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.
Oh, but I have to split hairs again, although I think we are actually on the same page here. *g* I don't think Cuddy hasn't been a 'good friend' to Wilson in the past. I don't think she has been a 'friend' to him *at all* prior to the end of S3-beginning of S4. Colleagues. Boss/employee. Co-conspirators. But not *friends* as such. The first time we saw them have personal-ish interaction was the awkward date, and then the equally awkward Wilson walking in on Cuddy crying in her office in 'Finding Judas'. In my personal fanon, that's when Wilson settles on her as one of the 'people' in his larger ambit, as you said, because Wilson is incapable of not taking care of someone (whom he perceives of being) in need. Again, in my personal fanon, their relationship has grown to a 'friendship' of sorts in the past couple of years.
Sometimes we may lose perspective on how ruthless Cuddy can be, but canon has been very consistent in this portrayal of hers. And if she had no qualms about sacrificing him for House in the Vogler arc and hanging him dry in the Tritter arc, it's because of this ruthlessness that Wilson is not very good at (though he *can* be ruthless in his own way, but that's another discussion). The most interesting question to me is: if a situation like Tritter/Vogler were to arise again, would Cuddy protect Wilson, now that they are closer? I suspect that she would probably hesitate before she actually took a step like she did in the Vogler arc, or at least try to protect them both, but in the end the choice would always be House. And they both know it.
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.
I disagree about Wilson's sense of perspective, but I agree otherwise: Wilson is way better at caring than Cuddy will ever be. And it's not as though Cuddy doesn't care - but caring for someone, and translating that into some concrete action that *shows* you care are two different things. The second comes very naturally to Wilson; not so much to Cuddy. The only exception is House, because House is the only person on the show with whom her personal/professional lines have been thoroughly blurred until no one has any idea where they were to begin with. Wilson's treatment of House isn't uneven, because Wilson doesn't have to straddle the two worlds of being House's boss and being House's friend.
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branchandroot
Re: Pt II
Date: 2009-04-08 02:38 pm (UTC)Oh, but I have to split hairs again, although I think we are actually on the same page here. *g* I don't think Cuddy hasn't been a 'good friend' to Wilson in the past. I don't think she has been a 'friend' to him *at all* prior to the end of S3-beginning of S4. Colleagues. Boss/employee. Co-conspirators. But not *friends* as such. The first time we saw them have personal-ish interaction was the awkward date, and then the equally awkward Wilson walking in on Cuddy crying in her office in 'Finding Judas'. In my personal fanon, that's when Wilson settles on her as one of the 'people' in his larger ambit, as you said, because Wilson is incapable of not taking care of someone (whom he perceives of being) in need. Again, in my personal fanon, their relationship has grown to a 'friendship' of sorts in the past couple of years.
Sometimes we may lose perspective on how ruthless Cuddy can be, but canon has been very consistent in this portrayal of hers. And if she had no qualms about sacrificing him for House in the Vogler arc and hanging him dry in the Tritter arc, it's because of this ruthlessness that Wilson is not very good at (though he *can* be ruthless in his own way, but that's another discussion). The most interesting question to me is: if a situation like Tritter/Vogler were to arise again, would Cuddy protect Wilson, now that they are closer? I suspect that she would probably hesitate before she actually took a step like she did in the Vogler arc, or at least try to protect them both, but in the end the choice would always be House. And they both know it.
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.
I disagree about Wilson's sense of perspective, but I agree otherwise: Wilson is way better at caring than Cuddy will ever be. And it's not as though Cuddy doesn't care - but caring for someone, and translating that into some concrete action that *shows* you care are two different things. The second comes very naturally to Wilson; not so much to Cuddy. The only exception is House, because House is the only person on the show with whom her personal/professional lines have been thoroughly blurred until no one has any idea where they were to begin with. Wilson's treatment of House isn't uneven, because Wilson doesn't have to straddle the two worlds of being House's boss and being House's friend.