House: Last Resort

[beccatoria]

I'm sorry...what?

I don't often (well, okay, ever) post about House here because while I vaguely enjoy it, it's not a show I'm hugely fannish about. And you know, I know House is an ass. I know he's selfish. I know he's irresponsible. But seriously. This is just beyond.

Giving that man back his gun and then deliberately refusing to let the completely innocent patient who thought it was safe because the insane hostage-taker had lost his gun because he might be needed, you know, as a fucking hostage is a whole new level of respect-losing fucked up.

Thirteen almost died directly because of House's actions. Now, I'm not trying to take away the responsibility of the guy with the gun, but when you enable someone so damn directly, when you wilfully put numerous lives in direct danger, you damn well need to acknowledge it was your own fucking fault.

And what, no one MENTIONS THIS? Cus the promo for next week doesn't exactly look like he's been suspended or arrested for, you know, TAKING HOSTAGES, which is effectively what he did when he took away that kid's choice to leave, and gave a gun to a guy so that he could satisfy his own curiosity.

No, no, the entire thing is some sort of life-affirming experience for Thirteen, and House gets to talk about how if the guy hadn't done this he'd've died. Which as a moral conundrum along the lines of House's comments about signing your own donor card, would have a bajillion times more cranky-devil's-advocate-weight if House hadn't colluded like it's not against every damn thing the medical profession stands for - curing one person at the expense of another's health.

I mean, damn. I can't believe the show just had that plot point like it was "ho hum, another selfish House moment!"

Because, for real. That was...just un-fucking-believable. I don't think I've been so angry with a fictional character in a really long time.

Though half the anger is because I doubt we'll see that hostage kid suing House or Thirteen holding a grudge, or, you know, QUITTING because her boss almost KILLED HER because he was CURIOUS ABOUT SOMETHING and then had the gall to BLAME HER attitude.

RAGE.

Comments

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

Wow, rage! I like when people rant. Keeps me honest. :-)

It's interesting, I rewatched the ep to respond to your comment. See to me? The kid could have left. The other two hostages did. Not that it's his fault, he's a sick kid and there are two non gunholding adults there. But the kid was curious. He may have thought it was safe, but with a live gun on the table and House . . . well, who knows? House was curious. So was Thirteen, though she had additional issues. See that's what got me. They could have all left when that gun was on the table. Even the sick guy wouldn't have cared if they had. But we are humans and we are nosy and we can't stop looking for answers. That's how I saw it.

The kid should sue House! Forget jail, cost the hospital money! Maybe that might give some incentive Cuddy to rein him in, though there is little of that now that they are kinda dating. I missed the ep where that little development happened and it makes me kinda queasy when they refer to it. But that's a whole other discussion . . .

Like you said, House is an ass. But I think his madness is contagious. That's what's a little scary to me about him. Chase and Foreman left but the others kept trying. And it wasn't just for the patient. House doesn't piss me off, because I have an irrational blind love for him. But the other doctors do sometimes. They don't get mad or have enough . . . gumption or something to leave him. Stand up to him. What is up with that? Maybe he chooses people for his team who won't challenge him? I don't know. And he does care about Cuddy and Wilson. They could make him listen. But no consequences to House, ever. I don't blame him, but I do blame them sometimes. Not to take away from your ranting though. You have good points. People! Grow some balls and stand up to the man!

There. I feel better. I hope it helped you to vent too.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Nah, see I don't buy that. The kid was curious, yes, but the kid also made a rational assessment of the situation - the crazy man no longer has the gun. Blaming him for not knowing that House was insane enough to wilfully endanger his life again is...ludicrously unfair. I severely doubt the kid would have stayed if he'd known that House would give back the gun, and I think it's completely unfair to say it's a scenario he should have anticipated.

He never chose to let his curiosity overshadow his desire to survive: House made that choice for him and it's a choice House was in no moral position to make.

And worse than that, is that House doesn't even warn Thirteen and the kid what he's about to do. He doesn't give them a chance. He makes the decision to turn them both back into hostages and risk their lives. It's a massive, massive violation of the hypocratic oath. He treats that kid as if he's a human resource good for fixing this other man.

To be honest, I think the way people don't blame House, but do blame Cuddy and Wilson for failing to reign him in is...weird. House is a grown adult; he needs to take responsibility for being an asshole. It's not actually Wilson or Cuddy's job to be there making sure he doesn't recklessly endanger people. He shouldn't get a pass because "he's just like that." Perhaps we can make comments on the times when Cuddy and Wilson don't try hard enough or don't try at all, but basically they're both better people than House, ethically speaking, and putting more blame on them because they try and sometimes fail, rather than House who doesn't try at all seems silly.

I mean, that's the thing. I could have bought the crazed obsession to fix it that dragged everyone else in. But giving the gun back without giving a critically ill woman or a minor any chance to protect their own lives, denying them the choice to participate in a life-threatening situation, is exactly what the crazy man did at the start of the episode and is a level of douchebaggery I really can't condone in any way, or write off.

Bah - sorry. As you can see, THE RAGE IT BURNS US PRECIOUS!

Hope I don't come across as venting at you; I'm more venting with you because you're, um, here, and I'm ragey. ;)

I appreciate you like the character, and I honestly understand why. Most of the time I find him pretty compelling too. But yeah. I think he just...really crossed a line for me today. :/

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

The rage it does burn! I think your casual flirtation with House, the show, maybe be at an end?

There are points I agree with you with! Yay!

It's a massive, massive violation of the hypocratic oath.
House has left the hypocatic oath long ago. I don't even remember when. You don't think so? Or was this just the final straw for you? Maybe everyone has their own line with him. And this was yours. I haven't had a line for him in so long. I know. It is weird. And I remember watching when he gave back the gun and thinking, "Whoa." But I accepted it. No, it wasn't fair to Thirteen or the kid. It really wasn't.

House is a grown adult; he needs to take responsibility for being an asshole.
He should. But he won't. House is never going to grow up. And that's wrong. But perversely, I don't want him to! Everyone on TV grows up. I think he's an ass and should stay an ass because in real life that's what some people are. He shouldn't have a heart of gold in the end. It does bother me when he hurts Wilson. Wilson who has such a simple love for the man. And it is not Wilson's job to make House change. But Wilson is family and sometimes I think he's the only one who could. But what am I saying anyway? I don't really want anyone to rein him in. In real life sometimes people do change or get fired or lose their best friends. But in this show I like him to be the ass that gets away with it.

On another note, he had a few moments that just got me in this episode. Like there's a moment when Thirteen shouts at him to leave and he says, "Shut up, I'm not leaving you." I sensed he really did care about her in those last minutes. Even though it was far too late, he did have this, "Give it to me, not her" attitude. Again, it was far, far too late for him to be all self-sacrificial. I know. I do know this!

I think I have just confessed to being in a show-abusive relationship. *headdesk* And after just getting out of one show-abusive relationship! I don't feel abused yet, but you be strong enough to save yourself! This is the lamest excuse ever but: I just love him. Sigh.

(Oh, and I know it's not me you are ragey at! But I still braved fiery-looking icon! It looks soooo hot! :-))