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Taking a cue from Johnny Got His Gun and soap operas the world over, tonight House tackled the medical cliche of a man (in this case, Mos Def) trapped in his own body, only able to communicate by blinking.
POTW: I think the big clue that his first Dr. was an idiot was that he didn't try the old "Blink if you can hear me" trick. And you would think that's about as bad as life could get. But then Foreman and Chase open up his head and he loses the ability to blink. Most of the episode is shot through the POTW's PoV, which made it hard to follow several of the medical aspects, as well as made it difficult to connect to the show's weekly cast. However, the moments where Mos Def's voice inflection alone conveyed the anguish of the POTW were quite powerful.
House: He is in the hospital because he wrecked his bike. In New York State. The POTW ends up being his roommate, until House cannot abide Dr. Idiot and gets the POTW moved to his care at his hospital. While he does that, Wilson begins to obsess about what House was doing in another state. As per usual, House gets the better of his foil for the most part, including getting him to reveal that he is dating one of the caretakers are the facility his brother is in. But in the end, Wilson figures out that House was seeing a psychiatrist - which promptly leads House to delete the number from his phone. If, in fact, he was seeing a psychiatrist.
The Team: Are mostly seen through the perception of the POTW. Taub is terrified of working for House, but determined to overcome his fear and keep his job. Even if it means lying. Kutner is thinking out of the box, but content to let Taub steal his accolades if it means House will stop harassing him and let him stay. Foreman is reliving his teenage angst about buying girls jewelry. And it's obvious even to a guy who can't move a muscle that Cuddy is totally into House.
The Funny:
Dr. Idiot accusing House of giving the POTW false hope. Yeah, that is House's M.O.!
POTW: (in thoughts, while watching House and Cuddy) Is he hitting on her? If she turns around, she's into it........and there it is.
Kutner: It would show House you care.
Taub: I'm not sure I do.
POTW: (in thoughts) And you're my doctor? Maybe you should have your midlife crisis after I'm better.
POTW: (in thoughts, listening to Foreman recount his first girlfriend) Would you tell this story to someone who could walk away?
Thoughts & Questions: I usually love the episodes that get all metaphysical, but this one seemed to be attempting to put all the standard elements into one show. There were the beach scenes between House and the POTW, where doubt in a god was raised, but the scenes were brief and never seemed to amount to much - especially since that House was never more than the POTW's interpretation of reality. Then there was the fact that the POTW lied to his wife and House immediately went to infidelity, leading Taub to feel a kinship - but again, that really didn't seem to go anywhere either. But for all the problems, I still enjoyed the performance, the lighter writing style and the final moment - where we see Wilson from House's PoV with the same unsteady haziness that the POTW had - was a kicker, illustrating how House is just as trapped within himself as his patient was.
What did you think of tonight's episode? Is Wilson really reverting back to form (and safety) by dating the kind of women he usually went for - who were nothing like Amber? Is Taub really connecting to the work, or is just afraid of one more part of his life falling apart? Is Foreman really so insecure that he would base his entire faith in a relationship off whether or not his girlfriend wears a bracelet he gave her? Was House really seeking therapy? And what in the world is going on next week that the only dialog the sneak peak got was "Oh god"?
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Zap2it Twitter Talk 
Great episode. Really enjoyed the POTW viewpoint, hearing his thoughts and concerns. It sure was a good thing that House was in the same hospital room with him or the POTW would be suppying organs right now. If House was visiting a shrink that would be a big step for him. I thought Taub was very interesting this week, House really just wanted proof he wanted the job. As far as next weeks show, the word is that a regular will die this season, perhaps that is what next weeks show is about. I don't think this series needs to copy "Lost" and kill off regulars every so often, but the writers usually know what they are doing so we shall see.
Good episode, but I can't wait for next week!
so kutner figured out that the patient had gotten sick bc of rat pee and he got extra sick because he has a cut on his finger so he got infected? and 13 only got a rash bc she didn't have any cuts?
I really liked this episode, and how it showed the relationships from the patient's perspective. Nice to see something different. Some of the medical stuff was simplistic though, like missing the cut on the finger. Willing to forgive them that, for the rest of the story.
I didn't get that Taub was terrified of working for House because he's House. Taub's more mature than the others and has never shied away from confronting him. I thought it's more he's terrified of the responsibility of the position, how different it is from his plastic surgery practice, his concern that he can measure up. Kutner seems younger and smarter than all of them, and even though they're friendly, it's got to make him somewhat insecure. Does that make sense?
Anyone else notice how the different characters appeared in front of white crosses throughout the episode? Very often when we were seeing things from Mos Deaf's perspective, the doctors were lit from behind with things in the background resembling crosses. Even the spackle on the wall in the rat-infested basement! This show LOVES to use religious symbolism. Great episode!
ARGH! This was a really good show (what I could catch, flipping between CBS & NBC) and it was a gripping episode with someone looking from the ouside in on the House crew (and inserting more than a few snide remarks in the process).
I think this was one of the best eps ever. It was riveting. Just an extraordinary job by all.
This was a great epi. I love when they do something different. Well acted and exectued.
My only gripe is how many times does he have to fire/accept the resignation of the staff? Every episode it seems like its happening to someone else. He fires 13 just to play with her and her GF, he fires Foreman b/c of 14, he tells Taub he's off the team, yet they all get to keep their jobs. Yet Chase he lets go for real?
Taub's got smoe nerve. I'm liking him less and less.
him, i only survived through the first ten minutes then turned it. i think it was horrible :\