HOUSE: Teamwork
November 17, 2009 by Erik Wilkinson
WARNING! The first paragraph of this post contains spoilers for last night’s episode of HOUSE.
As millions of viewers watched Allison Cameron leave Princeton Plainsboro behind, EW.com’s TV guru Michael Ausiello obtained actress Jennifer Morrison’s first public comments about her departure from the show. With news of her exit having flooded gossip sites for weeks, I was eager to hear the full story. What insider scoop came out of Morrison’s mouth, you ask?
“I find the entire situation sort of confusing,”
If I did not know that Jennifer Morrison had drawn paychecks for her contributions to House, I would have sworn that she was leaving a comment here on GMMR. As I watched tonight’s episode unfold, I was astounded at the rapid-fire string of events that precipitated Cameron’s decision to leave both her husband and her career behind. While the credits rolled, and I looked back at my notes, I wondered aloud what many readers have been typing for weeks.
Why Cameron? Why now?
The immediate impact of a Cameron-free diagnostic team appears to be a retread of familiar Season Five territory. Thirteen and Foreman exchanging longing looks while going about their job, Taub attempting to balance his personal and professional lives, all under House’s micro-managing eye. If you enjoy watching reruns of House on USA, this does not present a problem. For the rest of us, it is time to hit the panic button. In the absence of progress, these characters are either treading water or regressing. Faced with those kinds of creative potholes, many viewers may find themselves changing the channel.
House’s mission in this episode was clear. Get the band back together. I have been a believer in “House 2.0: the post-Mayfield version” since the season premiere, so I was optimistic that House’s new approach would signal a fresh start for both the teacher and his students. In the process of recruiting Taub and Thirteen back to the team, House showed respect for their skills and their potential. So far, so good.
Why then, did Wilson have to dismiss their qualifications, in order to convince House that his decision-making was compromised by Cuddy’s relationship with Lucas? Between this illogical argument, and last week’s proclamation that House should pursue the “woman of his dreams,” I am beginning to think that Robert Sean Leonard is being asked to “reset” the show’s point of view. No matter how talented an actor is, trying to explain a false premise is a heavy burden, and even Leonard could not bridge that gap for me.
The most disappointing aspect of Cameron’s swan song is the manner by which her character was shown the door. For weeks, Jennifer Morrison was reduced to playing the dutiful wife, waiting for her husband to open up to her. Last week, when Chase finally revealed his secret, we were given approximately thirty seconds to register his wife’s reaction. Unfortunately, this slow pacing gave way to a frenzied concoction of plot development tonight, as we had to fit all of these story points into one hour:
Cameron forgiving Chase for his actions, House interjecting himself into both Cameron and Chase’s internal dialogues, Chase and Cameron announcing their resignations and planning a life together elsewhere, Chase becoming angry that Cameron was not angry with him, Cameron beginning to accept the far reaching consequences of Chase’s actions, Chase choosing work over his wife, Cameron blaming House for the changes in Chase’s priorities, Cameron leaving her husband and her mentor. Cue end credits.
What the hell just happened? How are we supposed to process the consequences of Cameron’s departure, after speeding through these events like little kids exhaust the candy in their Halloween baskets? I am all for moving stories along, but this episode sacrificed story for expediency. Did Jennifer Morrison say something about Katie Jacobs’ mother wearing army boots? This does not make sense to me. Lawrence Kutner had a more dignified exit from the show, and he wasn’t even alive!
For the first time since I have written about House for GMMR, I am gravely concerned about whether the creative team is on auto-pilot. Aside from Lucas Douglas, a character I thoroughly enjoy watching, I have little interest in watching House 2.0 operating in a world that is essentially Season Five 2.0.
At the risk of repeating someone else’s thoughts, I can only say this:
“I find the entire situation sort of confusing,”
We need answers, David and Katie. We need them soon. The patients are just a means to an end. It’s time to move forward, and the ball is in your court.
What did you think about Cameron’s departure from the show? Are there interesting new storylines for Chase in the wake of her absence? Has anyone changed their mind about Thirteen, now that she is back on the team at Princeton Plainsboro? Does it strike you funny that Wilson continues to play the role of matchmaker? Comment early and often!
