One thing the Vogler arc did get right was that it didn't disrupt the H/W, nor did Stacy for that matter, compared to the darkness of Tritter. So yes, I hope that we don't have the H/W suffer as a result of 4 newbies running around - and even while they whittle it down to 10, 8, 5 etc its going to take time. Time away from the cottages, but also, if its not done right, time away from Wilson & Cuddy & their relationship with House. So, I find the grave digging funny, but look at all the newbies running around in that ep. I know we're supposed to get some Cameron in this one, but what about Chase & Foreman too? Even if only for a few minutes.

I can only speak for me, but I never felt that watching House for House means you don't care about the other characters at all. For me, it just means House is by far the most important factor out of other important factors. And, one episode without the ducklings doesn't bother me. I'm also not anticipating that they'll get pushed aside when they do come back. It never would have crossed my mind if I hadn't found out other people considered that it was a possibility. It doesn't make sense to me to keep them on the show if they were going to shove them aside. They could just as easily have had them all stay away and only use new characters. Not that there might not be some shifting and modifying to accommodate the new characters, but that's a different thing entirely.

I'm also not on board with any idea that the newbies replace the cottages & there's a straight swap with the cottages disappearing completely. That doesn't accomplish the evolution of the original characters or opening up the group dynamics for me. I'm a little confused where this impression came from. From the media reports, it seems we'll have reduced screen time for eight or nine episodes for the original ducklings, but they won't be disappearing completely, and the culmination will be the addition of two characters. They've never said that CCF won't remain a significant part of the show. To be honest, I think it is necessary to add a few more characters. CCF originally, especially in season one, served as the functional element of the show, providing most of the medical exposition. I think the two new characters will be sliding into that role, freeing CCF up more for actual characterization. If they get meatier scenes, I think that's a fair trade-off for less screen time.

I was speaking rhetorically, misere, I know that's not going to happen, but before the spoilers came out if certainly could have been a worst case scenario. This isn't a spoiler per se, there's no real information & its mostly speculation, but Ask Kristen had this snippet tonight - Olivia Wilde’s character is keeping something from us! While we find out in the second episode that another job candidate has a potentially fireable secret, Olivia swears to me her character’s secret is “bigger, way bigger!” So, what do you think? Is she an illegal organ harvester by night? House’s illegitimate love child? And on that theme, the child Cuddy gave up for adoption? Tritter's daughter? Inquiring minds want to know. :twisted: (Kristen has obviously been reading badfanfic recently).

Maureen Ryan, from The Chicago Tribune, posted a mini-review of the first two episodes in her blog. Relevant portions: He keeps insisting that he doesn’t miss his old team, and you know what? Neither do I, not really. Sure, Drs. Allison Cameron, Eric Foreman and Robert Chase grew on me over the course of the show’s first three seasons, and the actors who play them all did fine jobs with what could have been one-note characters. But as the show headed into its fourth season, it was clear that “House” needed to really shake things up, and the “Survivor”-style competition that House uses to weed out potential employees is quite entertaining. I hope it’s not over too soon... Frankly, it would be a shame if “House’s” writers, who have shown an admirable agility and creativity over the past few seasons, let things go back to the way they were.

Seriously, what secret so big could be relevant to the show? Inquiring minds DO want to know! A+ on keeping us interested in your character, Ms. Wilde. On the other hand, I really don't want you to be a love interest for anyone, and since DS likes living vicariously through his characters and you are quite teh pretteh, things are looking foul.

Oh SZ, Wilson-less spoilers aren't really spoilers for me ;) WHY is time moving so slowly? :( *nudges the clock hands*

Oh SZ, Wilson-less spoilers aren't really spoilers for me I hear ya. As for the OW thing, WHY? Jeez, honestly why must she have some deep, dark secret? Unless it gets her fired, which I doubt seeing as how she's not going anywhere, then I don't want to know about it. But anyway, who's excited? Who's ready? It's today, it's today, it's today!! :P

Olivia Wilde’s character is keeping something from us! While we find out in the second episode that another job candidate has a potentially fireable secret, Olivia swears to me her character’s secret is “bigger, way bigger!” So, what do you think? Is she an illegal organ harvester by night? House’s illegitimate love child? Is her real name a giveaway, and that why we only know her as "Thirteen"? Please, God, don't let her turn out to be Cameron's sister or something like that.

Oh cripes! If she is either House or Cuddy's (or both!) long lost illegitimate child, I'll vomit. The shark will have well and truly been jumped. But then again, we're talking Kristen here. She wouldn't know her arse from a teakettle most of the time. Like Ausiello, she tends to the melodramatic.

There is not way Thirteen is House's or Cuddy's long lost child, absolutely no way. If she is, Wilson or no, I don't know if I'll be able to stomach the show anymore, that wold be so ridiculous I just couldn't get past it.

If she is either House or Cuddy's (or both!) long lost illegitimate child, I'll vomit. Please God no. Regarding the new candidates, I know I should know this, but I've read too much on this subject and am brain overloaded (not that it would take much) - is there a definite answer on how many they're keeping as permanent cast members? Kal Penn and Olivia Wilde? I'm hoping no more than two, but when five of them showed up at the Emmys I wondered if it really is going to be all five. I hope not. Two is at least one more than I want them to keep.

Honestly, I can live through one episode without the ducklings. I can most definitely live through one episode without Cuddy. I can even live through one episode without Wilson. Sounds scary, but I can live - Wilson may be my favourite character, but I love House just as much. As long as House is there, it's ok. I just think that as long as TPTB keep their promise and give us back CCF in full capacity after the 8 or 9 episode arc, I'm happy. I'm hoping that the House-CCF/teacher-student relationship stays, but I guess teacher!House will appear more around the new kids. I guess that, like Misere, I see this as a good thing. CCF evolve from their roles beneath House and get to be actual characters - I guess we just have to see whether they'll hold up or not (whilst I have every faith in Chase, I'm not so sure about the other 2). Obviously, YMMV (and probably will). Also, gravedigging? Hee!

Re keepers, I've seen varying reports of two or three. A lot of speculation says 13 is one of them, but I'm not sure that's confirmed. 407, nice logo change :lol:

Hah, thanks z :D