big baby

[swatkat]

And then I watched House 5.13.



* Okay, WHAT? What was up with that phonecall during the surgery? Are the writers on some special crack that they thought it made any kind of sense? It was unprofessional, it was stupid and wrong and just plain bizarre. Why would Cuddy do that, knowing that there's a patient with her skull cracked open? Why would Kutner allow that call in the first place? Why would House, or Cameron, or anyone else in the OR entertain it for more than a second? Just… WHAT?

I understand that they used the baby's crying to prove House's point, but seriously, WHAT, show? FAIL.

* Apart from the Phonecall of Doom, I quite liked the medical plot in this episode. The look that the POTW shared with House in the end, especially, was very poignant, knowing that she will never regain her patience, her skill with these children whom she has grown to love. I wonder if she will now question her love for the children itself.

* I am also annoyed that they went all the way to set up an interesting plot with Cuddy not bonding with the kid—which is pretty realistic—and then undermined it with an insta-bond! moment. When I have time to sit down and breathe, I will write lengthy thoughts on the show and motherhood and how they've only barely managed to avoid the binary of work vs. home but not quite escaped the television trap of 'all is solved in *one* perfect moment' (although the last scene with Cuddy running to work and Rachel crying in the background was well done). Pacing has always been a problem with this show, and you'd think TPTB would've learnt better after five seasons.

* Foreman! No! You did not just do that!

* I particularly loved that Cuddy confessed to Wilson that she was happy at work and felt guilty for not wanting to stay more at home.

* Cameron! ♥ There is much to be said CCF and how they've grown. Someday.

* But now Cuddy has to do the thankless job of being House's babysitter again.

* How awesome was the Cameron/Cuddy scene in the end? Cameron, you've grown so much!

* Now we have canonical proof that Wilson should not be trusted with any secret ever. He's such a gossip. Of course he'd go running to House with Cuddy's secret. He doesn't know Cuddy the way House does, and he worries enough about her to blab her secret to House. ♥

* Is Jesse Spenser taking revenge on David Shore for not giving him screentime? Because he is in desperate need of a shave and a haircut.



Don't spoil me for the new episode. I haven't seen it yet.

Comments

[plazmah.livejournal.com]

I am also annoyed that they went all the way to set up an interesting plot with Cuddy not bonding with the kid—which is pretty realistic—and then undermined it with an insta-bond! moment.

Oh god, that annoyed me so badly. I kinda wished it turned out depressed and guilty for Cuddy because, you know, a lot of women in the Real World deal with that stuff. :P

I haven't seen the new episode either. :O

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Yes! It's *fine* for a woman not to bond with her child, especially one in Cuddy's position. It's not always flowers and roses. Cuddy is a workaholic, and also something of a megalomaniac - in the sense that she thinks she can make everything perfect. *Of course* she's conflicted! Was the hallmark moment with Rachel really necessary?

[cryptictac.livejournal.com]

ITA about the Cuddy stuff. I don't know why tptb always rush things they build up. They've been building the baby thing up for ages now. Only for it all to reach critical mass in such a wtf way in one episode? And then "OH IT'S OK, I BONDED BY SHOUTING AT MY BABY".

That aside, though, I enjoyed what they writers were aiming for with the baby. I liked that they made it problematic for Cuddy instead of everything being perfect and wonderful. So, for that, I forgive the absurdity.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

nly for it all to reach critical mass in such a wtf way in one episode? And then "OH IT'S OK, I BONDED BY SHOUTING AT MY BABY".

I'm glad that they went the problematic way, and FURIOUS that they ruined it like that. The only parent in the main cast, and you treat it like this? What, show?

[cryptictac.livejournal.com]

I don't know. But my Big Bang fic will rectify that, I think!

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Hee, you anticipated the storyline!

[cryptictac.livejournal.com]

I did! Weirdly. Admittedly, the story now doesn't feel as "original" because of what's happened in canon. It'll probably seem like a direct rip off of the show in parts, particularly some of the dialogue, even though I wrote the fic way before the episodes ever aired. Oh well.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Admittedly, the story now doesn't feel as "original" because of what's happened in canon. It'll probably seem like a direct rip off of the show in parts, particularly some of the dialogue, even though I wrote the fic way before the episodes ever aired.

Your flist stands witness! And anyway, it just shows how awesome you are, reading TPTB's mind like that.

[jaybee65.livejournal.com]

After reading people's reactions to this ep, I decided not to watch it. I think I would just get too furious! That's the first time I've ever done that with this show.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way about the next episode, which I haven't watched yet. I will. Eventually. But - NO.

