House 1-12, and the definition of the woobie-fied character

[timepiececlock]

Now up to "Sports Medicine", minus episode 8 (all the links for episode 1.8 on the episode comm aren't working for me). So far, I am delighted. It's a surprisingly easy show to watch-- it's got seriousness, but it's not terribly heavy. Since medical dramas aren't my usual cuppa, the light-hearted-ness is a good thing.

As is wont with a new show, I am pondering ship possibilities. So far, mixed reactions. On the one hand, I love everyone with the relationships they have right now. I like the college kids to cranky professor/uncle relationship between House and his staff, and I like the snappy, slightly USTific professionalism between House and Cutty. I definitely don't want the trio to sleep together, or any of them to sleep with anyone else. I want the other guy (whatshisface from Dead Poets Society) to be happy, but I don't think he'd be happy with any of them.

I love how everyone's friends. I love Whatshisface's friendship with House and I don't want it to go slashy at all the same way I don't want any of the professional relationships to go romantic or sexual (het or slash). They're all so awesome as they are... which makes this about as close to noromo that I've come for a series for a long time.

On the other hand, there are possibilities. Whatshername/House could go from this weird father/daughter thing to an illicit younger woman/older man affair, which might be hot under the right circumstances. I think she's certainly mildly attracted to him, and he's admitted he finds her hot (though I don't believe he really hired her because she was pretty--- that's too boring.)

I could also ship House with Cutty, because let's face it, they've got a bit of a thing.

On the other hand... why muck up these perfect working dynamics with romantic entanglements? That'd be a shame, from an academic/ingellicencia standpoint.

Also, there's the fact that House is a downhill rolling stone of pain and misery that I wouldn't wish on anyone. Addicts? Not so fun to be in a relationship with when you're sober.

Still, House is a woobie inside and part of me wants him to have healthy relationships and be happy.


I want a crossover where he meets the mean doctor from Scrubs. The one who jerks the main character around but manages to be the coolest person on the show. Haven't watched that series enough to remember his name, though. But you know who I mean! The tall one. He and Dr. House are, like, bedside manner soulmates.


EDIT: I recently tried to explain the term "woobie" to my housemate. It involved references to Fox Mulder (ultimate woobie), and the deeply-deeply buried woobieness in Christian from Nip/Tuck, and some comparison to "emo" (her comparison, not mine, but I worked with it.) So, to you guys: What's the simplest and clearest definition of "woobie"?

EDIT 2: Have clarified for housemate using mswyrr's useful definition:
A woobie is someone who's been wounded and is vulnerable because of it, even if only way down deep inside

Comments

[mswyrr]

On the other hand, there are possibilities. Whatshername/House could go from this weird father/daughter thing to an illicit younger woman/older man affair, which might be hot under the right circumstances. I think she's certainly mildly attracted to him, and he's admitted he finds her hot (though I don't believe he really hired her because she was pretty--- that's too boring.)

I have some good Cameron/House fic recs, if you want them. They were mostly written after later episodes, so they'd be spoilery for you right now, but if you want them after you've seen past, say, ep 1x20, they're yours.

Also, there's the fact that House is a downhill rolling stone of pain and misery that I wouldn't wish on anyone. Addicts? Not so fun to be in a relationship with when you're sober.

Still, House is a woobie inside and part of me wants him to have healthy relationships and be happy.

In canon, the man is poison, imho. But I think fanon can tweak things just enough to write stories that can satisfy the desire to see him, if not happy, at least reasonably content. At least, that's what I'm trying to do. It's damn hard, though.

What's the simplest and clearest definition of "woobie"?

A woobie is someone who's been wounded and is vulnerable because of it, even if only way down deep inside.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

A woobie is someone who's been wounded and is vulnerable because of it, even if only way down deep inside.

That's perfect! I told my housemate that definition, and she instantly understood, like a light going off. Then we had various dicussions to compare and clarify (like how Mal is a woobie whereas Jayne is the complete opposite of a woobie). We even went a bit into discussion of how to conjugate it: "to woobify"/"woobified" as the verb for becoming a "woobie."

I was going to give her an example of Doctor Who for how a character can be "woobified" in the middle of canon instead of having it be part of his pre-series existing characterization, but I didn't get a chance to get the explanation out as she swore that if I so much as said a thing she'd never watch the DVD of episodes I'd given her to try. So I held my tongue, and she'll watch the first two episodes together sometime by or during spring break.

We've now settled on "wounded and vulnerable b/c of it" and "secret inner man pain" to specify the fact that a woobie is always a man. I'm not sure why it's always a man, except that that seems to be the case.

In canon, the man is poison, imho. But I think fanon can tweak things just enough to write stories that can satisfy the desire to see him, if not happy, at least reasonably content.

That sounds good. I agree-- he would be a poison in canon. But I don't mind a bit of tweaking for the sake of fic.

I have some good Cameron/House fic recs, if you want them. They were mostly written after later episodes, so they'd be spoilery for you right now, but if you want them after you've seen past, say, ep 1x20, they're yours.

I'll take them! I'm up to 1.13, about to watch 14. Do you have episode 8 by any chance?

[mswyrr]

That's perfect! I told my housemate that definition, and she instantly understood, like a light going off. Then we had various dicussions to compare and clarify (like how Mal is a woobie whereas Jayne is the complete opposite of a woobie).

