With "Joy," House Offers Up An Episode That Will Thrill Some Fans, While Disappointing Others (Major Spoilers)

Reviewing the Oct. 28 episode of House is a bit like analyzing someone's mother in law - some are going to love her, some are going to hate her and many will have mixed emotions.

So it is that I bravely, hesitantly, begin.

Fans of a relationship between grumpy ol' House and hospital administrator Cuddy are probably besides themselves this week watching the final five minutes on a loop. Opponents of a Cuddy-House hookup are cringing, fearing everything from the show becoming cliched to that kiss being the kiss of death that similarly led to the demise of other good shows like Moonlighting which went downhill once the couple began getting it on.

Me? I'm somewhat ambivilent on the topic. I think Cuddy is an interesting character and so I am looking forward to seeing more depth in her character. I am not sure her actions in this episodes made a lot of sense, seemingly going from hating and peeving at House to kissing him, but then some will say love makes one do such weird things.

There were essentially two main stories on this episode, one being Cuddy coming so close to becoming an adoptive mother only to have that baby literally snatched away from her at the last minute. The interactions between the birth mother and the presumed adoptive mother were very well done - the acting, the writing were stellar. I couldn't do it justice recapping it so I won't try.

Less interesting to me was the patient of the week, who had trouble with blackouts. It led to some pointless scenes (except maybe to shock some viewers) involving drugs and drug dealers and reminding us, in case we forgot, of 13's drug use and lingering questions from last week's episode.

Misc. notes:
The acting in this entire episode by Lisa Edelstein, who plays Cuddy, was amazing. A definite Emmy-winning-worth performance

Has anyone else noticed the show seems to be experimenting more with camera angles and perspectives? This was particularly obvious during the show's opening five minutes.

As usual the show's dialogue and writing was amazing.
I mean, how often do you have a put down like this, when House talks to Cuddy: "This is a mistake... You are a control-thinking narcisist, which is fine - good even in some jobs - but you are not equipped to handle a real kid let alone a factory second."

But let me end this review with the exchange that ends this show:
House shows up at her house and she is an emotional wreck and understandably so. "This is really not the greatest time for gloating," she tells him.

House, despite comments like the above, said, "You would have made a great mother."

Cuddy lets him have at it, calling him an SOB and asking why he has to always negate everything?

In one of those rare displays that he feels and thinks about others he says he does not know why he does that. And then smoocharama. He then says good night and she deos not say good night back until he has left as the "Oh, god, tell me I didn't just kiss House" look is on her face.

Related links:

Season opener - reviewed by Vacelts, reviewed by Polite Dissent

Second episode- reviewed by Vacelts, reviewed by Polite Dissent

My interview with Polite Dissent about House

My review of the Sept. 30 Episode of House is here

My review of Birthmarks, and Polite Dissent's review

Polite Dissent's review of "Lucky 13" (I took last week off, lazy slacker that I am)

Want to review tv shows for Newsvine's TV-Guide group? Just email me. My advice to tv recappers is here and Vacelts advice is here.

An ongoing general discussion of tv shows and movies is here

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