Wow, Barbara! Your reviews never cease to amaze me! They are so incredibly insightful and articulate!

That is a fantastic review but then again when has it not?

Question though that really bugged me - do you think that 13 is Bi? I didn't really know why house winked at her. I was hoping you can provide me with an answer.Since there is rumors going on about 13 being in a "shocking" relationship that will make House loose it and cause problems my mind is starting to wonder. I'm thinking it's Foreman I really don't want it to be cuddy or cameron. It would feel like the OC a bit.

I'm really enjoying Kutner and he brings something new but 13 and Taub don't really seem to interest me. It lacks something chemistry or dynamic I don't know but I seem to find myself paying attention to kutner while my mind wonders off with 13 and Taub. I don't really get why 13 is so mysterious and interesting because she's pretty boring well to me at least. It seems all one note to me. I loved Chase in this episode as well and I miss him.

I'm so happy that the strike is over. I'm hoping that the two parter will go ahead and I'm looking foreward to the new episodes and I hope at some point I see chase and cameron back.

Again wonderful review.

A lovely review, Barbara, and you highlighted my favorite line--from Cuddy to House, "You will never lose your friend: you are the long distance runner of neediness." Ah yes, he is. That's why we love him.

So far loving 4th season. That's not to say that I love the newbies because I don't. BUT, it is a nice change for a while.
LOVE all the scenes between House and Wilson and House and Cuddy. And I like that the episodes are not as dark as they were last season. I HATED...HATED the Tritter arc....HATED!!!!
I'm glad that Hugh got some rest and I'm glad that he's coming back to work again.

WE LOVE YOU, HUGH!!

Thank you, as always, for your kind words. I am thrilled that the strike is over, and there are conflicting reports as to when, if, and how many new episodes of House wil run. David Shore is back to work, and his plans are to shoot new episodes. I have heard end of April; I've heard "extended season," and I've heard not till next August or September. The last option would be bad, so let's not think about it.;)

Is 13 really bi-sexual? Hmmm. Not sure about that one. I'm pretty indifferent to her right now, so my reaction is sort of ho-hum. Taub carries a sort of middle-aged dispair; but I think he is "looking" for something. I don't trust him, and he could really harm House (especially since House tends not to see threats, and can easily be blindsided by him); I like Kutner. He's funny--and sort of beagle-like. Exuberant and smart. He adds a nice comic touch to the team.

Now....how to fill that break until new episodes...

Barbara

Barbara, great review. I do disagree (I think) on a couple of points, though.

You mention that House identifies Amber as a needy version of himself, and that is certainly what he says, but Wilson makes it clear in his sarcastic response that House is himself already as needy as can be, something House apparently failed to realize, at least momentarily.

That's really a very minor point, but I definitely saw the Amber response differently than you do. I saw her motive for dating Wilson as entirely and completely selfish, just as House had figured. House's apparent resignation isn't because he 'gets' or supports the relationship, but because his efforts to sabotage it have failed. Amber's selfish desire for a worshipper, resolved by Wilson, doesn't give House any edge on which to grab.

Anyway, I thought this was one of the best episodes yet. Fantastic, wonderful show.

Loved your review, Barbara, and I particularly enjoyed your analysis of the House/Wilson "screwed up friendship." To me, they are the epitome of a co-dependent relationship, fueled by House's neediness and Wilson's need to be needed - neither of which being long-term "fixes." Wilson is House's human vicodin, and their addiction to each other won't change until they are willing to venture outside their comfort zones. As you pointed out, House is starting to do that; I'm not sure Wilson, by dating Amber, is being as bold as he thinks he is.
Another great episode... Love how this season is shaping up. I DO like the new interns, especially Kutner and 13, and have high expectations for the next 6 or so new episodes.

Hi Phillip. Thanks for chiming in!

You mention that House identifies Amber as a needy version of himself, and that is certainly what he says, but Wilson makes it clear in his sarcastic response that House is himself already as needy as can be, something House apparently failed to realize, at least momentarily.

He is absolutely what Cuddy called him "the long-distance runner of neediness." House got that hurt/thoughtful look on his face. But she's certainly right--as are you.

As far as House's reaction to Amber, I think what he gets is where Amber is coming from. He gets love and the lack of pity from Wilson--something he always craves. I agree that Amber's motives are selfish, but not in the way House originally believed. (In my opinion.)

Houseguest--I really liked Wilson in this episode. To me their friendship could not have been better portrayed. I have been unhappy with Wilson for a while, and I am finally good with him.

Thanks for your response Barbara. I don't care for 13 I'm just wondering why they would just throw something like that in there all of a sudden. It just didn't make sense to me. I never thought about that aspect with Taub thanks for that I'll be keeping a lookout for that but for now he hasn't really done anything to get my attention on the tv screen. I have high expectations for the next few episodes and hope that they can sort out what they are going to do with chase, cameron and foreman as well as the new team. I'm hoping that we can learn more about the original team outside the hospital as well as Cuddy I'm very curious to know what goes on when they outside the hospitals doors.

A thought just came to me since you suggested that he could hurt house and is "looking" for something do you thing he could be a threat to house like an enemey working close to him looking for a weak spot or an opening and then use that moment to pounce on him when house is unaware of it? If so then that would be interesting. It is kind of like Voglar but he is a quiet person that
slips under house's radar and doesn't detect it until it is too late. Now I am interested.

thought just came to me since you suggested that he could hurt house and is "looking" for something do you thing he could be a threat to house like an enemey working close to him looking for a weak spot or an opening and then use that moment to pounce on him when house is unaware of it?

I don't know that he's so much "looking," but as an experienced doctor, he may see an opporunity to leap-frog the fellowship process into a new position, since he had to give up his old one. He doesn't seem particularly happy working for House or in the fellowship. But I've seen him already try to undercut House in Ugly. And that was before he had the job!

barbara

Thankyou Barbara. I never thought of that until I saw how unhappy Taub looked most of the time. Sounds interesting. House better watch himself then.

In my opinion, this was the one of the two episodes that are of some standard of the past 3 seasons. The other being 'Frozen'. I like how they tackled the issues of religion within the episode. It could have gone really wrong if it wasn't written properly, but luckily, this episode was better than the others this season.

I have come to the conclusion that I really like Kutner. He's funny, and he's like a really big kid with his constant references to past sci-fi flicks. I still can't stand Thirteen, and the whole bisexual thing is another attempt to keep her interesting and it's just The OC all over again. Taub, I'm still indifferent to. Some things he said, I listened to as oppposed to the other times where I just stare at the TV screen.

Thank goodness for Chase being in this episode! Still don't like how they are putting Cameron and Chase on an and/or status. I liked how House kept saying that he needed him. Another thing I noticed was the interaction between House, Foreman, Kutner and Taub when they were discussing the patient. I could accept the new change if it was just them. They don't need Thirteen on the team, they did fine without her.

Thanks - another very insightful review yet again! I very much enjoyed your analysis of the House/Wilson friendship and I think you may be right that there is something more than meets the eye from the Wilson point of view. I really like your idea of House as the unsuccessful romantic, disillusioned as he is, still struggling to find some idealism in the world. He expects not to find it, thus the cynicism, but those moments when he does are the ones that turn out to be so touching.

Like many others, I also have been relieved by the last few episodes, especially this one and Frozen, as they seem a return to form after (in my opinion) a less than exciting start to this season.

I'm interested to know why you didn't discuss the 13 revelation in your review? Is it because - like me - you thought it was the one very weak moment in the show?