Oh, I'd definitely say that Cuddy has a problem with the coquettish little girl attitude from Cameron (witness her advice to Cameron about Foreman and the article: write another one, do it better than him, beat him at every turn -- a fight them on their own turf attitude). But I don't know if that's a "throwback" thing, or just the fact that Cameron doesn't really have the experience in having to fight the issues of being a woman in a man's world -- especially not to the extent Cuddy has -- so Cameron never found a reason to drop that attitude.

I'm not sure that it's totally a male/female thing. Gender aside, medicine is highly competitive and Cameron should be a lot more clued in at this point in her career. When Cameron pulls her 'helpless little girl' routine (where she seems to want someone else to step and 'fix' the unpleasantness) I think it probably annoys the crap out of Cuddy, who likely has had to fight every step of the way to get to where she is. The thing I love about Cuddy is that she can be tough when she needs to be...which is why it annoys me that the few times we see her actually practicing medicine she's shown to be totally emotional and even irrational in her decisions. The Cuddy I got to know (and love) is stronger and smarter than that.

I actually enjoy the fact that Cuddy is portrayed with a complex range of emotional reactions to the challenges of begin the top administrator of a major institution. It would have been easier and (more in tune with current TV models) to have presented her as a "kickass" boss with lots of tough attitude, completely in control of her feelings, able to best any man at the grit-it-out game. But I find that I have enormous sympathy for her flexible approach to administrative decisions. Cuddy seems to measure each situation and weigh how to respond based upon a variety of factors: importance to the smooth running of the hospital, her personal code of ethics, her desire to protect and nurture House. For any one decision a different factor may be paramount, but all of them play a part in her choices. So I did not feel, for instance, that Cuddy was "run over" by House during the debate over his blood-stained rug ("Line in the Sand") or the contest over the parking space ("Needle in a Haystack"). I thought that, on the contrary, she correctly determined that in order to win the larger war, she might have to beat a tactical retreat in battles of low consequence to her but high importance to House. The rug and the parking space meant more to House the man than they did to Cuddy the administrator, so she "gave in," let him have these victories in a season of numbing setbacks, and propelled him that tiny bit further along a path toward recovery. I think this is smart leadership by an expert administrator. It is also the behavior of a good friend.

The rug and the parking space meant more to House the man than they did to Cuddy the administrator, so she "gave in," let him have these victories in a season of numbing setbacks, and propelled him that tiny bit further along a path toward recovery. I think this is smart leadership by an expert administrator. It is also the behavior of a good friend. Me too - after all, how much did it really cost her? And the fight kept House engaged, which to me often seems to be part of the reason why Cuddy puts up some degree of a fight. Its smart management, a moderate fight & giving up small things & you're more likely to have brownie points to play for the big stuff. The thing I love about Cuddy is that she can be tough when she needs to be...which is why it annoys me that the few times we see her actually practicing medicine she's shown to be totally emotional and even irrational in her decisions. IMO she does have some recognition of this about herself (maybe not as much as I would like, but stilL!) & my fanwank is that's why she ended up in administration very, very early in her career.

I'd agree, blacktop. I know a lot of people bemoan the loss of "kickass Cuddy," but to me she's always know how to both parry and thrust. Sometimes she backs off because the fight isn't worth it to her. And perhaps I'm alone on this, because I know a lot of people didn't like the more emotional aspects of Cuddy we sometimes saw in the third season, but to me, the emotional aspects -- call them failings as you must -- create a more rounded character. Cuddy definitely has chinks in her armor. Sometimes she gets too emotionally involved -- my thought is that she knows she gets emotionally involved and so that's why she sticks to the administrative side of medicine. She believes she does better good there. Or like saara zaara said above. Can it be annoying when her emotions come into play? Sure. But would she as interesting a character if she didn't have her faults?

I agree that one of the things that I found attractive about Cuddy was her ability to manage people. She's smart enough to know when to fight House, when to back off, and when to pretend she's fighting him when in reality she's backing off ;-) My problem with making Cuddy so emotional is that first--being in touch with her emotions isn't necessarily a fault. In fact, I'd say it's a strength she has that House doesn't. However, they've taken it to an extreme and made her almost completely irrational and therefore it becomes a fault. Second, I personally have a problem with the whole maternal failure story line (which seemed to come out of nowhere). It feels too much like stereotyping her. Yes, many women her age do have issues with motherhood, but I would've preferred that the writers go a different route for Cuddy. Normally they like to play against type, so why not with her? One thing I'd like to know is why is Cuddy so bad at finding/maintaining a relationship? What insecurities or flaws does she have that have prevented her from finding a lasting relationship? Mr. Lube seemed to imply that she's not as self-confident in her personal life. Why is that?

