the wisdom of pop songs
Oct. 13th, 2009 07:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
swatkat[spoiler-free post]
like microwave pizza:
Cameron: Despite the wisdom of pop songs, there's no point in putting our lives on hold 'til love comes along. We're both healthy and busy people. We work together so it's convenient.
Chase: Like microwave pizza?
(3.14, Insensitive)
House: The medicine worked.
(6.06, Instant Karma)
First, I'd like to state that I wanted to smack the POTW's father, ever since he started spouting ignorant crap about 'karma' and balance in the universe. I'm sorry, I can't help it, but I have this reaction every time anyone—including John Lennon—flattens a very complex idea that has been debated over centuries by Hindu and Buddhist and Jain philosophers into instant happy-making nonsense. I understand that 'instant karma' actually refers to immediate accountability for your actions ('Better get yourself together darlin, join the human race'), but I am not sure why the word 'karma' needs to be appropriated and simplified to convey what should be one of the basic tenets of life, that you are responsible for your actions and, by the way, please treat people like people and act like a decent human being. I know, I know, in this episode 'instant karma' was referring to efforts being made by the characters in the House-verse to take responsibility for their actions, which is very clearly going to be one of the over-arching themes this season, but the POTW plot and the guy's insistence that it was 'instant karma' that had saved his son made me grind my teeth. In fact, the very fact that he went bankrupt for the express reason that it would cure his son would be, in some schools of thought, the very opposite of 'good karma', because he did it not because it was the right thing to do but because he felt that he had something to gain by performing the act, something more than the performance of the act itself.
However, I was also somewhat amused by the fact that you can interpret the use of 'karma' in this episode as a telling commentary on this episode's main problem (aka, What Shall We Do With Robert Chase?), not necessarily just as 'you have to take responsibility for your actions and 'bad karma' will get you down'—which was probably the writers' intent—but also as 'do your damn job', and 'stop pretending you areGod Superman God, puny mortal', which I believe is highly applicable to Chase's actions in the previous episode. [insert discussion on action results blah blah blah here] I like this one better, I think, so I'm keeping it and it's mine and you can't take it away from me.
the wisdom of pop songs:
I am also glad—no, relieved—that the show has chosen to make the ethical dilemma one about a doctor murdering his shady patient and not also about a white doctor in a first-world hospital using his privileges as a physician in the said hospital and the system the hospital is in to dole out vigilante justice and 'save lives in Africa'. Because that is better than the writers ham-handedly trying to tackle something I do not believe they are capable of tackling and coming up with something like Chase Was Right (as a lot of fandom seems to believe *gag*).
'Better a murder than misdiagnosis,' House said, half-joking and half-truthful. But House is not a standard. House is never a standard.
with a little help from my friends:
Chase: Whether you are in charge or not, you are. You always will be.
I died a little bit in this scene. DIED, I TELL YOU. It's, just, Chase has always had this incredible faith in House, and it was a little bit like 'I'm going to hug you now', only even more fabulous because it was something House desperately needs right now: assurance.
There was that same quiet assurance in Cuddy's scene with House, where they have yet another open and honest discussion—the third episode in a row now—without hedging or deflecting. And it's telling that Cuddy asked House if he wants Foreman in charge of the team, and was called by Foreman twice about keeping in charge as a figurehead. It's not exactly a figurehead that she wants, but someone to do the paperwork and stop House from doing crazy things, keep the department running smoothly, while House brings in the donors and solves the cases,
Foreman: Then he's not my patient. You want to give me none of the responsibility and all of the liability?
House: Which means I get… Oh, cool!
Cuddy: Don't let him do anything crazy.
She will happily (ruthlessly) use and manipulate Foreman into that position, as she has been, in many ways, grooming him for, explicitly since Season 4 and perhaps even before that, ever since the 'Foreman in charge' arc in Season 2 after 'The Mistake' (which this arc is a callback to).
Interestingly, Wilson when faced with an accusing Thirteen, tries to manouvre her into a similar position,
Wilson: You're good for both of them, but Foreman's not my best friend.
Thirteen: House will be fine.
Wilson: Maybe. But with you on the team he'd be better. He needs someone who doesn't need him. You're the only one he's never really been able to suck into his Crazy House Vortex. Keeps him grounded, his ego in check.
