Giveth and Taketh Away

[deelaundry]

Recent news had made me reasonably excited for the House series finale, and then I read this:

"(Olivia) Wilde is scheduled to return for the series finale, which will be directed and co-written by series creator David Shore"

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/15/us-house-idUSTRE81D1V020120215

Nothing against Thirteen, but I have hated David Shore's raging hard-on for her ever since the beginning of her run. She already got a great send-off; the viewers and Greg House got emotional closure with her; there is no need to bring her back again. But David Shore finds her amazing and wonderful, and so we will waste some of the precious minutes left in the series with House-as-Shore's-self-insert doting on her. Sigh.

In fact, the prospect of the final episode being the sole creation of David Shore saddens me. Shore has always been about House the lone-wolf, the this-man-IS-an-island Bukowski. I'm not hopeful Shore will give the Wilson-House relationship its due.

Your thoughts?

Comments

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

It really worries me that Thirteen is coming back for the finale. Suggests that either she takes a turn for the worse and House keeps his promise to her in "The Dig" or House himself is in such serious trouble that she feels compelled to return - e.g., for his funeral.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be worried. David Shore likes Thirteen so much that he would shoehorn her in any way at all. Maybe she and her girlfriend come back for the next spud-gun contest. I'm more perturbed that the show will take a detour out of whatever is happening to have a "House really bonds with Thirteen because they are kindred spirits" moment.

...

Unless Thirteen comes back so House has someone to talk about his bisexuality with. That I'd be down with.

[damigella-314.livejournal.com]

Thirteen comes back so House has someone to talk about his bisexuality with. That I'd be down with.
LOL. Wouldn't we all!

And I agree with flywoman, my fear is that the finale will be All About Thirteen, with House keeping his promise to her and then riding out into the sunset - with Wilson Jiminiycriketing voice as background music. Oh, after twenty minutes of "House really bonds with Thirteen because they are kindred spirits" of course! not like he has anything in common with the man who's been at his side for two decades, would he?

Timeo David et Thirteen ferens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeo_Danaos_et_dona_ferentes).

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

The one thing I did find amusing about House's "you and I are alike" thing with Thirteen was the episode with the Renaissance re-enactors, where House was saying to Thirteen how he had to protect Wilson because Wilson is special and amazing and cares about emotions "not like us." LOLOL It was very, "Help me out, bro, 'cause I don't get chicks overall but I love her(Wilson) and gotta take care of her(Wilson)"

[leaper182.livejournal.com]

*facepalm* I stopped watching House sometime around Season 3, with the occasional bout of, "Oh, it's on." *watches* "Okay, that was nice." And that's about it. Thirteen got a bit on my nerves because it felt like she was getting more screentime than the other supporting characters, or whatever. Bah.

If there was something I wanted to see on House, I would want to see an actual House/Wilson kiss. If I've missed this, then I need to find it on YouTube.

(I already saw a too-short clip of Wilson proposing to House. That was kind of awesome. Oh, Wilson.)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

You do need to see the episode where Wilson proposes to House. It was all-around awesome.

You might want to watch this coming Monday's episode, too. :) House has to go in front of INS to prove that his marriage to an immigrant woman is valid. Which will be tough to do, considering she moved out right after the ceremony and they haven't seen each other for more than a year. But the sneak peeks indicate that Wilson will possibly be coming to the rescue. Because we fans know who House is really married to.

Also, if you ever get a free loan of the Season Four DVDs, the Amber arc was amazing! Lots of great Wilson, and House being jealous, and Amber being amazing, and then the best mystery episode of House ever ("House's Head") and then the most emotionally resonant episode of House ever ("Wilson's Heart"). AH!

[pgrabia.livejournal.com]

I'm getting more and more worried about this finale. DS insists that House has to be miserable. That could mean the demise of Wilson, and Thirteen comes back for his funeral. Not good.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

David Shore has also said he wanted a set date for the series finale so that he could deliberately make the ending ambiguous. His word. For Wilson to die would be definitive, I think.

[pgrabia.livejournal.com]

I hope you're right.

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

Unless Thirteen comes back so House has someone to talk about his bisexuality with. That I'd be down with.
--Kudos on your silver lining thinking! Wish I could do that.

