He was there for the Nativity procession. There, riding a donkey and dressed ironically as the Virgin Mary, sat Melanie. She smiled her seductive smile, and House sat in the pew smiling back. Leave it to good old Dr. House to go to church on Christmas Eve to find sex.
I applaud Pamela Davis for this amusing little twist in Melanie’s story, while I secretly chastise myself for having my mind in the gutter regarding the donkey show. I also want to applaud the writers of the show for walking the fine line between letting their main character grow without changing the entire premise for the series. The old Dr. House would have let Jane know that she was adopted. He has learned that some secrets are not his to divulge. And while the old Dr. House would also have walked past his colleagues who were joined in fellowship and celebration of a holiday, he would have spent a lonely Christmas Eve holed up in his apartment, with nothing but Vicodin and a bottle of scotch to keep him company.
Granted, spending time with a prostitute is not much of a step up, but this is not the same House who yelled at Wilson bemoaning how unattractive his leg and cane are to women. House is no longer hiding but making connections with people. Those connections may be calculated, manipulative, and/or what the mainstream considers immoral, but he is relating to others; which leaves room for those relationships to improve. Christmas is a season of hope, and with this episode I have newfound hope for Dr. House.
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.