OK, just to start us off...Tritter's kinda creepy. :blink: Like, Terminator creepy. I was expecting the situation to have a kind of light, humorous aura like the Vogler arc, but his scenes, especially the one where House gets arrested, really weren't very funny at all. More like...uneasy. Or unsettling or something. I'm interested to see how it turns out.

Foreman was odd in this one. He was a little overly-warmhearted at times, but I still like it better than the way he acted last season. Chase bothered me for some reason, too--I kept kind of wishing he'd be quiet (the scene with the bet at the end was funny, though!). Cameron, on the other hand, had some good one-liners. ("Oh, almost.") ;)

Ah, Wilson...hope springs eternal. <_<

Poor Cuddy. :( So House was wrong? The shock might kill him. Unless it was a false negative (can you have those? You always hear about false positives).

When Tritter started doing the tired old psychological run-down on House (lonely, bitter, etc.) I was not impressed. Then -- BAM -- he tripped House, and he had that dead look in his eyes, and it hit me that this guy is frickin scarey. Like sociopathic scarey. I think House knew that Tritter is capable of very bad things, and was momentarily shaken each time Tritter did something physical to him (the tripping, then later grabbing him and spinning him around). But House is arrogant and angry, so he couldn't back down. Very in-character.

I thought Tritter's analysis of House as a bully was more insightful than the lonely/bitter line. But talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

So, how much trouble do we think House is in about the pills? I'm guessing legally, not too much. Either he has a valid prescription, or he is using the prescription he filched from Wilson's pad. When push comes to shove, Wilson would cover for him if the alternative was House going to jail or losing his medical license. But finding out what House did can't be good for their friendship.

I really liked the ducklings tonight. Foreman playing House? Delightful! And the look on House's face when he realized that he'd been played? Adorable.

Oh this is gonna be good! The best "arc" to date.

It seem like this won't feel contrived or old hat. It seems like a very, very plausible situation given House's personality and behavior. And Tritter, being a cop, would be operating within his boundaries to do what he did. Although I'm sure Tritter was lying in wait for our man on the motorcycle, he used his own brain and deductive reasoning to catch House in a position that would be very hard for him to wiggle out of. He's playing House's game against House and that's why it didn't seem like bad cop going outside the lines. At least to me, what do you guys think?

Based on what I've read in the interviews with David Morse, that is what the producers wanted to accomplish and, although it's too early to tell for sure, I think it's working. Tritter didn't make things up. House was speeding, he had narcotics on him, not in a perscription bottle (??? :huh: House, what are you doing?) which makes them questionable. All within the "rules" that a cop has to play by.

Even him gettting a little rough with House when he told him to turn around and place his hands on his head was within the "rules". Very nicely played by both actors. And well written too.

Both Hugh and David seem to have their characters dialed in to the exact place they need to be to pull this off.

And before I move on to the rest of the episode, I loved the shot of House sitting on the floor in the jail cell in the previews for next week! Is it Tuesday yet?!

Okay, on to the episode.

This one gave me a real off balance feel. Nobody seemed to be the way we'd left them a month ago. House seemed preoccupied and distracted the whole episode. Cameron was the one trying to keep things "on-track" when she's usually the one that goes off on a tangent. Forman was the "It's really Love" champion instead of Cameron. And Chase actually got some dialogue.

Not that anyone was truly out of character but they weren't in their typical roles. I kind of liked Cameron this episode. Both she and Chase got some great lines this episode. Or at least better lines than they have been getting.

I suspect Foreman's "But they're in love" stance emminated from his personal life, or at least that's the impression I think they were trying to make.

Loved Cuddy's line "Sometimes an ass is...just an ass." :lol:

Poor Wilson. I find it interesting that House mentions he "raced" through three marriages. I wonder what the time frame was? I mean to me, 10 years would qualify as racing through three marriages.

And the whole Cuddy pregnancy thing is a little off. Are we to believe she completed the IVF and it didn't work or that she is, for lack of a better term, sleeping around trying to get pregnant? If you combine the "Thank you", "Did you come all the way up here to tell me that" lines and all the references House has made to her being pregnant, I presume the thought is supposed to be that she went ahead with the IVF.

If you presume the shows timeline follows a 1 week per episode track then it may be possbile but then what's up with the injections? Did they not want to overplay it (It would get old if they kept playing the House gives Cuddy a shot in the butt and makes a snide comment each time.)? Did Cuddy get someone else? Did I just miss something?

I think they've blown this storyline a little. I mean, I think it needs to be subtle and not the focus of an episode or two or even an arc but they've left out too much. Maybe they plan on revealing a little more later on but right now I'm not sure what to think. I'll reserve judgement until the end of season three (I would hope they'd wrap it up by then. Or at least make some sense of it.)

Now on to House. He seemed more disinterested than usual in this case. Yet for most of the episode, didn't really seem to have anything else going on. Yes, there was the whole Wilson's got a girlfriend thing but that just didn't seem like it was the total distraction.

I do need to rewatch because I was falling asleep as 9 o'clock rolled around and I don't think I ever got fully awake. I'm sure I missed many things so I'm counting on all your observations and a rewatch to clear it all up.

I was distracted last night, but I called my mom this morning to ask her to bring up more coffee (there's a brand I like that they don't have up here, and I'm picky about my coffee). But we talked about the episode and I made the comment of when House was getting arrested I looked at the clock and realized the show was over and was made me mad that it was only an hour and not two.

