Pretty Girl Kill Again?: Thirteen

I find myself in the strange position of wanting to defend 13 - the girl just can't seem to get a break from a lot of fans. They seem to hate her, and I am not sure that the evidence of her transgressions is all that solid. It rather harkens back to Cameron. As a woman, I wanted to like Cameron. I wanted to have a smart, strong female character on a prime time show as a role model. However, over time Cameron proved to be a character I could not admire, nor even like on many occasions. It is somewhat amusing to watch some Cameron supporters attack 13 for some of the very reasons people dissed Cameron - too young, too beautiful, moral high horse, and punishing people with painful medical procedures, making doe eyes at House - but somehow, when Cameron engaged in similar behaviors, it was excusable for whatever reason. Odd. People say she "killed" the patient Stark (and his little dog too). She hardly murdered him. She was indirectly responsible for his death, along with quite a few others, but from criticisms, you would think she held a pillow over his head till she smothered him. Oh, and that whole scene in the morge? With the tears and sitting vigil? ...Apparently all that obvious angst was because she was going to be fired. None of it was for the patient. She had no remorse about "killing" him. Didn't phase her in the slightest - cause she is even more of a CTB that CTB! She hurt House. Yes, she was in the wrong here, but I can understand WHY she was angry. She let that anger get the better of her, but House was hardly an innocent here. What he did was exceedingly cruel. And it appears to me it was unclear as to WHO exactly drugged him anyway. She is too young for the part...based upon the age of the actress. Why use the age of the actress? TPTB continually cast people to play parts older or younger that their true ages. The same applies to Chase and Cameron - I have no doubt OW was hired, at least in part, for eye candy appeal -but she is hardly alone in this "crime". She is mean! She called Amber an "idiot." Well... if she shoe fits. Let's see, she said something nasty to the person who tried to convince her she was seeing ghosts and/or loosing her mind so she would quite the game? How unforgivable. She is just a Mary Sue. Well, mileage may vary, but she does not fit MY idea of a Mary Sue. She may yet develop into a Mary Sue, but I don't think I can make that call yet. She was smug in Games. I have rewatched the show a couple times, and I don't see smug. I think that is just how OW smiles. I see a nervous smile, and uncertainty, and resignation - not necessarily smugness. I could be wrong as easily as everyone else, but judging someone's inner feelings and emotional reaction based upon only a visual clue as subtle as to what kind of smile someone has? Oh, but wait..no, she was too blank when she was fired. So apparently there was too little emotion. Or was it too much emotion? Can't keep it straight. She is Cameron 2.0. No wait...it's Cuddy 2.0...no, it's Stacy 2.0. I am so confused! Other comments about both the actress and the character and speculation about WHY she was hired are just plain nasty and reveal a level of bitterness that I think goes far beyond reaction to a character on a television show, so I won't go there... It may turn out that I end up really disliking 13 too. There is certainly the potential. If she becomes yet another love interest for House, for example, I will probably want to strangle her too. But for now, I find her intriguing without being overly annoying. Now that the competition is over, the newbies will have a chance to really show what they are made of - and I am willing to give 13 that chance.

She was smug in Games. I have rewatched the show a couple times, and I don't see smug. I think that is just how OW smiles. I see a nervous smile, and uncertainty, and resignation - not necessarily smugness. I could be wrong as easily as everyone else, but judging someone's inner feelings and emotional reaction based upon only a visual clue as subtle as to what kind of smile someone has? Oh, but wait..no, she was too blank when she was fired. So apparently there was too little emotion. Or was it too much emotion? ITA. Especially with these points. I noticed many people said that they were completely put off that she smirked after Amber was fired in the final elimination scene. I watched that scene three times, and I still didn't see a smirk. I also don't understand the criticism that she didn't have a "human" reaction to her own firing. She looked upset to me, but I don't think everyone's natural reaction is to cry. I never do, not even when relatives die. I also don't think that 13 seemed like she thought it was impossible that she would be fired. That's illogical. She believed House when he fired her earlier. IMO, her disbelief was because she thought it unlikely that House would fire her given that it seemed that he had just validated her position about the drugs wrt to the patient when he dismissed Amber. I'm probably in the minority in my opinion that Anne Dudek isn't a better actress than OW. I like both CTB and 13; either one could have stayed, and I would have been happy with the decision. However, AD gave the most annoying line-reading that I've seen all season. I absolutely loathed the scene with House in his office when she said something along the lines of "Daddy didn't love me...Mommy expected too much of me...Something!" Ugly to the nth degree.

I absolutely loathed the scene with House in his office when she said something along the lines of "Daddy didn't love me...Mommy expected too much of me...Something!" Ugly to the nth degree. I think she was trying to be sardonic... at least I didn't take her seriously.

