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"House" mini-cap: Don't go into the lightGod, that was depressing. I mean that in a good way – I think. For the last four seasons, House has had one pervading mantra amid all the misanthropic behavior and brilliant diagnosis: everybody lies. Well last night in the season finale, one of the letters changed. Now, it’s everybody dies. So buckle up and break out a fresh box of Kleenex. You’re going to need it.
Last week was the frenetic “House’s Head,” with its smutty twists and turns. This week is the wrenching “Wilson’s Heart,” with its slow decent into the great unknown. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect, but I know I didn’t expect this.
The episode opens in Amber’s hospital room. Battered and bandaged, she is unconscious and her heart is racing. But the doctors at the inferior hospital don’t know why. House and Wilson, through a little telling subterfuge, get her moved to their state-of-the-art Princeton-Plainsboro. In the ambulance over, she goes into V-fib. But instead of using shocking her heart back into rhythm, Wilson convinces House to ice her down. More medical jargon ensues but the gist is that it slows down her heart and keeps it from destroying her brain. It’s the medical equivalent of “pressing pause” and will buy House time to use his big old brain.
But poor House’s head has been through a lot in the last two days. It’s gotten drunk, been hit by a bus, been given a lap dance, been hypnotized, been sensory deprived, been dosed with Alzheimer’s medication, and, finally, been on the business end of a heart attack. Even given all of that, House is acting curiously unHouse-like. As his team offers up treatments, he demands test be done before action is taken. What? Now that’s just crazy talk. As Amber lays unconscious in a bright white room, iced down with a bypass machine keeping her alive, the team scrambled to find the answers. But what are the questions? Why was she on the bus? Where they having an affair? What did he see before the crash?
The episode is so well written and littered with clues, it really needs to be watched a second time to be fully appreciated. As Amber leaves the ambulance, the scene is bathed in white: Clue No. 1.When House sends Kutner and Thirteen to her apartment, they find diet pills in a vitamin bottle: Clue No. 2. Speaking of Thirteen; while this episode saw no new jokes about her bisexuality (and good riddance to that), it did offer a glimpse into her psyche. As the team was trying to diagnose Amber’s illness, she was practically mute. Later, House confronts her and accuses the case of hitting too close to home. She, too, is a brilliant young doctor who – thanks to her family’s history of Huntington’s disease – could be doomed to an early death sentence.
House, in the meantime, has a dream. Amber appears to him a red pantsuit and pours them some sherry while talking about the electricity between them. House being House, a dream is not just a dream. The sherry leads to the bar he was at that night, Sharrie’s. The electricity refers to an unorthodox method of recovering memory by shocking regions of the brain. But the latter is deemed too dangerous, for now. Instead Wilson and House go to Sharrie’s to see what clues they can find. What they find is, um, Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit. Mercifully, his role is small. He tells them Amber looked like House’s girlfriend, at least for the night. But, more importantly, he tells them she sneezed. Hello, Clue No. 3. Later, House has another dream and its reveals a rash on the small of Amber’s back. As Amber worsens, Wilson’s desperation grows. He thinks House should undergo the dangerous deep-brain electric shock stimulation. House asks him, “You think I should risk my life to save Amber’s?” The answer is a nod, a nod that calls in all the favors and pays back all the rotten things House has ever asked of or done to his best friend.
Thanks to the volts in his head, House is finally able to remember that night. He got drunk, so the bartender took his keys. He called Wilson, but Amber answered. She picked him up, but he was difficult. He made her have a drink and then hopped on the bus. She followed with his cane and then kaboom. But what was it that he saw before the crash? She took a pill to fight the flu. It was a pill that was now killing her because her kidneys weren’t able to filter its toxins. And, yeah, it’s incurable. Then House has a violent seizure and lapses into his own coma. What follows is some of the most depressing TV I’ve seen all year. Good, but so terribly sad.