I'm gonna watch it when USA re-airs then give my comments then but I thought the brother/sister case was cool. I did not see that coming I guess I don't really consider people of different colors being related. Not saying it doesn't happen but I don't look at a white person and a black person and go "Oh, I bet they're related!" especially when they're dating (OK that's more of I don't want to know your about incestuous relationship) Never mind the dad disapproving the relationship and the son thinking he was racist. My room mate made the comment on how the show was sick, I told her "shush!"of course she tends to point out the obvious.


(I love spell check)

Posted this on my LJ, but (since I don't like to force anyone to visit--but please do! And reccommend it if yo likey)

House Reviews and Fanfic

Fools for love differed from the usual rhythm of the show in a number of ways. I had the feeling through much of it that I was back in season1. And then I realized. House had absolutely no contact with the POTW(s). None. When was the last time that happened? The couple are an idealistic mixed race duo with an interesting illness. It gave the opportunity for House and Foreman to engage about prejudice: subtle and not-so-subtle. I have always contended that House is not a bigot. He is an equal opportunity non-sufferer of fools, no matter the race, gender, politics or social status. If he perceives that you are an idiot, he will treat you as such. He does make assumptions about people, but that usually has nothing to do with race, gender, etc. House and Foreman discuss interdating, and in a subtle exchange, Foreman says to House: “You probably only date misanthropic, emotionally stunted women.” House replies (not snarkily). “Oh, so that sort of prejudice is ok.” It was a tiny moment and an interesting one.



House is completely distracted from the case this week. Although the case is interesting enough to warrant his attention, he is much more interested in Wilson’s love life. Which he is completely wrong about. He is interested in Cuddy’s fertility. Which he is also completely wrong about. He also completely misjudged the impact of ticking off Tritter. Although, I do believe that he realized early on that an apology was not going to work on him, whether or not he deserved one. I have to admit, shoving a rectal thermometer in and leaving the guy for (how long?) was cruel, even by House’s standards. But the guy did kick his cane away, causing House to fall and suffer humiliation as well.



I think that House honestly did not believe that Tritter deserved an apology after the cane thing. That they were even. It is true to his character that House would not make an insincere apology to anyone. And he believed that it would not be enough to get the guy off his back in any event.



House is internalizing so much of what he’s gone through. He won’t talk about the return of the pain; he won’t deal with the shooting. Instead, he bottles it up inside and repackages it as anger—and apathy. About himself. He clearly has not gone to anyone for a refill of his Vicodin scrip. Why would he not do that? Wilson and Cuddy know he’s taking it. Where do they think he’s getting it. If he went to either of them, he would have to discuss it; think about alternatives; acknowledge the failure of the ketamine and his own failure to heal himself. He is back at square 1. It has to be, at best, discouraging, and at worst, eating away at him, corrosive to his spirit and physical well-being. So he’s self-medicating. Tritter says that he’s too arrogant to have gotten a prescription legitimately. I think House would rather admit that than to admit to the sort of vulnerability that he must be feeling right now. House is running away from himself, but is about to be trapped in a cage of his own making.



His interactions with the team were pretty interesting. Different, as well. The team know his style, his tricks, his methods. So they think they can control him if they conspire together. Maybe cuddy has even made that part of their jobs, realizing that House is teeter-tottering on the edge right now, even if it’s still not perceivable to anyone else. They seem to be trying to prevent him from becoming his own worst enemy. In a way, they always have, but it just seemed moreso this episode for some reason.



This episode, to me, seemed like the prologue to the next six. And maybe my anticipation of the next several very House-centric episodes has me antsy. I did like this episode, but so much of what I love about the show is tied up in House, and I am very, very worried about him right now.



The final scene, where he is arrested, came as shock to him. He is pulled over for speeding. 40 in a 25 zone. Been there, done that myself. House has been there before as well. (remember all those speeding tickets in Euphoria?) Nice bit of continuity if Tritter was sent to House as payback for the cop dying in Euphoria or finagling to get his bag of tickets fixed. So, anyway, House is pulled over and sees it’s Tritter. Dawns on House that he’s been set up, so he snarkily engages the cop, knowing that it’s a minor traffic violation. He has vastly misjudged Tritter. Tritter is going to be good to his word back in Cuddy’s office. It’s all about the humiliation. He puts circumstantial evidence together to give him probable cause to search House. Took a pill during his exam; dilated pupils (never mind that the pupils are dilated because of the dark). Tritter holds all the cards in this power play. He asks House to turn around and put his hands behind his head, and House still isn’t aware of what’s going down. House roughly spins House and pats him down. House knows what’s coming, but his instinct is to verbally push back, which he does. Finally, as House is Miranda-ed, I think the full impact dawns on him.



The preview for next week shows a very, very dejected and worried House sitting on the floor of the cell. No cane (and doubtless no painkillers either). That one brief scene where we see House leaning his head against the chain-link of the holding cage, gripping the fence just broke my heart.



Like I said, I’m anxious about next week already

Just quick thoughts - I'll try for the deep end later- but man-o-man! Never got the 'cuff being hot thing but.......whoa! House in bracelets with a skin tease... smoking ;-)

Sorry, shallow but you know I've been missing my fix and that plus all the House/Wilson was just too good.

