally, it revolves around House. It all comes down to how it relates to House, in my opinion. I don't see how it's different here. Even the horrid 13/14 storyline relates to House somehow.

If the pair had agreed and had a pleasant time at the naming ceremony, that would be about as un-Housian as I can imagine. What they did instead was achingly sad and frustrating, and so true to the theme they've repeated throughout the series...you can't always get what you want. I thought it represented House to a "T". He is his own stumbling block. As is Cuddy. They are both emotionally stunted people, who allow fears to keep them from what they want. Exactly. This is why I find the House/Cuddy relationship fascinating and why I keep watching. I have had very mixed feelings about the way they have written their arc after The Itch but I loved the writing for House/Cuddy in this episode. David Hoselton, who also wrote Joy, seems to have both a firm grasp on the complexity of these two characters as well as an intuitive understanding of where their emotional centers lie. I hope they use him more for this arc. The game House and Cuddy were playing was childish but it was also complex and layered. Deep down, Cuddy wanted House to come for the ceremony. But she was afraid both that he'd say no (and reject her invitation to be a part of her life) and that he’d say yes (show up and negate the ceremony). So she protected herself by conspiring with Wilson and “pretending” to issue a sincere invitation that was purportedly designed to keep House from coming. Deep down, House wanted to go to Cuddy’s but didn’t have an excuse, unlike Wilson who is a part of the ceremony. When he realized that Cuddy was playing a game, he jumped right into it because it provided him with a wonderful reason (one upping Cuddy) to go without having to show his emotions. Things came to a head when House made the comment about whores and hypocrisy. As Wilson pointed out, he was obsessing with Cuddy’s brand of hypocrisy to try and escape his own hypocrisy about wanting to be a part of her life while denying it. But he also made the comment because he wanted the game to go on so he would continue to have an excuse to attend the ceremony. But Cuddy saw it as a confirmation of her fears about House’s unchanging attitude, became frustrated and admitted that she didn’t want him to come because he was full of negativity. The game was over, there was no longer an excuse to hide behind and House convinced himself that they were both better off with him not going. When it became clear that he wouldn’t be coming, Cuddy realized that she wanted him there, brilliance and negativity and all. The beautiful and sad irony is that House wants to change but decides he can’t while Cuddy thinks she wants him to change but realizes she doesn’t. I saw knowledge in House's eyes of what Cuddy was about to ask him, to again invite him to Rachel's naming ceremony. He cut her off before she could speak because he still didn't want to be forced to come. At the end, he knew he was wanted at the ceremony but he decided not to attend. He believed he would be out of place at a celebration of new life. And he is probably right. I read it that way as well, although I thought she lost her nerve at the exact same moment that he cut her off. That was such a beautiful and poignant scene with them looking out at the snow and leaving together but then separating and walking off alone and in opposite directions. And it was made so real by the conversation between them. On one level it revealed their history because House seemed to know Cuddy’s relationship with her sister well enough to joke about it in a way that she found funny. But despite the history, they were like two shy and awkward teenagers discovering each other for the first time, knowing there’s something between them but with no idea how to approach it, talking about the weather instead (I loved that he looked down at her shoes). He was trying to reach out to her in that scene and he meant it when he said “Have fun” in the end. Any sadness and disappointment was directed toward himself while he played his piano in the same way that he had felt self-defeated when limping away, caneless, from Cuddy's house in "Itch". The comfort of knowing his presence was desired by Cuddy allowed House to create music that was a joyful tribute to Cuddy and Rachel and also a blissful and vibrant remembrance of their kiss and perhaps other intimacies from their past I completely agree. The sad thing is that House did want to go but probably dreaded dressing up and making awkward conversation with her guests, something that he’s probably never been good at. It was so much easier to retreat to the comfort zone of his home where he has his music and his alcohol. Cuddy and Wilson kept hoping he’d change his mind and the sad looks on their faces were about Cuddy feeing sad that he wasn’t there and Wilson empathizing with her, but also about the two of them feeling bad for House and his inability to step out of the trapped and lonely existence he’s imposed on himself.

namaste hits it right on the head with the insight into Cuddy's character and limitations. The five season arc for Cuddy has underlined that having a good job, lovely house, cool clothing, a great sense of humor and rocking body are not sufficient to provide a fulfilling satisfactory life. It is unsurprising that we are learning now that there is much more to Cuddy than her shiny external good fortune and that what we find when the surface is peeled back is not all sunshine and yellow roses. I like Cuddy - I really do - and I'm not trying to be difficult here, but I don't understand what we are learning now about Cuddy, other than the depths she has been willing to sink to this season to win House. If underneath the surface there is some reason for damage, then I would MUCH rather see that part of Cuddy. Show me. We've had no reason to suspect that someone has left her, as Stacy did House, or that she was abused as a child, as was House. She has a family, and we've been shown that she has friends. She also had a date with a very lovely man who was very interested in her, so it's not as if men wouldn't find her attractive. I hope the show is not trying to tell me that without a man, Cuddy's life is empty. All we see of her life right now is that personally and professionally, it revolves around House. Why is it that we've seen all this with regard to Thirteen in half a season, but not Cuddy in four and half seasons? Took my response to the Cuddy thread.

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