Chase has been keeping score on the whiteboard throughout the case: House versus God. House got a point for each correct diagnosis, from low sodium to the tuberous sclerosis to herpes, while God got a point for Boyd's deductions about Cameron and Foreman, healing Grace, and ... I think knowing about the poker game? It fittingly ends in a tie, though House thinks God should get a point knocked off because he didn't really make Grace feel better, the virus did. But Chase points out: "Do you know what the odds are? You say she won the lottery. He says miracle." It's a wonderfully untidy ending to the competition.
Boyd comes to apologize to House, and shows some not-necessarily-divinely-inspired insight. "You're lucky. You go through life with the certainty that what you're doing is right. I know how comforting that is," he says regretfully, having, apparently, lost some of his own.
Since we know that certainty is a deliberate and perhaps slightly desperate choice for House, there's a bit of pathos to the declaration. His pills, his distractions, his faith in science, even his certainty in his moral superiority are attempts to protect and comfort himself.
In a slightly tidier wrap up to the Wilson-House tension, Wilson admits his imperfections: "It is possible to believe in something and still fail to live up to it," he tells House poignantly. House, still arrogant but still needy, asks if Wilson is going to move back in with him now that he's leaving Grace. When the answer is no, he tentatively asks: "But we're OK?"
"House?" Wilson says in exasperation. "You are ... as God made you," he finishes with a smile, leaving House comforted, if not filled with certainty about exactly how that's a compliment.
Next week House we get a double dose of House, with a two-part episode spread over Tuesday, May 2 at 9 p.m. and Wednesday, May 3 at 8 p.m. (I'll do a single review encompassing both after Wednesday's airing.) I dare you to say anything bad about often-maligned FOX right now.
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!