Great thought people!

Random thought: Foreman hates cops, but he generally likes seeing House get schooled. I wonder how he'll feel about Tritter. :) If House does go to jail, at least Foreman can get in some retribution mocking for all those cracks House makes about him getting sent to juvie.

Do we know if this is House's first time getting arrested?

I believe that with those home test things can be inaccurate, but only if the test is negative. In other words, you can be pregnant and have a negative but you can't have a false positive. I think.

I agree with Sasmom that this episode had a feel very reminiscient of Season One. In contrast to Vogler, though, Tritter is much more sinister, malevolent. We get the idea that this isn't just some guy House is going to come up against in a battle of wills and wit, a businessman. This guy is a cop, he's out to get House, to punish him. He knows exactly what he's in for. The situation also allows a bit more of an exploration into both of the characters - this isn't just two people who don't like each other. There's a definite implication that House has brought this upon himself.

It's very rare in the show for us to see someone get close to House. In my opinion that's what makes this all the more sinister. Just think of the look on House's face when Tritter kicks his cane, and then when he steps in and lifts his arms to his head.

This guy means business.

I agree, Rt. It was only a matter of time until House pissed off the wrong person or got caught. You don't care about what people think, sooner or later someone's going to kick out when you step on their toes. We know from Cuddy's comments in Humpty Dumpty that House has probably - well - messed things up for himself before. Being fired from four hospitals (or by four administrators), a criminal record... House is an exceptional person and in no way is he the model employee.

Comparing this arc again to Vogler: I feel that here are two very well-matched adversaries. Not that Tritter measures up to House in every way, there's still the idea of course that he's pretty much unique. But we have someone that House measures up as an opponent almost straight away. I think the suggestion is that he didn't tell Cuddy that the guy tripped him over but he certainly took it personally. Very personally. This is the stubborn House we know and love, but fighting back in a way that we haven't seen before, really. Interesting.

Last I checked something like Vicodin wouldn't dilate the pupils. The general rule is that most opiates cause Miosis (constricted pupils). Synthetic opiates dilate the pupils but not nearly as much as a hallucinogen like LSD.


Great stuff. Beautifully done. I like what they're doing with this arc and the character dymanics were especially interesting in this episode. I'm also glad that they at least chose to show us that Cuddy is not pregnant. Interesting. That storyline's almost the runt of the litter this season.

He has a criminal record...

Awesome review props go to sasmom. So very clear and on point. A few additional comments (to add my 2 cents)

I'm not sure if he's interested or if it is another source of amusement. He seems to deflect more damaging/serious commentary with the baby comments. Maybe it's to remind Cuddy that he knows something that not a lot of other people know, A weak spot perhaps. Blackmail or coercion anyone? Just a fleeting thought there- I don't think he would actually try to use it against her in any way.

To be honest here, we don't know to what extent House has dealt with the shooting... or if he NEEDS to deal with it. Some people do better without "confronting" issues. We don't see him having any panic attacks or drinking himself into a stupor, or even overmedicating beyond the norm. He's still crass and does crazy stuff (naloxone) and is still very much into "the puzzle." However, judging by the upcoming promo and lots and lots of bottles of vicodin, he maaaay have a few issues there. To me, he doesn't seem any angrier than last season, or season 1. I take everything at face value with this show. But just because we haven't seen it happen, doesn't mean it hasn't (i.e. prescriptions). What doesn't make sense to me is that IF Wilson and Cuddy know he's taking it (and how could they not?) AND if neither has prescribed... are they idiots? Where else would he get it if not illegally? Of course, I can see Wilson asking where he got it, and House telling him it was Cuddy and then vice versa.

Tritter is a cop who evidently believes in some type of vigilante justice. In a way he is very much like House. Tritter realizes he already has physical power over House- no need to beat the crap out of him- too easy. He uses just enough to remind House who is in control. Then he uses his job as a means to get back at House for indiscretions- just like House used his position as a doc to get back at Tritter (that little House trick was kinda... wow...) Depends on the judge/jury, but Tritter's arrest was a little sketch and I can see it not being a problem for House to get off for all but the speeding if he had a decent lawyer. I really do wonder about next week though. Warrants 101 people? How do they get cause for that?

As far as meds in a prescription bottle... Recently someone at my house (not me.. not actively anyway) was watching Cops at Mardi Gras. Some guy had meds in a prescription bottle. Guess what? They arrested him for trying to sell- despite his claim that he took the (ha!) hydrocodone for an injury he got from getting hit by a bus. The point is that I don't think that having them in a bottle would've helped much. The fact that they were in his pocket though- (on 2nd thought)... who keeps loose pills in their pocket? I'd be afraid of losing them- suckers are probably expensive.. unless you're stealing them. Hmmm.....

I think I need to watch this ep again. Man, I need a DV-R...

I'd be afraid of forgetting about them until I discovered Vicodin sludge all through the washing machine and my clothes. I bet you a handful of those little suckers would be worse than one tissue.
Or something along those lines.

AE... ya had to bring out my grammatical error.... geesh.. I'm such a looser. ;) I had to go back and fix that in the original you know...

You think that those pills would leave a gooey mess? Or would they just kind of... dissolve and maybe look like some left over detergent?

Ha.
I went back and edited the quote, too.

