Jane joins House and Maggie and tells her mother that she knows what is going on. Maggie tries to lie to Jane, telling her everything is going to be okay, but Jane refuses to listen, bluntly telling Maggie that she is going to die. House is impressed and touched by Jane’s brutal honesty.
House leaves the hospital while the Christmas party in the lobby is in full swing. He is joined at the door by Wilson, who is wearing a silly reindeer hat in celebration of the season. House tells him about his dying patient, and then yells at Wilson to take off the ridiculous hat, saying it is like decorating a Christmas tree with dreidls. Everything has its place, he says. And that is the clue that he needs to solve Maggie’s case.
House goes back into the lab, singing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." (Another present to Hugh Laurie fans everywhere!) He tells the team to administer risperidone to Maggie. This provides proof that House’s theory of her illness was correct. What was not in "its place" was breast tissue. Although Maggie had the mastectomy, she still had cancerous breast tissue in her body. The risperidone made it swell, and they found the tissue in her leg. Once the tumor is removed, and Maggie starts chemotherapy, her other symptoms should go away.
The end of the episode has House leaving the hospital again, through the Christmas party. He slows down to observe Thirteen, Kutner, and Taub conversing with Cameron, Chase, and Foreman. His plan of creating dissension did not work. Pointedly avoiding the crew, House leaves, with a look that said he was trying to think of what to do now. He smiles and makes a decision, and here’s where we get yet another surprise.
We see House entering a church. My first reaction was to say, “What the hell is he doing there?” followed by a brief glimmer of hope for the preservation of his soul. As he made his way up the center aisle to find a seat in the crowded mass, I thought that maybe he was inspired to explore something spiritual. Of course, such a development would make no sense, and we are soon treated to the real reason he is there.
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.