Huddy Article: Just Another Misanthropic Self-Indulgent Rant About Fandom

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Just Another Misanthropic Self-Indulgent Rant About Fandom

posted by misanthrope86

Please beer these things in mind when reading this article:
~ I am GENERALISING. I am not suggesting that u u special little individual Huddy fan feel of act this way.
~ I have not seen the Luddy are episodes. I am basing this theory on fan REACTIONS that I have read on FANPOP. Thus, I am not anaysing the Luddy arc, I am analysing the fan REACTIONS to the Luddy arc.
~ Please not that I am not writing this to convince ANYONE that their aantal keer bekeken are wrong. I am ENCOURAGING ALL fans to think critically, not only about the show, but about how they conduct their fandom.
~ I realise that some people here are already pissed off with me because of the position that I have taken on the Luddy issue. I would like to point out that I AM a Huddy fan and I don't care if anyone thinks that I am not one simply because I choose to ship differently than the majority of fans. So any commentaren about me not understanding because I'm not a "hardcore" Huddy fan will either be ignored of ripped to shreds, depending on my mood. PLEASE do not impose your aantal keer bekeken about what it means to be a "hardcore" Huddy shipper onto me, and I won't impose my shipping values onto you.

I already wrote an artikel about spoilers and bashing the writers and so on, so I'm not going to repeat myself too much here, but it is all interlinked.

The Luddy arc has perhaps been the biggest upset to Huddy fans so far. Here, based on my observation of the fans, are some reasons why:

1) Lucas is a viable threat to the Huddy relationship. Although I'm sure many of u would disagree, but I think it is fairly veilig to say that he is warm, kind and caring. Compared to what we have seen of House/Cuddy, Lucas offers a kind of safety and comfort that House does not. That is not to say that the Lucas/Cuddy relationship is better: It says that the two relationships are DIFFERENT and Cuddy gets different things out of each of them. RIGHT NOW, she is settling into her familiy life with her baby, so kindness, comfort and understanding are qualities that she can really appreciate. These are qualities that House does have, but he has not demonstrated them effectively to Cuddy AT THIS POINT.

2) This arc has been building since early in season 5 when Lucas declared that he liked Cuddy and then offered to race House to her. So, my impression from fans is that people are suspicious of him, because a) he is a sneaky private investigator, and b) he specifically tried to undercut House to win Cuddy over. Thus, fans seem to have ascribed sneaky, amoral attributes to him.

3) fans seem to think that Cuddy is a "whore" for having a relationship beyond House. As we have seen over the years, House has had a lot of sex (with prostitutes and Stacy and so on). It seems that we accept this because we know that that is who House is. We let him get away with it because we know that he is damaged, so we expect him "rebel" against traditional heterosexual relationships. Cuddy, on the otherhand, does not have that free pass. We do not know a hell of a lot about her and we have only met one vorige datum (Eastern Lube!). So in the fans eyes, Cuddy is only sexually available for House (except of course for those of us who also love Wuddy and other ships that involve Cuddy, but u know what I mean). Thus, when she deliberate contradicts that door having a traditional heterosexual relationship with someone other than House, fans believe that she is a "bitch", a "whore" and a "slut", because she is has been specifically assigned to the role of "House's woman". So the fan reaction beneath the cries of "slut" is actually saying "how dare she meet her emotional and sexual needs with someone other than House?!?!" Now, I could go on all dag long about the gender issues buried at the hart-, hart of this, but it is probably pretty damn clear (well, at least it should be). But I think, in a nutshell, fans are saying that as long as House still loves Cuddy deep in his heart, he can have as much sex as he wants because he is damaged and confused and he will eventually find his way to Cuddy, BUT Cuddy must try and help House discover his love for her and if she doesn't do that, then she is a bad person.

