Not only an essential episode but one of the series' best, it features a great confrontation between House and Wilson over the prescription blanks stolen in “Meaning.” Even more importantly, it contains House’s emotional explanation about why he became a doctor. The final act of the episode almost has the feel of a tension-filled stage play involving the three men, during which Wilson confronts House about his motivations in stealing the prescription blanks and the nature of their friendship.
“Merry Little Christmas” - The penultimate episode of the Tritter story arc, House has been offered a deal from the district attorney to enter a drug rehab program in exchange for dropping the drug charges. House outright rejects the deal, arranged after Wilson admits that House forged his name on several Vicodin prescriptions. To force House into accepting the deal, Wilson convinces Cuddy to cut his access to Vicodin completely, causing the increasingly desperate House to try scoring drugs from a local ER and from a dead patient of Wilson’s — and to intentionally “cut” himself. He refuses to diagnose his current patient until Cuddy restores his meds, but relents when it becomes clear that Cuddy will not fold. Even strung out and very ill, House is still able to diagnose the young patient, causing Wilson to re-evaluate House’s medical gifts, finally understanding that it isn’t “luck” but true genius that his friend possesses. Stealing a bottle of oxycodone from the pharmacy, House is at the end of his emotional rope by Christmas Eve. Placing a brief but emotional call to his mother’s voice mail, he hangs up quickly before taking several of the remaining oxy pills chased with a very full tumbler of bourbon. It is never clear whether House intended to commit suicide, but it is clear that House does not really care whether he lives or dies at this pivotal point in the series. Wilson finds House collapsed on his floor, where he leaves him, angry and disgusted at his friend’s self-destructive actions. When House comes to, he decides to take Tritter’s deal, but it’s too late. Only Cuddy’s lie to the judge in “Words and Deeds” saves House from certain jail time and the loss of his medical license.“One Day One Room” - (I’m going to take so much heat for this one, I can see it now!) Coming right on the heels of House’s stint in rehab (“Words and Deeds”), a rape victim is drawn to House “to talk.” Initially disinterested and believing himself to be completely unequipped to deal with her problem, House tries to withdraw from the case. But Eve will only speak to House. She slowly draws him into a conversation, and by the time that House can finally be freed from her, he chooses to let her stay and continue their discussion. She is drawn like a moth to flame by his wounded spirit, seeing in him a kindred spirit, even as he would not. Although he begins with platitudes, telling her all of the things he “should,” House eventually confesses something he probably never had until that moment — that he had been abused by his father. The sincere admission finally draws out the young woman, getting her to “talk about it.” But even House doesn’t know whether “talking about it” is the “right” thing to do. “Maybe all we’ve done is make a girl cry,” he wonders aloud to Wilson. Although the episode is flawed, it still stands in my mind as one of the most significant for its revelations and character reveals (and not just about the abuse). And for House’s wistful “sitting, watching, and imagining” in the jogging park, observing the runners do what he could only a few months before, but may never do again.
Article comments
1 - Kyrpio
Thanks again, Barbara, how you narrowed that down is amazing! I agree with all your choices, One Day One Room of course could have been better executed, but it is, as you say, essential viewing for a fuller understanding of the TV show that is House.
As its in your list, I was wondering if anyone wanted to put forward an opinion on Wilson walking away from House in 'Merry Little Christmas'? Why does he walk away? Does he know House will be ok, and, if so, how? Does he really not care just as House doesn't? I've come up with several theories, practically a different one each time I've watched it, and still cannot work out exactly the motive behind it.
To add to the list of expendable episodes, I put forward 'No more Mr nice Guy'. Very funny, but ultimately we learn nothing.
2 - Dee Laundry
An intriguing list. One thing I noticed: Wilson's statement in "Dying Changes Everything" is "I'm not sure we ever were." Slightly different connotation. And while the words may seem cold, it's important to note the tears in Wilson's eyes throughout the entire conversation. The conclusion he's come to is obviously emotionally wrenching for him.
***
Kyrpio, my take on the motive for walking away in MLC was similar to Barbara's: Wilson was fed up and could no longer stand House trying to destroy himself. If you remember the close-up on the medicine bottle, I believe he was also angry that House had abused Wilson's trust again and stolen from Wilson's patient. It was a moment where Wilson decided House would have to rescue himself. The cut straight to House arriving in Tritter's office showed that was the intent of the director as well: To show that Wilson walking away made House realize he had finally stepped over the line.
3 - Eve K
Barbara: You are so right! You are so going to hear it for choosing "One Day One room" and not "Lines in the sand." (-:
To me these episodes represent nurture vs. nature.
And If I had chosen one I would also choose the other to balance it out.