Don't know if they'd form a sludge, as such. But I reckon they'd leave some pretty gross residue. I don't know, maybe they'd just completely dissolve... But I'm betting on having a pocket filled with strange residue.

Last hockey season I put my uniform through the wash hurriedly the night before a game. What I didn't realise at the time I put it in is that I also chucked in the little tiny tin of Tiger Balm (what is it with me and this stuff?) that had been sitting in the bottom of my sports bag. The result: A uniform smelling very strongly of the stuff, all over. And believe it or not I could feel it burning in places. When I ran, I could feel that strange cool feeling, almost like being drenched in peppermint. That was a very interesting game.

Anyway, sorry for the OT in the form of my laundry exploits.

It could just be the result of a month worth of deprivation but I really liked it. On a side note I sort wish it didn't coincide with Halloween though as I was watching Most Haunted Live on the Travel Channel before it came on--it's a British show originally and most likely fake but it's fun to hear the history of these places and watch the team run around in the dark freaking themselves out. I could go on about it but that's another post.

Anyway, figures it would be a cop. It's the perfect profession for bullies-- for some reason despite being a goody-goody and pretty much "white bread n' mayo" I share some of Foreman's attitude about the police;maybe it's the counter-cultural sympathies. Not that I'm saying all cops are that way. Just to disclaim myself, I've known plenty of police officers who are great people, including an long-time across the street neighbor to whom I am related via my cat (short story long, my cat showed up as a stray, had babies, and he had adopted one), but there seem to be some people who decide on that career because it gives them a legitimate reason to push others around. And I know they see a lot of really traumatic, awful things that tend to lower their general opinion of humanity too.

There, now that that's done, I have to say the villains, or I should probably say antagonists (as opposed to protagonists) are getting better. Vogeler was pretty much a carboard cut-out--all bad, not a hint of redeeming characteristic in sight; very easy to hate, but not all that involving. All he needed was a greasy mustache to twirl and he would have been complete.

Stacy started out better, and is part of the reason why I can't say flat-out villian (the other part being that while we empathize with House, he's not exactly a classic hero). Yes, she had major issues with House, she was, indirectly, the cause, or one of them, of a major negative, life-altering event for House, she betrayed him, at least technically, by going against his wishes, then she broke his heart, and finally she waltzed back into his life, seemingly without much consideration for what it might do to him, but you could sympathize with her reasons.

As I said when "Three Stories" first aired, while on an abstract level I can support House's right to do whatever he wanted with his own body up to and including letting himself die, when I try to put myself in the situation Stacy was in (love of your life in obvious pain, in danger of dying, and acting illogical, while you have the power to possibly save him) I can't say I wouldn't have done more or less the same thing.

Ditto with leaving House. I'd hope that in the same situation I would be a strong enough person to put up with the emotional fallout of my decision and stick it out, but you know House is not the type to let anything lie and he is capable of being very hurtful. Even in the most solid and functional of relationships, serious health crisis of this kind can destroy the relationship. It's entirely possible that he had Stacy convinced that he wanted her to leave and, so, being unable to give him back his missing thigh muscle, she did what she thought she could for him by getting out of his sight. At this point we don't know much about the circumstances beyond the bare bones details (she stayed a while after the surgery and eventually she did the leaving).

Then it's concern for a loved one that brings Stacy back. The person she loves now obviously has something wrong with him and no one seems to be able to tell what it is or even if it exists.Once again her life is in serious turmoil. She knows of a person who solves these kind of puzzles as no one else, or almost no one else, can. Unfortunately, this person is her ex. Still, you do unpleasant things sometimes for the sake of others, and is she supposed to let her husband potentially die just to spare House's feelings? Later on she did some things that annoyed me, but overall a more worthy antagonist for House.

Now we have the cop. In my mind he sort of deserved his treatment. Having done customer service, I know the frustration of having someone complain about wait time when you've been working as fast as you can to take care of everyone--granted this may not be true for House as he tends to find ways to slack off during clinic. Still, while he didn't apologize, House wasn't especially rude either. So House goes on with the exam. Then Tritter, who previously was sick of waiting, is upset because House isn't making small talk--and here I thought he just wanted to get it overwith as quickly as possible. Okay, House checks it out. Looks like it's just skin irritation. I can tell you I'd certainly be quiet happy to hear that--especially, being the hypochondriac I am, since I usually immediately start thinking of the worst case scenario for any ailment-- especially if it were involving that particular area of my body (being female, I don't have those parts specifically, but still . . .). But no, Tritter apparently knows better than the doctor. He must be tested for STDs. But, okay, still within the range of normal annoying patient behavior. Then he trips House/kicks his cane (possibly also his leg).Even before he did this I said to myself, "It probably not wise to anger a person who has the power to do legitimately do very uncomfortable things to you, especially in sensitive areas" (note also, why it is not nice to mess with the nurse/nurses/person in charge of your pain control, for the same reasons). I admit I have given in to physical aggression at times, and that's bad enough, but, despite what certain gung-ho sports coaches and bad sportsmen will tell you, it is not nice to abuse/take advantage of the physical injuries of others, especially the really painful ones (and I winced in sympathy having been, albeit I deservingly, been kicked semi-hard in a very painful sprained ankle). We have moved into malicious territory now. I might not have resorted to the thermometer, but I have a feeling my swabbing would have been very vigorous to say the least--sorry, I've got to really be thorough with these things, you know ;).

