"House's Head"

[deelaundry]

Anybody want to speculate why fake!Amber looked like she did? Why did House choose that manifestation instead of, say, a short, curly-haired redhead? Did you think she looked a little bit like Stacy?

By the way, I loved the episode. The mystery is the thing. I will at one point pontificate on how House MD is like the Agatha Christie oeuvre, but not now.

Comments

[purridot.livejournal.com]

I realize this is obvious, but my only thought was that House's subconscious, trying to block the memory for whatever reason, conjured up a dark-eyed, dark-haired woman b/c she was the opposite of blue-eyed, blonde Amber. The two women shared the same "stillness", however, and enigmatic facial expressions. *shrugs*

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Opposite land! OK, that makes sense. Although short and chubby would've been even more opposite, but that's fine.

Same stillness, same quiet smile, which was pretty and creepy by turns.

[purridot.livejournal.com]

If House is like the Agatha Christie oeuvre*, then I hope it ends with the awesome punch in the stomach like the Poirot series. Damn!

*with all her peerless skill at misdirection

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

Sort of like in shakespearian comedies there were always two couples - one blonde, one dark, and they were played as opposites ... are you sure you're not the smart twin? I think you are. <3 <3

[spoopy.livejournal.com]

I wondered the same thing. And actually, the way she was dressed reminded me a lot of Stacy. The dark hair, too. Weirdly, everything about that woman, except for her gender, was the opposite to Amber. So, it was like his brain was either completely refusing to acknowledge any resemblance to Amber whatsoever, or his brain had tapped into his ideal woman. Or maybe both.

HOUSE/AMBER, DEE. I CANNOT STOP FANTASISING ABOUT THIS.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I like the look of House/Amber, and the hate!sex would be amazing, but in the show it just would be so narratively boring for this particular point in the storyline. Know what I mean? That's my only problem with it.

And if it's revealed that House has "romantic feelings" for Amber, I'm going to puke, because there has been no indication of that up until now. That House would break up Wilson and Amber? Sure! That he'd do this even knowing it would break Wilson's heart? Sure! That he did it because he wants Amber for himself long-term? NO WAY.

OK, I know that wasn't what you said or were implying, but I just had to get that out there.

[spoopy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have no idea where it's going. Well, I do have *ideas* but they are only speculation obvz and I'm not settling my bets on any of them because I will likely be wrong. I will find out next week what the score is!

One speculation I have is that he set out to break Wilson and Amber up and found himself getting weirdly attached to her in the process. I doubt very much that he has romantic feelings for her, but this episode certainly indicated that she held some significant meaning to him. Idk idk. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[shutterbug-12.livejournal.com]

One speculation I have is that he set out to break Wilson and Amber up and found himself getting weirdly attached to her in the process. I think that's very plausible.

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

Would House pull a Crandall on Wilson? If so, would he feel that guilty? (Since he basically said he was drinking alone to avoid Wilson.) Could work either way--House breaking up Amber and Wilson, or Amber breaking up House and Wilson. (Friendship-wise, I mean.)

[theninth.livejournal.com]

I really don't think that House has any "feelings" for Amber other than general mistrust. I am willing to bet that what House has forgotten because of the accident is the fact that the two of them were talking and trying to get to be on good terms for the sake of Wilson, because they both love him enough to not want to make him decide.

[aragon-san.livejournal.com]

And if it's revealed that House has "romantic feelings" for Amber, I'm going to puke, because there has been no indication of that up until now. That House would break up Wilson and Amber? Sure! That he'd do this even knowing it would break Wilson's heart? Sure! That he did it because he wants Amber for himself long-term? NO WAY.

WORD! I too find the idea of suddenly-falling-for-Amber!House nausea-inducing. Pure anger!sex I could see under certain circumstances though between those two...

Hosue has more chemistry with Amber (without any romantic/passionate scenes between them!) than Amber with Wilson, true. But I interpret this as a lack of skill/comfort on the actors side (RSL's mostly) rather than an indication of the characters deeper feelings...

