Late to the party, but thanks mods! I'm going to add that I love this show more and more each week and thank goodness for Wilson! I love Wilson.

Adding to the love fest for "Cuddy's Serenade." I am amazed by the way that this meticulously composed and brilliantly played piece revealed at once so much about House and about his view of Cuddy. I also swoon when I think of all the thought, care, and time HL put into analyzing the show and the House/Cuddy relationship and then let it pour forth in his beautiful composition. Satisfied does not begin to express how good I feel.

And in the midst of playing (left handed) he even downs a gulp of his whiskey with his right hand. I suppose that takes no more coordination than turning a page would, but it was just a moment that was pure House and added the characterization on top of the music.

For me, one of the many delights about the show is that HL never seems to be acting. House is always House, and only occasionally does a glimmer of what is pure HL sneak in. Last night, when I was marveling at the right-on beauty of "Cuddy's Serenade," I was once again blown away by HL's brilliance. It seemed to me that he made a deliberate choice to compose it as House would, with House's mindset and emotional state. He knew how House would write the piece and used his own amazing musical ability to do it. It reminded me of what Olivia Wilde said about his insistence on doing the foot bit in the restroom scene because he knew exactly how House would do it. As so many others have said, HL's talent just continues to impress in so many surprising ways.

I'm sitting at my computer 3 days later still in deep thought about "The Softer Side". It's so cool to see that others are as well. I love that the show is so layered that it can just be peeled and peeled, and it can be peeled in many different ways. I have very much enjoyed reading the episode thread and reading what people have to say. Some have put words to my thoughts, some have made me re-think, some I disagee. It is really awesome and I freakin' love it.

Yes, I very much enjoyed The Softer Side as well. This episode gave me lots of food for thought about House the character, his relationships and how he and the people in his life try to do the right thing by each other but are so often lost about how best to go about it. As HL said, House is a difficult proposition, and he's getting no easier. He always leaves us wanting to know more, and he makes choices we don't expect for reasons we hadn't thought of. Indeed, it is compelling television. It's fun to explore all those things here by writing one's own thoughts and then reading what others have to say. It pushes me to think harder and choose words more precisely so that they better reflect the interpretations and realizations I have about the characters and the show. And I learn from and thank those who post well-considered responses. There's often a strong element of community, appreciation and courtesy around here that makes it a pleasure to participate in the fascinating "multilogue" we create about the stories, conflicts, themes and characters we see on the screen. For me, there's nothing quite like it.

Surely contact with inquisitive, sensitive, funny, and insightful minds is one of the keenest pleasures of watching this grand show. Being able to share my appreciation of the show with other seekers who enjoy "House" is such a tremendous satisfaction.

You're absolutely right blacktop. And, it may be repetitive to say, but I'm still so fascinated with the last two episodes. I've thought about them a lot and honestly, they are so provocative and openly written, they open all kinds of doors to different shades of meaning , motivation and philosophy. They do what the best teachers do, ask questions that bring up further questions, and encourage students to ask questions that go beyond that. Sometimes it feels almost like a master class in humanity, rather than a tv show. Am I gushing? I suppose so, but honestly I'm glad to be able to do so here with all candor.

Oh so happy... in my country we get the weird creepy House theme song, because of copyright. All of my season 4 episodes have the weird creepy main theme, but they obviously forgot to change one over and it has the Massive Attack theme song. It's apparently only on one episode, but it gives me great satisfaction the FOX Monkeys are still doing their usual bang up job. YAY FOX Monkeys! As long as House is on I'll nevah be out of a job.

Have only watched "The Social Contract" twice, so there's probably more that I will enjoy as I discover it. Love that House set Cuddy up so beautifully and even though she denied it, she got it and was flattered. Loved that House was able to talk to Chase for real and that Chase went through all his usual reactions to House till he got to the new one, a decent reaction to a heartfelt request. The PoTW was a very good actor and made the character both funny and sort of tragic, a clear Houseian parallel, but well-done. Didn't even mind a little of the 14. Taub as secret agent was fun, he's getting a great slow burn thing going. Doris Egan does a great job writing Wilson and here , she pushed him past the sanctimonious and into a more honest place. I liked him better when he admitted he likes House for telling him the unvarnished truth when no one else does and House needs someone to be nice which Wilson does. Great stuff from both RSL and HL. And HL, brilliant as ever: throughout you never quite know if he's completely on the up and up, but somehow you know he is, he's genuinely making an effort, and people are sponding to him. I wonder if the methadone is still having some effect on him, whether the pain is not fully back. Questions answered, more raised. Beautifully done.

Ahh, almost forgot this thread. I can't say I loved last night's episode but only because the subject matter was so grim. It did have me glued to the screen, from the very first moments until the very end, and I thought it was a powerful story and very well done. I can hardly wait to see the fallout from last night's events.

I was moved, shocked and amazed by the telling of Kutner's demise. Starting with that and then going through everyone's reactions, keeping the patient stories going, it was physically painful, but also fascinating. HL especially. We're used to seeing awesome work from him and man he does not disappoint.

I knew a suicide was going to happen, heavily suspected it would be Kutner, and felt bad all day about it before I actually got to watch it. I really hated what was going to happen. And then I loved it. I loved that they showed it right at the beginning, loved that there was no apparent reason for it, loved the way all the team reacted to it. What made it even better was the reason Kal left. So while I am very sad Kutner is gone, and I will miss the lightness he so often brought, I actually feel good about the episode, and even more about the show as a whole. It truly is unique, IMO.

I was quite bitter when I finished watching Simple Explanation, as I thought they used the suicide for creative motives, and it seemed exploitative, from my personal experience of knowing someone suicided herself. That's why I got irritated at Wilson's familiar analysis and explanation on House's state of mind, and at the beautiful visual of the funeral scenes. I think I just didn't want the suicide used in the drama at all, which was really unreasonable of me. I won't have time to rewatch it again for some time, as I'm going on a trip, but now I feel thankful that House riminded me of my experience. I was in fact surprised that I was so upset just because there happened a suicide on a tv show. So after all, I should admit that it was a very strong episode, that evoked so many emotions to the viewers. They must have the courage to choose the suicide for the Kutner's way out. It was apparent that the suicide theme should provoke the veciferous discussions, and also some kind of impulsive repulsions as I felt at the first viewing, but it was worth it. I praise now the writers' courage and I'm happy that I'm watching such a compelling, emotionally provoking drama as House. I can't wait to see the season finale when I come back home. :D