My thoughts on Body & Soul

[menolly_au]

Getting the trivial out of the way first :)

• Bored of the Chase/Park thing, and it being oh so strange that Park is attracted to Chase, because he is pretty and she is not. Not interested.
• US Government departments must be much more efficient than Australian ones - in the time since the last episode they have apparently posted out several letters about Dominika's green card (and House has cleverly intercepted them all) before resorting to the phone (no email? text?). I'm thinking it would be months (if not years) before anyone noticed that she hadn't picked up her certificate or whatever it was. 
• So did the POTW levitate or not? Was there an explanation that I missed? And he had something that was cured by ibuprofen (good stuff this ibuprofen)
• Really liked the return of thoughtful/sad House. He had some great scenes in this - shame it's going to be completely overshadowed by the BIG NEWS.
• If Wilson knew about what House was doing re. Dominika he's being an accessory to House's 'kidnapping' - just saying. Would have liked for him to take the initiative and tell Dominika himself
• What was with the guns *again* - what was the point of the shooting scene? Just Dominika and House bonding over some gunplay? And there was a gun at the beginning of last week's episode - does this mean anything?
• And of course it's raining during the big dramatic scene at the end - Princeton rain apparently turns up on cue :)

Now for the big news

Wilson has cancer. Honestly, I don't really know how I feel about that. I wish I hadn't known that there was a big revelation coming and it had come as a big surprise, but with knowing that something was coming, and Wilson's just sitting in his office staring into space when House first sees him - yeah I was waiting all episode for the announcement.

It seems a bit fan-ficcy to give the oncologist cancer, but I guess it is a common disease, I do wish they'd made it something else though, cancer storylines always make me uneasy (like, that could be me or someone I love one day)

I'm thinking that the promo shown isn't necessarily for next episode. Maybe the one after, or the one after that, it just seems a bit soon for life and death stuff.

House is doing more medical procedures at his apartment? yeah, because that worked out so well with the leg tumours. On the other hand that looks like a great scene. We might get some great hurt/comfort out of it, and interesting to see House can be there for Wilson when he couldn't be there for Cuddy :)

I don't feel like writing anything now, like the next four weeks are all going to be about Wilson's cancer and nothing else is going to matter. I do hope they don't kill him though, that would really end the series on a downer, and I wouldn't believe any storyline that had House being optimistic about the future after that. Unless they have House follow him ...

Comments

[barefootpuddles.livejournal.com]

I actually liked most of the episode. I thought the Chase/Park stuff cute, the team seemed competent, Dominika is growing on me, House was perfectly angsty and not stupidly silly like the previous episodes. But those last few moments....guuuhhh.

House is doing more medical procedures at his apartment? yeah, because that worked out so well with the leg tumours. On the other hand that looks like a great scene.

I know. That makes no sense. House is the one that does stupid stuff like that, but I didn't think he would take that chance with Wilson. And Wilson isn't usually like that. If fear was making him try the risky treatment, I would would still think he would want to be in a hospital so as not to risk dying on the couch of a convicted felon who is on parole and could easily be back in prison over something like that or at a minimum lose his medical license/job/friend.

and interesting to see House can be there for Wilson when he couldn't be there for Cuddy :)

I fear that works the other way. House cared so much for Cuddy that he couldn't do it. I think the idea is that he cares less for Wilson so he can (not that i believe that for a moment myself, just suggesting the message the writers are sending). But of course he is on Vicodin right now so maybe that is why he can bear to do it. Still, sometimes I think the writers don't remember at all what they made happen last season.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it wasn't a bad episode, but of course it's completely overshadowed by the last minute of it. The return of angsty House was good, and I do like him with Dominika.

I think maybe Wilson has seen too much cancer treatment, and seen people dying in hospital and doesn't want that for himself. OTOH it doesn't show much faith in the medical system he has worked in all his adult life.