On the other hand I do relate to Tritter and wanting the bullies to get what's theirs. I am related to a bunch of really nice people, who at times get abused or taken advantage of because of their niceness and generousness. I was raised to be the same way, but I have the ability and the willingness to hurt others, emotionally at the very least. I can speak the language of the bullies, so to speak. I probably shouldn't, but I can definitely relate to that feeling because sometimes it seems like it's about time that the good people won a few.

Of course all of you have pointed out various parallels between what Tritter did/does and what House likes to do. Just in the situations in this episode, we saw them both inflict abuse on others in the guise of their professions. Both were technically within normal operating procedure (police officers can check people they pull over for drug use/abuse/DUI, or for that matter pull them over period; doctors do take temperatures, especially when checking for infection, sometimes even via that particular route).

As far as the question of House having been arrested before, I'd have to say yes. Even disregarding previous allusions to it having happened, House is just the type of person, given how he acts and we know he does, that would have to have had some kind of runin with legal authorities, even if it was just a "drunk and disorderly" back in his undergrad. days.

The team did seem wierd this week. On one had I was sort of glad to see Cameron get in some really good shots against House. On the other I worry that they're still heading for, oh look, she's changed, now she's perfect for House, because I'm still not buying that. Of course I could be poisoned by reading the TWOP boards too often as they're even more uptight about it than I am.

It was nice to see nice Foreman again, although he was almost a little too nice. I liked the irony that the whole time he's getting ridden by various people about his problems with inter-racial dating/marriages, his new girlfriend is actually Anglo.

Jumping into the shallow end, I too enjoyed the shot of bare belly we got. I'll have to watch it again, more carefully on USA though as I was expecting something to be revealed, like maybe track marks (I dont' know why, I don't believe the stomach is neccessarily a popular area for injecting IV drugs, though what do I know). I also thought of a statement made by the comedian Ron White about getting stopped for DUI, "I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability".

And AE, I too would have horrible problems with loose meds. I am the absolute worst about leaving stuff in my pockets when I put clothes in the wash: Kleenex, money (coins and folding), candy (in wrapper fortunately), ticket stubs, you name it and it's probably been through the washer because of my forgetfulness.

I can remember watching a load of washing go through once with a five dollar note (we have plastic money here, copolymer notes) stuck to the inside of the glass. When it stopped I peeled it off and, presumably, spent it.

My uncle is a policeman. He's very ocker: he calls criminals 'grubs' and VB (beer) 'defendant's lager', because he claims that everytime he's made an arrest when people have been drinking they've been drinking that. He's different from my mum in every way. My point being is that, at least in my experience, there are certain types of people who become policemen.

I agree with you on the character-depth thing. Vogler was a bit benign - sure he had the power to get House fired, but he seemed one-dimensional and very much on the periphery. This Tritter guy? Downright sinister.

*snicker* nice one AE!

Those sneaky Scousers - Beatles and Derek Acora ;-) You guys give us House and we give you Most Haunted- that says something I think... although Hugh one of hours so hmmm...... :)

The Fluffy Floaty Pills O'House's Hot Jacket of Pockets is another hmm - I figured he did rip a handful (of sorts) from the Pharmacy. Speaking of which - where is our favourite Dispenser, hope they didn't foreget him? I think the cop was right on the money and that while House may have made life difficult for himself (maybe as means of trying self-regulate) by nicking Wilson's pad, I can see him slip sliding into helping himself after a while.

Most of all I hope we get some hints at least to the origins of House's legit 'scrips and some clue as to Wilson/Cuddy's role. It's my favourite drum - but they are at least some how responsible - Wilson for writing and Cuddy for allowing to House work 'under the influence' and I really want to see that come up. I kinda hoped that Cuddy was giving House the 'apologise NOW' in spades be cause she knew the potential re' the drugs and was at least somewhat concerned for herself.

On the Cuddy tip - I loved the scene with her at the end. I would much prefer to see Cuddy handling not being able to get pregnant than any other eventuality.

And for my weekly Cameron whine? None. Because when she blends into the background (some might say like lobby art but not me ;) ) I like her just fine ).

More H/W to follow when I have stopped backing in all the airtime goodness :D

There isn't too much for me to say about this ep that hasn't already been hashed through.

I will say that Tritter pisses me off. He calls House a bully when he's clearly one himself, and probably ten times worse. As much as I do think House needs his comeuppance occasionally, I think this was a bad way for him to get it. Tritter actively baited and trapped him, and clearly enjoyed doing it. House is a misanthrope, but Tritter is a bonafide sociopath. I just hope that Tritter gets his in the end.

Hot Stomach-Exposing Jacket Of Pockets, Benj. :D

Cameron's hair was shocking in this episode.

I doubt House is going to let him get away with it...

This situation calls for me to play Devil's Advocate! I don't think Tritter is sinister. Take it from his point of view: he walks into the clinic with a very personal problem and receives crass and rude treatment and then almost gets walked out on. The tripping however, was mean and he was sinister in his little speech. House's response was overly gruesome and embarrasing and obviously Tritter tries to go through official channels to get an apology. He doesn't even mention to House that he IS a detective. When the apology doesn't work, he takes things into his own hands.

The reason I say this is because I have a very good friend that once told me exactly what Tritter told House about bullying the bullies. For me it was a converation btw- not a threat. You have to fight bullies sometimes. It happens.