Aside from writing about House and Parks & Recreation, Erik has become addicted to Top Chef, The Next Iron Chef, and most other shows with the word “Chef” in the title. Please forward any recipes for Chef Boyardee to his Twitter handle (@FreelanceErik).
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What really confuses me is why Cameron judges Chase about killing the African dictator. Didn’t she hasten a patient to his great reward in a previous season? It was the doctor that did experiments on children to further his research – I think the intimation was that he was a former Nazi? And House came into the chapel after Cameron did it, when she was praying/crying and said he was proud of her? So isn’t that a double standard? Did the writers forget this episode?
Thank you very much, Erik, for expressing what I feel.
This decision doesn’t make sense on so many levels: the ethical dilemmas Cameron brought to the medical situations, the contrast to many of other characters on the show, how strong Cameron had grown after 5 seasons, and the number of people who loved the character and had been asking for her back for the last 2 years.
The storyline of Chase losing her, and House too, would have been much stronger if she were still at PPTH working in another department, reminding the viewer what Chase had lost. I think Wilson would also have benefitted from having her around by being given more to do than just primp Huddy. It was to Cameron in season 2 that Wilson revealed how hard it was for him to lose a patient he was attached to and Cameron was the closest thing he had to a friend at PPTH other than House.
Whatever the reason for getting rid of Cameron, it’s not because her departure makes for a better, more complex show.
They seemed to have brought Cameron back from 2 years of underuse just to write her out. Even last season’s wedding now seems merely a device to make her leaving more dramatic.
I will miss the character and share your worro=ies about the show.
Julie, it looks like the writers forgot Cameron had a euthanasia case of her own, as they forgot that she was always very open-minded about sex, even saying that a threesome could be good for a marriage if both husband and wife agree when Chase was shocked by the idea. They also forgot that earlier Cameron doubted Chase’s moral judgement so she wouldn’t have blamed House for corrupting him now.
They re-wrote who Cameron is in order to justify getting her off the show. No wonder Jennifer Morrison is confused.
I, like you, am extremely disappointed that post-Mayfield House is still a malevolent sociopath. It certainly adds resonance to Cameron’s crushing speech and departure, but it destroyed all goodwill I was feeling towards the show after the stellar season opener.
I am disappointed.. with the recap. I expected more answers, Erik. 😉
Kidding. Was it only me who felt House was intent on breaking ’em up? Or was he just trying to show Chase & Cameron something they missed? Why was he so proud of his 3/4, when essentially he got just 2.5? He has a staff of 4 now? On many levels, it seemed House went back to his pre-Mayfield days!! What about the doc @ Mayfield, is he done? Cameron is. Who’s next to be thrown away??
Also, is it just me or does everybody feel that the medical cases have become just mere props??
by the way, quick question, how is House managing his pain now? Is he taking Vicodin, in smaller doses??
As always, fantastic writing!!! I always enjoy reading your reviews.
I agree with you completely. The show is being rushed, there’s nothing new and exciting ahead…the way Cam left doesn’t make sense, they are taking an important ingredient out of the formula and I really have no desire to watch anymore.
I think it was a big mistake (the biggest ever) to get rid of Cameron, especially like this, and so obviously just to focus even more on this utterly incredible (and very crappily handled) Huddy arc. I’m annoyed also annoyed that they reduce Wilson to the (even more incredible) role as Huddy Cupid. WTF?! And Thirteen… don’t even get me started on her… I don’t have a problem with Olivia Wilde, she seems like a nice girl, but Thirteen annoys the hell out of me. And a big No to that: “Also, is it just me or does everybody feel that the medical cases have become just mere props??” No, it’s not just you, it’s like the medical cases don’t count anymore. Correct me if I’m wrong, but this show used to be so successful BECAUSE of the interesting medical case. If I’d want to watch Grey’s Anatomy, I would. Now House is like Grey’s Anatomy 2.0 (but not better). So, as much as I used to love the show – as long as Huddy is on and Cameron is gone, I’ll pass. Bye House MD, or what’s left of you.
