I, personally, wasn't strictly speaking of Cuddy being a friend to Wilson just in this scene, and I'm going to split hairs again here, but I don't believe that 'this' was a reference just to Kutner's death. I agree when you say that Wilson wasn't as upset about Kutner as others seem to think. Wilson has been dealing with as heavy a set of problems as Cuddy has--his brother, trying to get over Amber enough to even attempt a new relationship, not fall back into the trap of rushing off to House whenever he calls, or might call. I do love what you said in the first paragraph of the second comment, and I'm not trying to say Wilson has it worse than Cuddy, because, really, I'd say they're about even in the weight of their problems and loneliness and pain. But Wilson, as you say, is a caretaker in many ways, and that's how he acts in his friendships, too, whereas Cuddy either can't or won't.
I think Cuddy reacted decently, and I have nothing against it. I think her reaction signaled that he was right about that, and she took it with dignity and adult understanding. But I can't agree that, other than that moment just before Amber's death, Cuddy has been all that great a friend to Wilson. The rest of the series just hasn't shown that, and if it weren't for House, I think Wilson would be just some other employee to her. That's not to say that, if it weren't for House, Cuddy wouldn't just be a boss to Wilson (which I think is probably true). But this: And that's the thing with Wilson—he takes care of people, but at the end of the day, there's no one who will take care of him. That is true, and I agree, and I think that was the point. Wilson will take care of people--it's something he needs to do, for whatever messed up reason--and, in his world, Cuddy has been included in 'people', more than he's been included in hers. At least it's seemed that way to me.
Cuddy says 'I'm sorry for you' and hires grief counsellors. Except with House lately, but as you say (and I agree), she (and Wilson) will chose House first, but whereas Cuddy's approach to House is far more personal than with anyone else, Wilson's isn't as uneven. It's not perfect, no way. But I think Wilson does a better job at the business of caring in general, and is capable of keeping a tight perspective and awareness on things more than Cuddy, so he comes across a little more even sometimes. I don't doubt that Cuddy cares about Wilson, but I don't think it's been reciprocated at the same level, and this might be because their methods are different.
Re: Pt II
I, personally, wasn't strictly speaking of Cuddy being a friend to Wilson just in this scene, and I'm going to split hairs again here, but I don't believe that 'this' was a reference just to Kutner's death. I agree when you say that Wilson wasn't as upset about Kutner as others seem to think. Wilson has been dealing with as heavy a set of problems as Cuddy has--his brother, trying to get over Amber enough to even attempt a new relationship, not fall back into the trap of rushing off to House whenever he calls, or might call. I do love what you said in the first paragraph of the second comment, and I'm not trying to say Wilson has it worse than Cuddy, because, really, I'd say they're about even in the weight of their problems and loneliness and pain. But Wilson, as you say, is a caretaker in many ways, and that's how he acts in his friendships, too, whereas Cuddy either can't or won't.
I think Cuddy reacted decently, and I have nothing against it. I think her reaction signaled that he was right about that, and she took it with dignity and adult understanding. But I can't agree that, other than that moment just before Amber's death, Cuddy has been all that great a friend to Wilson. The rest of the series just hasn't shown that, and if it weren't for House, I think Wilson would be just some other employee to her. That's not to say that, if it weren't for House, Cuddy wouldn't just be a boss to Wilson (which I think is probably true). But this: And that's the thing with Wilson—he takes care of people, but at the end of the day, there's no one who will take care of him. That is true, and I agree, and I think that was the point. Wilson will take care of people--it's something he needs to do, for whatever messed up reason--and, in his world, Cuddy has been included in 'people', more than he's been included in hers. At least it's seemed that way to me.
Cuddy says 'I'm sorry for you' and hires grief counsellors. Except with House lately, but as you say (and I agree), she (and Wilson) will chose House first, but whereas Cuddy's approach to House is far more personal than with anyone else, Wilson's isn't as uneven. It's not perfect, no way. But I think Wilson does a better job at the business of caring in general, and is capable of keeping a tight perspective and awareness on things more than Cuddy, so he comes across a little more even sometimes. I don't doubt that Cuddy cares about Wilson, but I don't think it's been reciprocated at the same level, and this might be because their methods are different.