Boyd doesn't want to be cured, since Chase tells him it will also cure his "auditory hallucinations." Weak-willed Dad (William Katt - aww, it's The Greatest American Hero, though not so heroic here) also wants to believe his son is a saint. But Wilson points out that humility is a trait of saints, so one would consider the possibility that he wasn't really chosen by God, and was, instead, simply sick.
When Boyd finds out Grace's cancer is in remission, he withdraws consent for the surgery, and House's team must prove she's not actually getting better in order to save his life. "This is insane," Chase points out. "We're diagnosing a recovery."
In the episode's most outrageous suspension of disbelief moment - though what do I know, maybe random radiation from a leaky microwave really can cure cancer - Chase is sent to investigate her apartment to find potential sources of radiation.
In brilliantly intercut scenes, we see Chase snooping in the apartment while Wilson joins House and his "buddies" in the poker match. I was unreasonably happy to find out House doesn't really have a secret stash of friends when he introduced his poker buddies as "Dry Cleaner, Tax Accountant, and Guy from the Bus Stop." He's a gambler - he needs people to gamble against. His reluctance to have Wilson join them seems explained by the fact that they know each other too well - Wilson can tell when House is bluffing. "I'm screwed, aren't I?" one nameless guy says when he realizes House is about to win, while we see Chase realizing he might be screwed too, discovered snooping.
We get a shot of Chase encountering male dress shirts and ties in Grace's closet cut with a shot of the uncharacteristically casually dressed Wilson in his McGill University product placement sweatshirt. It's subtle enough that House's deduction - a thought process that's written all over Hugh Laurie's expressive face as House also ponders his cards - comes as a shock. Well, to me, at least, but I can be pretty oblivious. Chase berates House for putting him in danger of a felony break-and-enter charge if the boyfriend returns, but House finally tells him the boyfriend won't be coming home at that moment. Because, he doesn't say, the boyfriend is betting against him across the table. Wilson is sleeping with his patient.
Leonard's face in the moment of revelation displays a heartbreaking mix of fear, guilt, anger, and shame, and it's a huge credit to the actor and the writers that this isn't the moment where Wilson is dead to me. He's a flawed character, in much less obvious ways than House. He's got no cane to brandish, no pills to pop, no sarcastic remarks to hide behind. Well, maybe he has the sarcastic remarks, but only directed at the deserving House. Instead, he hides his flaws behind caring, passivity, niceness.
Article comments
1 - West by southwest
But does it mean that Wilson can get herpes encephalitis too, or what?
I kept waiting for House to dwell on that uncomfortably obvious point.
2 - Wendy Station, Encephaltis Global, Inc.
House website quote: ""House mentions herpes virii are most prone to attack cancer cells. Wilson realizes that herpes encephalitis would fit all of the symptoms. House walks into Boyd’s room and orders him to strip. House is looking for the sores that are symptomatic of herpes encephalitis, mentioning to Walter that Boyd contracted it through sex. "
Are they saying that genital herpes sores are symptomatic (a symptom of the disease) of encephalitis? That's like saying that with high thyroid... You must have encephalitis! (Hashimoto's).... Receiving mosquito bites....you must have encephalitis! (West Nile). Diagnosed with measles, mumps, rubella, or chickenpox... you must have encephalitis!
None of these statements are inaccurate, of course, but I think the author of this episode is really pushing the facts on this one, and also:
a) frightening folks with genital herpes sores, that encephalitis is pending.... and also....
b) telling folks with HSE that they must have had genital herpes.
House website quote: "A few days later, Boyd knocks on House’s door."
You're telling us that days shortly following fever, delerious, and being diagnosed with HSE, this survivor is out for a walk? Now I can tell you from personal experience that a survivor of HSE spends months recovering... and does NOT go for a walk a few days later.
Wendy Station, President
Encephalitis Global, Inc.
3 - Diane Kristine
I think they're saying he had herpes encephalitis, not that all encephalitis is caused by herpes or that all herpes causes encephalitis. And I think they give their audience credit for knowing that real life would make for very boring TV and that getting your medical facts from a fictional TV show is probably not the wisest idea.
4 - jlvelt
What I find interesting is that this is the 3rd episode of House where tuberous sclerosis is mentioned, either as a definitive diagnosis or as part of the differential. This is an extremely rare genetic condition that both of my children happen to have, which is the only reason I have any clue what it even is. But on House (my very favorite show on TV, by the way!!), TS has been mentioned in some fairly inaccurate contexts, including referring to it as a form of cancer, which it is not, even though benign tumors are part of the disease; and in the House vs. God episode, there is no mention of trying to eradicate the seizures and auditory hallucinations (potentially another type of seizure) through anticonvulsant drugs--we skip immediately to brain surgery, which is definitely a last resort for TS patients. Kind of weird--the first time I heard them mention it, I was sort of proud of the whole "Hey, you're BUSTED--that's not right! tee hee" but by the 3rd episode where TS was referenced, I am now wishing that if they're going to mention it, please use this as a forum to spread accurate information about a disease that is so rare that it gets totally inadequate funding so that somebody might pay more attention.
5 - Bob
Having herpes encephalitis does not mean you have genital lesions, or cold sores - you can't diagnose herpes encephalitis from looking for genital lesions or cold sores. Very interesting episode though, lots going on. Not sure why the kid lost his confidence at the end, I'm sure God probably wanted him to have some fun while spreading his word, shouldn't be beating himself up about it.
6 - gail
jlvelt - since you have two children with TS, you must know that it is NOT a rare disease, though research is severely underfunded. It's more common than cystic fibrosis. I do, however, agree that the writers of the show need to do significantly more research about TS because they definitely get it wrong!