Tonight's Episode

[nightdog_barks]

Um ... okay? That was interesting, if somewhat unexpected. The twist at the end, I mean. So does this mean that House could have turned out to be a serial killer? That would be really interesting. Or are we supposed to think this was Wilson's Super-Sekrit Childhood, since they pretty much stuck with "Danny" as the guy's name?

Otherwise ... haven't we seen House testing Cuddy's limits before?

Taub was awesome. The team was pretty awesome. Wilson was awesome, with his nervous little laugh when the beautiful hooker touched him. The "Ferris Bueller" line made me laugh out loud.

The episode in three weeks looks utterly ridiculous.



Cooking dinner, will be away for a bit.

Spoilers for the next episode in comments.

Comments

[blackmare]

Did that much stuff go over my head? Because I didn't see the parallel with House and the patient, or ever think that maybe they were hinting at anything with Wilson.

But then I am sick today, so it's possible I'm not nearly as perceptive as I ought to be.

[nightdog_barks]

It's pretty often that TPTB have the patient reflect some aspect of House, and in this case the patient seemed like a fairly smart guy and had been abused by his dad -- if we believe that it was his dad (the patient's dad) who did the abusing.

As for Wilson -- again with the patient reflecting the main characters. His name was Danny (supposedly) and he was homeless, and for awhile they thought he was schizophrenic. So, possibly the Wilson family dad being much darker than we know, and that's at least partly why Wilson is as screwed up as he is.

[blackmare]

Yep, I'm aware of the whole link-House-to-patient trend, but the only place I saw it was in the abuse by the patient's dad, and even there it seemed like House was only reflecting that this was not him. But I can see, I suppose, where you could see that as a hint of what House, under different circumstances, could have turned into.

I did get the homeless/maybe schizophrenic connection with the patient and Wilson's brother, but it never occurred to me that it could have been meant to suggest that Pa Wilson was an abusive piece of work. It's an interesting idea, though.

Personally, I think that if there was an abusive Wilson parent (rather than merely a neglectful and emotionally shut down pair of them as I imagine them to be), it was his mom. I can't quite place why I think that, but I do.

[namaste]

Since the guy's name wasn't actually Danny (and I doubt that 90 percent of the viewers will recall that Wilson has a brother named Danny who was homeless), I don't think we were intended to draw any Wilson comparisons.

I don't know if the guy was trying to play off of House during the conversation with him, trying to get him to identify with him, as he did with Masters and Chase (and how much creepiness does that add knowing now that he's a serial killer? Did he lure victims by identifying with them? Did he cause the real Danny's overdose?)

Also ... guess that Adam really took that "Joan of Arcadia" cancellation hard. At least Joan has turned out OK, if an odd dresser. (Anybody else watch that show?)

[nightdog_barks]

The guy's name wasn't actually Danny, but since he was homeless and possibly schizophrenic, the writers couldn't come up with another name besides Danny? I mean, with all those characteristics going for him, I can't see how the writers would have thought nobody would've been reminded of Danny Wilson.

Of course, I'm talking about the same writers who couldn't remember they already named Cuddy's sister once and then changed it. I'm just irritated. And picky. *g*

I watched a few episodes of Joan of Arcadia, but I didn't remember this actor at all.

[spicyride]

When I read your comment, I thought poor Taub... he doesn't get invited to be part of House's wedding and the serial killer didn't try to identify with him.

[ide_cyan]

I recognised the actor, and all the talk about god seemed like a wink to that show.

[taiga13]

The episode in three weeks looks utterly ridiculous.
I didn't see it but they're really piling on the crazy, making House's behaviour more and more outrageous. At this rate the season finale will have going postal in PPTH while high on crack.

[warmdarkwoman]

At this rate the season finale will have going postal in PPTH while high on crack.

Don't give them any ideas; I'm not sure if the season finale has been taped yet.

This episode was meh. Although I will admit: I like the idea of House being married, because it's something he hasn't done yet. Maybe he wanted to experience it in whatever way we could before what might possibly be his last blowout.

I'm actually glad 13 is coming back; it means that Masters will soon be gone.

