Musings on love, inspired by Dr. Greg House

[kellinator]

If you saw House last night, then you probably caught the wonderfully charged scene in which House, showing a rare bit of vulnerability, asks Stacy, "I need to know, do you love me or do you hate me?" And she tells him, "I love you and I hate you." Whereas she loves her husband and doesn't hate him; ergo, he wins.

And let's just say it hit really close to home.

Because most of us, I think, have fallen for that guy (or girl) before. The one who drives you absolutely stark-raving batshit insane, but who you can't stay away from anyway. Something keeps you coming back, and if you're honest with yourself, you'll probably admit it's the excitement. Every cranky, obnoxious thing he does makes the moment when he actually acts like a human being all that much sweeter. It's like training an animal: animals are best trained when they're not rewarded every time.

I love to watch House be an irascible bastard every week. I think everyone who has to put up with idiots would like to be House, at least for a day; to be able to tell people exactly how stupid you think they are and get away with it. But no matter how much I may love him for an hour a week, I could never actually put up with him in real life, and even if I could, it would be abusing myself to do it. No matter how appealing that bad boy (or girl) is, no matter how much fun in the short run, in the long run what you need is the good guy, the guy who keeps his promises, the guy who makes you feel safe, the guy who would never go through your medical records because he respects you too much to violate you like that, the guy who would never skewer you just because he thinks it's funny.

And lest any of you think that I'm pointing this at you, let me assure you that the person this is as directed at is myself. As always in this LiveJournal, when I say "you", I mean me.

Comments

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Yes, and no. (Am I inconsistent? Oh well, it's the prerogative of a fangirl.) Yes, you're absolutely right that dealing with Munch everyday would be exhausting (is that the reason he's been through so many partners?), but I can forgive him for it in a way I can't House. House just seems to enjoy being a bastard, whereas with Munch, it comes from the pain he can barely hide. Though he would never admit it, Munch is the one who cares perhaps most of all (remember who lit the candle in "Night of the Dead Living"?) and that's why he acts the way he does, because it's the only way he can keep going. Especially in the later seasons of Homicide and some of the SVU episodes that get him right, he's the one rushing to the aid of the damsel in distress, the one comforting the hurting child.

Also, I remain convinced that what Munch really needs is the love of a good woman *COUGH*Kay*COUGH*.

[jesshelga.livejournal.com]

Good points all. Sadly, because my father is like Munch in all of those respects, I'm doomed, doomed, doomed to find those qualities appealing and crazy-causing at the same time.

Also, yes, Munch and Kay 4EVAH. If I had enough stamina for two ridiculous cop procedural dramas, I'd still SVU solely for Munch.

[soultoad.livejournal.com]

you're absolutely right that dealing with Munch everyday would be exhausting (is that the reason he's been through so many partners?), but I can forgive him for it in a way I can't House. House just seems to enjoy being a bastard, whereas with Munch, it comes from the pain he can barely hide.

I absolutely love this show and this man and this actor, but I wouldn't want to be involved with him either. However, even though I don't know Munch from the Munchkins, I have to disagree that House's grumpiness doesn't come from his own pain, both physical and emotional. Yeah, he enjoys seeing people squirm with shock and disapproval, but all that snarkiness comes from his own pain which he has to deal with every time he takes a step. I probably would not have gotten that if I hadn't been through my own horrible pain this year, but I now realize what that kind of constant pain does to a person, even a normally cheerful person.