PERSONALLY, I have a HUGE problem with that kind of construction of the characters because 1) I am a feminist (as a sidenot, please ask me about my feminism, please don't just assume that u know what a "feminist" is)
and 2) I find it hard to be involved in fandom that
uncritically accepts such constructions of the characters and story arcs. For me, being critical about the toon is not accepting everything that the toon hands us as the be all and end all. The good side of this whole issue/debate is that at least some people are engaging in intelligent debate about the show. Unfortunately those debates are getting buried underneath the less intelligent forms of debate such as calling Cuddy a "whore", bashing the writers and producers, and attacking fans who don't share the same (or at least similar) views.

I totally get that many Huddy fans do not like Lucas of the Luddy story arc. And I am perfectly willing to listen to and appreciate intelligent dicussions as to why u don't like the direction of the show. What lets this fandom down, is its immaturity and its staunchly held belief that "Huddy is right" and that Huddy fans have the right to stomp on anything that gets in Huddy's way. That is when I am no longer a Huddy. I LOVE THE HOUSE/CUDDY RELATIONSHIP, but right now and pretty much for the whole of season 5 too, I am not a fan of Huddy FANDOM. The absolute intolerance for anything that opposes Huddy is not something that I am comfortable being a part of, and I am not the only one, door the way.

Some of u will have noticed numbers dwindling here on Fanpop, specifically in the House MD Spot and the Huddy Spot. There are a number of factors that are impacting this drop in fandom, including people not liking this storyline, but the overwhelmingly common feature in people's decision to leave these spots and Fanpop as a whole is people's dissatisfaction with the way that people are responding to story arcs, characters and spoilers that they don't like. So, for the most part, it is the FANDOM, not the toon that is pushing people away. Case in point, people have been saying that they hate those of us who participate in the Luddy Spot because we are happy right now. Firstly, I personally, as a shipper of Luddy since the arc started in season 5, would have been happy if nothing had ever eventuated between them. Of course, I am even happier right now, but I do find it disturbing that people are actually pissed off at other people's happiness that in no way infringes upon them. Well, my Luddy happiness is infilrating this spot right now, but only after seeing a number of people get angry about someone else's happiness. I know that it has happened to Huddy fans when Huddy has been going well, so this is definitely a symptom of the whole of House MD fandom being sick. If only House could cure it...

I guess I would like to end my rantings and ravings with a little Huddy hope (like I did in the Hameron Spot and Huddy fans still shat on it. Lets hope that that doesn't happen here...):

I don't understand why Huddy fans aren't seeing that this storyline can also lead to dramatic developments in the Huddy relationship. I.E. House tells Cuddy he loves her and they run away together and live happily ever after with sunshine and gumdrops and smoochy kisses. Why is there an insistance to look on the dark side all the time when it comes to story arcs that perhaps don't sit well with us? Why do we always jump to the conclusion that the writers are out to get us?

At the end of the day, the writers need us fans to keep the toon going. They are not deliberately trying to piss everyone off. 99% of the Huddy relationship is the tension of 'will they/won't they'. As soon as they gives us Huddy they will either have to take it away again (halluncination sex anyone?) of they will have to end the show. And if people stop watching because they are having a tantrum about a storyline, vos, fox will just annuleer the toon (ok, a melodramatic but not unrealistic situation).

So please, lets try thinking about the toon and reactions to it. Don't lose the emotion, but instead funnel it into intelligent debate of artwork of writing. We need to protect our toon and our fandom, not ruin it from within.

huddyislove, salemslot and 6 others like this

Lisa_Huddy Missy, Although I read at an eigth grade level and don't understand most of the words you have so eagerly typed into this brilliant article, I feel that you have spoken so very truthfully of this matter, and, must I add, you do in pretty much every article you write. I feel that may people, not just Huddies, should follow your example. This article sums up why and what everyone is so utterly angry about. I feel that one point has not been explained in this article (or in the other rant articles I have read). We as fans cannot change the writers mind. We, ourselves, are not the writers. Not everything we want can be part of the show, otherwise House would be happily married to Cuddy, Cameron, Thirteen, Wilson, AND Stacy at the same time. Maybe a baby or two squished into the story. We cannot go back in time and change what the story has rolled out for our eyes and ears. We are the audience. We cannot all be pleased. I feel that everyone upset with the story arc should not be angry. Yes, you can be upset, but keep watching. You never know what may unfold. And after writing this comment, I realized that I should have made this an article.

misanthrope86 Thanks for your great comment Lisa_Huddy! Yep, what you say is totally true, in my opinion. Very, very well said.