[nightdog_barks]

I thought this episode was meh also. I did like the hooker, though.

I don't mind 13 coming back -- the preview just left me going WTF? And yeah, Masters can leave now.

[nightdog_barks]

Heh, it's not House in the outrageous plotline.

But who knows, maybe it will ALL MAKE SENSE.

[taiga13]

Okay, now I have to know what was in that promo!
I so don't care about Thirteen returning. I'm sure Olivia Wilde is a very nice person but she can't act. Plus, since she's supposed to have this big movie career now, it seems strange that she would return - maybe she'll only be back for one or two episodes and then leave permanently.
You know, if House stays married and actually works making the marriage a success, that would be genuinely interesting.

[nightdog_barks]

You sure you want to know?

...

Thirteen has been in prison, and it appears that she's released and House goes on a road trip to get her.

I am not making this up.

[taiga13]

Whiskey tango foxtrot!
Are the writers trying to make themselves unemployable?

[topaz_eyes]

Uhm... okay? 0.o

[spicyride]

I like the end and that was about it. Him being a serial killer was a cool twist. I'm glad that I didn't see any parallels to anybody... the dude was a freakin'serial killer.
Hugh Laurie looked oh so hot tonight so that helped.
Other than that, maybe I have to watch it again.

I missed 13, but seriously? I'm going to hope it plays out better than the promo (it usually does).

[nightdog_barks]

I liked the twist at the end, especially when you look back and realize he had BONE FRAGMENTS IN HIS GUT, and he told the docs they were chicken bones. Heh. And Hugh Laurie did look very hot.

I missed 13, but seriously? I'm going to hope it plays out better than the promo (it usually does).

GOD, THIS. I mean, what the hell? Thirteen has been in PRISON, and HOUSE GOES TO GET HER? Oy.

[spicyride]

I know! That's what was so cool! That was the first thing that popped into my head, the bones. So cool, so unexpected but so made sense. When I saw the feds I thought maybe he did murder his father, but serial killer never struck my mind. There is a part of me that wonders, was that supposed to mean anything? Or was it just for a cool twist?

AND OMG she doesn't want to tell him what she did!

[nightdog_barks]

Heh, when I saw the feds I thought maybe he was a terrorist. Which would also have been interesting, but serial killer was quite cool. I also thought he had that whole Jesus-look going on in the beginning, when he had that beard.

And yeah, I have to say I wonder what Thirteen did. Maybe she had some illegal drugs, and was taking them for her Huntington's?

[namaste]

Well, since House -- Mr. Curious about everything -- was the only one not questioning where she went, I think it was set up all along that he knew where she was.

[nightdog_barks]

I can see that. If anybody would have known where she'd gone, it would be House. But prison? Gorgeous, super-hot Olivia Wilde in prison? I'm sure they'll have what they consider a good explanation, but it just sounds so ... over the top.

[namaste]

Because House (the character and the show) is never over the top.

[nightdog_barks]

Touché.

Heh. :-D

[taiga13]

Well, since House -- Mr. Curious about everything -- was the only one not questioning where she went, I think it was set up all along that he knew where she was.
I hope that's the case because I always thought it very strange that he appeared so disinterested about her disappearance - I remember hoping that it would be revealed that he knew what had happened.
Thanks all for the explanation on how Chase could have performed the wedding ceremony, I was boggled by that.
I'm really curious now to see how this marriage works out. That "oh shit, what have I done?" look on his face at the ceremony did not bode well.

[elynittria]

I haven't watched the episode (and probably won't), so I just want to clarify what I've picked up from this discussion: House has actually gotten married, and it wasn't a dream sequence or some other such trick? If that's true, then the show has not only jumped the shark but gone into orbit.

On a different note, I noticed The Poisoner's Handbook listed as one of your current nonfiction books, so I checked it out on Amazon.com. It sounded really interesting, and they were selling it at a bargain price, so I simply had to order it. (Amazon.com is my greatest addiction, I think.)

[blackmare]

Legally, House got married. It wasn't a trick in that sense; in every other sense, it was. It plays out a lot better than I had hoped it would, with House convincing himself that he is doing this for a host of rational (financial) reasons -- basically hiring this woman for "help" of all kinds while helping her get her green card. He has pie charts and spreadsheets and everything. It's insane (and is clearly supposed to be).

