Dr. Gregory House (flawlessly portrayed by Hugh Laurie in House, MD) avoids patient contact like the plague. “Unless it is the plague,” as House’s former lover Stacy once quipped (“Three Stories”). So, why does House avoid his patients so assiduously? As the doc himself would say, “Thanks for playing.”
House does not want to connect with his patients. “Treating illness is why we go into medicine; treating patients is what makes us miserable,” he announces to his staff in the pilot episode. And dealing directly with patients probably does make House miserable. Hating to be viewed as vulnerable, sensitive, or with any sort of chink in his cynic’s armor, when House finally does meet certain patients, his natural empathy takes over.
And it is with those patients — the gravely ill people who come to him as their last and best chance — that House communicates as wounded soul to wounded soul. With a main character so occasionally over-the-top - crude and adolescent, bitter and cynical - these moments help to balance the series so beautifully. With a character so utterly guarded, those moments (few and far between as they are) allow us a rare glimpse into House’s heart.
It is meaningful in understanding the character of House that it is usually (and almost exclusively) in the presence of strangers, patients who will soon walk out of his life, that House lets his guard down enough to commune heart to heart with anyone. The notable exceptions are Stacy (the love of his life) and Foreman, who at the time was his patient (and for whom House felt responsible).
The following is a guide to the some of the most powerful of those wonderful “House-patient” moments, in my most humble of opinions. It isn’t comprehensive, but they are among my favorites.
Pilot episode: In a scene towards the end of the episode, House, who has spent years avoiding patients, must confront a patient who is refusing treatment. With great difficulty and initial awkwardness, House appeals to her on an elemental level in a powerful speech:
“I just want to die with dignity,” the patient resolutely explains.
“There’s no such thing,” House passionately implores. “We can only live with dignity.”
Article comments
1 - MJ [KidsNurse]
Barbara, this is one of the best analyses of House's character that I've ever had the pleasure to read [and I've read 'em all...]
Thoroughly enjoyed this look back at some of the most moving and memorable 'House' moments; thanks so much!
KidsNurse
2 - BoffleB.
Eek! They've listed the acronym for One Day One Room as the word Odor.
Sorry, that was scary. Excellent topic and nice comments as usual, Barbara!
3 - sassydew
Barbara, you've summarized some of my favorite moments ever! (Now I wish I could stay home and watch these episodes back-to-back today!)
4 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks, Boffle, sassydew and KidsNurse. And last night's episode did not disappoint in the realm of House-patient moments.
Sorry about the weird acronym. I will try to change that.
Barbara
5 - Josh Lasser
Congratulations! This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States.
6 - Phillip Winn
I was quite upset when our previous House coverage disappeared, but you have demonstrated yourself to be equal to the task. This is a fine, fine writeup, and I'm very impressed. Thanks!
P.S. I fixed the mistaked acronym.
7 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks, Phillip, for fixing! I was going to ask, but then real life got suddenly very hectic this afternoon. Your kind words and the promotion to Advance has made my afternoon.
I was (and still am) a fan of Diane Kristine's writing and delighted to be writing about House for BlogCritics!
Barbara
8 - Ann
Thanks, Barbara. Six episodes in, these are the kind of moments I'm longing to see again. I fell in love with House in the Pilot at the same time you did. I was hooked. Keep up the good work. I enjoy reading your reviews!
9 - Grace
SEASON FOUR IS ROCKIN'!!!!
HUGH LAURIE IS AWESOME!!
Anyone think that everyone on the show is talking faster this season? I am having trouble following every line.
One more thing....BRING BACK 'OLDER GUY WHO ISN'T REALLY A DOCTOR'!!!!!!!!!
He is too cool!!!
WE LOVE YOU, HUGH!!
10 - hl_lover
I loved how House laid his dress cane across the little boy's bed when he came in to gaze at the boy, trying to figure out the riddle of his and Esther's illness.
What a lovely review, Barbara! Agree with the posters above that you have done a masterful job reviewing season 4 of House for us.
Am looking forward to reading your thoughts on 4x07 "Ugly".