Jayne is an interesting case. He may have wounds, but you're right, he's no woobie. Would a storyline that revealed his inner pain have woobified(thanks for the conjugation!) him, or was it his particular way of dealing with things that kept him from woobidom?

*peers over half-moon glasses* The deeper sociological question being: do woobies react to their suffering in ways unique to their subspecies? ;)

Personally, I think woobidom requires a glimmer of kindness. The hint that what the woobie really wants is to reach out, loved & be loved. In House, it's much more discreet, whereas in someone like the Doctor, it's the yawning gulf of need and caring and a fierce hope in people(*takes a moment to hug the Doctor*), but in both cases, it's definitely there.


We've now settled on "wounded and vulnerable b/c of it" and "secret inner man pain" to specify the fact that a woobie is always a man. I'm not sure why it's always a man, except that that seems to be the case.

Hmm. *strokes chin* I the vague notion that the vulnerable male figure woobie is a byproduct of gendered socialization in a patriarchy--i.e. men are expected to be strong, and emotionally detached, so attachment and vulnerability take on the significance of a Victorian lady sliding a white glove off her pale wrist--but no proof.

Do you have episode 8 by any chance?

Sure. I'll upload it tomorrow.

[mswyrr]

*love & be loved

[mswyrr]

*woobiedom

*And, er, my vague notion was that the *attraction* of the woobie is some kink of gendered socialization. (Finally, something to thank oppressive gender expectations for!) For some reason, words have started disappearing from my sentences. I reckon they're off to join the matchless socks and keychains and suchlike. :)

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

For some reason, words have started disappearing from my sentences. I reckon they're off to join the matchless socks and keychains and suchlike.

I really like how you said that. metaquotes time!

[mswyrr]

*jaw drops*

No way!

*clicks link*

Duude. Wow. My very own half-second of fame! *dances* Thank you! :)

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Hmm. *strokes chin* I the vague notion that the vulnerable male figure woobie is a byproduct of gendered socialization in a patriarchy--i.e. men are expected to be strong, and emotionally detached, so attachment and vulnerability take on the significance of a Victorian lady sliding a white glove off her pale wrist--but no proof.

*And, er, my vague notion was that the *attraction* of the woobie is some kink of gendered socialization.

The back of my brain was whispering something like that, but I didn't want to think too hard. I'll go with your theory, since you put it so nicely.

Sure. I'll upload it tomorrow.

Arigatou!


Jayne is an interesting case. He may have wounds, but you're right, he's no woobie. Would a storyline that revealed his inner pain have woobified(thanks for the conjugation!) him, or was it his particular way of dealing with things that kept him from woobidom?

*peers over half-moon glasses* The deeper sociological question being: do woobies react to their suffering in ways unique to their subspecies? ;)

::pushes glasses up like Giles:: Hm... The answer to your inquiry is affirmative, I believe. Not only must there be a deep wound in the woobie's canonical history, but there must be a continued vulnerability of character somehow tied to the damage, or it will not induce woobiedom. Be it excessive brooding, sarcastic humor as a self-defense mechanism, emotional self-ostracism, or other forms of coping behavior, it must be somehow evident in the subject if he is to be properly judged a woobie. As my housemate pointed out, Captain Reynolds fits the definition of woobieism with his deep emotional trauma (war, religious disenchantment), but he almost escapes woobiedom by the mere fact that he's busy all the time running around shooting people and kicking thugs into jet engines instead of brooding.

Personally, I think woobidom requires a glimmer of kindness.

I concurr. I definitely concurr. I also like your analysis of the two doctors.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I brought up Big from Sex & The City as an example of a male character who's not a woobie, and though she disagreed at first, we eventually settled on the fact that he might have been vulnerable at times but as far as we know he wasn't wounded in the deeper specific sense.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I had to explain why Mulder was the poster boy of woobies, but only b/c she hadn't seen that much of the X Files in order enough to get a continuous detailed sense of his character.

[flouritephoenix.livejournal.com]

Whereas on Sex & the City, Aidan is a woobie.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I thought about that, and my only guess was that Carrie woobified him by not marrying him and a terribly heartbreaking breakup. But S&tC is not my strongest canon-knowledge show (watched it erratically), so I'm not sure if that's it, or if there's other deep inner woundedness he has that you are referring to?

[donna-c-punk.livejournal.com]

Carrie cheated on him with Big, he found out. I don't know that Aiden was very secretive about his hurt. He was that guy. You know, the one who LIKED talking about his feelings and being in touch with his inner-selfness.

[flouritephoenix.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't think we learned of any, but that doesn't mean there wasn't one. He seemed to exude wounded woobiness from the get go. And it's not the actor, because as much as Chris-in-the-Morning had gone through in his life, he never struck me as a woobie.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

"Everyone likes you."
"Do you?" ... "I have to know."

Okay, that was kinda hot. I could be on board with this pairing.

[mswyrr]

Love among the socially inept -- he can't admit anything unless it's couched in misdirection("everybody likes you" was a big step for him, imho), and she's so giddy she jumps ahead asking for wayyyyy more than he can give-- so endearing.

*huggles socially intept little geeks*