In a third storyline, that provides a bit of comedy and a subtle hint of House’s personality, we get to see House treat a clinic patient named Melanie. In a brilliant stroke of casting genius, Melanie is played by Jennifer Hall, who some may remember from Nip/Tuck. On that other medical show, Jennifer’s pretty, youthful, and innocent face believably hid the crazy, sex-starved nymphet nanny beneath.
On House, Jennifer plays a young woman who comes to the clinic for a strep throat. While diagnosing her, House deduces that she is a prostitute. She does not deny it, but only smiles seductively at House. She ends up coming back to the clinic later, having developed a rash. House notices that her lips look darker and asks if she has had contact with a donkey. She flashes a devilish smile at him and tells him that she can never remember if it is a donkey or a mule. House tells her she has contagious ecthyma , which came from contact with the donkey. (Call me crazy, but after seeing her performance on Nip/Tuck, I can totally believe that this girl could play someone who has sex with a mule. It’s not the first time this theme has shown up on House either – ewww!) While he writes her prescription, she invites him to her show.
When Maggie’s bones start to harden, Kutner suggests that the cause may be a CA-2 deficiency. House orders the tests for it and Taub informs Maggie that if it is this genetic deficiency, she will need a bone marrow transplant. Maggie refuses to let them test Jane to see if she could be a donor, insisting that they try to find someone else who would be a match.
Maggie’s refusal is the key House needs to discover the lie in her life. The reason why Maggie doesn’t want Jane tested is because she is not her biological mother. Jane’s mother was a drug addict, who didn’t want Jane to know who she was or that she had been given up for adoption. In the meantime, as the team finishes analyzing the blood tests that reveal that it is not a CA-2 deficiency causing Maggie’s illness, Jane comes in the lab to tell them that she wants to be tested. It is too late, and the doctors are forced to tell Jane that her mother is dying.
Article comments
1 - Judy
I really loved this episode. I loved the Wilson/House moments, Secret Santa and the clinic patient. Those were Great and so very House like. I am so glad they haven't lost their touch for surprise. Thank you for the recap.
2 - rob
it is to long, make it shorter and i would read it
3 - paige
i loved it, i want more more more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 - bliffle
Pretty good episode. I like seeing Wilson develop more and matching House intellectually.
5 - Susanne
Great recap
Unfortunetly I was not impressed by the episode at all. It felt disjointed and the newbies were in the same roles as the old ones. I would take the old team over the new team any old day. They actually had chemistry with one another and I liked their interactions with him. How was it fresh? It just feels the same old thing. I really miss the old team and I just want them back.
13 I just don't care for or her mysteries (that storyline has already been exhausted) she didn't remind me of cameron, cameron actually had some warmth to her and actually had some good scenes and cared for House and the others, 13 is more of an ice queen to me and should go. The others I can tolerate but they should really make up their minds. Felt really bad for Jennifer, seems humilating to be a main character reduced to nothing along side chase for cameos.
The clinic patient had me for a loop but enjoyed it especially the end, we all know what is going to be happening after the show. I liked his interactions with Wilson and Hugh singing was another highlight but other than that it was a very dissapointing episode it lacked a lot of depth that it usually brought after than House's bitter/sweet stuggle with truth and lies. The girl was really good and actually showed more life than the three newbies. I hope the "Frozen" episode won't dissapoint but I'm not wasting my breath.
6 - cindyc
Judy -- I loved the episode too. I tried to look at it as objectively as any fan could, although having a new episode felt somewhat like getting a drink of water after being stranded in the desert. I especially liked the fact that while there were comedic bits, it was not over the top.
Bliffle -- I also like seeing the House/Wilson friendship at work. I like when Wilson can match House in quips, conversation, and game playing more than I like to see Wilson lecturing or psychoanalyzing him.
Susanne -- I also think it is unfortunate for Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer that they have gotten so little screen time this season. Because of the unfortunate timing of the writers' strike, it seems unfair. I hope that they had bigger plans for the old team before the strike happened, and perhaps when the new season starts, all the pieces will come together. I don't want to look at this as an either/or situation. I would hope that the writers would come up with a way for there to be room for them all.
7 - VY
The double entendre with the song "who took the merry out of Christmas" with the Virgin Mary being brought in on mule was cute.
8 - cindyc
VY - I agree. In fact, I love the music on House. It was one of the first things that drew me to the show. In the beginning, I would listen to the show while I was on the computer. In the first season, a song that I remembered from "back in the day" was playing. That's when I knew I had to start watching. The song was: "Saturday Afernoons in 1963" by Rickie Lee Jones. I think they do an excellent job of incorporating music into each episode. I can credit House with expanding my musical tastes.