I think they will figure out some explanation for why he does it. It's not hard to write, there are several good ones here. What bothers me more is that they've decided to get rid of Kutner rather than another of the characters. Speaking of lack of anvils, Kutner is the only member of the new team that hasn't had quitting/dying anvils constantly thrown at him through this season. Both Foreman and Taub have talked of quitting and Thirteen has had both quitting and dying ones. As well as Kutner being the newbie I most like, he's also the only member of the team who isn't cynical and Machiavellian, who is enthusiastic about learning from House and who genuinely likes the patients and wants to help them rather does his job because he's so much better than everyone else. With Kutner gone, a team of House, Foreman, Thirteen and Taub is pretty much a variation on the same theme. CCF were all very different from each other and that often drove the drama intrinsically rather than having to write self-contained stories (e.g. Taub's wife, finances, Thirteen's tumor) for them. I'm also disappointed if it's going to be Kutner or even Taub because they're the safest characters to get rid of. Cuddy would be the riskiest, as well as her relationship with House she's got a lot of fans, but it would also be the biggest shake-up of the show. Next riskiest would be Thirteen or Foreman because that would be admitting the Foreteen emphasis this season had been mistake. After that, losing either Chase or Cameron because they have devoted fans who may leave watching the show. Kutner is the easiest to get rid of because it's not really going to cause a ripple in terms of what's been happening on the show this season. The show got where it got to because it was willing to take a risk on an anti-hero and the broken people around him. I'm sad to think they're taking the least risky route now. I hope Simple Explanation will give us a look at Chase/Cameron. You know with a woman with a sick husband, they ought to find a place for Cameron to react and I'd like to see Chase react to her reaction. Of course, they left Chase out of a story invovling a priest who lost his faith, so who knows. They also left Cameron out of the episode where Wilson had to deal with letting Amber go. What you get depends on who is writing the episode. If it's Liz Friedman (Lucky Thirteen, The Softer Side), it will be about Thirteen and Foreman. Somehow, I don't see an infant committing suicide but if she did it would shock the hell out of me. That's for sure! :) Although even young children can be suicidal. If you see a kid who is getting injured a lot (e.g. falling out of trees, hurting themselves when they jump from a height) , it's time to start asking questions.

Sister Trixi, yes, the way I suggested would be accidental. I was speculating that maybe Ausiello mistakenly translated "kills himself" into "commits suicide."

I have a much easier time buying Kutner killing himself doing something stupid - he can be reckless, without taking his own safety in mind - or trying to avoid a worse outcome for more people, than doing it because he's suddenly become profoundly depressed. A key feature of suicidality is hopelessness, and that's the opposite of Kutner as we see him now. (Whereas his impulsivity would increase the likelihood.) A pretty big switch would have to be flipped there. I mean, I'm not sure it takes a ton of development - it didn't take Death Cat to show us that Taub was despondent, but it takes some and it would be bizarre to have that come out of nowhere.

:shock: :shock: :shock: Sorry, but I just saw the spoiler now... My first reaction was, of course: PLEASE! ANYONE BUT WILSON! My second reaction… WTF? Two season in a row with a major character’s death?! That’s awful! I really dislike characters’ deaths… :roll: But I’ll play… I would guess Kutner – exactly because he seems to be the happy one, and no one is allowed to be happy on this show. Ever. It would be unexpected to the other characters, too, not only to the audience. How House would react if someone who he thinks has a completely different view on life, ends up killing - by accident or on purpose - himself? If you’re miserable – as they so love to tell us about House – is easy to deal with (or accept) another miserable being death, you can (cynically) understand their reasons. It gives you some validation when a lot of your own behavior reflects that outcome. But it’s completely shocking when is someone you think is happy, well adjusted. When you think that person actually loves life, puppies and Harry Potter. I can see how this would turn House’s world up-side-down. Everybody lies but some are better than others in the deception. It would be even worse if there was no real explanation for his act. He just kills himself. End of his story. Either way, I think is a cheap move – to kill someone to create ‘drama’ – and I still think it could be played in a different (housian) way. But, as long it’s not Wilson… Whatever…

I am going to wait and see how they write this but I don’t see how they are going to convince me that Kutner is lonely and depressed enough to commit suicide over the space of 4 episodes. My guess for how it will pan out is as follows: Ep. 19 ("Locked In") may feature a bit of Kutner because we got those photos of HL and KP on the beach. Ep. 20 ("Simple Explanation") will emphasize Kutner’s isolation because of all the couples around him. We’ll get a scene of him alone at home thinking back to his parent’s funeral. I think the suicide will be in Ep. 23 ("Best Friend") because they just wrapped up shooting for ep. 22 and we got those tweets about strippers from OE and KP while they were shooting it. ETA: Seeing how people seem to like Kutner here and just remembered that DS said in January that there is no point in killing someone off if nobody cares about them. People enjoy Kutner because the character is likable and KP portrays him very nicely. But people haven’t got attached to him because he’s not really gotten a story of his own and House hasn’t taken the kind of interest in him that he takes in Taub and 13. Kutner is the perfect choice for DS – people will care enough to be moved by his death but nobody will stop watching because he’s no longer on the show.

Totally unrelated but wasn't sure where to put my ramblings. The more i think about it the more i think it would be fantastic if Robert Downey Jr played Wilson's brother, they look similar and RDJ as we all know has great acting chops......what do you think?

Have we ever found out which one of the actors had the recent health scare, the one that HL mentioned in his Leno interview? I've been worrying about which one of the actors is losing a job, and also worrying that RSL seems the most likely member of the cast to want out at some point so he can return to the stage, but now I'm wondering if someone has asked out for health reasons. HL said this person was OK, but that doesn't mean that he might not have been advised to quit a job where he regularly spends 16 hour days on set. I hate the thought that TPTB announced to one of the cast that he is being dumped. I much prefer the idea that someone wanted to leave voluntarily.

Maybe Kutner does something stupid and kills a patient and he feels so guilty or like he's in so much trouble, he kills himself. He's kind of reckless/careless and that's not a good quality in a doctor.

I hate the thought that TPTB announced to one of the cast that he is being dumped. I much prefer the idea that someone wanted to leave voluntarily. And that's exactly why my pick was Kutner because Kal Penn has a career outside of "House". I don't think he would feel dumped. He may have only signed on for 2 years. I think he probably has things in the works from a movie stand point and he is politically involved. From a career standpoint, other than RSL, KP makes the most sense.

Have we ever found out which one of the actors had the recent health scare, the one that HL mentioned in his Leno interview? It was RSL

The more i think about it the more i think it would be fantastic if Robert Downey Jr played Wilson's brother, they look similar and RDJ as we all know has great acting chops......what do you think? It's a good idea but I am officially giving up all hope of meeting Danny. :cry: The cast lists for "Locked In" and "Simple Explanation" don't include him.

Do we know it was RSL for a fact? Or are you assuming it because of his history of heart trouble? I am officially giving up all hope of meeting Danny. :cry: The cast lists for "Locked In" and "Simple Explanation" don't include him. Hey, at least he got a NAME. That's more than PDH has. I think we'll meet Danny next season.

Do we know it was RSL for a fact? Or are you assuming it because of his history of heart trouble? Tis fact, that Katie Jacobs has a big mouth :wink: