OMGWTF has Sela Ward done to herself? I didn't even recognize her on House!

I feel like in the tradition, it's fine for it to be an unsurvivable fall, because that's how Conan Doyle wrote "The Final Problem," with Holmes dying on the Reichenbach Falls for real, and then took it back.

Did Ward's character and Cameron die on House?

I have to say, I prefer the movie version of the Reichenbach Falls, because it's pure human protective instinctive emotion, a split-second decision (and that the surviving was reliant on a bit of five-fingered discounting of a random doohicky), as opposed to this silly trickery and manipulation that seems too complicated and dependent on too many variables. And cold and calculated. Until I see the mechanics, I can't believe the emotions Sherlock was showing in that final showdown. The whole thing stunk of meta manipulating to make certain things work out, and not character-driven decisions. (Yeah, yeah, I know there was Sherlock's earlier scene with Molly setting up some sort of subterfuge, but, that seems to rely too much on Sherlock being omniscient. I guess, in the end, I'm not as engaged by clever craftiness and chess-thinking that almost leaves no room for gut and heart. Although I'm sure everything I just said is fighting words for someone).

Did Ward's character and Cameron die on House?

Nope. Stacy married the other guy and lived happily ever after, and I think Cameron just left.

The whole thing stunk of meta manipulating to make certain things work out, and not character-driven decisions.

I kind of feel that way about the whole series.

A truck was blocking John's view, a truck that conveniently pulled away and John ran toward the gathering crowd. Also John was stalled by the "accidental" collision with the bicyclist.

I suspect Sherlock fell into the truck, and the prepared body was bounced out to the sidewalk.

I kind of feel that way about the whole series

You should try reading the fic. Or not. But the attempts at genius-deduction are too often so very clumsy, and are more an arrangement of assumptions the author lets pan out.

This, BTW, is how the original Holmes explains his "death":

"Well, then, about that chasm. I had no serious difficulty in getting out of it, for the very simple reason that I never was in it…."

"No, Watson, I never was in it. My note to you was absolutely genuine. I had little doubt that I had come to the end of my career when I perceived the somewhat sinister figure of the late Professor Moriarty standing upon the narrow pathway which led to safety. I read an inexorable purpose in his gray eyes. I exchanged some remarks with him, therefore, and obtained his courteous permission to write the short note which you afterwards received. I left it with my cigarette-box and my stick, and I walked along the pathway, Moriarty still at my heels. When I reached the end I stood at bay. He drew no weapon, but he rushed at me and threw his long arms around me. He knew that his own game was up, and was only anxious to revenge himself upon me. We tottered together upon the brink of the fall. I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me. I slipped through his grip, and he with a horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds, and clawed the air with both his hands. But for all his efforts he could not get his balance, and over he went. With my face over the brink, I saw him fall for a long way. Then he struck a rock, bounded off, and splashed into the water…."

"The instant that the Professor had disappeared, it struck me what a really extraordinarily lucky chance Fate had placed in my way. I knew that Moriarty was not the only man who had sworn my death. There were at least three others whose desire for vengeance upon me would only be increased by the death of their leader. They were all most dangerous men. One or other would certainly get me. On the other hand, if all the world was convinced that I was dead they would take liberties, these men, they would soon lay themselves open, and sooner or later I could destroy them….

"I had only one confidant—my brother Mycroft. I owe you many apologies, my dear Watson, but it was all-important that it should be thought I was dead, and it is quite certain that you would not have written so convincing an account of my unhappy end had you not yourself thought that it was true."

Ginger, I fear I will find that account more believable than the one we'll get from Moffat. He has gleefully said that no one's come up with the answer and it will surprise everyone, so I'm thinking the obvious answer, which DCJ just postulated, will not be the answer.

Even if it's ridiculous, he'd better make me like it.