This was turning out to be a good episode, you know? They were dealing with it pretty well, with Cuddy admitting that she wanted to be at work, that she was happy at work and a little guilty that because she's a new mother and she's *expected* to be happy at home but she's not (and House being very cruelly honest in the background). Wilson was being supportive without being her life coach, and it was interesting. And then came the Phonecall of Doom. I just... WHAT? What were they even thinking? In which planet does it make *any sense*?

[lieueitak.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the insta-bond moment. Admittedly, I think the whole "Cuddy can't bond with Rachel" came out of left field, didn't feel right for the character (as it was written), and seemed like a storyline more forced on the character than one that naturally arose from who Cuddy was/is - among other things. But I also think if you're going to do the storyline, you have to give it the respect it deserves and not fix it in a 10 second scene.

I also agree with you about Jesse. Dude, take a bath; it's not hard. :P

[hihoplastic.livejournal.com]

Warning: tl;dr

1) I don't know about anybody else, but - *puts in biased goggles and In Defense of Cuddy cape* The way I saw it, once she was on the phone (I have no idea why she'd get on the phone in the first place/why Kutner would do that/etc.) I think she was torn - on the one hand, here's this wonderfully valid excuse to not pay attention to the baby (House being all psychotic again), but on the other hand, you really can't ignore a screaming baby. So she started the conversation intent on yelling at House, but, I would imagine, was so stressed and confused and upset about what was happening with Rachel, that when she finally did turn her attention back to the baby, turning off the phone probably wasn't her top priority, you know? Why Kutner didn't hang up the phone is another story - unless he was watching House in the middle of figuring something out? No idea. I think Cuddy was just utterly confused/flummoxed/stressed/worried/freaked out/etc. And for that... I kinda have to hug her.

2) Though, agreed. WTF writers? (Obviously, I blame them for any wrongdoing on the part of Cuddy ^^)

3) *sigh* I so wish they would have made this particular non-bonding arc longer. A few episodes, at least. That way we could have really felt it. If the insta!bonding moment had happened a few episodes after her conversation with Wilson, it would have been more reasonable.

4) Also, the entire episode taking place in one day? No like. Too rushed.

5) What did you think about Cameron calling her "Lisa"? Didn't bother me, but some people are OMGWTFinarms.

6) Again, though - Cameron quitting after ONE DAY? that seems unreasonable, and not very Cameron-esque. I get what she meant about always saying yes to House, but still.

7) Cameron is awesome though. :D

8) Oh, Wilson. I can't decide if I want to hug him or slap him. Or write fic about him.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I think Cuddy was just utterly confused/flummoxed/stressed/worried/freaked out/etc. And for that... I kinda have to hug her.

I know, I get what was wrong, but the patient was on the table. Her skull had been sawed open. That entire phonecall, and *everyone* involved - not just Cuddy - are culpable. Why did they let that happen? I'm happy to suspend reality on most occasions for this show, but this just *bugged* me.

If the insta!bonding moment had happened a few episodes after her conversation with Wilson, it would have been more reasonable.

Absolutely.

Cameron quitting after ONE DAY? that seems unreasonable, and not very Cameron-esque. I get what she meant about always saying yes to House, but still.

I know! But I'm very glad that she made that choice, you know? A lot of things have been happening with CCF that need more thought than I'm capable of now, and there are some contrasts with Foreman which I'll talk about only if you've watched the next ep (have you?), but I'm glad she said no. Because handling House is a terrible, thankless job, and she doesn't need that in her career right now. She doesn't need to be House's babysitter the way Cuddy does (the co-dependence - it's crazy).

[hihoplastic.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to suspend reality on most occasions for this show, but this just *bugged* me.

*nods* Definitely get that. The writers seem willing to do just about anything to give House is eureka!moment. Even if it makes no sense.

I haven't watched the next ep yet. Probably Thursday. That seems to be my designated House day. (CCF?)

I always laugh quietly when people gripe about Cuddy, because honestly - no Cuddy, no House, no show. Can't make anyone like her, but I wish people would realize that she's an important character that can't be shrugged away simply because she's got too much cleavage, or whatever the excuse floating around these days is. *sigh*

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Also, I think Cameron calling her Lisa is awesome. Not many people call her Lisa. Cuddy could use more peers. Especially a female one.

[hihoplastic.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I don't understand why so many people were up in arms about that. I thought it was nice. I think Cameron said it more out of shock than camaraderie, but still. More Cuddy/Cam bonding, plz.