Cuddy gives Wilson the option of waking up Amber to be with her before she dies. At first I thought this was an unspeakably cruel thing to do to a person: “Oh, hello, nice to see you’re awake. Yeah, you’re about to die.” But then to see it played out, I think we would all hope for those few last few moments with a loved one. As they lay together on the hospital bed, Wilson asks Amber why she isn’t angry. Amber: That’s not the last feeling I want to experience. They kiss. Wilson turns off the machines. She dies. I have a good cry. The final montage is no less shattering. House wakes up with a concerned Cuddy at his bedside, but he knows his actions have forever changed his relationship with his best friend. Thirteen takes the Huntington’s test he has been avoiding. It comes back positive. Taub goes home and hugs his estranged wife. Kutner (who lost his both his parents at age 6 and now accepts death) eats cereal in front of the TV. Foreman, Cameron and Chase meet for beers. And Wilson stops by House’s room to see if he is awake, seeing that he is, he turns and leaves without a word. Back at his empty apartment, he finds this. And that’s it folks. Have a nice summer crying your eyes out.
So, did you see it coming? Will you miss Amber? Why was Cuddy so concerned about House? How will Thirteen handle her Huntington’s? Can House and Wilson ever be friends again? So many questions, so few Kleenex. Submitted by on May 20, 2008 - 11:00am. |
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Blimey. I'm sort of glad
It was good
The finale was very well written ..and very well acted ..but a bit to depresing for me ...I don't think there was anythigh positive about it ;]
I'm impressed by Anne Dudek and Hugh Laurie's acting ! I'll miss CutThroat Bitch (
Nice re-cap,I have to say I
I was thinking that two. the
Good...
I'm not the only one who the thought that! I was watching it yesterday and couldn't stop fidgeting because, with the way Thirteen was acting, it seemed like they were implying something was going on between them and I was eager to find out.
I'm kind of glad that wasn't the case, though, much as I wanted to see Thirteen's sexuality explored more.
OMG
Now that's what I call a season finale!!! Too bad how it all went, I do hope House and Wilson reconcile. Can we please see Thirteen kiss another woman and I am a true House/Cuddy shipper so that's my last wish!
I haven't seen it yet...
but I'm already crying my eyes out. I've still got like another 8 episodes to go in the UK till I see that but I can't believe the shockers! Wasn't expecting Amber to die and Nooo Thirteen! I don't know what I'd do without Thirteen... Hopefully she's got a way to go before anything happens... unless thats next seasons storyline.
I was expecting it
...But it still didn't make it any less sad...Poor Wilson. That scene at the end when he went to check on House to see if he was awake, did anyone else think he was sort of turning his back on him when he walked out without saying anything?
Anyway, great episode and these last two episodes have to be my favorites out of the entire series...But I never cried, I am too tough for that *sniff*. Just allergies. I swear!
Never met a pearl quite like you that could shimmer and rot at the same time through
It was really good, not as
It was really good, not as intense as the last one though you did sit on the edge of your seat from time to time. Definately the most depressing of episodes though lol Nearly cried three times and then I was shocked at 13 having the disease. At first I couldnt believe it, demanding to know if she could have some dormant strain, but my mom says when its positive that means she has it and will have to deal with it in the future. *le sigh* One woman dies and another gets her death sentence? Geesh, they sure love their women on this show lol
Lets see.... Cameron nearly gets AIDS, nearly gets infected by Foreman's strain of that laughing disease... Amber croaks, 13 has Huntingtons. Just feel the love....
Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
Very sad episode
This episode was awfully sad. I didn't really like Amber but I knew that the relation she and Wilson had was real and I liked the banter between her and House. She will be missed. I'm glad Amber and House were not having an affair.
The end was very moving. I think that every viewer will cry, at least I did.
I also thought 13 was in love with Amber at the beginning. I wonder how she'll cope with her having Huntington.
I think Cuddy has feelings, more that friendship, for House.
Can't wait to see season 5
Glad to see ...
... other people with *sneefle* allergies *sneefle*
I grew to really like Cutthroat Bitch, so of course, she had to die. I've gotten to appreciate the mysterious Dr. 13, so of course, she's screwed . I've always liked Wilson, so of course, his life is devastated. I've never really warmed up to Cuddy, her role is so rote: "Bad House, bad boy. Lemme do whatever you want" so she'll be fine. Ditto Cameron.