11 - Grace
I thought the most vulnerable House ever was when near Stacey. We found out a lot about him during those episodes with Stacey, remember?
Where did Diane Kristine go?
Looking forward to reading more, Barbara.
12 - Lin
Excellent article, as always. Like you, I'm waiting to see more touching moments like these this season. These are the scenes that make the show for me.
I am also loving your episode reviews - your perceptive and insightful comments invariably make me see each episode in a new way.
13 - atara aka astarte59 on LJ
This is a really excellent collection of those moments where we see House respecting a patient and respecting the patient's human dignity and right to make up her/his own mind about what happens to her/his own body, even if the patient is a child. And naturally this hearkens back to the nonconsensual treatment House received with Stacy's permission and Cuddy's urging.
Why might the season be cut short? The writer's strike? I appreciated your essay very much. I don't often dl eps, but I certainly won't during the strike. As you pointed out, web access of writers' work is just going to explode in coming years. And no matter how brilliant a director and cast you have, you still need a script.
14 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks, all, for your support and kind words. I love talking about House and exploring all of the character's angles. And I love talking about the show. I don't watch a lot of series television, and when something does grab me, it really takes hold. Such has been the case with House. I am enjoying this endeavor. (Maybe entirely too much, if the Real Life work pile on my desk is any indication.)The moments I described in the articles are a few of the reasons I love the show, and its main character. Those are the moments (along with so many others on the series week to week) that tell me despite his flaws, despite being a jerk on occasion, House has many qualities that more than redeem him. It's not "that he's right." Or that "he can solve the puzzle." For me, that's not enough.
Astarte, you are correct. Unless the writers strike is settled very, very soon, the fourth season will end after 12 episodes.
Grace, Diane Kristine has bowed out her weekly House feature here at BlogCritics. But she's not gone. In fact her BlogCritcs articles (including an article called "The Church of House" can be found by clicking her name on the front page of BlogCritics.
HL_L, my "Ugly" review should be up later today.
Barbara
15 - marie
Oh wow Barbara, I enjoyed that SO SO much , you have so many of my favourites amongst those episodes , and for the same reasons , you have put into wonderful words what I want to tell people about this show when they ask me why I am so obsessed with it, I have also read your .... Gregory House 'The Romantic Hero'' .... which is just a fantastic analysis of the personna that is House ,thank you so much .
16 - Zitrone
Great list but you forgot one episode central to understand House psyche: the finale of season 2 "No Reason".
17 - Barbara Barnett
Thank you Zitrone. Of course you are correct about No Reason, but since the list was relating to patient encounters, I couldn't really fit that one into that list. However, it will be included in a forthcoming article. Stay tuned!
Barbara
18 - sue
Excellent insight into the part of House that is missing in the 4th season. These reveals are what balance the character, and are what allow us to connect with his soul. There has been little to connect to this season.
There is another scene that lays bare what House experiences every day of his life. As a chronic pain sufferer, these two lines reveal what I live through every day. I am not quoting it word for word, but the message comes across:
(House to Tritter in Words and Deeds) "I live in pain, which on good days is merely intolerable, and on bad ones sucks the life force right out of you."
This is something House would not reveal to his subordinates, and I don't think he would even reveal to Cuddy or Wilson how much the pain he has affects him. He doesn't want anyone's pity, and he doesn't want them to doubt his judgement. House knows that no one around him could ever understand what it is like to live in pain.
I read a recent interview gave to a Brazilian media outlet, and he mentioned the scene with the little girl in Autopsy as a scene that he thought was one that revealed a part of House that he admired. I don't think any actor living or dead could have done that scene as well as Hugh did. His non-verbal acting cannot be matched.
19 - sue
In my comment above, It was Hugh who gave the interview to the Brazilian reporter.
20 - Barbara Barnett
(House to Tritter in Words and Deeds) "I live in pain, which on good days is merely intolerable, and on bad ones sucks the life force right out of you."
That was so much House laid bare and honest. We, the viewers also see the pain he's in "Who's Your Daddy" and in "Skin Deep"--and the depths to which he sees his life slipping away in "Cane and Able."
Thanks for you comments.
Barbara