House 5x24 "Both Sides Now" - Discussion and Spoilers

[Captain Shaw]

I gave an average for the season.
The 14 stuff stopped me from giving the season an higher score.
But i loved this last episode so much i gave it an excellent i am sorry the season has ended because i want to know what's going to happen next.

 

[LitmusDragon]

Excellent episode and an excellent ending to the season.

What really bends my mind about these types of endings is trying to work out what events were real and which ones were imagined.

How far back does his delusion go? Did he really tell Wilson about his hallucinations in the previous episode or was that a part of the delusion as well?

Did that squawking patient with the tumor actually exist, or was he some kind of embodiment of House's subconscious trying to break him out of his fugue?

Assuming the entire storyline where he first revealed the hallucinations to Wilson and then revealed the detox and that he'd slept with Cuddy was all a hallucination, what was he actually doing during these times? Sitting in his office? Or did he have some unrelated conversation with Wilson that his mind re-interpreted into what we saw on-screen?

I realize none of this actually "matters" to the storyline and in the case of a delusional person is probably impossible to determine anyway but I find it interesting.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

^ That is an interesting thought...

Excellent episode... due to the 14 stuff in episodes 12-14 I'll say good season, with only 'Painless' being an episode I didn't enjoy that much. Every episode from 'Unfaithful' to 'Both Sides Now' was superb. The first 6 were excellent as well. My top 5 episodes would be 'The Softer Side', 'Locked In', 'The Social Contract', 'Birthmarks' and 'House Divided'.

 

[DeafPoet]

I know this may sound strange but I would actually like to see some episodes without a "case of the week" and just solely focus on the character story lines.

Doesn't sound strange at all. My favourite episode yet is "One Day, One Room" from Season 3. It didn't have a case in the traditional sense and it was awesome. It wasn't quite at the level you're talking about, where they're only focusing on the characters, but it's about as close as they've gotten.

I'm a little disappointed they didn't pursue that direction any further, because it really showed what the writers and cast are capable of if they throw the formula out the window. I don't see why they need it for a crutch anymore. There are enough glimpses of brilliance that I'm positive that everyone involved is talented enough to do something really cool.

 

[Joe Washington]

That scene when House pieces together that everything happened from him seeing Cuddy in his office to him having sex with Cuddy was a hallucination gave me nothing but goosebumps.
And that last scene with Chase and Cameron's blissful wedding contrasting with House's miserable trip to the mental hospital was so great that I have watched the Youtube video on it more than once.

 

[Trekker4747]

That scene when House pieces together that everything happened from him seeing Cuddy in his office to him having sex with Cuddy was a hallucination gave me nothing but goosebumps.

Indeed. The way it was presented felt like his realization that CTB was the one who he was looking for to treat in last season's penultimate.

 

[sidious618]

Doesn't sound strange at all. My favourite episode yet is "One Day, One Room" from Season 3. It didn't have a case in the traditional sense and it was awesome. It wasn't quite at the level you're talking about, where they're only focusing on the characters, but it's about as close as they've gotten.

I'm a little disappointed they didn't pursue that direction any further, because it really showed what the writers and cast are capable of if they throw the formula out the window. I don't see why they need it for a crutch anymore. There are enough glimpses of brilliance that I'm positive that everyone involved is talented enough to do something really cool.

I absolutely concur both "No Reason" and "One Day, One Room" are my top two episodes and they both broke the formula. As you say, there are fantastic moments in the show that tell me it can truly be something amazing but the they go and back off, too afraid to go all that far with it. I'm really, really hoping that will change soon.

 

[Trekker4747]

Three Stories was also very, very good and didn't have a typical POTW storyline.

 

[Sheep]

The excessive shaky cam was a major indicator that this was in House's head, and I went into this episode spoiler free. It normally doesn't bug me much, but really stood out in this episode.

I hope they don't apply a reset button at the beginning of next season, but given past history I'm not willing to wager money on that one.

 

[sidious618]

Three Stories was also very, very good and didn't have a typical POTW storyline.

Good point. I'd say that the best episode with a PotW would be a tie between "Detox" and "The Social Contract."

 

[Neroon]

Does anyone recall the title of the song being played over the scenes of Cameron & Chase's wedding as well as House's going the psychiatric hospital? It sounds terribly familiar, yet I can't quite place it.

 

[Joe Washington]

"As Tears Go By"-The Rolling Stones

 

[Neroon]

"As Tears Go By"-The Rolling Stones

Cool! Thanks! My sister-in-law was over last night and hadn't seen the episode yet. Neither had my son, who normally watches the episodes with me. Fortunately it was still on the DVR, so it was convenient to see the ep one more time. And the song still struck a strong chord with me.

 

[Emher]

Wow! What an end to the season! Really really hope they stick with the consequences of this. And I agree with that we don't really need to medical cases in every episode, what keeps me watching is the characters.

Okay, so he was hallucinating. I'm fully prepared to eat my words because of the awesome way it was revealed. That was some fantastic editing, in both the visual and sound departments.

Absolutely. I love editing and I just sat there ins tunned awe of the brilliance of it.


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