TV Verdict

[Thanks to the ear infection mentioned last week, I can’t hear very well.  So this will be broad strokes, as I’d have to rewatch the episode a few times with the volume turned up to 11 to catch all the fun dialogue.]

A well-conceived episode, but a victim of the show’s predictability.  Olivia Wilde is doing a fine job with the role of Thirteen, but for some reason I feel somewhat detached from that ongoing storyline.  There was good chemistry between Angela Gots and Wilde; the problem is that the episode followed the traditional pattern–it was kind of interesting watching the two bonding over dying, but one look at the clock and we know that at the last minute, House will determine that Thirteen’s conquest isn’t dying after all.  It’s hard to see where they’re headed, unless perhaps the plan is to have House unravel at having to watch one of his own doctors die.  Dunno.  Clearly, the storyline is going to be crammed down our throats, so let’s hope for the best.

The ep does have a lot to commend it, though—the Wilson-House dynamic returns with a vengeance with Prank Wars (I so called that Wilson was setting House up).  With Wilson back, I’m not sure that they need to keep Lucas the PI around much longer; he’ll be in serious danger of turning into a plot device rather than a character.  Besides, they’ve got too many characters as it is.

Chase and Foreman!  In the same room!  Talking!  To one another!  Enough with the!!  It’s fascinating that now they decide to do something with Foreman’s character.  I just hope we aren’t subjected to Foreman getting into risk-taking, what with Thirteen being into risk-taking and Cameron having her own fling with danger 3-4 seasons ago.  As long as we see more of the original three, I’m good.

Then of course, we have the reveal at the end, the gist of which was spoiled last week by the promo monkeys.  Part of me is annoyed that they’re taking Cuddy down the biological clock road, but after last night’s episode I don’t care.  Did you see the look on House’s face when Cuddy told him about the adoption?  I’ve never seen a look like that on House before; stunned, just completely gobsmacked.  He even looked a little hurt.  The promo monkeys are pitching a stunning, life-changing, earth shattering episode next week.  Obviously, there’s going to be a medical problem with the birth mother, and apparently some breakthrough with the House-Cuddy relationship.  I’m nervous about the whole “you must not miss this episode”, but hey, looks like Lisa Edelstein is finally going to get some decent screen time.