(no subject)

[swatkat]

I don't have the energy to be very squeeful or thoughtful today, so my very brief observations on 5.08 and 5.09, which I watched last night with A. (who watched the show for the first time, and said she liked the House guy) and zorana84:

Emancipation:

* Tight little episode, a lot of parallels and subtle contrasts. Brothers/Foreman/House&Wilson.

* Wilson's 'inscrutable' thing was adorable (he looked like he was cackling on the inside), as was House's longing glance at Cuddy in the end. Aww. There was something about the music playing in the background and Wilson's 'noble ass' comment and the lovely walking out together that made me feel happy and hopeful in the end.

* 'Whatever you're trying to prove? Won't be enough.' Oh, Chase! The show needs to have a House&Chase Resolve Their Issues episode right now.

* CCF are ADORABLE together these days. Aww.

* Foreman has always been Cuddy's favourite Duckling. I wouldn't be surprised if she has secret plans of world domination expanding the department and getting House to do more work that involve Foreman in a starring role.

* There is much to be said about Chase, Foreman and Cameron and their respective careers (like roga pointed out in her post-ep response post). Later.



Last Resort:

* I understand there had been a lot of hype about this episode in fandom and now people are upset because it wasn't big enough and didn't feature enough House/Wilson hurt/comfort and focused on resolving Thirteen's arc instead? The first part is unfortunate, because these things do happen when you obsess too much over promos and spoilers; the second one deserves no response except being hit on the head with a bottle, which is what I threatened to do to zorana84 last night (she shut up. for five seconds). I enjoyed it. It was... quieter than what you'd expect a HOSTAGE!DRAMA! episode to be, and I liked it. I liked House's cool (given the fact that he's been shot with a crazy patient with a gun once before) and the fact that HE GAVE BACK THE GUN because he has to solve his puzzle (and then the patient called him on it, too).

* LOVE the cinematography. LOVE IT. The cool slo-mos and everything. I could have done without the House/Cuddy looks, though, if only because they were too close to Longing Glances (of the not-so-awesome kind, unlike the one in the previous episode) for my comfort, even though they felt more like 'I'm worried about you and reassured that you're still alive' glances (which are awesome) to me.

* Loved how the final House/Cuddy scene - House's cool after the DRAMA; semi-serious conversations about relationships; denial; conversation about enabling... The drawer in the end was absolutely PRICELESS.

* Chase and Foreman walking out; Cameron staying put. Again, much to be said here. Later.

* THIRTEEN, OH. ♥ I approve of Foreman/Thirteen.

* goddesspharo has a picspam of the episode here: check out the cap of Cuddy twirling a spoon. The cute, it kills me.

Comments

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I just saw your post! *g* I can see where you (and everyone else talking about the lack of drama) are coming from, but it seemed to me that they were trying to make a point with the understated emotional reactions, especially post-'House's Head'/'Wilson's Heart'. The drawer scene worked for me, because it felt like a quiet recognition of what they'd just been through and what they'd overcome... and life going on, as it does. It made sense to me that this was Thirteen's Big Revelation episode, because she hasn't faced that kind of life-threatening thing that is routine for House. It seemed that House kept his cool because he's already been shot once. I loved that he was trying to be adult and in control, while simultaneously being insanely tempted by the puzzle but not showing it too much, and THEN GIVING IT ALL AWAY by giving the gun back, because he has to solve his puzzle and he thinks he's right.

♥ Thirteen.

[shutterbug-12.livejournal.com]

I thought the revelation was absolutely appropriate and awesome, because even though Thirteen's been facing that she will die in eight to ten years, it's still eight to ten years off, and it's not nearly as immediate as someone pointing a gun to your head, threatening to kill you right now. I'd imagine it's a good time to come to a decision about your life, and if you really want it after all.

It seemed that House kept his cool because he's already been shot once. That's pretty much how I saw it, too. I think he knew that a way to help make sure he didn't experience that again was not to go into a mental breakdown and be entirely useless, but to be as valuable as possible and stay calm. I also don't really recall House taunting Jason about anything, just in case the reaction was to shoot. He seemed very adult, which was so refreshing, actually, now that I think about it. There were some great flickers of, "Jesus Christ, get that fucking gun away from me" when Jason pointed it at him when House wasn't really expecting it, so I thought it totally worked.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

It was! Appropriate! Foreman/Thirteen has a lot of fun potential. *g*

He seemed very adult, which was so refreshing, actually, now that I think about it. There were some great flickers of, "Jesus Christ, get that fucking gun away from me" when Jason pointed it at him when House wasn't really expecting it, so I thought it totally worked.

VERY refreshing. Which is why I screamed 'NO, HOUSE!' when he THREW THAT ALL AWAY by giving him back the gun. It's very in-character for House, and, I'd argue, shows us a new level of outrageous. Just how far will he go to solve a puzzle? Very far, clearly. A clever line of continuity from the previous episode's conversation with Wilson, where he says 'Did I?' jokingly. Not so joking in hindsight, is it?

The juvenile obsession with the puzzle fits in with the juvenile booby-trapping of Cuddy's desk, as well.