I think she was trying to be sardonic... at least I didn't take her seriously. I realized that. I don't have a problem with the line itself. It was an appropriate response, especially for that character. My issue was with the acting. It's possible to convey the sardonic nature of the line without making me want to turn off the television.

ITA. Especially with these points. I noticed many people said that they were completely put off that she smirked after Amber was fired in the final elimination scene. I watched that scene three times, and I still didn't see a smirk. Whereas, I do see a smirk in the final elimination scene. I thought there was a deliberate parallel to when CIAdoc was asked to stand up and did so in perfect confidence she wasn't going to be fired. And it was odd, because why make that particular parallel if you don't want to suggest the same issue? I agree with many of Lagniappe's questions about the nature of the criticism of 13 going back to her introduction, and I had no issues with her presentation up to the last two eps. However, in the last two, 13 did begin to bug a bit. I thought her little confrontation with House over her test was bordering on knowing a bit too much about him, but decided that it fit well enough with the theme that I could roll with it. But I knew right then I wasn't hoping to see little confrontations where 13 has amazing insight into House ending eps as a trend. The very next ep, we had it again. And it didn't seem especially profound to me to say drugs can mask other problems--we had lots of exploration on that front last year from people who know House far better, and he didn't find them profound or give a fond little smile. I also liked 13 when she drew her own boundaries around herself and didn't give anything away. I was less happy with her when she judged her fellows. The combination of being judgemental, having little anvillicious interludes with House and smugness at her certainty of being chosen was unfortunate, I thought, in the ep where House has to choose between 13 and CTB. I haven't given up on 13, however, and think maybe this just isn't a writer who does well by her. Not all writers write all characters equally well. But if we continue to have 13 as the one who teaches House a little lesson while he gazes fondly at her, I won't be happy.

Thirteen also doesn't fit my idea of a Mary Sue. I also didn't see a deliberate parallel to the CIA doctor, which could mean that I missed it, or it could mean that it wasn't intentional. I also haven't seen House gaze fondly at her. I'm guessing I have a different definition of fond.

I also haven't seen House gaze fondly at her. I'm guessing I have a different definition of fond. No, I put that badly. I was referring to his smile when he gave her extra points on the whiteboard.

I find myself in the strange position of wanting to defend 13 - the girl just can't seem to get a break from a lot of fans. They seem to hate her, and I am not sure that the evidence of her transgressions is all that solid. It rather harkens back to Cameron. As a woman, I wanted to like Cameron. I wanted to have a smart, strong female character on a prime time show as a role model. However, over time Cameron proved to be a character I could not admire, nor even like on many occasions. It is somewhat amusing to watch some Cameron supporters attack 13 for some of the very reasons people dissed Cameron - too young, too beautiful, moral high horse, and punishing people with painful medical procedures, making doe eyes at House - but somehow, when Cameron engaged in similar behaviors, it was excusable for whatever reason. Odd. Another question might be, why are they deliberately treading down the same path with 13 that they already have with Cameron? Why isn't 13 a unique enough character on her own right that these comparisons even persist? I'm not one who thinks that 13 is a Cameron clone but I certainly wouldn't go so far in the other direction as to say that are nothing alike. There are some rather deliberate comparisons there. The question is why? People say she "killed" the patient Stark (and his little dog too). She hardly murdered him. She was indirectly responsible for his death, along with quite a few others, but from criticisms, you would think she held a pillow over his head till she smothered him. Oh, and that whole scene in the morge? With the tears and sitting vigil? ...Apparently all that obvious angst was because she was going to be fired. None of it was for the patient. She had no remorse about "killing" him. Didn't phase her in the slightest - cause she is even more of a CTB that CTB! She hurt House. Yes, she was in the wrong here, but I can understand WHY she was angry. She let that anger get the better of her, but House was hardly an innocent here. What he did was exceedingly cruel. And it appears to me it was unclear as to WHO exactly drugged him anyway. She is too young for the part...based upon the age of the actress. Why use the age of the actress? TPTB continually cast people to play parts older or younger that their true ages. The same applies to Chase and Cameron - I have no doubt OW was hired, at least in part, for eye candy appeal -but she is hardly alone in this "crime". The most mind-boggling thing about 13, in my opinion, is that even though she's been given the most extensive storyline of any of the newbies---(of any of the old crew, too, for that matter, if we're going to compare screentime to backstory reveals)---she still manages to be deadly boring and quite unaffecting as a character. In 8 episodes, she's managed the trifecta of killing a patient via neglect, getting a diagnosis before House did and had the tragic backstory of a dead parent while herself bravely struggling with a potentially debilitating disease. And still....yawn. I don't doubt that OW is a capable enough actress but to be handed those kind of rich storylines and still be a blank canvas is a peculiar feat. Meanwhile, Anne Dudek got jack-shit other than the directive to be a bitch and made the most of her screentime. She is just a Mary Sue. Well, mileage may vary, but she does not fit MY idea of a Mary Sue. She may yet develop into a Mary Sue, but I don't think I can make that call yet. She was smug in Games. I have rewatched the show a couple times, and I don't see smug. I think that is just how OW smiles. I see a nervous smile, and uncertainty, and resignation - not necessarily smugness. I could be wrong as easily as everyone else, but judging someone's inner feelings and emotional reaction based upon only a visual clue as subtle as to what kind of smile someone has? Personally, I think she's been pretty smug all the way through. I think her character is designed to be calm, low-key and coolly evasive. For many, that translates as "smug." She is Cameron 2.0. No wait...it's Cuddy 2.0...no, it's Stacy 2.0. I am so confused! I haven't seen anyone compare her to Cuddy. I'm sure they are somewhere, but I haven't seen it. I'm not sure, exactly, what the comparison to Cuddy would be. But to flip this discussion around, many posters who don't like Cameron do like 13 and make pains to point out the character's differences, mainly as they pertain to House. Where Cameron was childish in having a crush on House, 13 is above it all and handles their every interaction with adult applomb. Frankly, in my experience, I find 13's demeanor to be far more implausible. True to life, I find it far more likely that a young fellowship doctor under the mentorship of a world famous diagnostician (who we know others think is one of the greatest medical minds of his generation) that is also passionate, funny and easy on the eyes would develop a crush. On the other hand, 13's cool, calm and collected ambivalence is a bit try-hardish.