I'm not surprised by the announcement. I think OW made a "gentleman's agreement" to come back as part of her deal to be released early from her contract. It was hinted in interviews right before her farewell episode. Possibly, she wouldn't be held to it if she were shooting overseas.

However, this doesn't allay my fear that Shore isn't going to whip up a gimmicky finale. Like Three Stories, House's Head, Baggage, and After Hours, I'm relying upon the next to the last episode to be strong and bring closure. The finale will be a bonus.

eta: After the hype for "Nobody's Fault" and the little visible gains to add depth to series, my raging [H]ouse fever finally broke. With much relief, my expectations are set very low.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I'm relying upon the next to the last episode to be strong and bring closure. The finale will be a bonus.

That could work. I just want a gripping end to this. Really good television. "House's Head" or "Three Stories" would both be awesome exemplars.

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

Oh, Shore. If you have to bring someone back, can't it be Doris Egan?

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

THIS!

I had the same wistful thought last week, but it flew out of my head before it took root. Just as well, because it would have given me indigestion.

[damigella-314.livejournal.com]

IAWTC.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Great minds do think alike: Ausiello had a column on the finale and asked fans "Who do you wish would come back?" I told him I wanted Doris!

[sheppa.livejournal.com]

Kath Lingenfelter @retlefnegniL 12 February
@CoconutIce22 @leakeylover @yjk_de Doris visited us on Thursday & brought cake! <3 her. Not just the cake talking. Tho mostly.

but
Kath Lingenfelter @retlefnegniL
@leakeylover @coconutice22 @yjk_de Doris is NOT writing with us. Sorry for confusion.

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

NOOOOOOO!

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

Jesus, Thirteen?? It would be fine with me if House offed her, but if the episode is centered around that, I will send Shore a bag of flaming dog poop. (I actually have something deadlier in mind but don't want to put it in a public forum.)

Seriously, Thirteen?????? Why not bring back Masters while you're at it?

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I liked her fine, but she got a good send-off! We don't need any more time on her.

[hannahrorlove.livejournal.com]

House hasn't ever been a lone wolf guy, though. He's an introvert who enjoys other people. He might not necessarily like a lot of them, and he still enjoys the company. How many times have we seen his team help him solve a puzzle? How many times has he pulled someone in to talk to because he wants someone else to provide the other half of the conversation?

Sheesh. It's like these guys don't watch their own show.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

David Shore's insistence on independence as the key ideal being explored through House's character can be interesting... but only when the show is exploring the tension between independence and interdependence, between the need to control and the need to connect. House's insistence on being right, and the fact that "I can do it alone" is NOT right.

Thank God for Hugh Laurie because if anyone else tried to go through David Shore's motions we wouldn't have the rich human being of House that we have today.

And on a complementary note, thank God for Robert Sean Leonard because otherwise Wilson would be a hot mess of Silly-Putty writing of his character. I don't think anyone else could have kept Wilson as a cohesive whole.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think I'm going to be ill. DS's ego is hard to take in small doses, so it sounds like the finale is going to be complete overkill.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I realize he has a vision, and as Topaz_Eyes says below, he's the creator, not me. It's just that I don't like his vision if it's not tempered with the influence of other writers and producers.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I am hating this news. I don't hate Thirteen, I just don't care anything about her. Maybe there will be a good twist about it? Something like ... she asks House to fulfill his promise, Wilson points out that if anyone finds out, House will go back to prison? So it's a reprise of "Son of a Coma Guy," with Wilson providing some kind of alibi. Or perhaps Wilson takes charge, prevents House from doing it (drugs him for once), and does it himself?

... I know, I'm grasping at straws here. I'm just very disappointed by all this. Grrr.

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

I'm going to just LALALALALA and try not to think about it, because sometimes these spoilers make things sound much worse than they actually are, and I can't do anything about it anyway.

I am, however, preparing myself to go into full Ignore Canon Mode over the finale.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

We know how to Ignore Canon quite well, so we will always have our own imagination. ♥

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Hey, you should write for the show! :D

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

i fucking knew it. That bitch is a turd that won't flush.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

That's a little harsh on Thirteen. For me, as I said to Topaz below, I want them to focus on the current characters on the show, not bring back any of the characters that have moved on. I adored Amber six ways to Sunday and I still don't want to spend any time on her in the finale. (Unless she's having a threesome with House and Wilson, then she can join in.)

