My Thoughts on "Lucky 13" :P

[darkdreamer]

Okay, just now got a chance to watch the new ep, and it made me think a lot more than I expected it to. Frankly, I expected to be bored to tears. Hmmm... not so much :P Okay, I'm gonna outline my thoughts on the ep under a cut to spare you spoilers :P hehe


1. Foreman/13 -- First of all, the way this ep was handled made me totally think that the idea of Foreman/13 that's been suggested wouldn't be such a bad one. Foreman is indeed "boring" as Chase and House said he is. I think it's funny that the writers actually put that in there, because I think that seems to be a pretty common opinion among the fans as well :P lol... But in this case, with 13 sort of spiraling out of control, I think he could be a stabilizing force for her. While her world is falling apart around her, he could be something strong she can hold onto. Honestly, I thought her acting in this ep was wonderful, and I actually genuinely felt her confusion, her desperation, the sense of her being just *lost* and not knowing which way to turn. I think House's comments about her not being with men are a bit foreshadowing of the impending Foreman/13 ship.

2. House/Wilson -- I absolutely love how they showed us that Wilson is the same with House as he ever was -- to a point. When House came in and sat on Wilson's couch, the quiet tension was palpable, that sense of "where do we go from here?" and I shared House's feeling of nervous awkwardness. It was utterly understandable that he was afraid things had changed between them despite Wilson's reassurances. I loooove how Wilson pranked him back, because that's how these two show their affection. And I love the bit toward the end where Wilson openly, verbally reassures House that they're friends again, things are really okay, because that showed such vulnerability on House's part, and Wilson acknowledging said vulnerability...something we rarely see.

3. Cuddy's baby -- I think the expression on House's face when he found out about the baby was touching, and very telling. He looked just stunned.. and bewildered, and uncertain... that same "where do we go from here" feeling all over again. House seemed upset by the news, which threw me at first, til I started thinking about it. The thing is -- House hates change. Its been established over and over in canon. He wants things to stay in control, stay the way he's used to them being. When something major changes, it throws him into a state of insecurity, which I think is where he is now with both Cuddy and Wilson.

His unfinished statement that he said to both of them "If you're happy, I'm _______________."

Everyone's going to be taking a stab at finishing that, I'm sure. But at the end of the episode, the best terms I could come up with to complete that statement are "alone" or "left behind". I think House feels like with Cuddy moving on with her life so much as to adopt a child (and not even confiding in him about it, despite his helping her with the injections and all a season and a half ago) is a level of change that scares him. I think he wonders where this will leave him in Cuddy's life, how things will change between them. Also, she's achieving something that will make her happy -- and House is still stuck in the rut of his continuing physical/emotional pain.

I think he made the same statement with Wilson, when he thought he was in a new relationship, because of the same reasoning. Wilson's moving on, moving out of his grief and into potential happiness -- and inevitably leaving House behind. Of course, this proved not to be the case at all, but I think at the moment, that might be how House felt about it.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the ep, or on *my* thoughts, etc. :P hehe

*hugs*
DoS

Comments

[travln1.livejournal.com]

I'll take a stab at the "If you're happy, I'm _____"

It should be "If you're happy, I'm happy," BUT...House isn't happy, therefore he can't answer. I don't think it's a fill in the blank. He's been miserable for years and I think the shock of seeing Cuddy (who has been fairly unhappy herself...I'm reminded of the epi where she and House are overlooking the front lobby and she says, "It shouldn't be this hard,"...talking about dating), anyway Cuddy's going after her dream, she's doing something that makes herself happy. I think it's confusing for House. A twinge of guilt about what he said in the past, jealousy (not for the baby, but just that she's doing something that makes her happy), maybe feeling a bit betrayed because she hid this from him, and in general, feeling bewildered by the whole gosh darned thing.

Something's up with House this season and I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Right now I'm leaning towards post traumatic stress or something similar. House hates change and so much has changed for him in the past year +. His dad died, Amber died, Wilson was gone for 4 months, Cuddy's baby is more a reality than ever before which could lead to a huge change, his team has completely changed, etc. I don't think the proverbial sh*t has hit the fan just yet.

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

i think you're totally right... something is definitely up with him this season... there are understandable reasons, but he's seemed more vulnerable from the very start... in this ep, he really did seem very insecure and vulnerable, and didn't seem to be hiding it all that well

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

oh, and i dont think the statement is a *literal* "fill in the blank"; i know house was gonna say happy, but couldn't... i just think it's something people are gonna be doing... and those two phrases i came up with are what i think that the changes make house *really* feel.. not happy, but lonely and left behind :(

[travln1.livejournal.com]

Left behind is a good way to put it. It's almost like he's this little kid, watching the other 'kids' grow up, move on, live life.

