71 replies to this topic

[TWoP Nikita]

Here's the thread for discussing Taub.

Edited by TWoP Nikita, Sep 16, 2008 @ 11:21 PM.

[Namaste]

I don't care if I'm the only one. I like Taub. I like his worldweariness (which he has the actual life experience to back up -- unlike Foreman) and the fact that little seems to get past him. While Kutner at least partially bought Thirteen's excuse about Huntington's, Taub didn't. I'm looking forward to seeing him really move into this new life of working with House.

[OLucy]

You're not the only one. I like everything about him.

[Houddy]

I really like Taub too. I was worried, because he seemed to be fading into the woodwork toward the end of last season, but I LOVED him in 5.01. I like that he gets that they still need House's guidance, because, otherwise, why would they need to work for him? And I like his quiet snark. I hope to see a lot more of him in the future. Though he still doesn't look like a Chris to me.

[GhaimehBadenjun]

I love Taub. In fact, one of the things that makes me angriest about Amber's departure is the fact that we won't get any more hatesex!snark between them. Peter Jacobsen has some of the best comic timing on the show, apart from Mr. Laurie of course!

[Ginn]

I'll jump aboard the Taub Love Express. I can't wait to see more of his manipulativeness, and I love the fact that he isn't a wide-eyed newbie doctor but someone who was practically forced to start over later in life. He won't be awed by House. And he's married! That's a rare phenomenon for characters on this show- the only other example is Wilson in S1, and we never saw Julie. I hope we do see a bit of Mrs. Taub, or at least get some good unhealthy marriage angst since the affair with the nurse is still being kept secret.

[maeish]

His chemistry between Foreman is great! The snarking between them was great to watch!

[Princess Lucky]

Let me throw some more love at Taub. I genuinely like him. I love the fact an older doctor was added to the mix because only Foreman used to question House until now and even he had an idealised view of him, seeing him as a much more experienced and wise doctor. Taub isn't a wide-eyed youth and I love it. He is also hilarious in a very understated way.

And I find him attractive. Let the record show I have a thing for balding men.

He brings something very interesting to the mix. I loved him in the last episode, Peter Jacobson really played the doubt (due to the secret account), anger (due to House's meddling) and guilt (due to his cheating) perfectly. He's a joy to watch.

[GraceTX]

And I find him attractive. Let the record show I have a thing for balding men.

Ditto. Peter Jacobson is very attractive. Of course, I also have a thing for Stanley Tucci so what do I know? :)

[Houddy]

And I find him attractive. Let the record show I have a thing for balding men.

Ditto. Peter Jacobson is very attractive. Of course, I also have a thing for Stanley Tucci so what do I know? :)

Maybe we should start a club. lol Ah, Stanley Tucci...delicious.

When they first put out the photos for the new cast I was meh on PJ, but he totally has me hooked on the show.

[anon004]

Me three on the balding men. Which is why whenever they show pictures of HL with his growing bald spot, I get even more excited. Oops, wrong thread. I do like PJ in this part.

Edited by anon004, Oct 6, 2008 @ 4:27 PM.

[Princess Lucky]

And I find him attractive. Let the record show I have a thing for balding men.

Ditto. Peter Jacobson is very attractive. Of course, I also have a thing for Stanley Tucci so what do I know? :)

Maybe we should start a club. lol Ah, Stanley Tucci...delicious.

Heh, we should totally start a club because I adore Stanley Tucci as well.

But back on topic, Thirteen is dying and Kutner is electrocuting people and House has a new buddy and all sorts of things are going down, and I'm always like "but what about Taub's marriage?". PJ actually makes me care about his character which, at this point, is more than I can say for most of the other actors. Kudos.

[Houddy]

PJ actually makes me care about his character which, at this point, is more than I can say for most of the other actors. Kudos.

