House ep: "Don't Ever Change"

[deelaundry]

Figured something out that was bugging me:

House at the end of the episode says that he isn't self-sacrificing when he says Wilson could do worse than dating Amber. On first go around, I took this -- as I think Wilson did -- as House blatantly denying his feelings/potential for good. But the more I thought, the more I came to believe that House is doing one of his switcheroos a la "Half-Wit": telling the truth in a way that makes others believe it's denial.

If that's the case, and it really isn't self-sacrificing for House, then what does it mean? Put "I'm not sacrificing myself" with "people don't change" and... House can deal with the Amber thing because he believes Wilson hasn't changed. He believes Wilson will follow the pattern: save Amber, betray Amber, move on. That means Amber's no more of a threat to House than Julie, Bonnie, or Wife #1 were.

This also means that House hasn't changed. He believes the things he always has. Which means the show's not over. Phew.

EDITED TO ADD: Another light bulb just went off! Why did the end upset me so much, if I accepted it as true?

What happened in "Locked Up and Set Free" when Wilson's world expanded and he found substitutes who met his emotional needs? When he didn't need House specifically any more? Yeah, that's right; House and Wilson broke up! And got boring, according to several of commenters.

That's why I was so bothered by the ending of "Don't Ever Change"! My own Cassandra megalomania, thinking I'd predicted the awful future.

Comments

[purridot.livejournal.com]

Which means the show's not over. I'm glad you're feeling better!

I think Amber has been a catalyst for House and Wilson realizing how good they actually have it together. That doesn't have to be an ending (although, if it had to be *the* ending, it is a good one). It could be the beginning of a deeper buddy (or slashy) relationship and adventures -- they have both accepted how much each need the other.

*crosses fingers*

*urges you to write some pr0n-y*

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope you're right. Very much so!

I'm off to work on Big Bang now, which is pr0n-y, so maybe that'll bring good cheer. Thanks!

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of glad I'm not the only one that was kind of discomfited about that bit, at least. I had visions of Wilson leaving House for Amber, and OMG NO.

(apropos of nothing: would you mind betaing something for me tonight or tomorrow? It's a weird kind of crack kind of AU fic kind of Pillory-esque kind of not and, um, yeah, it kind of needs one.)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

The end just felt so... end-y. Like, "that's all we have to say about House and Wilson's relationship." If House changes and Wilson's world expands, then it seems like they'd just become regular guy friends. JUST LIKE I PREDICTED IN LOCKED UP... OMG that's what was bugging me! Der!

I'd be happy to beta. deelaundry at yahoo dot com

[inlaterdays.livejournal.com]

I think the show's title fits with this theory too :)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I just now figured out why it was bugging me so much! I was thinking subconsciously about my own fanfic "Locked Up and Set Free," where the healthier Wilson who has viable substitutes to meet his emotional needs didn't need House any more. D :

ILU, LID!

[inlaterdays.livejournal.com]

ILU2!

That shows how great your fic is and how deeply you get into the characters' minds.

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

You know my basic theory that Wilson needs to be in a relationship with a woman to have any power in a relationship with House, so if this is where we leave then essentially we're back to Season 1 and Amber replaces Julie, with House/Wilson being back to blow-jobs, banter and angst, because Wilson always goes home. (Until Amber gets fed up and becomes 2nd season Julie.)

Ooops-that's my epiphany. Gotta go update Babble again.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I think Amber, unlike Wilson's past wives/girlfriends, has the confidence to waltz over to House's apartment and smack House and drag Wilson back home, ensuring that they have proportionate time with him. And maybe Wilson will like that, like he liked Amber pushing the maitre d' around, and maybe he'll remember what Cuddy said and get a little scared of her and be the one to break off a relationship for a change. Either way, it does seem he's broken the pattern.

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

Maybe. It depends on how much the writers are willing to let House be wrong about people changing. They don't seem willing to let him be wrong about "Everybody Lies."

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Too true. As always, we're going to have to wait for another half a season to see if anything did actually change.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Or at least, that Wilson may have changed in his taste for women and/or in the way(s) in which he'll eventually break up with them, but he hasn't changed in the important way: in his devotion to House. Which made House comfortable enough to let him go; he believes Wilson is still a boomerang.

I'm not sure whether Wilson will stay with Amber in the long run, but I do think he'll always stay faithful to House, to whatever degree his newer, healthier, happier self (if indeed that's true) feels is right.

I'm glad you figured out what was bothering you!

Now go write. *poke poke prod prod*

[genagirl.livejournal.com]

The feeling I had at the end was that House felt secure enough to give Wilson some freedom. He knows Wilson deserves to be happy BUT he also knows Wilson (who wants to change) won't change and will come back to him in the end. Still, the thought that House would let him have some freedom really moved me. The look on HL's face was heartbreaking.