I always thought the House can't be there for Cuddy thing was stupid anyway, your girlfriend is in hospital - yeah you'd better damn well get your ass in there, doesn't matter how upset you are. You have a good point about House being on Vicodin again.

I guess we're just going to have to wait and see how it all plays out...

[petitecuriosity.livejournal.com]

I think maybe Wilson has seen too much cancer treatment, and seen people dying in hospital and doesn't want that for himself.

I think this is the case too. Maybe he's horrified of dying in the hospital. Maybe he really is thinking in terms of a worst case scenario, doesn't want to endure the pain his patient's have, nor the humiliation (as Wilson really does seem concerned with the way others view him) and wants to die on his own terms.

Kind of like Thirteen, wanting House to kill her when the time comes, doing the same for her brother.

I guess we're just going to have to wait and see how it all plays out...

Very true.

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

I like Dominika a lot. If this had come earlier in the series I'd have liked her and House as a couple, but doing it right before the end doesn't work for me.

A lot of people agree with you on Wilson not wanting to go to the hospital, but to me it seems sensible. Someone who works in hospitals and sees what goes on, on a daily basis, I think would be the last person to want to spend unnecessary time in one. And if there is nothing constructive they can do for Wilson that House can't in private...why go there? Also, Wilson is such a private person, and hospitals are public places. Plus if he went to PPTH he'd have all his colleagues and co-workers involved in his illness--reading his chart, watching his disease progress...I think it would be horrible.

As for the Cuddy thing...It won't shock you to hear I see it differently. :)

I don't want to offend anyone so I won't get into Wilson vs. Cuddy. But I will say this--the situations are so different that I find it hard to compare them. With Cuddy, House wasn't convinced that she was ill at all in the beginning. He had time to work up a head of steam as things looked progressively worse, and there was nothing he could do. In this case, the diagnosis is settled--you notice that Wilson avoided House all episode until he had the results back. So there was no time for denial or fear to build up. Judging from the promo (always dangerous) Wilson lets House get as involved in his treatment as House wants. So House can do something to try to save Wilson, can, even if that fails, make an important difference in Wilson's life. Whereas with Cuddy he was out of the loop and helpless.

[petitecuriosity.livejournal.com]

I agree with your comment.

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

I liked a lot about this episode. I didn't care about Chase and park's relationship, and the anvils are breeding so now I'm annoyed buy the whole storyline. If you can call something that never changes a story. Like Menolly, I'm sick of it being so funny that the short, funny-looking Asian woman has a thing for Chase.

The kid did levitate, and there was no explanation. I was shocked that no one suggested child abuse as a diagnosis, given the bruising on Lue's neck and the whole dynamic with the grandfather. The medicine made less sense than usual. On the other hand, when Foreman threatened to take the decision from Lue's mother I thought it was possibly the most horrible thing anyone has said on this show. I was very glad when she threatened him with her lawyer and he caved.

There's been a lot of guns this year, yeah. Makes me nervous.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I guess things didn't work out with geeky guy from last week for Park. The whole thing just makes me grrrr... Oh well, at least it's not Taub's love life we're dwelling on.

Yeah, child abuse used to be one of House's go-to diagnoses, he just seems less and less interested in the medicine/POTW lately, and I guess thats going to be even more the case now. The levitation thing was strange.

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

Did I really write, "buy"? I need coffee.

I think Park is the new Taub. Only more awkward and not as sarcastic.

The levitation and bruises were strange. Still it was a big step up from Knight Fall, which is the last time they did a religious/supernatural episode.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I need coffee.

I'm thinking it must be awfully early where you are...

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

Well, less so now, but yes. I'm not usually awake at that hour.

Oddly enough I made the same error in an email about 5 minutes later. This time I caught it before I sent it.

I guess the letter of the day here is U.

[rividori.livejournal.com]

What was with the guns *again*
IKR. Last episode I first thought it was going to be House holding it before the camera came into focus so I thought gawd really?
I was also beginning to wonder if all these patients who have been coughing up blood or bleeding from the eyes means anything. Probably not. Unless it's leading to a new age disease where Everybody Dies!

