8.04 - Risky Business

[menolly_au]

I have to ask, did anyone besides me find the final scene where Adams smashes hell out of the orthapedics office with a baseball bat while House watches with a satisfied smile a little...disturbing? Especially in the context that he has just got out of jail for committing a violent act because he was angry at his ex-girlfriend (drawing a parallel between that and Adams violent anger at her ex-husband). I mean obviously Adams method of letting out her anger was better than House's but still...As Adam's method was given to her by House maybe it's supposed to show how much progress he's made or something...

I don't know - I think I'm annoyed at the idea that it's a great thing to destroy expensive, possibly life saving, medical equipment because you're angry. Maybe it's just me, most people seemed to love that scene...

And then there was House about ready to punch the orthapedics doctor for the sin of...doing his work in his own office? There seeems to be a theme of punching people out in this season. Yeah, the orthapedics guy was a bit of jerk to House but House was more of a jerk to him (borderline assault to shine a light in someone's eyes and deliberately make them ill in my opinion)

I don't really want to grouch on this season, it's at least heaps better than last season, but this episode left me feeling...uneasy.

Comments

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

I agree! I feel more uneasy, I mostly feel disgust.

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. I gasped when Adams took a baseball bat to expensive medical equipment. It's the equivalent of a book burning to me.

Also had the feeling that the TPTB might be trying to mitigate House's violent act by showing Adams capable of rage too. Not the same thing.

[damigella-314.livejournal.com]

I am even less sure than ever whether I want to see 8x04. Destroying medical equipment with a baseball bat, in this very dark times when too many people have to choose between paying for medical care and paying for food?
The idea makes me sick. I guess I'll have to stomach it, just because there may be a few scenes I actually like. And because if I wait for the next main character who's atheist, foul-mouthed, disabled, and excessively intelligent, I might have to wait for a very, very long time.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Also had the feeling that the TPTB might be trying to mitigate House's violent act by showing Adams capable of rage too. Not the same thing.

I just have this feeling that the TPTB are thumbing their noses at the people who pointed out the problems with 7.23 and more or less forced them to treat it as the serious crime it was.

And just thinking about this but it was *Adams* smashing up the expensive medical equipment - she who wants to help the poor and disenfranchised people, save the world etc...

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I really want to like this season, and there were parts of this episode that were good, but yeah, I didn't like that scene. Wonder if any of the clinics that Adams volunteers in could have used some of that equipment...

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

And just thinking about this but it was *Adams* smashing up the expensive medical equipment - she who wants to help the poor and disenfranchised people, save the world etc...
--Excellent point! Like the above, I found the episode at times to be somewhat confusing. Statements and actions didn't always match up. In some cases it was smart writing that called upon the viewer to put 2+2 together, but it would have immensely helped if the script had an additional rewrite to remove any unnecessary ambiguities.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Now I'm wondering if House's smile at the end wasn't just the enjoying of wanton violence/revenge on ortho guy but also at the fact that he has 'corrupted' Adams already.

Too bad if anyone needs that ortho equipment in the next few days. House might have paid for it (he must have done *really* well with those shares!) but I can't imagine replacements will turn up on the doorstep overnight...

[petitecuriosity.livejournal.com]

Now I'm wondering if House's smile at the end wasn't just the enjoying of wanton violence/revenge on ortho guy but also at the fact that he has 'corrupted' Adams already.

This sounds like a decent possibility.

It certainly is a waste to destroy medical equipment, but with the type of person Adams seems to be, it seems somewhat likely that she didn't take her anger out on her ex-husband, and possibly wanted to take it out on an inanimate object as it didn't do any direct harm.

It's possible that in her frustration, she didn't consider possible indirect consequences.

But House's anger toward the orthopedics guy and his encouragement toward Adams to smash the skeleton were indeed rather violent. I wonder if this is possibly building up to something? It's possible that, as you said, it's supposed to show that House has made progress...but is it possible that he's actually escalating, maybe to some sort of breaking point?