[warmdarkwoman.livejournal.com]

House has more chemistry with Amber (without any romantic/passionate scenes between them!) than Amber with Wilson, true. But I interpret this as a lack of skill/comfort on the actors side (RSL's mostly) rather than an indication of the characters deeper feelings...

Inorite? Why can't RSL look comfortable with a woman onscreen when he needs to connect to her in a flirty or sexual way? Last week's tumble with Amber just didn't DO it for me, which is in such contrast with HL/House who has chemistry with the furniture.

I think that RSL will be amazing next week in his scenes with Cuddy, but that's because he will be Weepy!Wilson and not UghGIRLCooties!Wilson.

(Is there any filmed evidence of RSL being flirty or sexual with a woman onscreen where he doesn't look like he's cleaning out the back of his refrigerator?)

[aragon-san.livejournal.com]

I think it was an unfortunate decision to try and show that Wilson and Amber are a couple, yes in that way too! Ironically, I found it less likely after watching them try - and spectacularly fail - to depict sexual attraction than before when they lived together and simply were shown doing general things together like eating, talking and bantering ^_^ They really should have respected RSL's limits here!

Only: after this and Monday's episode I suddenly can picture Amber, while loving Wilson muchly, being frustrated as hell and seeking solace from inadequate bedroom performances in hate!sex with House, who as you so aptly wrote, has chemistry with furniture. And her. I'm not sure this was an effect intended by writers and directors....

Not that I can claim in depths knowledge of RSL's complete filmography (or plan to acquire it to be honest) but from the performances I have seen - no.
He was especially miscast in "Much Ado About Nothing" as the romantic hero Claudio: every interaction with Hero I found downright painful to watch, as well as his supposed devastation at her seeming betrayal and then his agony over blaming her falsely which fell completely flat, I couldn't believe one second of it. He managed the rare feat to make Keanu Reeves' not the most wooden performance! The hair was the highlight of RSL's involvement here, sadly.

[poorfrances.livejournal.com]

Judging from the previews alone, what's going to finally sell me that they're in love are the dying scenes. The sex/kissing scenes were awkward but RSL can really pull off the angst. When he crawls into bed with her and kisses her...gah. Is it Monday yet?

When my girlfriend and I were ripping on last week scenes, we said it's like Gaby threatened to cut his balls off if he remotely enjoyed any love scene, ever. And she's such a little woman who always seems so chipper, so we had a good time riffing, "I'll cut your balls off!" in chipper, squeaky voices and smiling really big. Then I said, "She's like, 'Don't make eye contact, shove your hands in your pockets, Bob, I swear to God.'" And my gf said: "She probably wrote all that down."

[toolazytowork.livejournal.com]

She did look a little like Stacy. Which would make sense as a fantasy woman choice if House initially thought he was having typical fantasies and not flashbacks. I don't think he ever thought he was doing that-did he? I like the theory that she was as far from Amber as possible because House couldn't handle that truth. But I dunno...I just do not know...

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

purridot and cryptictac up above speculated that maybe House's brain was doing an opposite thing on him... that he was refusing to believe it was Amber.

Next week looks damn good, but I'm puzzled as to where it'll all end up.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

I thought she was just an archetype. You know -- just a Dark Woman.

[warmdarkwoman.livejournal.com]

Husband and I thought she was Death for a while.

But I did notice the dark hair, and the dark hair on the stripper (and remembered that Cuddy and Stacy are also brunettes) and remembered, smiling: yes, he DOES like brunettes, doesn't he? (Blonde!Cameron FTL.)

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

*nods*

She also reminded us of Death in the Bob Fosse film All That Jazz. Death appears as a sort of questioner/spirit guide there, although she's much more angelic-looking.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

god damity damn, if House and Amber fuck I will puke. I will.

[genagirl.livejournal.com]

Someone mentioned she looked like a witch which is close to bitch. I kind of liked that explanation. I wonder if Wilson is the "fly" caught in Amber?