House levitated too... so I thought they were trying to say the grandfather played a part in it, that it was an illusion. But it's unexplained. And then at the end you make up your own mind as to whether it was the ritual or the ibuprofen that cured him?

I got the sense that something was coming with Wilson but had no idea what. The reveal didn't actually surprise me that much. Maybe that's because of fanfic/sick!wilson/speculation. The promo did make me tear up though. :(

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Unless it's leading to a new age disease where Everybody Dies!

I've always enjoyed apocalyptic House stories :)

House levitated too..

Yeah, what was with that too? I'll have to watch it again. Well, I'm thinking the ibuprofen cured him personally, but I don't know - it seems a bit odd, kid nearly dying for all the episode and some Nurofen cures him? I mean, I know its good stuff - it gets rid of my headaches very well...

[downuptime.livejournal.com]

Totally agree with you about the big reveal. Once I saw Wilson staring into space in his office, and RSL putting on the undeniably sad, disbelieving, wistful face, I knew something was up.

Bored of the Chase/Park thing, and it being oh so strange that Park is attracted to Chase, because he is pretty and she is not. Not interested.

I wasn't a huge fan of the Chase and Park storyline either, until the scene in the elevator. I thought that scene showed some genuine non-sexual affection and friendship between the two of them. But then again, I'm always a sucker for House's team admitting they're more than colleagues and maybe friends.

House is doing more medical procedures at his apartment? yeah, because that worked out so well with the leg tumours.

Wilson seems to want to try some radical treatment that could kill him as much as cure him. Which is strange, because a Stage Two cancer has a really good chance of remission. And the first option would be surgery. I'm actually thinking that perhaps, Wilson somehow emotionally manipulates House into doing this for him?

And like you, yeah. Too much guns. They were probably trying to look for an activity that Wilson wouldn't be willing to do with House... Still.

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

I hope you're right about the guns, but I'm still very nervous about that whole theme.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I thought 'the Big-C' was so obvious that it was a deliberate misdirection, lol, turns out I was wrong! Now I'm hoping that 'Everybody Dies' is a misdirection :(


Wilson seems to want to try some radical treatment that could kill him as much as cure him. Which is strange, because a Stage Two cancer has a really good chance of remission. And the first option would be surgery.

I guess Wilson slowly battling cancer isn't dramatic enough (and there isn't enough time for it) so they've decided to make him hurry the process up...

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

I've noticed the guns, and thought of that Chekov adage: "If you show a gun in the first act, it has to be fired in the third." (Paraphrasing but you follow my drift.)

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

Yep. There was House's dad's gun that he told Wilson was a prop (*shudders*) but we know is real, and he went shooting with Adams and then with Dominika. Am I missing any?

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Well last episode Biff was shooting a gun at the opening, and of course there was the Biff with the arsenal of guns in his house.

I wonder if gun shooting is considered part of House's 'anger management' courses?

Would it be a common thing for people to go target shooting in the US? Like, would it be a usual thing like going bowling, or playing golf, or going to the movies?

Remarkable how comfortable House is with guns considering he was shot twice at point blank range in his office and nearly died only a few years ago...

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

House in the last episode, gun in hand trying to decide what to do? Arghh - hope not...

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

Or Wilson, thinking it's a fake gun, fires it at someone as a joke.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Or Wilson, thinking it's a fake gun, fires it at someone as a joke

Yikes! well, at least that would mean Wilson was still alive...

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

Well, he could just as easily fire it at himself.

Sorry, now I'm just raining on your parade. Guns, they scare me.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Guns, they scare me

Yep, me too.

[justjuly4.livejournal.com]

Totally agree with your guns worries! There we no guns in previous seasons, as I remember. Hope we don't see House with a gun and then "Fade to black"...