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

you're entitled to your opinion. I can't stand her or anything about her.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

oh. Some people think I dislike her because they think I have some sort of prejudice against her for being bi. I want to make it clear that this is NOT true. I am not prejudiced against bisexuals in any way whatsoever.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I don't want to lecture you or go into a back-and-forth, but some people see harsh words like "bitch" as symptomatic of prejudice against women. Even though you're a woman yourself. I don't think you are prejudiced against women, but that is how words like that can be taken -- and as contributing to an overall environment where women are seen as not as worthy as men.

Just something to think about.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

fair enough. I am not fond of Uncle Tomism of any stripe.

[pgrabia.livejournal.com]

I didn't not like her, I just didn't really care all that much about her either way. I have no problem with her coming back so long as the finale doesn't revolve around her, and her return isn't due to a funeral. That's all:)

ETA: I'm glad Cuddy isn't coming back because you know if she did the finale would be all about the interaction between her and House and Wilson would be relegated to one-liners again. LE chose to leave and essentially eliminate her character; good riddance.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I know he created the show, and I know it's his prerogative. It's my prerogative as a fan to think that his exclusive direct involvement is more likely to bring the quality of the finale down rather than up, based on how he has stated he perceives the show and main character.

I liked Thirteen just fine, in 80-90% of the episodes she was in. She contributed value to the show. So did Stacy, and Ridiculously Old Fraud, and Cuddy, and Lydia, and Kutner, and especially Amber, and I still don't want to waste any time in the remaining episodes bringing any of them back. Their storylines are done. I want time spent on the characters who are on the show now, especially Wilson, who has a thousand unresolved issues and House, who has a thousand and one.

[fluttershy.livejournal.com]

At least it isn't Cameron.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

My point is more that David Shore drives me nuts, and I want the remaining episodes to focus on the characters that are there now, particularly Wilson and House. Nothing to do with Thirteen as a character.

Cameron got an AWFUL send off, one that shifted all blame for the problems in her marriage onto her, conveniently absolving Chase of responsibility for, you know, first-degree murder. If any departed character "deserved" to come back, it'd be her.

[fluttershy.livejournal.com]

A face like Chase's can totally get away with murder. ;)

[taiga13.livejournal.com]

Ug, how disappointing! Thirteen got a perfect farewell, why mess with that? Just to shoehorn her in to remind us how wonderful she was? Boost ratings with OW's face? I can't help but think it's insulting to bring Thirteen back but not Cameron or Cuddy, who DIDN'T get perfect farewells - Cuddy didn't get one at all and Cameron's was all oh, Chase, it's 100% my fault our marriage failed, you're perfect and I'm a mess, you were right to cold-bloodedly murder a human being.
I'm dreading the thought that he'll bring Thirteen back dying and asking House to fulfill his promise to her. I liked that Thirteen left happy!
(deep breath) Maybe DS is planning a trippy dream / hallucination where Thirteen would appear. That could work.
Like you, I worry that we won't get focus on the House/Wilson relationship or Wilson himself. I want to see Wilson's importance acknowledged. Doesn't DS realize that their relationship is a huge part of the show's success, maybe the biggest part?

[kathleen cummings (from livejournal.com)]

Oh dear, I thought we'd seen the last of Thirteen. Though compared to Park and Adams...who are two of the dullest characters EVER...I think I'd rather see Thirteen...or some sort of real closure to Cuddy's story...where did she go? Her character deserves something more. And I too hope they have some sort of good resolution for House and Wilson....since yes, for many of us, their relationship is the most important one on the show.

[leakey-lover.livejournal.com]

It won't be so bad if 13 returns to relieve House of his promise to assist her exit.

Because she's run off with Dr Buffer, and won't need him.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Dr Buffer! I'd forgotten about him. The woman 13 left with seemed really nice, though, so I don't want to upset her. Maybe Dr. Buffer is 13's girlfriend's brother, so he will take on the promise so his sister won't suffer.

:D

[leakey-lover.livejournal.com]

*"FORGOT'"* Dr Buffer??

I shall look forward to notice of this ongoing story.

I really liked the way 13 was resolved, too. Gives me foolish hope for finale.