That scene with Wilson and Amber was one of the saddest things I've seen in scripted tv for a long time. And I "liked" the mis-lead with 13 & Amber. Dropping all kinds of hints that 13's reluctance was based on some sort of past relationship with Amber, when it was really about her fears for herself. Nice work, writers.
sad. so sad
I teared up again when I read ur recap
I was crying my eyes out watching the episode. God, that was so depressing... and good.... and terrible.... and great... and ....
terrific finale!
paralyzed
This episode was beautiful and so sad. i really don't know how I will wait until the Fall for the return.
I actually did think 13 had feelings for CTB too, ohh those clever faux clues.
When Kutner, 13, and Taub said goodbye to Amber at the end, I was worried that it would be cheesy, but I'm glad they did it-the absence of words was integral.
Next season, I'd love to see House actually change for the better, but that probably won't happen.
Maybe its my own love of Cuddy, but I think I've seen a look in her eyes when she looks at House, some sort of deeper affection...
Or maybe the image of her in her underwear is just burned into my brain. Hehe. :-)
{{{sigh}}}
Can't really coment right
Can't really coment right now, because of all the thoughts thwirling through my head. But as I'm rewatching the episode just this moment:
Amber is barefoot through all the ep. Even in Houses dreams. Does that mean something? (And I'm not only asking the film-students)
Great Episode!
I thought this was a great end to an enjoyable season. I liked the new team, although I must say, she might be bi, but Amber (she'll always be Cut Throat Bitch to me!) was a much more interesting character. 13 just mopes about and looks wide eyed. Cameron MkII!
I was surprised they killed off Amber. Ann Dudek is a really good actress (spotted her on Mad Men) and I'm surprised the didn't want to keep the character around. I guess the ensemble is getting big with the new team and the original ones too.
I rather like House and Cuddy together. She definitely seemed concerned about him - although I think they have established Wilson and Cuddy as more like his friends than the youngsters. I hear they were thinking of exploring their relationship a bit before the writers strike changed plans. Lisa Edlestein's stripper act was HOOOTTTT last week! A fine woman.. :D
Wow. That's immensely
Never seen
Never seen such a sad House episode, or really any other TV that made me cry like that. I really wish they hadn't killed off Amber - she was becoming much more likable and awesome (great banter between her and House). I think Amber really became a much cooler character once she stopped having to jump through hoops for House. She really blossomed once she was on her own...and especially with Wilson!
While next season Thirteen will certainly be dealing with the positive Huntington's gene test, she most likely won't die on the show. Huntington usually hits in the forties and fifties.
Also, loved the Obama sticker...and the foot tap! ;-)
Close to the best two hours of television ever.
That might be a little over the top, but when you are hanging on every word, every scene, what more can you ask for? I knew in the first episode when it was revealed at the end that it was Amber who was dying that they meant it. She was going to die. I kinda smacked myself on the head and said why didn't I realize they would use this type of two hour ender to get rid of a character.
Amber was someone that I was surprised to see come back after House voted her off. I knew they would never let her stay Wilson's girlfriend. Also, I loved her character. If they hadn't killed her off FOX should have given her a spin-off.
Yes, Wilson just checked to see if House woke up. Then he walks away both physically and mentally. It's going to take some time next seaon before these two get their friendship back.
I am still amazed at how great these two episodes were. Unbelievably great television. I suffered and I mean SUFFERED through that new Narnia movie and I've decided television has much better writing.
And gods, that picture of Amber you've put in your review is mind blowing. I had one of those obsessive affairs with someone who looked very, very much like her almost three decades ago. I hadn't noticed it until this picture. Almost as upsetting as the episode.
Thanks for the review!
The way Thirteen was
The way Thirteen was acting, I honestly thought for a moment that she was in love with Amber.
This was so terribly sad (but in a good way). I don't like Thirteen having Huttington's but at least the character isn't reduced to her sexual orientation only.
RIP Amber
House season finale
The best House episode I've
The best House episode I've seen (considering I've only watched season 3 and 4).
I have to admit... I saw the previous episode and right after House realizes it was Amber I started crying! And then I had the great idea of watching the second episode right away... the moment I finally managed to stop crying, the scene where House remembers everything started. I cried so much! I don't remember crying that much about a TV episode.
I also thought Thirteen had something for Amber... would have been interesting. And right before they showed her tests results I thought "ok... so she's going to have Huntintong's... after watching this episode that's not the worst that could happen!!"so I was kinda expecting that, however I still cried A LOT
Great Episode.