And then once he's done it, it reads to me as him having to face that no, he'd done it primarily out of spite and pain, and the ending scene leaves me pretty sure we won't see the wife again except possibly as she is moving out.

I was cheering for Wilson, who was doing That Wilson Thing in the best possible way.

[nightdog_barks]

I'd say that legally that marriage is on pretty shaky grounds. I don't see how the State of New Jersey could have licensed Chase for one day to perform a wedding, especially since he's not a priest or a civil official.

[blackmare]

It's possible we'll find out next week that in fact the whole thing WAS a prank, and that Chase was in on it. That would make more sense to me.

Prank or not, you could tell at the end that House didn't get anywhere NEAR the satisfaction he'd expected to get from it. If anything, it only left him feeling much, much worse once it was done.

[elynittria]

Chase performed the marriage? Are the writers on crack? I don't really expect American TV to reflect real life, but I do expect it to at least try to be internally logical and coherent.

[nightdog_barks]

Yup. He even said something about the State of New Jersey investing him with the authority for one day.

I don't really expect American TV to reflect real life, but I do expect it to at least try to be internally logical and coherent.

OH, THOSE DAYS ARE LONG PAST, BB. :-D

[blackmare]

American laws in that respect are pretty screwy, though. My BFF's husband is legally a reverend of an online church and can perform marriages. It cost him like $50 to get that certification. But there isn't (that I know of) any time limit on it.

So if in fact the whole marriage was a prank, that line from Chase would be one of the biggest tip-offs.

[nightdog_barks]

Also at the end, Domenika said "I know this isn't a real marriage," but in context it was unclear if she was referring to the legality of the thing or it not being a marriage for love.

[tripathy]

That didn't strike me as weird at all. Here in Quebec you can have anyone perform the service...you just fill out some forms with the government and they give that person the power to perform that one civil ceremony for that one couple on that one day (and can only do it once in their life). Certain parts of the civil code have to be read in the ceremony to make it legal, but other than that the person performing the ceremony can pretty well write their own stuff. Although things do have to get done a lot more in advance than what was happening on House, that's for sure!

We were going to do that for my ceremony until the friend who was supposed to do it messed up and nearly cost us the legality of our marriage, forcing us to find a minister at the last minute...

But anyway, if it's done here, maybe it's also done in NJ?

(Also, I never liked Thirteen but I really hate Masters and want her gone. :P)

[nightdog_barks]

Heh, see pwcorgigirl's comment below. Apparently it IS doable, and I had no idea!

Very cool. And hello! It's good to see you. :-D

[tripathy]

We actually didn't know about it until we saw it done at a friend's wedding. Around here it's just called an "authorized officiant". Reading the comment below, there doesn't seem to be anything in NJ that sounds as simple as that! The "surrogate" thing sounds weird.

O hai thar! I'm always around. I've just been extremely lazy about updating and commenting lately. ^_^;

[pwcorgigirl]

Strangely enough, he could be given the authority for one day, according to the Frequently Asked Questions section at the New Jersey Department of Vital Records:

Who can perform marriages in New Jersey?

Judges of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third District, federal district court judges, U.S. magistrate, judge of a municipal court, judge of the Superior Court, judge of a tax court, retired judge of the Superior Court or Tax Court, the former County Court, the former County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, or the former County District Court who has resigned in good standing, surrogate of any county, county clerk, any mayor or the deputy mayor when authorized by the mayor, or chairman of any township committee or village president of this State and ministers of every religion may marry individuals legally permitted to marry.

So he could have been authorized under the surrogate clause, but since he never finished seminary, then not as an ordained minister of a real church.

[nightdog_barks]

Heh, I'll take it, but it still seems like a really roundabout way to perform this particular wedding. ;-)

[mer_duff]

Here's a weird one - my mother (the vehement atheist) was the officiant at the wedding of my sister's ex-partner (romantic and artistic)...

[nightdog_barks]

The Poisoner's Handbook is a TERRIFIC read so far! I think you'll really enjoy it. :-)