But, meh. It was okay.
It started out better than it ended. I wasn't sure until I read others' comments, but I was annoyed by how the episode seemed to be about how we have to feel OH SO SORRY FOR CUDDY HER JOB IS SO HARD. Boohoo. As a result of being manipulated, I wound up...not feeling sorry for her, at all, really. Especially when no one in the hospital respects her because she favorites House and they think she's sleeping with him...and she just lets it go. Meh. I don't hate Cuddy again, but this killed the high I had before this episode.
I also disliked how everything went right for Cuddy at the last minute, which just removes what's interesting about her job. In earlier seasons, I was fascinated with the dilemmas Cuddy had to deal with episode-to-episode while House ran around like a mad man. I liked seeing the repercussions of House's actions on her and the hospital, but less so when they are all magically solved at the end of the day. Also not sure I like that Lucas kind of saved the day; it pings my squick about her lack of agency the writers tend to go for.
Either the mole was a dirty lying liar or TPTB are retreating rapidly from Cuddy/Lucas. No proposal scene, and they seemed to be trying to make people hate Lucas more. (I don't hate Lucas, though...) Sigh. Well, if they write him out, I'm okay long as they don't make him start beating Cuddy or something else melodramatic and OOC.
The good:
The "you bitch" refrain. People seriously didn't get this--I even saw complaints about Lucas saying it to Cuddy...AS A JOKE. Regardless of whether she's good at her job or not, Cuddy gets called a bitch all day because she's a woman in a high position of power. I liked how every time we heard someone call her a bitch, it was in a different tone: the psycho thief calls her a bitch negatively, Lucas says it jokingly, and the insurance guy says it with a tone respect. Though I shouldn't be surprised TPTB cranked out something like that. There was a similar commentary with Amber being the Cut-Throat Bitch and her embracing the title. But then and now, apparently the point was ~to subtle~
There was no Huddy. House and Cuddy interacted, yeah, but the scenes weren't shippy. There were no anvils or forced sexual tension. It reminded me of how I felt about House and Cameron's scenes in S4--that the relationship is much stronger when it's not all about OMGGENERICSEXUALTENSION. The writers have to, you know, actually come up with something semi-original then.
So, it was an okay episode. S6 hasn't disappointed me yet (and I'm not getting into the handwringing about upcoming storylines until I actually see them).
I am even more annoyed that TPTB pushed "5 to 9" so much harder than "Wilson," when it was the inferior episode. Oh well.
*sigh* Three weeks until the next episode. (Fortunately, I just finished a House/Wilson/Amber fic that just needs editing, which is the starting point for a whole fic!verse.)
Comments
Are you still working on the House/Dollhouse fic? I'm really looking forward to it.
but I was annoyed by how the episode seemed to be about how we have to feel OH SO SORRY FOR CUDDY HER JOB IS SO HARD. Boohoo. As a result of being manipulated, I wound up...not feeling sorry for her, at all, really. Especially when no one in the hospital respects her because she favorites House and they think she's sleeping with him...and she just lets it go.
Yeah I felt the same way. I also agree with what you said in your second paragraph. Personally if I were Cuddy, it would bother me that my employees didn't respect me, but it doesn't seem to bother Cuddy at all.
Either the mole was a dirty lying liar or TPTB are retreating rapidly from Cuddy/Lucas. No proposal scene, and they seemed to be trying to make people hate Lucas more.
M_Supercomputer said that she heard that they changed the ending due to LE's input and Huddy fans reactions (and dislike of Lucas/Cuddy).
I am even more annoyed that TPTB pushed "5 to 9" so much harder than "Wilson," when it was the inferior episode. Oh well.
That annoyed me too.
Thanks! As you can see, my OT3 has taken over my brain. I want to get back to the Dollhouse crossover soon...which looks like when House/Wilson/Amber decide to let me breathe (seriously, my output's at almost NaNoWriMo levels).
M_Supercomputer said that she heard that they changed the ending due to LE's input and Huddy fans reactions (and dislike of Lucas/Cuddy).
So then they are stupid. Hm, small rabid corner of Internet fandom vs millions who stopped watching in Season 5. Hmmm...
This reminds me: GY did another Q&A session on Twitter recently, and two things jumped out at me: he mentioned LE's stalker, and a fan asked if anyone from the show would go to a fan convention, and he said something like, no, scary reason why. Well, obviously it's the Hulis--and yet I don't get why they don't see this Huddy 24/7 business is encouraging their crazy.
That annoyed me too.
And some people are trying to to chalk it up to RSL being lazy (which he IS). But last time I checked, the actors have nothing to do with sending out screener copies, designing the promos, or organizing on Twitter to start a trending topic. (A few fans tweeting #WilsonDay with 0 recognition from TPTB is kind of hard to compete with every single person on the show tweeting #5to9. Just sayin'.) I don't get why they're so invested in creating the illusion Cuddy is so overwhelmingly popular. /rant
I agree. They are definitely crazy. They seriously believe that Hugh and Lisa are carrying on an affair or should be together (nevermind the fact that Hugh is married and apparently loves his wife. And yes I know Hugh cheated on his wife, but that was over 10 years ago. I think he deeply regrets that affair).
And some people are trying to to chalk it up to RSL being lazy (which he IS). But last time I checked, the actors have nothing to do with sending out screener copies, designing the promos, or organizing on Twitter to start a trending topic.
I agree. The actors aren't the ones sending out screeners, organizing the promotion for an episode, lining up interviews. I think if RSL is told "you have to promote this," he would. (I remember that someone at the TWOP boards visited the set a long time ago and they overheard someone telling Jesse that he had to be at a promotional event that night. Jesse said that he couldn't make it, but the unnamed person basically told him that he had no choice, he had to be there.)
And I know who you're talking about (who is making those comments) and if you couldn't guessed from her handle (i.e. username), she's a hardcore "Huli." Whenever I glance at House_MD News, her stories are usually Hugh/Lisa. She normally shows up at House_Wilson only when people are saying something about Huddy, Huli or LE that she doesn't like.
I don't get why they're so invested in creating the illusion Cuddy is so overwhelmingly popular.
I agree.