My problem with making Cuddy so emotional is that first--being in touch with her emotions isn't necessarily a fault. In fact, I'd say it's a strength she has that House doesn't. However, they've taken it to an extreme and made her almost completely irrational and therefore it becomes a fault. Exactly. I have no problem with her being emotional at times, if she were all snark all the time then she would be a stereotype but anytime they focus an ep. on her they take it too far to the point where she's basically having a spazz attack for 42 minutes. I don't know if that's the acting or the writing but I think I could respect her more in those episodes if they could find a happy medium. Almost everytime she has to actually act like a doctor on the show she's shown to be very weak and way too emotional, IMO.

I have no problem with her being emotional at times, if she were all snark all the time then she would be a stereotype but anytime they focus an ep. on her they take it too far to the point where she's basically having a spazz attack for 42 minutes. ITA. I rewatched Humpty Dumpty today and the insecure and irrational Cuddy was there. If I'm not wrong this was the first time that that side of the character was shown and I don't understand the need to change a strong and intelligent woman into a puddle of emotions. Being strong doesn't mean that she can't be an interesting, sensitive woman. Quite the opposite!

I'm glad in a way that they fleshed her out more in Season Three, but I'm not thrilled with the results. If she's a woman that busted her bum in a male-dominated field, why would her flaw be that she's visibly emotional in inappropriate situations and less than stellar as a doctor? It make her not believable, IMO.

Eos! Welcome! One thing I'd like to know is why is Cuddy so bad at finding/maintaining a relationship? What insecurities or flaws does she have that have prevented her from finding a lasting relationship? Mr. Lube seemed to imply that she's not as self-confident in her personal life. Why is that? Oh yes, this is so interesting and doesn't get discussed enough. My original theory was that her personality is so strong it scares off most of the men she meets, because she's so smart and successful they feel intimidated. The date with Don proved me very wrong (and my view was pretty sexist, wasn't it? I love men, really I do.) She's confident as an administrator, mostly competant as a doctor, and I suspect confident as a friend. Why is she so insecure as a lover? Why so awkward, when the implication has been that she's not inexperienced with dating and sex? Has she been burned too many times?

Has she been burned too many times? Maybe, & also, I know I at least & a lot of my friends, have discussed that we sometimes expect the same ease that we achieve things in our professional lives. It comes easy there & we get anxious/frustrated/ or whatever when it doesn't come so easily in our personal lives. And it turns into a bad cycle where we get uncertain about what we're doing wrong (particularly when we see others have a much easier time). Plus we cling even more to the security blanket of work. Not sure that that's the case with Cuddy, but it might be part of it.

So I did not feel, for instance, that Cuddy was "run over" by House during the debate over his blood-stained rug ("Line in the Sand") or the contest over the parking space ("Needle in a Haystack"). I thought that, on the contrary, she correctly determined that in order to win the larger war, she might have to beat a tactical retreat in battles of low consequence to her but high importance to House. The rug and the parking space meant more to House the man than they did to Cuddy the administrator, so she "gave in," let him have these victories in a season of numbing setbacks, and propelled him that tiny bit further along a path toward recovery. I think this is smart leadership by an expert administrator. It is also the behavior of a good friend. Maybe about the rug...I'm not remembering the details of that but I can't agree about the parking space at all. She didn't "give in" for tactical reasons over the parking space--House called her out on her manipulative dishonesty and shamed her into giving it back. And I think the consequences--losing face and having her horrible behavior shoved in her face by House--were more significant to her than to House who simply got his way again. And I see nothing of smart leadership or good friendship in this in any way. Maybe her intentiion was good in some way--showing House the woman in the wheelchair is worse off than he is?--but her methods earned her the dressing down she got from House. Definitely one of Cuddy's lowest points ever for me. Oh, come on, the reason for Cuddy's lack of a relationship is obvious: she can't get or maintain a 'ship with anyone else because only House is her own and only own true lurve...... :roll: :whistle: