Relationships

On this rewatch of the show (I believe it is my third time watching it), I've been thinking a lot about House's relationships with his team members. I really see how much he cares about them, even though he can't show it in a normal or reasonable way.

I think Foreman is his protegé, and the one in whom he sees himself the most. Foreman is therefore closer to an equal, kind of like Cuddy and Wilson. This obviously comes full circle in season 8. But in another sense Foreman is the furthest thing from an equal, because they have the truest mentor-mentee relationship. I think House intentionally highlights their similarities in order to caution Foreman against the perils of being the kind of person that they both are. "I'm not like you, House." "True. No limp."

I think with Chase there is a mutual sense of some father / son stuff going on. They both had shitty dads, and I think House has a protective instinct toward Chase. I think House feels that Chase is the closest thing he'll ever have to a son, and I think Chase sees House as someone who mirrors his dad by being a distant dick, but who, unlike his dad, takes an interest in him. I also get the feeling that House likes Chase in a way he doesn't usually like people. I think House has the most affection for Chase. Also his apology to Chase after Chase got stabbed felt like an acknowledgement of their father / son thing. House wasn't at fault, but as a parent he wants to apologize anyway, because his kid got hurt so right and wrong become secondary, even to House. The glimpses of House's love for Chase are few and far between, but I find them incredibly moving. Though that could be because of my own daddy-issues.

I think Cameron is his conscience, and their relationship is accordingly complex and hostile. But I also think House sees himself in her abandonment and commitment issues, and both resents and is proud of the fact that she is able to deal with them better than he can.

Thirteen is a weird one. I think House sees her too as something like an equal, maybe because he can't feel hope about the future and she doesn't have much reason to. The fact that he fires her so she can enjoy the time she has left with her girlfriend is him giving her the thing he can't give himself: the ability to walk away. I think she is the closest thing to a genuine friend out of all his underlings. Like Wilson, she is a mystery to him. But unlike Wilson, she feels like a mystery to herself. And since House is a mystery to himself too, they form a bond on a different level than his and Wilson's. Thirteen and House are going down similar roads in life, and there is a strong connection in that.

Kutner. I'm not sure what to say about their relationship. I think House maybe saw Kutner as an alternative kind of Foreman, someone who had his own approach to medicine if not his personality. I don't think House ever gets over Kutner's death.

Taub is already an adult when he starts working for House, mature both as a person and as a doctor. So I don't think House tries to shape him the same way he does with the others. Instead, he just fucks with him because that's his philosophy of friendship. Taub is also kind of an equal, that way.

Adams. They didn't have that much time together, but the scene where House lets her smash a room to deal with her anger toward her ex had an impact on me. It feels like a very un-House gesture, he goes out of his way with no other motive than to make her feel better. Maybe the fact that they met in prison, that she was nice to him in such a cold and horrible place, colors their relationship. I think House has a lot of affection for her too.

Park. House had her when he didn't have anyone else, and I think the way he helps her with the whole sexual harassment thing suggests that he cares about her. I think he thinks she's a good doctor, which is why he kept her around. And I think maybe he finds her a bit intriguing because of how weird and square she is.

I think the ones he cares the most for and about are Foreman, Chase, and Thirteen, each in a different way. What do you guys think?