You've done a great job nominating the best of House, M.D. More than 500 voted in the five seasonal polls to determine the best House episodes in the series' run thus far. (I did not include season six in the polling.) Is "Three Stories" really the best episode ever, as so many critics and fans have noted? Or is the double finale "House's Head"/"Wilson's Heart" even better? Should "Broken" even qualify, since it's so far outside the framework of a House episode?
I have taken the top vote-getters from each season and have created a new poll to select what you think is the best House episode to date. I added "Broken" from season six to the mix, realizing my vote was the only one to count for this season. If you wish to write in a different season six episode, you may indeed do that in the comments section.
What makes these episodes "the best?" Each of these episodes leaves you breathless at the commercial breaks, frustrated at the delay in learning what happens next. Some of them also leave you drained at the end or waiting anxiously for the next episode. More importantly, they all add to the series fabric in unique ways, letting us into House's heart and chipping away at our suppositions.
Some of them explore important ethical issues; ask interesting questions about the nature of love and sacrifice. It is hard to choose, much less narrow down to 10 offerings, among the episodes of a series with so many superior episodes. Hugh Laurie just recently reiterated his belief that House scripts are like "Faberge Eggs." Interestingly the episodes you chose were mainly written by a small core of House writers: Doris Egan, Lawrence Kaplow, Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner, David Foster and David Shore, himself. And I agree with him. The best episodes are intricate, delicately woven tales with many colored threads that give series star Hugh Laurie meaty material with which to wow us. And maybe that's what these 10 best represent.
"3 Stories" - Considered by many to be the best House episode in the series history, Shore's award-winning brilliant script is framed around a lecture on diagnostics. But within the lecture, House weaves his own tale, and we, along those in the lecture hall learn the origin of House's disability and gain some understanding of his attitude towards the medical establishment and some of his trust issues. We learn that House can (and has) love—and trust. It's an incredible hour, and the first real exploration into House's heart and soul.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Orange450
A great list of episodes and it will certainly be interesting to see which one comes out on top. Of course, the collective winner is us - the lucky viewers - because we don't have to choose. We can enjoy any or all whenever the fancy takes us! But that being said, I have to cast my vote for Three Stories.
What can I say about that episode that hasn't already been said? That so many innovative and compelling hours of House later, it still remains the most innovative and compelling hour of television I've ever seen? That its combination of script, acting, editing, and production values are sheerly breathtaking, simply put? That it defines the elusive quality ascribed by Shakespeare to Cleopatra: "she makes hungry where she most satisfies"? Yeah, I guess I can say that :)
2 - tante vespa
As much as I've enjoyed reading the selection, and indeed, these are the episodes I gravitate most to when watching episodes again, I find it absolutely impossible to choose 'thé best'. They are like strands in a beautiful fabric.... impossible to discern which strand provides the luscious colour, the shine or the strenght.., but take a strand away and you are left with a tear.... But congrats in compiling 'the list'!
3 - Max Durdy
These are all amazing episodes! I'm surprised 'No Reason' isn't here, as I find that probably the most fascinating insight into the mind of House, and his self destructive nature. Because it isn't, I'll have to vote for 'Autopsy,' because of Hugh Laurie's performance in that episode, which is one of my favourite by him in the series. I always love the episodes where Wilson and House collide in some way (which is why 'The Social Contract' is another favourite of mine.)
4 - barbara barnett
I know it's so hard to choose. I tried to include those episodes that got the most votes (which I realize isn't scientific and why I included a possibility in the comments to write in. No reason didn't come close enough to the top of season two to be in the final list. My feeling is also, that that there are few bad choices in six seasons. I think there are only a handful of episodes in all six years that I would say I didn't especially like.
5 - Maineac
My vote (Merry Little Christmas) should actually have been for 3 Stories. But since I knew that would win, I voted for my second-favorite episode.
6 - marie
Oh my God that was such a difficult choice to make , I loved em all and I still watch them all frequently, but in the end I went for ' All In ', this to me showed the full power of his thought process especially at the end when he asked them use the last chance they had on the exact test they had already done once and had a negative result from ,and his absolute relief when they gave him the result , ....it was sheer obsession...and from first hearing the doc describe Ians symptoms to Cuddy in the beginning, to him explaining himself to Wilson at the end ....Hugh Laurie was awesome ( and him wearing a crisp white shirt and Tux didnt do him any dis-favours either ) lol , great list, .. and I dont mind which episode wins , as 'Orange 450' so rightly says we the viewers are the winners , thanks again Barbara.
7 - anne
The mistake is one of the best House's episode for me (it's a shame it's not on your list), Three Stories is close second.
8 - Sandra
Picking THE best episode is hard, really hard. From a shipper's point of view (yes, my heart beats for House & Cameron, my one and only OTP) I'd say it's Half Wit, but actually overall my most favorite episode ever is Three Stories. We've learned so much about House and the way of storytelling is very unique. And I think everyone in the cast and writing stuff answered "Three Stories" as I far as I remember, good taste :D
On a side note: I'm also surprised that "No Reason" is not on the list.
And I have to add, I just stumbled across this by accident, maybe you should also advertise for it on more sites, like on Livejournal (and if you have, not just on the Huddy community). Anyway, definitely a good choice of episode, there are almost all of my favs included :-)
9 - barbara barnett
Hi Sandra,
I just put this up yesterday and I actually (besides twitter) haven't advertised it anywhere. I know someone posted it on the Fox Official Forum. But please feel free to spread the word.
I don't think a poll like this (i.e. best episode vs. favorite) has a shipper component, which is why some obvious Huddy shipper and Hilson shipper episodes are not on here.