I also dont care much for the b-story in One day one room, and the actress who plays Eve, well, I dont know...(Nice name though) But this isn't about favs, but about the overall story/character development?
I agree with you that "Son of a coma guy" is one of the best episodes in the series. (It was something like that, almost a theatrical piece, I had hoped for in "Last resort".)
So much is revealed about the character of House, its pivotal.
To me, season fours "97 seconds" is an episodes that really grows on me. House is in a very strange place, exploring death like it means nothing to him to almost die. Its almost dreamlike at times, as his strange actions doesn't seem to have any consequences, and it do show House as an agnostic more than an atheist. I do miss more about House spiritual journey. "Fetal position" really is about "when do human consciousness begin?", "97 seconds" is about "when do human consciousness end". And this has massive consequences for the way House treats his patients.
But all in all I do agree with your other choices in this second article.
4 - barbara barnett
Dee--you're right about the emotional impact of that scene and the toll it took on Wilson as well as House. But I did think it was very cold (but perhaps it's all Wilson though he could do) and somewhat cruel, given House's efforts. (Like in MLC, maybe he felt backed into a corner).
Eve K--I love the idea of balance in the episodes. I think House IS more of an agnostic than atheist. He questions and wonders and want (not) to believe, but yet he keeps experimenting to see if he's wrong about it. And has had an awful lot of "white light" experiences for certain about the lack of any sort of after-life.
5 - OldHamster
No arguments with any of the episodes you included. But it really should be "25 Essential Episodes." I'd add "Love Hurts" (where House reveals he no longer feels worthy of being loved for anything but his "damage" -- that speech was much more about House than about Cameron), "Lines in the Sand," "Don't Ever Change"/"It's a Wonderful Lie" (for the way they shook up House's core beliefs that people don't change and everybody lies), and most of all, "Daddy's Boy." Seeing House actually interact with his parents reveals far more about his relationship with them than his revelation of abuse in "One Day, One Room" (and makes that revelation pack more of a punch). IMO the most damage a parent can do to a child is failing to understand him/her -- I'm 50 and still carrying that baggage.
Good article. You always have such great insights into "House" the show and House the character.
6 - JL
I'd have to agree that I got more out of watching House interact with his parents than simply watching him talk about them. I found especially poignant Wilson's conversation with Cameron in which he comments that having your child become a world-renowned doctor doesn't compensate for the disappointment of him being miserable. As a relatively new parent, that really hit home the tragedy of the character for me...
7 - barbara barnett
Daddy's Boy was a wonderful and important episode. And I wish I could have included more than 20--you're so right.
ODOR did more than reveal the abuse. It showed the viewers that House was wrong (and actually Cameron was right) about his ability to listen and "get to" the patient. He really does have a capacity for a sort of honesty that while blunt is also compassionate when necessary. He has a very low opinion of himself when it comes to interacting with patients (but deep down, I think he knows he's really better with them than he thinks), yet time and again we've seen that he is the most effective of all his colleagues--which is why when it really comes down to it, House chooses himself to speak with patients.
8 - Jaim
I agree with many of your choices Barbara. I think I'd disagree with your opinion of "Family," being an expendable episode because it showed how understanding House can be with others. He saw that Foreman had lost his confidence and was giving him all kinds of freedom to reclaim it. He was actually backing off of him for the most part. I thought this was important because it showed that his colleagues do mean more to him than he lets on. The only sad thing about the episode to me is that Foreman only saw turning into House as a negative. He couldn't even recognize how kind House was being toward him. Don't get me wrong I like Foreman, but I often feel that he is blind to the fine nuances of the personalities of those around him, especially when it comes to House.
Another episode I would add to your essentials would be "Frozen". This epsiode is very important in regards to House's ability to connect to a woman on an emotional even romantic level. He is annoyed by his patient, Dr. Cate Milton, because she is a psyhciatrist who won't automatically go along with what he says. However, this annoyance is actually intrigue in disguise. House allows Cate to participate in the differentials something he never lets a patient do. There is even a moment when he asks her if she's okay something Wilson points out that he never does. It's quite clear by episode's end that House is taken with Cate. She is intelligent, strong, beautiful, and most of all doesn't think that he needs to change. Unfortunaely, her heart belongs to another and House knows that this little infatuation is over, well for now. Who knows if the writers will bring her back. I enjoyed this episode mainly because it shows that House really still has it in him to connect to a woman beyond simple innuendo and snarky remarks. The fact that he got this close to a woman who was stationed in the arctic also demonstrates his push-pull feelings about a relationship. He was able to get emotionally involved with her but if she weren't stationed in the arctic would it be the same? He seems to want a connection but he also seems to need the distance. He's still battling his head and heart. He doesn't want to be in a situation to really be hurt so falling for a woman on the other end of the world who he may never meet is as close to a relationship he can handle for now.
