Here's the thing about the arc on House

[deelaundry]

Here's the thing about the current arc:

Yes, Wilson's decision is stupid. It makes no sense. We don't agree with it.

That's the point.

The battle for House in this arc has been: Can he give up being right in favor of supporting Wilson? We didn't know, and he didn't know.

And then he did it! He's not holding on (to go back to the ep title) to his need to be right; he's respecting Wilson's autonomy, Wilson's innate right to make his own decisions.

LOVE.

PS. Actually, Wilson's decision does make some sense, based on Wilson's history, particularly assuming his parents are as RSL as described them: messed-up, shifting responsibility for Danny's care and wellbeing onto Wilson's shoulders. Wilson has been the caregiver in extended care scenarios (oncology, Danny's illness, "picking up the pieces" for House after Stacy left) and it sucks. It requires a type of patience that not many people have. It does make sense that he would want to spare those he loves the burden of that extended care -- and that he doesn't want to risk being alone (or with mere acquaintances) at the end, having run out the patience of those he wants with him.

Comments

[rtlemurs]

: ) Thank you. I so clenched up when I read the title of the post but you are part of a small group of folks in the fandom I trust will have something worthwhile and thought provoking to say, even if I don't agree you always give me something to think about and another perspective that I probably hadn't considered.

As it happens I totally agree with you on this. I believe there is much more to Wilson's decision but this is the core.

[deelaundry]

Aw, thank you! It makes me really happy to analyze the episodes and what they have to say -- and it's nice to hear that my analysis makes sense to someone. I had a friend on LJ who's off LJ now (Stephbass, if you ever knew her) who would do excellent episode analyses from a completely different direction than the one I naturally take, and it was so great to get a fresh view.

[taiga13.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say I disagree with Wilson's decision, though I don't agree with it either. It's his decision and I see the rationale. That's the thing about being an oncologist, he knows exactly what's involved in getting that treatment. Wilson seems to be afraid of the indignity more than anything, though... it reminded me of that patient from S1, I think the title was Control, who refused a colonoscopy because it's embarrassing and turned out to have severe emotional problems. I love that House is respecting Wilson's decision too. It reminds me of Three Stories. Stacy (and Cuddy) didn't respect House's decision then. House is respecting Wilson's now. It's real growth for the character. I like that it shows how much he respects Wilson as a person.

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

For me the episode was about acceptance, first with Wilson, then House, and then convincing us lurkers. I'm relieved and grateful the step wasn't skipped in light of how fast Wilson's cancer became a death sentence. I love the explanation in your PS. I still have quibbles about certain points, like Thirteen to telling an oncologist to assess whether to continue each round of chemo.

[barefootpuddles.livejournal.com]

I think you state what House did for Wilson very well. His acceptance was a truly selfless thing, something that House claims he never does (sacrifice self). It was quite beautiful to see. :)

On the other hand, I am a bit miffed at Wilson for his decision. Normally I tend to see his point of view perhaps more clearly than I can often see House's, but in this case I think he has one last responsibility that he owes towards House. He says House is not his child, but he has wrapped himself so tightly into House's life that dying will be enough of a trauma without adding in the abandonment portion into it.

Basically I feel the last thing he owes House to is to let House know for certain that his dying is not an abandonment of his friend. And if Wilson has such a strong responsibility gene that he could not even leave the old lady at the bus stop, I am amazed he could leave House in that way. But then again I think we have some sort of demons popping out of Wilson that I wish the series had more time to explore. It would be such a juicy characterization had they only given it to us a season or two ago (eventually they could have Wilson chose treatment. But it would still be great television. A chronically ill oncologist fighting cancer within the series.)

[rslhilson.livejournal.com]

I suppose I'm still trying to separate House-land from the real world. In the real world, there's no way this thymoma would be such a clear death sentence, and there's a good chance that treatment would work. If that were the case on the show, then yes, Wilson is acting quite irrationally and it's hard to understand his decision.

But in House-land, it seems that Wilson's options are limited. As I understand it, either Wilson will die in 5 months without chemo, or chemo may extend his life another year or two but he will eventually die from this cancer. And if that's the case, then I don't think that Wilson's decision is stupid (there's no right or wrong answer there).

In any case, I think your take on House's battle is spot-on. It is absolutely love. :)