Anyway, please feel free to post anywhere you want to :) That would be most appreciated! No Reason just didn't quite get enough votes. I loved that episode as well. I also loved House Divided and Under My Skin, and neither of those made it either!
10 - Epiphany
Wow - great choices indeed. If a friend of mine wanted to view exceptional House episodes - I'd recommend this list. But I'd substitute Birthmarks (not sure what for yet).
Barbara, you've said: "I don't think a poll like this (i.e. best episode vs. favorite) has a shipper component, which is why some obvious Huddy shipper and Hilson shipper episodes are not on here."
I'd humbly suggest that Birthmarks inclusion possibly proves otherwise. Although a very enjoyable episode, it doesn't quite stand alongside most of the others on this list. Or even some that didn't make the cut.
11 - barbara barnett
Epiphany--agree with you about Birthmarks. I'm not sure why it scored as high as it did. I'd substitute Under My Skin or more likely House Divided for it as a better example of an overall outstanding episode.
12 - madfashionista
Barbara, you are an evil woman--so many great choices! As I might have written before, I voted for HH/WH because it was the first episode of "House" that I saw, back to back, and I was absolutely mesmerized. I knew of the show, maybe seen a little, but this two-parter got me hooked.
However, almost every one on your list is a winner. You're still an evil woman. :)
13 - barbara barnett
I admit it. I am evil (she says with a very evil grin). What better to pass these doldrums days without a new episode for two weeks--after a hiatus of a month?
It's easier to list the episodes that aren't the best--also known as those I could live without. OK, let me count them (at least in my humble opinion). And of course your mileage may vary:
Season one: Cursed, Mob Rules (although it was funn)
Season two: spin, TB or not TB, safe, sleeping dogs
Season three: Fools for Love, Que Sera, Wac a Mole, Needle in a Haystack, The Jerk
Season four: Guardian Angels, Whatever it Takes, No More Mr. Nice Guy
Season five:Adverse Events, Lucky 13, The Greater Good
14 - barbara barnett
oops. Forgot season six: Teamwork, possibly Ignorance is Bliss
15 - sherlockjr
I kind of wish you had done a ranking rather than just having us choose one episode. I'd be very interested to see how people ranked these episodes.
16 - barbara barnett
Sherlockjr--I wish I had a way to do that. If I can ever figure out how to make that work in the polling software, I will do that. I'm sketchy at best using all these polling things.
17 - Donna
Thanks for offering some fun House related activities while we wait for the new episode on Jan. 11th!
Such a hard decision to make with all these great choices but I chose HH/WH. Like madfashionista, I was totally mesmerized by it and Hugh Laurie was magnificent.
And I agree with you on episodes you can do without in S6. Imho, Teamwork and IIB really derailed a very strong and consistent string of episodes following Broken. I'm hoping that the wonderful Wilson episode has turned things around for the remainder of this season.
18 - Tiffany
I could hardly chose between all of these great episodes but in the end, I went for "All In" because it demonstrates House's obsessive behavior and witty humor.
My second would have been "Birthmarks" cause of the interactions between House and Wilson, especially at the end where House tells Wilson that his dad is dead.
I am also really surprised that "No Reason" was not on the list. It was also one of my favorite episodes.
19 - Elena
Barbara,
I want to thank you. Here, in Ukraine, we’ll see season 6 next summer may be. So I just read the scripts on 'clinic duty' and these amazing deep reviews of yours. You do the great job, especially for people like me. Thanks a lot.
20 - xinyuActor
Merry Little Christmas keeps on spinning in my mind. Call me crazy but I love watching House in desperation and no one there for supporting... Always touch me the most. :_(
21 - barbara barnett
Elena-my pleasure. It's always nice to know when my writing reaches so far and wide. Xinyu--I agree with you! I love watching House struggle against the odds. It's something that HL does so exceptionally well to bring out.
22 - Sue
If one looks at the commonality of these episodes, one will find that they all give us a peek at "House Underneath." He has let go of the snark, the ego,
and the pride to give us a peek at his heart and soul. Each episode had a diagnostic and/or moral dilemma that integrated well with House's moral or social circumstances. We saw a multi-dimensional character, where many aspects of his personality were evident.
When they stick to the core character and revolve the story around him, we get unforgettable episodes. None of these are 13/14-centered.
I voted for HH/WH, but I could just as easily have voted for Broken. Katie Jacobs directed Half Wit, Wilson's Heart and Broken. She is a great director.
Wilson's Heart has one of the best death scenes I have ever seen. I could see life leave Amber's body.
23 - barbara barnett
Sue--You're right. Each of these episodes and most of the best the series has to offer revolves around House and explores him. He's snarky and sarcastic, but not written over the top; these episodes give him a heart and soul and a reason to us to sympathise with him.
Even when he's a jerk in these episodes, he redeems himself. I also agree about KJ and her direction. She's wonderful. It's hard to believe that she's relatively new at it.
24 - Jen
These rank right up there with my favs, I did vote, but it was hard!
25 - Jo (housian daze)
Ooh Barbara - now you're fanning a flame! Least favourite episode - well out of the 115 or so there are only a handful of duff ones.
Your choices are interesting but I LOVE the biting writing of Sleeping Dogs Lie - if only for the most cutting delivery that House has made - after the POTW has taken a kidney from her lover, even though she was planning to leave her:
POTW:I've got the plague?
House: Don't worry, it's treatable. Being a bitch though, nothing we can do about that.
Delivered unflinchingly beautifully. Bliss!