9 - sdemar
Thanks for this wonderful recap of episodes. You are right, I am one that absolutely loathed "One Day One Room". While it was an interesting storyline, the actress that played the victim was awful and I really cringed everytime she came on screen. I must say though some of the most beautiful shots of Hugh/House were taken in this episode when he was in the park. The natural lighting on Hugh's face showed how truly handsome he is. My wallpaper is a shot of him and Cuddy in the park-swoon.
Son of Coma Guy still resonates as one of my all time favorite episodes. Such wonderful acting by all in this episode and episode was beautfilly written.
Thanks, Barbara.
10 - j.i.m.
Barbara, Thank you for your excellent work on a daunting task, to synthesize 4+ years worth of character exploration of House by dozens of writers, actors, directors, camera operators, musical advisors, editors, producers, etc. on House MD. Who is Greg House?
The main idea I have come away with after reading your synthesis is that Greg House is an unusually gifted person with odd disabilities who, nevertheless, reacts in situations as many of us would if we had been fated to be him. A vibrant inner thread of humanity pulls him through each new situation. He is not a hero of any kind or something 'other' but someone well worth knowing and deserving of friendship and love.
11 - blacktop
Another great essay, Barbara. This is so useful for reminding us of the strength and variety of "House."
For me one of the most compelling aspects of this show is the careful and respectful way it deals with death. Although death and dying are an everyday part of hospital life, this show (and House the character) treat each patient's life with reverence. Of course, most episodes end happily, chalking up another House success by the closing credits.
So for me each episode which includes the death of a patient is an essential in that it reveals how House and his colleagues deal with this ultimate loss and their personal/professional failure.
With this in mind I agree with commenters above that "97 Seconds" is an essential along with the great "Son of Coma Guy" that you have already mentioned. I would add "Maternity," "Histories," "Babies and Bathwater," "Informed Consent," "The Mistake," "House Training," "Forever," and "Joy to the World." In each of these unusual episodes the death of the patient has a profound effect on the doctors most involved in the case, altering their perception of their own mortality, ethical responsibility, professional direction, and life meaning. In some cases, the doctors caused the death through negligence, direct action, or hubris. In others the death was an inevitable conclusion to a sad chain of circumstances caught too late for correction. But because death does not arrive often on "House" its insertion is a purposeful disruption of the rhythm of the show and offers a unique opportunity to examine the moral core of the characters. This makes for truly great television, I think.
12 - Sue
Barbara, your wonderful summary of essential episodes serves as the example of what this show has lost over the past two years. The ethical dilemmas and House reveals so perfectly crafted have been replaced with gimmicks-the PI, the 13-14 arc, lesbian sex, the survivor arc antics, crude statements from House and Huddy. And though I am a Huddy fan, they have gimmicked up that arc as well. The deeper aspects of House have been replaced with these gimmicks and superficial stories that have changed the focus of the central character.
I don't think you could write with such inspection and reflection about the House of season 5. While they brought in characters in earlier seasons to challenge House, they were directly involved with him and they brought us something about House as a person. I am still waiting for that with 13-14. This is the first time a character has had isolated scenes and a storyline that does not reflect directly House's thoughts and behavior. The PI brought out aspects of House I did not find fitting with his character. He was just a gimmick.
This is similar to what artists to when they put a basketball in a fishtank and call it art. No matter how much art-speak they use, it is still a gimmick.
House is no longer a character to admire. His crude and unnecessary comments in Lucky 13 and Whatever it Takes diminish his character. House no longer has a connection to his team. They seem to operate in parallel with each other, seldom intersecting as he did with the old team. House is only as good as the characters he plays off, and Hugh is only as good as the actors he plays off. Both have diminished this season.
I complain a lot about what House has become because I so admired and enjoyed where he had been.
13 - Orange450
First of all, Barbara, I think you deserve a special award from Fox, and/or the PTB at House, for doing so much to keep viewer interest percolating throughout various breaks and hiatuses. Your bonus articles, features, trivia quizzes, etc. are special treats that I look forward to during the down time. They keep me from forgetting all the important details of past episodes, and most importantly " from forgetting to start watching again when the break is over ;-)
Thank you for this great list. Along with the other challenges you proposed " it would be an interesting exercise for each of us to identify our own lists of 20 essential episodes using your criteria to define why we consider them essential. I suspect that our POVs would be so varied that our combined lists would probably end up including every episode of the series.