True to life, I find it far more likely that a young fellowship doctor under the mentorship of a world famous diagnostician (who we know others think is one of the greatest medical minds of his generation) that is also passionate, funny and easy on the eyes would develop a crush. On the other hand, 13's cool, calm and collected ambivalence is a bit try-hardish. For my part, I didn't find Cameron's behaviour for a thirty something certified doctor very true to life. For a teenager/early twenties yes, but even for a hard working and therefore not overly social person, she seemed much younger than her age. I don't think there's an issue with 13's coolness, either. I don't think a crush should be standard issue in regard to House. The only points rubbing me the wrong way so far are the little Housewhisperer moments and the rather self-righteous behaviour which I only really saw in the last ep and may not be continuing characterisation. And yes, those aspects do put me in mind of Cameron, sigh. I do agree with you that Anne Dudek really nailed CTB in any scene which gave her any leeway to do so, and especially the last ep. It's time to give us some peeks under 13's mask that don't involve telling House his issues.

The most mind-boggling thing about 13, in my opinion, is that even though she's been given the most extensive storyline of any of the newbies---(of any of the old crew, too, for that matter, if we're going to compare screentime to backstory reveals)---she still manages to be deadly boring and quite unaffecting as a character. In 8 episodes, she's managed the trifecta of killing a patient via neglect, getting a diagnosis before House did and had the tragic backstory of a dead parent while herself bravely struggling with a potentially debilitating disease. And still....yawn. I don't doubt that OW is a capable enough actress but to be handed those kind of rich storylines and still be a blank canvas is a peculiar feat. Meanwhile, Anne Dudek got jack-shit other than the directive to be a bitch and made the most of her screentime. Completely agree. With all the things we know and the screen time she has gotten I find her incredibly boring. Everything they tell me is that I'm supposed to care about her, dead mom, might have a deadly disease and I just don't care. Not even remotely. I see her screen time as something I will ff through when rewatching episodes on DVD. Personally, I think she's been pretty smug all the way through. I think her character is designed to be calm, low-key and coolly evasive. For many, that translates as "smug." I see the smugness and on her, it's not attractive at all. I saw her expression when CTB got fired as smug as well. Oh and for the record, I don't blame her for the death of wheelchair guy. I just don't like her and am still unhappy that she got to stay.

The most mind-boggling thing about 13, in my opinion, is that even though she's been given the most extensive storyline of any of the newbies---(of any of the old crew, too, for that matter, if we're going to compare screentime to backstory reveals)---she still manages to be deadly boring and quite unaffecting as a character. Not sure I agree with this. I think Taub has been developed every bit as much as 13. True to life, I find it far more likely that a young fellowship doctor under the mentorship of a world famous diagnostician (who we know others think is one of the greatest medical minds of his generation) that is also passionate, funny and easy on the eyes would develop a crush. Sorry. I do not find this "true to life" at all. I come from a familiy of "professional women" who worked very hard to get where they are - not medical school, but comparable, and they work in fields with other "professional women". These women tend to be very career oriented and competitive and mature. The idea of developing a "crush" on their boss cause he is funny and easy on the eyes? Even though he treats them like an ass? Not so likely.

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