I can’t fathom what TPTB were thinking getting rid of Cameron. I’m boggled. But you are spot on in your analysis of how badly it was done. She was my favorite character, even more than House, who has become almost irredeemable these last few seasons. She brought balance to him in every scene they shared. Now I fear the other characters will go on as if she never existed, which will feel like another slap in the face to those of us that loved her.
There used to be subtlety and subtext on this show. Now every week we’re hit with anvils as Wilson pushes House toward Cuddy, and random guest characters comment on House and Cuddy’s feelings for one another. You know, just in case we didn’t get it. I think if the House and Cuddy chemistry was natural and organic, they wouldn’t need to shove it down our throats. But maybe that’s just me. All I know is, I didn’t tune into this show to see who would sleep with whom each week or any of this will they/won’t they nonsense. I tuned in to see how the characters grew and related with each other and with their patients, as they struggled to find a cure for the patient of the week. I liked the depth that used to be there. I liked when the comic relief came from the clinic patients and not House’s obnoxious games as he manipulates everyone in his path.
The show was already circling the drain as far as I was concerned. Getting rid of Cameron is the final flush.
“What really confuses me is why Cameron judges Chase about killing the African dictator. Didn’t she hasten a patient to his great reward in a previous season? It was the doctor that did experiments on children to further his research – I think the intimation was that he was a former Nazi? And House came into the chapel after Cameron did it, when she was praying/crying and said he was proud of her? So isn’t that a double standard? Did the writers forget this episode?”
The difference is that Cameron committed Euthanasia, not point blank murder. While both are technically killing someone, what Cameron did is common-place in dealing with dying patients. Ezra was dying, and it would have been prolonged and painful without Cameron’s help. Chase on the other hand, knew that African guy would have survived if he had not deliberately treated the wrong diagnosis, while KNOWING he was wrong.
He might as well put a gun to his head and shot point blank.
Thanks so much for this article. I couldn’t agree more with you.
Nowadays Wilson’s nothing more but a cheerleader for House/Huddy, a guy who just happens to have an office in a big hospital.
Cameron was just (ab)used as a tool to bring other storylines into motion.
The writers ignore both Jennifer Morrison and her fans by getting rid of Cameron so quickly and incoherently. Jennifer played a big part in the show’s success, it’s disrespectful how she’s being treated.
gbbg, House is now handling his pain with a combination of ibuprofen and psychotherapy. Pardon my eyeroll. Wilson has been trying to get him to do alternate therapies since season 2 but he kept refusing and only looked for stronger and stronger medication to control his pain, including electrodes in his brain. Now, I can only presume because he loves Cuddy so much, he is willing not only to do psychotherapy, which he has always resisted as hard as he could, but can control the pain he once needed morphine for by an over-the-counter medication.
I have been feeling for the past 2 seasons that the medical cases are props for the soap opera aspects of the show. I’ve lost count how many patients have commented on how hot Cuddy is or how much House wants hers and it seems that every patient Thirteen or Taub see is an anvil for their own lives.
i agree with everything that has been said. One of the reasons i enjoyed this show was the medical side of it, the patient of the week which is now just window dressing and the original ducklings. I can only stomach so much of Thirteen and Foreman making eyes at each other or House/Cuddy for that matter (give me a break!) and i too have nothing against Olivia but there is no way i am going to warm to 13. Even Wilson is losing his appeal for that matter playing matchmaker.
Cameron was the only one who kept House on an even keel, and i think the writers have totally lost the plot. The way that they wrote Cameron out leaves me totally baffled. It was a demolition job. I wish JMO all the best in the future.
Oh well, one less show to watch. So bye bye House.
Oh good heavens!
I still haven’t seen the last week’s episode (was in UK) and since I don’t care much these days if House does indeed get spoiled I had to pop over and see what Erik and the rest of the gang had to say… good grief what I didn’t expect that it would be so bad.
Ok cannot write much since I do have to see the show first, but I’ll pop by later with the comments 🙂