My experience with cops (and I have been around a fair number of them) is that they may fail to see both sides of the equation. All they tend to see is the offender (the perp). They see something that is illegal and decide to make an arrest to make the individual pay for their crime and give victims their justice. Whether or not this is a personalitiy trait that is desirable (and thus hireable) in the police or whether it develops to lesson the cognitive dissonance of making an arrest is up for debate.

On the other side of it, there are a lot of cops who are bullies. I had a cop tell me once that there are two types of people who become cops- those who want justice and those that were beat up as kids and want revenge. But no matter what, they believe what they're doing is right. Many believe that they're ridding society of evil-doers- whether its the kid who has a joint in his pocket or the serial killer with fingers in a fridge. That's not to say cops are all bad or that all cops are narrow-minded asses... its just saying that its their job to enforce the law and maintain order and this job usually must be done by people who have a very clear sense of right and wrong and are willing to enforce it. And then its up to the court system, etc. to figure it all out and give both sides.

That said- Tritter believes that House is wrong and wants to make him pay. My guess is that he does a little digging on House before he pulls him over for speeding. If he ran the tags, he'd probably come up with at least the other speeding tickets (still unpaid?) and no telling what else. And no telling what a local/national law check would come up with on House. From his POV, he's probably not only taking revenge for himself but for everyone else that House ever bullied. But like so much of this show, we're drawn towards House's side of the story because we see his whole story. We know his background, we know he cares, we know he's miserable and tormented and in pain. Tritter doesn't know that House went into an 8 year old cancer patient's room and told her that she couldn't just stay alive and suffer for her mother.... or that he advocates for his patients so much that he breaks ethical guidelines. What would happen if you ONLY saw what the clinic patients saw?

I could go on and on about this if I didn't have to work. But I do have to work... unfortunately. Lunchtime over. Coffee time is here. ;)

And what you say Nomad is exactly what makes Tritter such a good antagonist for House. We don't like him because he's causing trouble for "our guy" but at the same time he's got some pretty good reasons even though in my mind he sort of deserved what happened.

And as I said before I definitely get the bully the bullies, probably because I am one of the those kids who got a lot of the torment growing up, and now that I have a little power it's tempting.

Also, just to be clear, the majority of policeman are, I'm sure wonderful people, and I know that a lot of the ones who seem less than stellar got that way because of the things they've seen, much like doctors who will joke that they wish the suicide attempt(s) would just get it right already. For the most part, I'm glad I don't have to deal with the stuff or people they do.

Oh and, Benj, Derek Acorah is gone now for apparently being a fake, not that he admits it. It was a bit suspicious that he seemed to get possessed by something/one nasty every investigation they went on even if it was entertaining to watch. Now it's just Yvette screaming every time the wind blows (no, no one heard that, because you were screaming too loud!!) Well, actually you also gave us Blackadder, Dr Who, and most of the great writers of the Renaissance period, so I think the debt lies in your favor.

Um, I'm going to post what I wrote in my blog first of all, if that's alright. So, here's my reaction... (It's very long - look out.)

Ok, so I finally got to see House. And was not disappointed. Very entertaining episode. I loved all three of the fellows for once - yay for nice!Foreman. Where have you been? I haven't seen you much since season 1. I loved that the nurse turned out to be his girlfriend. I didn't see that coming, which was cool. Once again, evidence that Foreman has much more of a social life than either Chase or Cameron.

The patients' reveal was also an interesting twist, which I saw coming about the same time House did and about two seconds before he explained/confirmed it. Heh. (I felt bad for them, because it reminded me of this couple in a book from the "Ender's Game" series. Has anyone read that?? Ok, nevermind.)

I loved all the House/Wilson interaction in this. Wilson stopped bitching for the first time in a while and was just cute and amusing. "Why so rude?" Oh, Wilson. And House's posessiveness and nosiness. I watched that scene in advance - I just cannot resist spoilers, I'm afraid - but even out of context, I knew there had to be something more to his poconos question. It just felt like he was pressing something he had a clue about. Still slashy however, because of Wilson's reaction. Heh. And Wilson alone in the hotel at the end... Sigh.

Now, onto the cop plotline... Ok. So I will admit, I've got this slightly sadistic streak when it comes to fictional characters. When House goes through crap, I am often pleased, because... I love him sad and troubled, ok? (Oh, dear god, I'm Cameron!! 0_0) Ahem. Not my point. My point is that while I like seeing characters I love go through hell, I need to also be on their side. And, here... Well. It's just a bit confusing. I've been reading lots of other people's commentaries on this episode, and the cop thing has brought out some interesting reactions. First of all, there's the omg-wtf-subtext?! response, and, I will agree, it was definitely there and definitely intentional - it's like the writers/producers found the crack!fics and jokes about Vogler and thought "THIS is what we were missing!" And uh, if they wanted to make a creepier, more intimidating nemesis with much more highly charged scenes... mission accomplished. Did anyone ever really take Vogler seriously, anyway?

