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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Whats Been On and What's Good: House

House -- Monday, March 9 -- "The Social Contract"

The patient: a publisher who unexplainably keeps saying whatever comes to mind, he loses his mental filter and proceeds to truthfully insult everyone he comes across. He is at first described as being connected to the real Phineas Gage, who apparently became like a different person after a railroad accident drove a large iron rod through his head.


How it mirrors in the House world: House's sense of filter -- because yes, he has one. He slowly lets his harmful things fall into conversations, where he's his own kind of nasty and exceptionally hurtful. He mirrors the patient in that he pushes everyone away in his own misery. House takes a personal interest in the case for this reason.

The patient and family: The man alienates himself from his wife and his young daughter by the cruel and overly truthful things he says. it makes you wonder what kind of guy this person is, that he has so many rude and cruel things he says -- almost under his breath -- inside his head. He's so exposed, so vulnerable, it's kind of pathetic but at the same time fascinating to watch. He wrecks his life without even meaning to, and knows that even if he can be fixed -- things will never be the same.

The Cuddy Interaction: House takes amusement in the case, and fli with Cuddy by paging her to the room and watching the patient's reaction. The patient finds her more attractive than the young 13 -- a nice compliment. Cuddy then later says to House, "so that was your version of i look good today"

And with Wilson: A lot of this episode has to do with Wilson. The big secret of the main characters this episode is Wilson's secret, which for a moment is suggested that he is suicidal. The secret (which you have to watch the episode to find out) creates a big Wilson and House bonding moment, where House really makes an effort to be a friend. And it doesn't backfire (like saving Wilson's dead exgirlfriend Amber). Its a dynamic moment between the two characters.

The plot really asks the question: What would we say if we didn't have a filter? Are we all bad people? This guy explains the little ways he manipulates people, blurts out his sexual fantasies. Its truly horrible. This really questions what we say in our heads, what we think about without even realizing we're thinking about it. Our thoughts get slowed down as we blurt out everything. Cutner makes a Harry Potter allusion -- saying that its that we can make a conscious choice on what to say, on our destiny -- like Harry choosing not to go to Slytherin when the sorting hat was placed on his head.

I'm left wondering: how I'd deal with the disease. how I'd try to follow up my every comment with a compliment. that I'd explain all the good I saw along with the bad. the simple things this character doesn't really do, he just speaks his random criticizing thoughts and says them. Its one thing to not have a filter, its another thing not to try to adapt techniques to make your case more bearable. "I know I just said you're the best I could do, but truly - let me tell you why I love you. why you're the one. I love your brown hair and the soft touch of your skin. you make me laugh, and even when your jokes are kind of awful -- the way you tell stories always holds my attention. its like you have this glow about you" -- I could deal with this thing.

I would like to point out: The guy makes a useful point in some of his truthful banter. Specifically, why not do two works of charity at the same time? Build a house for habitat for humanity -- for breast cancer, instead of walks and runs and things. Personally I think its as constructive, as a workout, and kinda brilliant.

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