House Recap:”Act Your Age”

Title: Act Your Age
Original Airdate: April 17, 2007
GMMR Recapper: LaLa

I just love it when the title beautifully sums up the predominant theme of the episode, like it did tonight with “Act Your Age”. In this wonderfully written installment of “House”, most of the characters had problems acting like they should for their age – from Cameron and Chase’s immature sniping at each other, to the way-too-mature over-developed hormone problems of the kid siblings/patients Lucy and Jasper (which were caused by their dad’s stupidly immature decision to take sketchy testosterone pills in order to “boost” his performance in bed with his younger girlfriend). And then, of course, there was just House being House. Ah, but more on him later.

First, let’s start with Cameron and Chase. Ok, so I haven’t been too happy with the way the writers have handled their relationship so far – the whole nympho, sex anywhere-and-anytime thing was frankly pretty stupid. And at first, the predictable bitter fallout from Cameron’s cold dumping of Chase last week was kind of annoying as well – especially since Cameron was acting like the jilted woman, when she was the one who did the dumping in the first place!
But the fact that Chase totally pointed that out to her later on in the episode was just awesome. I also loved the fact that those two actually had mature, adult conversations about their relationship. And Foreman was totally right, there was just no way that Cameron was that emotionally detached – and I think her reaction to the “Not Stolen” flower bouquet that Chase gave to her in the end said it all. I guess she’s just scared of being in a relationship and falling in love, or something. Ah well, it seemed clear that Chase wasn’t going to give up on her, so maybe I’ll be rooting for those two after all – especially since I can’t help thinking about their real life betrothal anytime I see them on screen together. So for the sake of the actors’ future marriage, I say bring Chase and Cameron back together!

Now, as for the big man himself, once again House’s moments in the show were my favorite of the episode. Loved his “Never is reven spelled backwards” line. And I really loved the exchanges he had with Wilson – all the “Seriously???” “No” stuff was just classic! I really liked the fact that for once, Wilson has able to mess with House’s head worse than House was able to mess with his head. And of course, House is totally totally obsessed with Cuddy. Obviously, we’ve all noticed it before; but from his noticing that Cuddy was wearing extra concealer under her eyes to his border-line hurt reactions upon hearing about a possible Wilson-Cuddy relationship, it’s clear that his interest in Cuddy is beyond his usual jerk observations/obsessions with people. The man is just totally gone for her. And of course, his asking her to go to a play with him at the end said it all.

Speaking of House’s “Dudes only get dragged to plays by chicks they’re hoping to see naked” comment: did anyone else find that to be a funny/ironic line to be said by Hugh Laurie, master British Thespian who got his start in the theater? Anyone? Bueller?

Well anyway, I couldn’t end this column without a big shout-out to the one mature character in this episode who WAS acting his age: Foreman. From his firm and convincing speech to the kid patients’ dad about the doctors’ sexual abuse suspicions, to his wise words to Chase about Cameron, the man was the only one who remained truly strong and level-headed throughout the whole thing. You go, Foreman. You show ’em. Here’s hoping the writers develop his character more in future episodes. I mean hey, I recently asked that they develop Chase’s character more, and lo and behold, it happened! Maybe the writers/producers are actually reading my column!!

Yeah…

LaLa is a writer who currently resides in LaLa Land, aka Los Angeles. LaLa also likes to sing. LaLa also knows some lawyers in a law office. LaLa is also prone to making bad jokes, like this one. And of course, LaLa also loves her some quality television shows with quality actors on them, like House… and The Office… and 24… and, well, pretty much any smartly written show that doesn’t include a fat guy with a hot skinny wife or the words “two and a half men” in the title.

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