House episode 6-7

[deelaundry]

For once, I mostly want to reflect on the serious in this episode. It really bothered me that they kept calling what Wilson did "murder." He didn't murder (kill with intent) anyone; he provided the means for someone to commit suicide. That's still something you (and he) can debate the right and wrong of, but it's not murder.

What Chase did, on the other hand, is murder. First-degree murder, by US law: "murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation." Is linking it to Wilson's almost-euthanasia intended to be a comparison, downplaying what Chase did, or a contrast, highlighting what Chase did? I don't know, and that bothers me.

It's also interesting that Chase, who committed the more serious act by US law (and by my own moral judgment, although that's less relevant to the discussion) is trying to avoid taking any consequence, while Wilson with the less serious, less culpable act is trying to take on more consequence than, I can argue and House does argue, he deserves.

Does this mean that Wilson is more moral than Chase? I don't think so. I think they both went to extremes and tied themselves into knots due to their own pathologies. Wilson had the benefit of a good friend getting through to him (albeit in an underhanded, twisted way) and being there for him. Chase has been avoiding letting the one who's closest to him be there for him, and I think it's because he knows what the priest told him is right. He won't feel he deserves absolution until he both faces the enormity of what he did and accepts the just consequence of the murder he has committed.

Comments

[photoash.livejournal.com]

I didn't think about the death and guilt parallels! I am so glad you pointed it out. I really liked this episode overall and I was glad we got to see more of how Wilson as a doctor operates and his concerns (I especially liked that it was his 'learning from House' that made him want to say it to start with!) :)

I was disappointed by Lucas because I was hoping that really Cuddy just didn't trust House to take care of her baby unsupervised. I think that could be very interesting fodder for fanfic and thought because if I were Cuddy I don't know if I'd trust House with my baby alone in lieu of all that's happened.

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

I loved Wilson saying he'd learned something from House, and House yelling, "Yeah, look how well it's worked for me!" Both of them learning from each other.

And I had the same thought, that Cuddy simply didn't trust House alone with her baby. The Lucas thing came as rather a shock, because I hadn't been reading spoilers.

One small thing: I know what you meant, but I think the phrase you wanted was "in light of." Because "in lieu of" means "instead of."