[shutterbug-12.livejournal.com]

I agree about "opposite theory". I suspect House's subconscious, for whatever reason, wanted to block the memory of Amber. He seemed very slow to acknowledge the connection of the necklace, and, in the bus, seemed to know the answer long before he actually spoke it, choosing to go with "resin" instead as if he didn't want to believe the actual answer. He seemed very reluctant to access the memory of her.

I thought that woman resembled Stacy as soon as her promo picture was released. Not sure if was intention or what that means, but I noticed it.

[poorfrances.livejournal.com]

I suspect House's subconscious, for whatever reason, wanted to block the memory of Amber.

Chase told him to under hypnosis. "Ignore Wilson and Amber" when House had the vision of Amber in the bar talking to him. Poof, they disappeared and right after that he was on the bus and saw all the passengers, with Dark Woman as a substitute for Amber.

[recrudescence.livejournal.com]

Whoa. I totally forgot Chase even said that. Brilliant!

[inlaterdays.livejournal.com]

Oooh, good thought. Maybe she had Amber's gender but Wilson's coloring since he was supposed to disappear them both.

[aragon-san.livejournal.com]

Aside from being the Hollywood-attractive opposite of Amber - which clearly would prevent her from being brunette, short and chubby to contrast very tall, very blond Amber stronger - I found it obvious that she fit into House's (Shore's?) very definite view of what makes a woman hot: dark long hair and dark-eyed, slim, long-legged, and somewhat exotic looking.
Hooker!Paula, Detox!masseuse, "let's fire row C instead"!applicant, CIA-horror, stripper, Amber stand-in, even John-Henry-Giles-restraining-order!girl - they're all very much the same type and look strikingly similar!

Actual relationships/long-term attractions Cuddy and Stacy are interestingly facially rather different types of brunettes - with much stronger, more distinctive features/noses...
Cameron, aside from being brunette and very slim, belongs (/ed, given her new hair colour) typewise to neither group when comparing facial features.

The numbers of similar looking brunettes on the show hired as eye-candy are starting to scare me. There seems to be a serious shortage of other colours/types in House-World.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Amen!! I mean, it's still a nice change from blonde, blonde, blonde, which was all you'd see on TV for years and years, but enough with the twenty-something skinny as hell brunettes already!

(and enough with that Amber!stand-in's fake lips.) I AM TIRED OF FAKE LOOKING LIPS!

[aragon-san.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they seem to go to the other extreme on House ^_^

The lips were weird! Though I don't think they looked fake as in surgically mutilated/optimized exactly - it might have been the terrible lipstick colour (for this actress at least)... Ah well, something to look out for on second watch ^_^

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

It was interesting that Amber appeared as herself in House's hypnotic state, before the brunette standin showed up. So, I definitely agree with the active blocking of the memory. He's more comfortable with brunettes.

Also, that red scarf. I'm sure it has a deeper meaning. Because Amber doesn't seem the type to wear that shade of red.

[poorfrances.livejournal.com]

In next week's episode, there is also a red blanket on Amber's bed in one scene, which Wilson pulls off.

And someone in a screencap noticed something red, perhaps a scarf, pinned to the wall in the background in one of the scenes.

[daisylily.livejournal.com]

I just assumed it was because his taste is very much for brunettes (such as Wilson, lol). I was very impressed with how much the actress behaved like Amber - I guessed it was her way before House did :D

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

She did an excellent job acting like Amber! Same bearing, same expressions. I'm curious what the serene smile means -- Amber was definitely pleased about something.

[poorfrances.livejournal.com]

She had Amber's speech down pat.

[daisylily.livejournal.com]

More evidence in favour of the pregnancy theory?

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

LOL We always have to be careful with our tinhats, but I think House having a type is not a kooky idea. [Someone pointed out that Wilson is also a brunette with nice cheekbones : ) ]

And it's also interesting that you point out Chase as a blond, because I thought the hypnosis scenes showed the level of trust that House has with Chase. Chase has come up with the brilliant diagnosis/great idea several times between the end of last season and the end of this one, and House actually asked him to go bowling instead of anyone else. I think House respects Chase, which he definitely doesn't always feel for the others in his life. However, he does respect Amber, too. Interesting.

