House Out

The seventh season of House is rounding the stretch toward its finale.  Sometimes they bite off more than they can chew, going for the big finish.  We'll see, I guess, but it'd take a lot to make up for this season.  It's been weak, almost a mistake.  I suppose it's inevitable after almost 150 hours of medical mysteries, things will get tired, but the House/Cuddy relationship is their worst arc yet.  Even if it were believable, it's dull.  House is fun because he can't get along with people, and Cuddy worked best (for six seasons) as his ultimate sparring partner.

But the latest episode, "Recession Proof," really made a mistake. House and his team, as always, try to cure a patient with a mysterious illness.  They finally figure it out, but this time they're too late.  House realizes his love for and happiness with Cuddy has made him a worse doctor.  He gets drunk, goes to her place late at night, and tells her he has to choose between saving lives or their relationship.  In a move the writers perhaps thought would surprise us, House chooses Cuddy.

House is a misanthrope, but what's made him a great character, even an admirable one, is not only his brilliance, but his willingness to take any chance, and sacrifice everything, to figure out what's wrong with his patients and cure them.  Throw out that and I don't particularly care for him.  It's very possible the writers are setting up House regretting this decision in the finale, but I'm not sure if he can take it back at this point.

PS  I got nothing against Amber Tamblyn, but bring back Thirteen.