Why is ODOR such a polarizing episode? I was sure that you would include it, and I suppose it’s hard to leave out, given what House told Eve about himself (I didn’t say “revealed”, because after Birthmarks, I’m still not sure he was telling the truth about the physical abuse, and IMO, Daddy’s Boy did not set up a convincing case for it, for a whole bunch of reasons.) But it’s on my list of expendable episodes for several reasons. To me, it came across as contrived, forced and inorganic. I felt like every line of dialogue between House and Eve was trying to hit us over the head (and stun us) with some lofty and profound sentiment. I felt manipulated throughout the entire episode " and not by House, the master manipulator, but by the writers. Even though I always have to suspend my disbelief to a certain extent while watching the show " during ODOR there wasn’t a single moment when I wasn’t conscious that I was watching a story on TV, fabricated for the occasion " IMHO there was nothing realistic or believable about it. I found it impossible to lose myself in the episode.
(Please don't take my comments as "heat" - they're just meant in the spirit of free interchange of opinions :-))
14 - Louise
Barbara, you set your criteria and I think you did a splendid job with the important episodes in terms of plot points and narrative knowledge. Of course I have another opinion! I suspect that many of us are House fans precisely because with identify with the good doctor's propensity to have strong opinions.
Here's my case for Lines in the Sand. (I have to say, however, I see your point about ODOR and I love it that she pulls House into her problem.) In Lines in the Sand, we have House provide us with his very own his happiness scale. I love it that he has quantified happiness. It also lets us know that he has considered the nature and intensity of happiness as well as his old friend misery. The other thing is the eye contact between House and the autistic boy. House generally sees right into people's souls, often with that intense stare, and with this boy he is not all together certain what is there. That is one reason the end is so powerful--the kid saw into House's soul--he understood him and what House did for him when so many others (including Wilson) do not.
I am not sure this episode reveals the type plot-point knowledge you set as your criteria. I do think it reveals, and reveals powerfully, insights into House's character. For me, that's what the series is all about. But, again, perhaps I am just making a case for my favorite episode. Well, other than, "We'll always have Fresno!"
Just IMO and to add to the discussion. You do develop such lovely frameworks to instigate interesting discussion!
15 - barbara barnett
Thanks, Louise. I loved Lines in the Sand. It's one of my absolutely favorite episodes of the series. That happiness scale thing is a perfect bookend to what Wilson was trying to "teach" House in "Meaning," with his (Wilson's) happiness scale. I loved the end of LITS, and the fact that House was clutching that gift in his hand as he watched (for how many hours????) as they put his carpet back the way it was. I have to think that standing vigil like that, the boy's gift in his hand, House was dealing with his grief over the shooting and the failure of the Ketamine and all it meant to him. It is an incredibly poignant moment for the character and for the series, I was sad not to include it.
16 - ann uk
I am just about to start watching the whole drama from series 1 while I wait impatiently for series 5, so your overarching review is especially interesting.
I am puzzled by some people's dislike of " One Day One Room" which is one of my favourites as it reveals so much about House - not just his childhood abuse,( why would anyone think that was false? )but his dark view of human nature, including his own.
His "philosophical" exchanges with Eve are also important clues about him. " It's the sort of conversation I'm good at " as he wryly says.
House is that scary thing, an INTELLECTUAL. He thinks about life , the universe and everything andhe agrees with Socrates that ," the unexamined life is not worth living". House is always examining his life even, perhaps especially , when he halucinates-and he makes us examine it too.Why else are we all writing to this Blog ?
PS. I thought the actress who played Eve was very good, she , like House was struggling to make sense of a life that has been violently subverted and House's relentless but gentle questioning made her rethink her conventional religiosity.
17 - iryka
i have to say ive been reading your blogs since last year, and i have to say that your list is awesome. i whole-heartedly agree with almost every episode you've mentioned .it's funny, how i got into the house-track when i saw re-runs on usa...XD
and i personally dont think you should be bashed for some eps you mentioned. ODOR is my favorite house ep to date, followed by Merry Little Christmas, House's Head, No Reason, & Lines In The Sand.
i cant also wait for the 100th ep next month, and have to say im happy partially at the SAG award's outcome last night ^^ if only house got the ensemble...
but yes, thats realyl all i wnated to say, and that i love your blogs. i've favorited your profile and look regualry to see if you have something new to say. you go in-depth with the epiosdes that i love, since i myself love to analyze every moment in house, and its imapct.
kudos to yahz
18 - ripzu
Hi Barbara,
Perusing the 20 best episodes you chose. and truly enjoy your analysis, but also wondering which ones you would include from season 5 now that it has ended.
19 - barbara barnett
Hi ripzu--
Remembering these aren't necessarily the "20 best," but the "20 most essential," I'd have to inlclude a whole bunch from season five: Dying Changes, Birthmarks, Joy, The Itch, Simple Explanation, then House Divided through the end.