House – Never My Love

When I saw the trailer for this week’s House, I thought for sure they were done. House had finally mailed it in, jumped the shark, sold out, all those things that half the viewers (or ex-viewers) think happened seasons ago. I truly thought they were going to finally cross that line with the whole sex doll storyline. Sure, the episode had its outrageous moments, but I have to say I really enjoyed it, both for the laughs balanced with the delicate way they handled the patient’s relationship with the doll, and also for what the episode brought to light about the team’s personal relationships, or lack thereof.

First, the laughs. The pelvic exam on the doll, complete with stirrups. Surgery on the doll, complete with stitches. A CT scan on the doll, complete with actual results. Probably my favorite moment was when Adams was wheeling Amy down the hall to the tune of “Never My Love,” in slow motion, with the most priceless looks from passers-by. But that was just the beginning of Adams treating the patient with respect and making him feel as though he weren’t completely insane. That whole piece was really well-written; what a sad and lonely man.

The way House connected the patient and his doll to his team’s lack of relationships was also very well done. He called them all social morons, and he’s basically right. They are all avoiding relationships, including House himself. The way the patient sparked Adams into making a change, one that Chase wasn’t ready for; the way Taub tried to connect with someone new, the same old way, with his lies (“Was that a different baby?” was one of the best lines of the episode); House and his unnatural attachment to his hooker. It was interesting that Park was the only one able to overcome her relationship issues in a semi-functional way (if you call a Sonny and Cher cover functional).

Now, House and Dominka was a storyline that has been brewing for a while, and I am so disappointed in House that he tossed her green card letter in the trash. I don’t believe for a minute that even with all the character growth House has experienced over the course of the series that he would have done anything differently, but I did hope. It will be interesting to see where it goes next week.

It’s difficult to think of any of the storyline choices without wondering how they will effect the end game of the series, with just five episodes left. Do you want Chase and Adams to sleep together? Do you want to see Dominika and House as a couple? Will Taub ever make a selfless decision? I’m looking forward to watching the writers’ choices as they unfold.

This and that:

• Poor Odette Annable — both of her shows are done this season. I’ve grown really fond of her as an actress and hope that she’ll crop up somewhere great next season.
• My theory is shot; this week’s patient did not cough up or vomit blood. If you combine bleeding eyeballs with plain old puke, does that count?
• Really? A doctor wouldn’t know what a neti pot is?

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Apr 16, 2012 @ 22:50 EST5EDT