Wilson's a smooth bastard, and he does the flattery very well here, and for what? Not for Thirteen, certainly not for Foreman, but because House is trying to have 'actual relationships with people for a change' and so he needs to have relationships people other than Wilson and Cuddy. Because Thirteen does not need House the way Wilson does (Foreman is free from the muddled up history that Cuddy has with House), and will therefore be less likely to enable him (Foreman will be less likely to let him get away with crazy things). The manipulations, they kill me. ♥♥♥
Post-6.03, in a discussion withqueenzulu, I said: "Both Wilson and Cuddy at this point are very clear about the fact that they do, in fact, enable House in various ways. Wilson has been trying to move away from his enabling ways, with at least some success. They haven't really dealt with enabler!Cuddy after season 4, although it's seems she's back to her old habits, worrying about House's Vicodin use, tag-teaming with Wilson *and* blaming Wilson for dragging her along. The latter was played for laughs in this episode, but we've seen that take a more serious note in the Tritter arc so I'm wondering where we're going here." Cuddy's manipulation of Foreman appears to be a very definite callback to Season 4 and Cuddy's admission that yes, she does enable House and her subsequent hiring of Foreman as her watchdog in the department. 'Just waiting for whatever's about to go wrong,' House said. And so am I, because there's still that big elephant in the room, House's leg, and Wilson and Cuddy, who have been trying in their own way to be better friends, still retain enough of their paranoia to condemn House as an 'addict'. If the Lydia episode is meant to be a cautionary tale about friendship and happiness and enabling, I'm very worried indeed. There will be a lot of hurt.
Etc.:
* Cameron honestly seemed like the only person interested in treating the POTW. Also, I hurt for her in this episode. All her confusion, waking up alone two nights in a row. This will not end well.
* Thirteen's scene with House made me go 'awww!' House is ridiculously fond of her, and does not want her to go away.
* Thirteen's scene with the cab driver, however, was all about her entitlement, and I would appreciate if the show commented on some of Chase's as well.
* Cuddy's cleavage. Gnngh. Also that colour looks good on her.
* Wilson is a lying liar who lies! ♥
* I want Taub back.
* Shifty!Chase and Foreman FTW.
* Still with the continuity. What's wrong with the writers this season?
like microwave pizza:
Cameron: Despite the wisdom of pop songs, there's no point in putting our lives on hold 'til love comes along. We're both healthy and busy people. We work together so it's convenient.
Chase: Like microwave pizza?
(3.14, Insensitive)
House: The medicine worked.
(6.06, Instant Karma)
First, I'd like to state that I wanted to smack the POTW's father, ever since he started spouting ignorant crap about 'karma' and balance in the universe. I'm sorry, I can't help it, but I have this reaction every time anyone—including John Lennon—flattens a very complex idea that has been debated over centuries by Hindu and Buddhist and Jain philosophers into instant happy-making nonsense. I understand that 'instant karma' actually refers to immediate accountability for your actions ('Better get yourself together darlin, join the human race'), but I am not sure why the word 'karma' needs to be appropriated and simplified to convey what should be one of the basic tenets of life, that you are responsible for your actions and, by the way, please treat people like people and act like a decent human being. I know, I know, in this episode 'instant karma' was referring to efforts being made by the characters in the House-verse to take responsibility for their actions, which is very clearly going to be one of the over-arching themes this season, but the POTW plot and the guy's insistence that it was 'instant karma' that had saved his son made me grind my teeth. In fact, the very fact that he went bankrupt for the express reason that it would cure his son would be, in some schools of thought, the very opposite of 'good karma', because he did it not because it was the right thing to do but because he felt that he had something to gain by performing the act, something more than the performance of the act itself.
However, I was also somewhat amused by the fact that you can interpret the use of 'karma' in this episode as a telling commentary on this episode's main problem (aka, What Shall We Do With Robert Chase?), not necessarily just as 'you have to take responsibility for your actions and 'bad karma' will get you down'—which was probably the writers' intent—but also as 'do your damn job', and 'stop pretending you are
the wisdom of pop songs:
I am also glad—no, relieved—that the show has chosen to make the ethical dilemma one about a doctor murdering his shady patient and not also about a white doctor in a first-world hospital using his privileges as a physician in the said hospital and the system the hospital is in to dole out vigilante justice and 'save lives in Africa'. Because that is better than the writers ham-handedly trying to tackle something I do not believe they are capable of tackling and coming up with something like Chase Was Right (as a lot of fandom seems to believe *gag*).