Yes. In many ways he's got the quietest storyline, spec compared to Hadley, and yet PJ brings such heart to it. I mean, doctor hubby (plastic surgeon no less) cheats on wife? Boring. And yet, I am interested in what happens. I want Taub to make it work. I don't want to see his marriage fall apart. (though, given this shows stance on love and romance, I'm not hopeful)

[jjr]

I agree that I care about Taub's marriage and I think this is one of the things I see as an answer for why TPTB wanted to shake things up and introduce new characters. CC&F all had storylines that were explored over the three seasons and I thought the end of season three really worked well as closure to C&C's--and really for Foreman, too as I never doubted he wasn't really reacting to not wanting to be House, but to his own demons. I think it has and will continue to payoff to have new dynamics to explore. PJ has his own quiet intensity, his own humour and his own gravitas to offer and we haven't had a storyline yet on someone trying to make his committed relationship work, despite his flaws. PJ will make this work. It's a new aspect to invest in. It's fine if Chase and Cameron get new arcs, too--I love Chase--but they will in some way still flow from their initial arcs. I think PJ brings some new energy to the storytelling and that's a good thing.

[badpixie]

I really like Taub too. During the selection I wanted CTB to be in his place, but he has really grown on me and I now think he's a very strong character. I liked his wife instantly last week so I hope she's in it again as well.

[MissMoneyBags]

I think PJ had one of my favorite blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments of comic timing this episode, when House called him short over the phone. The look on Taub's face was perfect.

[Princess Lucky]

I think PJ had one of my favorite blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments of comic timing this episode, when House called him short over the phone. The look on Taub's face was perfect.

Heh, agreed. PJ is hilarious, in fact his character/performance on House is possibly the least funny of his entire career (dramatic roles aside). The fact Taub still manages to be funny is to PJ's credit. He throws in little reactions and looks that are just right. Sadly there's not much room for physical comedy (the sci-fi fans among us should definitely check out The Lost Room, a brilliant 3-episode mini-series starring Peter Krause. PJ has a sizeable part and he is simply hilarious, while also quite earnest, something we've seen on House as well. He's incredibly animated and his scenes are comedy gold. Plus, the series is amazing and the entire cast is spot on. That and his appearances on Law & Order made me a PJ fan.).

Anyway. So, we finally found out (but didn't see, d'oh) that Taub told his wife and that they're talking about it. Which is a good sign. It doesn't tell us anything about whether or not she already knew (as some of us speculated in the previous episode's thread) but still. It's a good sign. I want those crazy kids to work things out, dammit. Maybe in a not so House/Wilson-centric episode we'll get some closure. I'm guessing we'll know in 4 to 6 episodes (when it's Taub's turn in the rotation of duckling-centric episodes).

Edited by Princess Lucky, Oct 15, 2008 @ 10:02 AM.

[Sarah1281]

Taub's wife needs much more screentime if there's going to be a major plotline about his marriage. I mean, he can only give House weekly updates at differentials for so long before no one cares anymore. We have to see it.

[jjr]

I don't agree that he has to have a lot of screen time to develop his arc. Chase had the least screen time of the original flavour ducklings and I think his arc was the best developed, because the writers were consistent when they picked up the strands and because Jesse Spencer was able to nail every scene he had. I think PJ is also a lovely subtle actor who makes the most of his scenes, so I think there's lots of hope for a satisfying exploration without needing a lot of screen time.

[Dumbpants]

I don't agree that he has to have a lot of screen time to develop his arc.

Agreed. He is in with the differentials and is quickly sent off to go do some task off screen. I'm not sure how I feel about him getting more screen time because of his wife... that whole story seems kind of blah to me. I want to see him fuck up like Chase did a few seasons back. I say that because the backlash from House would be brilliant and Taub would totally take it without breaking down.

[gudule]

I don't agree that he has to have a lot of screen time to develop his arc.

I'm not sure about that, but still, it was kind of a letdown to see poor Taub all wrecked in that first scene and then not hear a thing about the story. (I write kind of, because in all the bustle of this week's ep, it was understandable that Taub didn't get a lot of screen time... but still, just a sentence later in the ep to elaborate a bit would have been nice)

[jjr]

I think it was typical of the way this show develops supporting characters' storylines. It's always in fits and starts. Chase's daddy issues were dropped for long periods of time, but then in a perfect moment, resurrected to show more development. It never took a lot. We got enough to know that Taub told his wife and she didn't immediately throw him out, but there's lots of emotion as they talk. I'm sure this will simmer in the background until the next time Taub gets the limelight.