The Tritter situation is different from the Vogler arc in a lot of ways. The biggest difference, aside from Tritter being more of a real threat, is that with Vogler, House was clearly the good-guy. He was the gung-ho rebel standing up against Greed and Corruption and all that. He was for the patients as individuals and taking that to heart rather than just following the letter of the law. Vogler pretty much caused a patient of House's to die by cancelling an operation he thought wasn't legitimate or something, just to show House he could, and then House got to shout in his face, all righteous fury. Season 1 tended to show House in a very positive light - he was a rude, miserable jerk, sure, but in the end, he was always on the side of the patient and he did what was right. He stood for Reason over everything else, including corruption and selfishness and lots of other things that are bad. House was a heroic antihero.

Season 2, House changed. I know I've been complaining about this repeatedly, and it's not that bad, not really. I still love him. And maybe it's more accurate and fair, to show that actually, a jerk is really a downright jerk; the show decided to say - "Oh, hey doctors. If you thought you should imitate our character... Please, don't." As Foreman stated once last season, "House is not a hero. A person who has the guts to break a bad rule, they're a hero. House doesn't break rules, he ignores them. He's not Rosa Parks, he's an anarchist. All he stands for is the right for everyone to grab whatever they want, whenever they want. You tell doctors that's okay, your mortality rate is gonna go through the roof." That's the show apologizing for glorifying an asshole. They then proceeded to drag his character through the dirt. And yet... they can't completely dissemble him, because he's still the center of the series. He's still our hero. He's still the POV-character, and he's who the audience wants to side with, because they feel for him.

And in a lot of ways, we should, because really, that arrest was totally a set-up and not fair at all. His eyes were dilated?? Come on, dude - it was night-time. And as much as House's friends/co-workers harp on him about the addiction thing... someone in chronic pain... needs pain-meds. House, we've been shown repeatedly, is in real, legitimate, awful pain. If Tritter's going to get him for that, that's just... not fair. And if the show wants us to side with view that House needs to get into trouble for being an "addict," then, I frankly disagree.

But then there's the argument that House really does deserve to be given a reality check and taken down a bit. ...Because getting shot in the neck and stomach wasn't enough. On top of getting punched in the face twice, kneed in the groin once, having his cane sabotaged by his best friend, and that time when big-money-bags Vogler specifically targeted him and tried to get him fired... House might hate the world, but it hates him back hard. Do the writers really think he's that much of an awful person that we're supposed to accept someone just coming in and shooting him as normal and to be expected?? You really shouldn't pull those kinds of stunts on a show if you're not willing to deal with any repercussions of that at all. The characters, including House, just rolled over and forgot about that. (Kinda like everyone forgot that Foreman was an inch away from death, too.) --and yet, the infarction has this lingering affect, six years later... (I'm glad the show started after the infarction - the writers probably would have had House literally pick up the cane and go back to work the next day and pretend nothing ever happened.)

I think I got off-topic there... What I've been trying to say is that, with Tritter, the whole thing is much more grey. It's not being portrayed as good-guy!House v. The Man. It's one bully (our bully) v. the new, bigger bully on the playground. The thing is, House, as a character, did not really start out as a bully, I don't think. He lets his mouth run, he takes people down several pegs always, he is suspicious and accusatory and irreverent. But now... See, I'd be ok with pretty much any crap House pulls - except for the callous and even cruel disregard for other people's pain. The way he made the husband suffer in this episode, for example, stopping the anesthetic from working. Ugh. They need to stop making him do <i>those</i> kinds of things. That's not something a jerk does - that's something a truly horrible person does. And yeah, he did it because he wanted to make both the patients live, but it wasn't necessary. Turned out he was wrong about whatever he was trying to accomplish there anyway. Why does it have to be either the horrible, contemptible person, or the admirable, truth-sayer on a pedestal? It's like they've been going out of their way, for a long time now, to make it clear that House is not a role model.

Well, duh, he's not a role model. But that doesn't mean he can't be a sympathetic, compelling character! And it doesn't mean he has to be a full-out, god-awful bully, either. Making him meaner does not make him more realistic or whatever - actually, it is less realistic. Because why would anyone act that way, seriously? And how could House have gotten where he is and be as respected as it's been hinted he is in this fictional medical world, if he always was like that? In fact, it's the lack of realism in those scenes that makes me able to completey disregard them and still love the character House - because the scenes where House shows compassion or is privately in pain, aren't simply more appealing; they also just ring true so much more. Scenes with House bursting into a sterilized room or snapping a patient's finger or gleefully telling a teenage girl that she's actually a boy, etc. just seems so over-the-top and unrealistic that I don't even regard them as really happening or reflecting anything about House as a character. It just seems like bad writing.

So. Anyway. I've been ranting far too long, I'm sure. And I've mostly said all this before...

I guess, in conclusion, I am just not exactly sure how I feel about the Tritter plot. Because I'm not sure how we are meant to interpret it. Are we supposed to root for House? Are we supposed to pity him? Are we supposed to think he's getting what he deserves and hope he learns his lesson? And if so, what is that lesson? That he should be less cruel and callous (which is what I have a problem with), or that he should be less reckless and arrogant (which is what it looks like is actually going to get him in trouble)? It'll be interesting to see where this goes... I'm anxious, but pretty excited actually, because I really did love this episode (and I'm probably going to root for and feel bad for House no matter what, so).

You're right there, Nomad. Tritter isn't 'sinister' in the one-dimensional way that Vogler was - in that case we were most definitely on House's side, and the way he jeopardised what House was trying to do could be construed as unfair. This is more complicated than that. Tritter isn't evil evil evil.
I do, however, definetely think that the character himself is sinister. Just take a look at the conversation in the clinic room. He wants to hurt House, and he's a scary guy. Not especially physically menacing, but the brooding cop thing is pretty scary.