I'm likely wrong in my speculations, but almost punching someone in the face isn't nearly as violent as indirectly destroying his equipment. The latter has long-term consequences. House seemed...on the verge of violence in this episode, not acting on it directly. Is it possible that, as he seemed to do in Season 6 in terms of cutting remarks and general nastiness, he is trying to hold himself back, ultimately ending up with him failing again?

It's difficult to say, because I felt as though in Season 6, he was trying to be a better, healthier, person (in terms of society's view) in the hopes to gain happiness and in Season 7 he tried for a "normal" "healthy" relationship in an effort to gain happiness. (I believe that David Shore once mentioned that he enjoys this aspect of "striving" in House, but perhaps never quite obtaining.) Yet this season, I feel as though, so far, House has been particularly...neutral. He certainly seems a little more open, showing his kind side a little more, although certainly allowing for his sarcasm to show, which he seemed to hide around Cuddy. He seems to have kept the intelligence and the sarcasm, but perhaps lost some of the nastiness. Perhaps it's remorse, guilt, change...I'm unsure. I'm frustrated that we have no clue as to what happened during House's time spent in prison. It's possible that his more neutral and slightly subdued demeanor is as a result of fear of his fellow inmates; he was sort of at the top of the food chain where he worked and was knocked down to the bottom when he placed himself in prison.

Again, I'm merely speculating. It's certainly early in the season and something that seems odd or confusing now could possibly be explained or dealt with later. (Or that's just me being overly hopeful again lol)

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

He seems to have kept the intelligence and the sarcasm, but perhaps lost some of the nastiness.

I would agree with that to an extent as he has shown kindness towards his fellows, helping them with their problems in his own unique way. But then there was the violence of this episode so now I'm not sure. He's been very intent on regaining what he lost - his office, his fellows, his other office, so maybe once he has that back some of the anger/frustration will go.

It's certainly early in the season and something that seems odd or confusing now could possibly be explained or dealt with later.

I'd like to have confidence that this is all part of some grand overarching plan for the season but yeah, I'm not confident lol.

[petitecuriosity.livejournal.com]

But then there was the violence of this episode so now I'm not sure. He's been very intent on regaining what he lost - his office, his fellows, his other office

This is definitely true. His intense need to regain a sense of normalcy is rather interesting.

[damigella-314.livejournal.com]

Wonder if any of the clinics that Adams volunteers in could have used some of that equipment...
Exactly.

Okay, I've watched it. I'm still feeling kind of stunned. As for the borderline assault by flashlight, I'm not sure - it is really Foreman's fault, no way House can think with that horrible noise going on.

And we're supposed to empathize with Adams needing to bash things because she went trough a divorce? After a year of separation? I can't get it.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

As for the borderline assault by flashlight, I'm not sure - it is really Foreman's fault, no way House can think with that horrible noise going on.

Really the whole orthapedic storyline is silly anyway, who does medical procedures in a glass conference room where all the people in the office next door can stare at the patients? And why now that House has given Foreman a whole lot of money can he have that office? Is foreman going to use the money to build another room onto the hospital? But I still don't like what House did - I certainly would have something to say if someone did that to me in my workplace!

And we're supposed to empathize with Adams needing to bash things because she went trough a divorce? After a year of separation? I can't get it.

It seems to be saying - if you are angry its good to bash things up, House bashed Cuddy's house up, Adams smashes up an office - I wouldn't mind the scene too much if the parallel to House wasn't there. And House explained his actions to the POTW in the second episode - 'I was very very angry'. I don't think TPTB still get that what House did last season was a very bad thing.

[damigella-314.livejournal.com]

You're right, David Shore is insisting that violence is ok and everyone does it, even cute tiny Asians (who risk losing their jobs for defending themselves) and incredibly good looking rich young ladies (who risk nothing because?)
I also can't imagine how anything of the kind could be authorised ever. Plus, would you go around and bash things in if House told you to go ahead and do it?

The more I think about 8.04 the less sense it makes. On the other hand it's so much better than S7 that I'm willing to be lenient.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Plus, would you go around and bash things in if House told you to go ahead and do it?

LOL - good point. I can see it now after Foreman has her arrested for destruction of property -

"but..but..House said it was okay'

"I lied. Oops!"