While I can agree that Wilson has been manipulative in the past, I do not believe he had ever done anything without thinking it was for House's own good, or because he was consumed by his own grief and depression and anxiety.
In both Detox and Meaning he wanted to help House. In The Tyrant he only asked House to move out so that he would not get into further trouble with the neighbor or have charges filed against him.
And in this episode he only told House to me out in a moment of misguided anger because of his guilt over Tucker. He also clearly made up for that when to told House that he didn't want him to call the mover and of course by buying the apartment for both of them.
In contrast, and I don't mean to bestow any hate on Cuddy, but the Thanksgiving trick had no good intentions behind it at all.
But no matter how misguided the manipulative things Wilson did might have been, he never did them maliciously, he only wanted to help House in the only way that he thought he could at the time.
M_supercomputer, you’re right that we did see House call him out on the deception in Meaning but I don’t think he looked remorseful at all at the end of it, more like thoughtful and frustrated. The fact remains that we’ve never seen him verbally acknowledge or apologize for anything that he’s done either manipulative or hurtful. Maybe he does feel guilty about it deep down but on the surface there’s an air of…not self righteousness, exactly…but self justification, for lack of a better word. The use of his word "punish" regarding Cuddy on two separate occasions in this episode was telling in that regard. In my opinion, anyway.
wintertide, I agree that Cuddy did a really crappy thing to House in IIB. And I've never thought that Wilson manipulates House out of malicious intentions,either.
M_supercomputer, you’re right that we did see House call him out on the deception in Meaning but I don’t think he looked remorseful at all at the end of it, more like thoughtful and frustrated. The fact remains that we’ve never seen him verbally acknowledge or apologize for anything that he’s done either manipulative or hurtful. Maybe he does feel guilty about it deep down but on the surface there’s an air of…not self righteousness, exactly…but self justification, for lack of a better word. The use of his word "punish" regarding Cuddy on two separate occasions in this episode was telling in that regard. In my opinion, anyway.
Wilson seemed upset by House's reaction to his "intervention". But let's just say he wasn't upset. They're adults, best friends, and love each other. When you're that close to someone, formal apologies usually don't happen. In this episode, when House asked Wilson if he was checking to make sure he called a moving van, Wilson does this whole thing with his face and body to indicate, no. I didn't mean it. I said it because I was hurt and angry. That was an apology. Just like when House told Wilson no to being with him during the surgery. Later House shows up as Wilson is going under. House gave Wilson what he wanted and there was no formal apology later. They just took up where they left off. Still the center of each other's universe.
I think the perspective was almost completely that of Wilson in this episode: House's fellows were vaguely helpful but it was Wilson who had the medical insights and breakthroughs; House was unpredictable and annoying, but vital to Wilson's well-being; his apartment was a House-caused mess; Wilson's oncology staff and assistant were obedient and and even adoring of their boss; Cuddy was childishly focussed only on her apartment hunt; above all, Wilson was generous, patient, tolerant, protective and heroic in selflessly volunteering to donate his liver to save his sick friend. Similarly, Wilson was generous, patient, tolerant, protective, and heroic in volunteering to "punish" Cuddy by outbidding her for the loft and letting House move in with him. This was the world according to Wilson indeed!
Yes, this was from Wilson's perspective. Hence the title of the episode. You seem to be implying it is a false view of the world? That Wilson is an unreliable narrator, and too forgiving of himself? An intriguing thought.
I guess that would mean that House, in all the other episodes, has been an unreliable narrator and too forgiving of himself/having too high an opinion of his virtues. That would explain how House gets away with so very, very much.
Remember how he told House the patient was his cousin so that he would take the case? House was hurt by the lie, but let it slide.
Maybe this should go in the "Gregory House" thread -- but why do you think House was hurt by Wilson lying that the patient was his cousin in the pilot? How did that hurt House at all?
Wilson knows very well that House has a soft spot for him/is afraid to lose him and he takes advantage of it every chance he gets.
What examples have you seen in canon of Wilson taking advantage of House for personal gain? Other than the DBS, which was a wonderful action by House... in line with other risks House has taken with his life and health to investigate a puzzle or prove a point.
One last note, about Wilson not apologizing or saying thank you to House. From "The Social Contract," as they were talking about House having insulted Wilson by saying he was all persona:
Wilson: I'm not always nice. I'm not nice to you.
House: Because you know nice bores me. Hence, still nice.
I think the perspective was almost completely that of Wilson in this episode: House's fellows were vaguely helpful but it was Wilson who had the medical insights and breakthroughs; House was unpredictable and annoying, but vital to Wilson's well-being; his apartment was a House-caused mess; Wilson's oncology staff and assistant were obedient and and even adoring of their boss; Cuddy was childishly focussed only on her apartment hunt; above all, Wilson was generous, patient, tolerant, protective and heroic in selflessly volunteering to donate his liver to save his sick friend. Similarly, Wilson was generous, patient, tolerant, protective, and heroic in volunteering to "punish" Cuddy by outbidding her for the loft and letting House move in with him. This was the world according to Wilson indeed!
Yes, this was from Wilson's perspective. Hence the title of the episode. You seem to be implying it is a false view of the world? That Wilson is an unreliable narrator, and too forgiving of himself? An intriguing thought.
I guess that would mean that House, in all the other episodes, has been an unreliable narrator and too forgiving of himself/having too high an opinion of his virtues. That would explain how House gets away with so very, very much.
Remember how he told House the patient was his cousin so that he would take the case? House was hurt by the lie, but let it slide.
Maybe this should go in the "Gregory House" thread -- but why do you think House was hurt by Wilson lying that the patient was his cousin in the pilot? How did that hurt House at all?
Wilson knows very well that House has a soft spot for him/is afraid to lose him and he takes advantage of it every chance he gets.
What examples have you seen in canon of Wilson taking advantage of House for personal gain? Other than the DBS, which was a wonderful action by House... in line with other risks House has taken with his life and health to investigate a puzzle or prove a point.
One last note, about Wilson not apologizing or saying thank you to House. From "The Social Contract," as they were talking about House having insulted Wilson by saying he was all persona:
Wilson: I'm not always nice. I'm not nice to you.
House: Because you know nice bores me. Hence, still nice.
This idea that Wilson sometimes takes advantage of House is strange. It seems to me a point that has always been stressed is that House and Wilson are friends and peers. Neither has any power over the other - other than what either willingly relinquishes.
Also, we learned in the Social Contract they didn't have a traditional social contract so regular pleases and thank yous probably aren't expected. In Wilson, House tells Wilson he paid the redhead a little something to cc him on all Wilson's cases. This was House's way of checking on Wilson's sadness level and prevent any future self-destructive acts like giving a speech that could end his career. I understand House's reasoning and apparently so did Wilson. Like House, Wilson can be self-destructive. And just as Wilson protects House from himself, House also protects Wilson. That was my take away from that particular scene.