I don't think we've ever seen this type of social life in the show before. I wonder how much more they're going to show of the nurse.

Interesting, Narsil. I don't know if they're implying that he needs to be taken down a notch - just that he brings these things upon himself and probably has a history of doing so.
As for the leg thing... It might be possible that the writers don't want to bring in another thing to overshadow the leg - if it isn't all about the leg then it won't all be about the bullet or the balls. :D
Although I agree. The shooting was more of a mechanism for the Ketamine thing and the introspection associated with it. I do hope that it isn't completely forgotten. The birthmark-like scar is a good touch.

IMO they don't want us to side with or against House. They don't want to highlight the drug use or the crazy stuff he does - that's already clear. I think they're just trying to say that someone like House could only go on for a limited amount of time without pissing off the wrong person. Basically, he's messed in his own nest. They're not condemning or glorifying his behaviour. They're just saying he's a crazy guy who makes enemies.

That's enough piecemeal commenting for now, I think. B)

Cheers
AE.

Narsil brought up some of the other physical assaults House has undergone, and that reminded me of how strikingly different House's reaction was this time. Particularly, I'm thinking of the patient's father who decked House in Detox, and the husband of the dead woman whose heart House wanted to transplant -- the guy who kneed House in the groin. In both of those cases, House did not take offense at the violence. If anything, he seemed to show more respect for these people afterwards. I wouldn't say that he felt guilty for his behavior that brought on the attacks, but I think he realized that he'd done something to deserve them and acknowledged the family members' rights to get a little payback.

Cut to Tritter kicking House's cane. Totally different, according to House's rough sense of justice. House had been rude to Tritter and perhaps appeared to be less than thorough in his diagnosis. But Tritter did not seem to be in any emotional distress -- House's behavior had angered him; it had not hurt him. So, in House's mind, physically accosting him by kicking his cane was not warranted.

It's like House gets it that if he does 20 points of damage to someone's psyche and they pay him back with 10 points of physical retaliation, that's OK, even a bit admirable in the sense of the other person standing up for himself. But if he does only 6 points of damage and they pay him back with 8 -- not cool.

(Couldn't pass this up!...)

I thought he already did... :rolleyes: :D

Tritter is an interesting one and I’m glad he’s shown up in the guise he has – it’s a plausible scenario. The Clinic, to date, has been home of the odd, the weird, the hypochondriac, but ultimately the stupid. Although the extent to which they garent our sympathy has fluctuated, they have been from the more or less not the sharpest. Given that the Lines in the Sand showed House snoozing his way through his allotted duty – it’s a nice illustration of how the Clinic encapsulates House’s worst excesses. His behaviour toward POW’s and the willingness of said patient and their nearest to take it, is diluted by the life/death situation. But the Clinic had to turn up someone who did more than bluster and whine at Cuddy. So I buy the set-up and I bought the character. His dissection of House seemed slightly too close to the mark for a first encounter, but I bought the rest. I agree with TS – don’t like him but the role works and the actor is doing a fabulous job.

:D ! Lol cathy!

I thought this was an interesting episode. The actor who playrd the cop (can't think of his name at the moment) he did a great job! :) The look Houser gave him when he tripped him in the clinic room was a freaking scary look, kinda like 'you mess with me again and I'll kill you'.. creepy! His charactrer was very scary in that regard.

I felt bad for Wilson at the end when he didn't get his girl :( Poor Wilson.

what was up with Foreman and Wilson's girl? :o that seemed kinda strange too me, off character for Foreman.

I was hoping Cuddy would've gotten pregnant, sad she didn't though :(

Hopefully this all pans out for next week episode :)

House seemed not too interested in this case, he seemed somewhat distracted would you say?

The characters all seemed a bit off kilter to me this episode, like they were playing themselves but at a different angle, make sense?

all in all, a good episode :)

God and peace
Vanessa :)

It was never Wilson's girlfriend. Wilson was chatting with her in the beginning because he's a friendly guy. House just assumed it was his girlfriend. It was really Foreman's girlfriend all along. He had been dating her for some time - just, no one knew. Wilson hasn't been dating anyone (since Grace the cancer patient, anyway).

I'm mad that USA didn't re-air the episode friday since I was going to be un-distracted then...I don't feel like I actually paid enough attention tuesday to give a fair review of the episode or actually join in on the discussion, and now I'm kicking myself because of it I think I'm gonna have to go download it.

"Are you Ron 'Tater Salad' White?"
"You caught me. You caught the 'Tater."

Anyway, yes, I too enjoyed the glimpse of skin in the middle of House's arrest. Perhaps he should get arrested more often ^_~

Now, from the preview, it looks like he might get out of jail at some point in the next episode (I believe they showed him in normal clothes at the hospital in one clip). Though that doesn't mean he's out of the woods. Probably a trial to come.

Or some sort of "Prison Break"? Maybe House asks other Fox characters for advice. I bet Jack Bauer could have him out of there in a jiffy.

This reminds me of the season one episode "Poison" where House asked Wilson if he washes his clothes before the very first wear. So... what if you absorb a dye here a chemical there and a little Vicodin on top? :P Maybe the meds would work directly on the source.