Beatrix8520 I can't believe someone could actullay think on dropping the show just because they do not like this particular arc!! Come on it's fiction XD And anyway we don't do scripts so I guess we must deal with it :P Moreover I think writers know best than we do....let's think of it....what would have happen if die hard huddy fans had written these latest episodes? A long never-eneding romance with sweet words and occasional fights on tiny insignificant matters like a Dawson's Creek remake (which I loved BTW but that's not the point here XD)....come on....this is House! I love its unpredicatble/painful/breathless style ;) I don't want it to change no matter what. Long life to House writers! And for those who feel betrayed right now...that's a shame 'cause they're gonna miss all the fun along the way of this season ;) Great article misanthrope! I am up for giving vent to our feelings now and then ;) I guess you made the rightest call here ;) And BTW do not listen ( if you had such arguments ) to people who are pissed off with you just because you took a moderate position on the Luddy arc....you are reacting in the most mature and logical way. Anyone should do that, eitherwise you risk to messed up reality with fiction. ;)

rosehustle1 Actually, my reasons for disliking Lucas have nothing to do with anything other than I don't see him as a viable threat. I am okay with Cuddy being with another guy, but I want her with someone who is actually real competition for House and I just don't see that with Lucas. I also find it weird that he's missing for a whole season and then all of a sudden he's Cuddy's man, it seems a bit too soap opera like for this show. I just think bringing in someone new would have been more interesting, plausible, and refreshing for many of the fans. IMO, Lucas looks like Cuddy's little brother and not really like her man. I guess I just always envisioned her with someone who seemed more in charge and masculine. A real alpha male to make House take notice would have been great. I also think the fans would be less upset by the arc if Cuddy were at least still trying to be friends with House.

Beatrix8520 Well as far as I see it, she is trying to control her emotions around him, being strong you know...it's not like she has stopped having feelings for him. I just can't see your point, help me here.... For example I happened to be in love with someone who I was not sure I could trust (man it was years ago...time flies XD) and the only way I could try not to start hoping again for us was treating him coldly and sometimes meany....but for me it was just an act....something I did in order to avoid feeling good with him as I knew if I had let my defense dropped for just one second I could have been hurt once again. I guess that's why I understand writers' choice here....I can project myself on her quite easily. Haven't you ever experience something like that? Anyway I ended up with him anyway so it was the baddest act of my entire life XD As far as Lucas is concerned I know what you mean....he is quite a boy next to Cuddy but I guess they thought it could be easy for her to trust someone who could look so young and trustful and the exact opposite of House somehow....on the other hand Lucas is quite a deductive person and deep inside his brain he is brilliant and smart so I guess they thought they were qualities Cuddy could be attracted to....something like a fake House, nothing like the original though. I believe they chose to bring back someone old becouse they thought this way we would be more pissed off and worried they had bring him back to make him stay and become a regular....does it make sense to you? I mean if they had introduced someone new you would have thought it couldn't last very long for sure....this way we are still wondering what's gonna happen. I believe it's genius! :p Don't know just my thoughts.

Ladyluck523 I started to write a reply but realized it would be way too long so I posted it as an article: http://www.fanpop.com/spots/huddy/articles/36262/title/legitimate-reasons-hating-lucas-arc @Beatrix - the above article also addresses some of the points in your article about House being the show it is and Cuddy being the woman she is.