'Better a murder than misdiagnosis,' House said, half-joking and half-truthful. But House is not a standard. House is never a standard.
with a little help from my friends:
Chase: Whether you are in charge or not, you are. You always will be.
I died a little bit in this scene. DIED, I TELL YOU. It's, just, Chase has always had this incredible faith in House, and it was a little bit like 'I'm going to hug you now', only even more fabulous because it was something House desperately needs right now: assurance.
There was that same quiet assurance in Cuddy's scene with House, where they have yet another open and honest discussion—the third episode in a row now—without hedging or deflecting. And it's telling that Cuddy asked House if he wants Foreman in charge of the team, and was called by Foreman twice about keeping in charge as a figurehead. It's not exactly a figurehead that she wants, but someone to do the paperwork and stop House from doing crazy things, keep the department running smoothly, while House brings in the donors and solves the cases,
Foreman: Then he's not my patient. You want to give me none of the responsibility and all of the liability?
House: Which means I get… Oh, cool!
Cuddy: Don't let him do anything crazy.
She will happily (ruthlessly) use and manipulate Foreman into that position, as she has been, in many ways, grooming him for, explicitly since Season 4 and perhaps even before that, ever since the 'Foreman in charge' arc in Season 2 after 'The Mistake' (which this arc is a callback to).
Interestingly, Wilson when faced with an accusing Thirteen, tries to manouvre her into a similar position,
Wilson: You're good for both of them, but Foreman's not my best friend.
Thirteen: House will be fine.
Wilson: Maybe. But with you on the team he'd be better. He needs someone who doesn't need him. You're the only one he's never really been able to suck into his Crazy House Vortex. Keeps him grounded, his ego in check.
Wilson's a smooth bastard, and he does the flattery very well here, and for what? Not for Thirteen, certainly not for Foreman, but because House is trying to have 'actual relationships with people for a change' and so he needs to have relationships people other than Wilson and Cuddy. Because Thirteen does not need House the way Wilson does (Foreman is free from the muddled up history that Cuddy has with House), and will therefore be less likely to enable him (Foreman will be less likely to let him get away with crazy things). The manipulations, they kill me. ♥♥♥
Post-6.03, in a discussion with
queenzulu, I said: "Both Wilson and Cuddy at this point are very clear about the fact that they do, in fact, enable House in various ways. Wilson has been trying to move away from his enabling ways, with at least some success. They haven't really dealt with enabler!Cuddy after season 4, although it's seems she's back to her old habits, worrying about House's Vicodin use, tag-teaming with Wilson *and* blaming Wilson for dragging her along. The latter was played for laughs in this episode, but we've seen that take a more serious note in the Tritter arc so I'm wondering where we're going here." Cuddy's manipulation of Foreman appears to be a very definite callback to Season 4 and Cuddy's admission that yes, she does enable House and her subsequent hiring of Foreman as her watchdog in the department. 'Just waiting for whatever's about to go wrong,' House said. And so am I, because there's still that big elephant in the room, House's leg, and Wilson and Cuddy, who have been trying in their own way to be better friends, still retain enough of their paranoia to condemn House as an 'addict'. If the Lydia episode is meant to be a cautionary tale about friendship and happiness and enabling, I'm very worried indeed. There will be a lot of hurt.Etc.:
* Cameron honestly seemed like the only person interested in treating the POTW. Also, I hurt for her in this episode. All her confusion, waking up alone two nights in a row. This will not end well.
* Thirteen's scene with House made me go 'awww!' House is ridiculously fond of her, and does not want her to go away.
* Thirteen's scene with the cab driver, however, was all about her entitlement, and I would appreciate if the show commented on some of Chase's as well.
* Cuddy's cleavage. Gnngh. Also that colour looks good on her.
* Wilson is a lying liar who lies! ♥
* I want Taub back.
* Shifty!Chase and Foreman FTW.
* Still with the continuity. What's wrong with the writers this season?