[Sarah1281]

I don't agree that he has to have a lot of screen time to develop his arc.

I didn't say it needs a lot of screentime in general, just that his wife needs to have a lot more in comparison to the, what, two scenes she's been in since we found out about the affair. I mean, it was different with Chase because he never saw his dad. Taub sees his wife every day.

[Princess Lucky]

I didn't say it needs a lot of screentime in general, just that his wife needs to have a lot more in comparison to the, what, two scenes she's been in since we found out about the affair. I mean, it was different with Chase because he never saw his dad. Taub sees his wife every day.

I agree that his wife needs more screentime, but not necessarily much more. We could get the occasional one liner or a mini-discussion between Taub and Kutner/Thirteen or Taub and House. And when Taub gets another episode of his own we can see her again like in episode 3, in a couple of scenes and get actual interaction between her and Taub (which is great to watch, it's very interesting to see PJ as Taub in a non-work setting and reacting more honestly as opposed to being snarky and awesome). It will get annoying to hear about her and not see her but sadly I don't think the show is prepared to devote much more screentime to Taub. That's what Thirteen is for.

(for that matter, poor Kutner. He has absolutely nothing to do.)

Edited by Princess Lucky, Oct 19, 2008 @ 9:22 AM.

[gudule]

I didn't say it needs a lot of screentime in general, just that his wife needs to have a lot more in comparison to the, what, two scenes she's been in since we found out about the affair. I mean, it was different with Chase because he never saw his dad. Taub sees his wife every day.

Besides, Chase never let on that there was something amiss about his relation with his dad (besides, how many people chat about their parents and the relationship they have with them at work?) whereas Taub's trouble(s) became known a bit faster. Taub looked like shit at the beginning of the ep, and he was telling the others why. It's not like they had to get it out of him. A simple thing such as Taub putting his foot in his mouth, diagnostic-wise, and someone else telling him "still working things out with your wife, it shows, your mind isn't on the job, now let's get back to pow'' would have fitted smoothly and given us a little bit more info.

That's what Thirteen is for.

I'm dreading next week's ep... I hope we'll manage to get a little goodness out of what looks like... Well, something that Taub's character could have operated on in his previous career ;)

[angora]

How adorable was Taub buying crack? Seriously - loved that. This is a character that's really grown on me since his introduction.

[gudule]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder: wouldn't it be more natural for a plastic surgeon to turn to reconstructive surgery (you still get to do boobs!) rather than turn to diagnostics?

(it's not that I don't like Taub, I'm pretty fond of him, it's just... I need to know more! There's something missing here!)

[MissMoneyBags]

"...I have Huntington's disease." Taub, for the absolute fucking win.

I'm really loving the way PJ plays Taub, too - I mean the character is kind of a bastard, but he's so fun about it. And yet, he's a completely different kind of "funny, loveable bastard" than House, so it doesn't feel like they're regurgitating character types.

[Namaste]

the character is kind of a bastard, but he's so fun

One of the things I love about PJ's Taub is that Taub is so world wise and world weary and cynical in a way that Foreman only wishes he could be. I think it's because Taub is coming from a place where he was successful. He's older, he's established. He's coming from a place of experience in life, if not in diagnostics, that makes him more secure.

As to reconstructive surgery, gudule, I'd imagine that the non-compete agreement with his former partners covers that, since resconstructive surgery is part of plastic surgery. (Plastic surgery isn't just for aesthetics. I once shared a flight with a pediatric plastic surgeon who specialized in reconstructive surgery on burn patients.)

[Sarah1281]

Wow, they must have really hated him then, if not only do they want no chance of him competing with them but he has to enter a whole new field. Although now that his wife knows, couldn't he go back to plastic surgery? I can't imagine why he hasn't.