[takes-a-fairy.livejournal.com]

I agree with the other post...House likes brunettes. I think he was feeling guilty that he somehow didn't help his best friends girlfriend. You all know how hard he is on himself when he thinks he didn't do something right.

The House/Amber thing is just a way to appeal to both sides of the viewers...those who think Amber/House would be good, and those who don't like it have no worries because it won't really happen. It will, likely, be that they're simply going to show Wilson's suspicious thoughts being played out for us. The "why were House/Amber on the bus together?" thoughts. Previews for this show are always misleading.

As for A/H doing what comes naturally...not in the next episode...and hopefully not ever. She's not really his type.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

You're right about House being hard on himself. Absolutely.

What do you mean that she's not his type? Just physically or do you mean personality-wise?

[takes-a-fairy.livejournal.com]

Both---not that House doesn't like blonde's, but "history" bears it out, that he likes brunettes, typically. But, he also seems to like women who have the integrity to follow the rules, like Stacy and Lisa. They make him feel safe, from himself.

Amber is not someone he'd open up to in a relationship because she's such a manipulator and a liar...and has little if no conscience. House may be a jerk outwardly, but he has a conscience deep down.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

It's interesting what you bring up, because Wilson is also a manipulator and a liar, and he's House's best friend. Wilson's not as blatant about his maneuvers, but he conducts them all the same. I had never really thought about that being a way in which Wilson and Amber match up.

I do think Amber has a conscience. She is extraordinarily driven, beyond any of the other characters except House, but she has a conscience. I'm firm in my belief that Wilson wouldn't be with her, wouldn't love her, if she was sociopathic or truly corrupt.

[takes-a-fairy.livejournal.com]

One must take into account certain gender differences. Have you ever watched two women, physically, fight? Have you ever watched two men, physically, fight? I have fought, physically, with both and IT IS NOT THE SAME!!

Women are vicious and out for blood, men are just about taking-the-mountain or showing who's in charge. That's why men can beat each other to a pulp and then shake hands and become friends, after-wards. There's respect there. Women, on-the-other-hand, will carry a grudge and resentment, indefinitely.

W, is a manipulator, but NOT in the same way as A. You're right...she IS driven AND self-serving, first. A woman's need for security, whether we admit it or not, is gender inherent. It's what drives us...like it or lump it.
Men don't have that basic need, so they're manipulation is more about power. That too, is gender inherent, whether we like/admit it or not.

W, is truly H's friend, and would preserve that friendship. Amber, however, is not to be trusted... even if she does care about W. She always comes first.
Unless by some act of God, she changes. Are you an atheist? If yes, then she won't change. hee

[simmysim.livejournal.com]

I think she was just House's ~type~, dark haired. And the reasoning is the same reason he had Cuddy strip, his brains were just doing as they like, making a person he'd enjoy looking at. Buut I realize this probably isn't what DS had in mind.

I wonder if House's mom had dark hair.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I scooted over to shutterbug_12's LJ, because her header has Stacy in it, and man, fake!Amber looks a lot like Stacy. I think some kind of Amber-Stacy connection was going on in his mind, whether we ever hear that confirmed in canon or not.

[warmdarkwoman.livejournal.com]

When John and Blythe House showed up in "Daddy's Boy" early in season 2, we saw that House's mother was brunette.

[naughtybookworm.livejournal.com]

I don't really believe that House had the hots for Amber. The dark-haired girl identified herself as THE ANSWER - the solution to the puzzle. It all came out of House's subconscious, which dressed things up as it saw fit. She was a brunette because House is attracted to brunettes (Stacy, Cuddy, Cameron).

[naughtybookworm.livejournal.com]

Oh damn...someone already figured that out... heh...