I know you didn't mean it literally...and I agree that some will try to fill in the blank.

[k-taylor30.livejournal.com]

Really like this ep.

[asnightbird.livejournal.com]

I have a slightly different take on the Cuddy's Baby scene. IMO, House wasn't so much "bewildered and uncertain" as he was *deeply* hurt. I could see it in his eyes clearly. Cuddy and Wilson kept this huge secret from him. Cuddy confided in *Wilson*, not *House*, who had kept her first secret and given her the hormone shots. Now he finds out that Cuddy is adopting, and she didn't even bother to tell him. Also, he's probably remembering the fact that Cuddy had invited *Wilson* to dinner to try to determine if he'd be a suitable sperm donor, but she never "auditioned" House.

I'm not saying the other arguments aren't valid, but I just think "deeply hurt" trumps "bewildered and uncertain" and House hating change in this particular instance. Those things definitely play into his overall reaction, but I just don't think they're as important here.

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

i think yeah, it's quite likely he was hurt by her not confiding in him, though it makes sense after his comments to her about being a bad mother :( its understandable she'd turn to wilson instead :(

[swirlsofblue.livejournal.com]

I loved this ep.

Yeh, I really thought Foreman was going to doing something at the end, but I think that would've ruined it, the writers are doing the whole 13 thing really well. I love thirteen.

I squeed so much at the House/Wilson. And while it was great when Wilson confirmed the friendship was back; both through play and literally.

I was a bit annoyed when he said 'nothings changed' will they never deal with anything, they dragged out everything that they'd shoved under the carpet for years, and left it there for four months and then shoved it back under carpet without dealing with it. But then that's sort of their process of dealing, it works for their brilliant dysfunctional relationship.

To be fair to Cuddy I think after House's line in 'finding judas' I wouldn't expect her to continue confiding in him on baby stuff. Yeh, there are going to be major changes, she may even decide to give up dean for a less time-consuming doctor position, which would leave House vulnerable. That and he's still feeling insecure about Wilson and that probably didn't help matters.

'If you're happy, I'm ...' I loved this, I loved the way they connected House/Wilson and House/Cuddy through it. Knowing House, I'd guess it means a lot of different things, and maybe nothing all at once; maybe House just wants to make everyone wonder.

This is mightily long isn't it. Oh, yes and MORE Chase, Chase was brilliant this ep.

[swirlsofblue.livejournal.com]

Also how can Wilson give a character reference, he's her employee, surely that sends up flags somewhere in the 'uh oh this person is rubbish so had to force someone she has control over department' I mean we know it's not the case, but I would've figured they'd want a character reference from someone else.

(ps: sorry for spamming with repeated comments)

[babymoobunny.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you on the "Finding Judas" comment. It took me a whole day to figure it out, but it makes sense. Because it doesn't matter if House meant it or not, he said some really mean things to Cuddy about being a horrible mother.

One thing's for sure; there's some big changes coming.

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

i was annoyed at the whole idea of "nothing's changed" as well, because you *know* it has to have in some ways... and yet i was relieved for house because in this ep, his insecurity was so palpable... he's usually not so openly vulnerable as he was in this ep...

[stlyn.livejournal.com]

Oh! Good take on the Cuddy baby thing. I was just completely thrown by him running off. Your explanation makes total sense. Thank you!

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

no problem, love, just my opinion :P *hugs*

[bonomania.livejournal.com]

I too thought the ep would be a bit of a bore, but I actually really enjoyed it.

They end was so sad; the look on House's face with the whole baby thing was perfect, it showed just how shocked/concerned/disappointed/distraught(alone possibly?) he felt.

Great minds think alike ;) I watched the ep earlier on sidereel. The stuff about House disliking change and the possibility of House feeling left out as Cuddy didn't confide in him were my initial thoughts too.

So, to reiterate: Loved the ep...even more so because vulnerable!House was out and obvious for us to see. Very much looking forward to the next episode though ;D Yaay!

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

yeah, wasn't he so much more obviously vulnerable here than usual? :) i loved it... it broke my heart the way he was searching to see if his friendship with wilson was the same or not... when wilson openly just *told* him "House, we're okay... everything's fine" it just made my heart break for him, and his insecurities...

[bonomania.livejournal.com]

Just watched the end of the ep again and felt the need to add something to my previous comment...

The look on House's face as Cuddy says, "Are you going to congratulate me?" makes me want to cry. I didn't look too closely first watch, but watching it a second time, I saw the look on Wilson's face (almost Wilson's usual *I'm concerned about House* look) and you can see the point he realised there was something wrong - when his *coughgiant* eyebrow tweaks upwards. It'd be funny - if I weren't already wanting to GLOMP House to make him smile...

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

awwwww, you're right... just rewatched and noticed this.. i'm soooo eager to see how all this plays out :)