Suffering retrograde amnesia after a serious bus crash, Dr. Gregory House tries to piece together the medical mystery of a fellow passenger.
All season, I’ve been waiting for an episode to leave me (at some point) breathless. And this is the first time in a while that I’ve been transfixed by the show (and not breathing — much anyway), cursing the television between commercial interruptions.…
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26 - hl_lover
ETA:
I had scenes reversed in my head. Wilson doesn't show up in any further hallucinations either, after Chase banishes him and Amber.
Still not sure that explains fully why House appears to be 'blocking' Amber, however.
27 - Mary
Barbara: Have a wonderful time in Boston (my home town) and at your daughter's graduation. And watch out for those Boston drivers; they really are as idiotic as you've heard.
28 - Barbara Barnett
Mary, thanks for the regards. We have enjoyed many trips to Boston (and Cambridge, and Waltham, where our daughter's college is) in the last several years and will miss it.
29 - C.
"I agree that Wilson is not anywhere as "good" as he suggests he is. He's done House a lot of harm--more, I daresay, than House has done to him over the four seasons."
I have to take issue with this. Wilson being not as "nice" as he appears to be does not have anything to do with Wilson being a "good" person. Of course he's a good person and he's flawed and perhaps as drawn to ethically cross the line as his own best friend but I've always found that to be a similarity between the characters. House is willing to do everything it takes for his patients regardless of social or moral conventions. What is so compelling to me is that Wilson is willing to do the same when it comes to House, because as much as House's biggest passion is his puzzles, Wilson's biggest concern has always been House. I think what we will see in the finale will be Wilson perhaps allowing House to endanger himself for the sake of Amber.
30 - sue
Did the bus driver jerk his body, as House thought? Or, did House see a symptom in someone else who is dying? The accident could have dislodged the bubble in the driver without showing symptoms. I think Amber is dying and she has the symptom. Maybe that is why she met House at the bar. Maybe she wanted House's medical opinion. Maybe House got drunk because he knew he would have to tell Wilson that Amber is sick, and he couldn't handle it. We don't know if Amber was drinking.
It did not appear that there were any empty seats on the bus. House and Amber may have taken the only available seats, and they ended up sitting across from each other.
I am most curious why House would have to risk his life to save Amber. The only reason I can think of is that House's skull fracture caused a clot that is keeping him from being able to remember what Amber told him about her condition. If House doesn't remember, Amber could die. It will probably be a risky operation for House.
Flashback episodes are hard to pull off and and make real. This was well done. It will seem even better when we get the answers we are craving.
31 - Kit O'Toole
I think this was the most original, creative, and moving episode since "Three Stories." As you point out, Barbara, there is much to analyze, and it will be interesting to see where they take these relationships next week and, even more, into the next season. In any case, I'm anxious to see all the blanks filled out in Monday's episode--why was House drunk, what was Amber doing with him on a bus, what symptoms was she showing before the accident (if any), and why House was in that strip club. :) Compelling story, fantastic acting by Hugh Laurie--this episode had it all. Great review, Barbara!
32 - Grace
VERY good episode!! No way do I think that House would have an affair with Amber. He would NEVER do that to Wilson and besides, I don't think Amber wants House. She seems very happy with Wilson.
And, I can't believe that Wilson would expect House to risk DEATH for Amber!! Not unless House did something bad to Amber, but I don't know what that would be for Wilson to expect House to risk his own life for hers.
A+ on this episode and an EMMY WIN for HUGH LAURIE or I swear I will put a concrete block through my TV screen!!!!! WHAT DOES THE MAN HAVE TO DO????
Looking forward to meeting here next week. Hope they don't leave too much hanging......
don't think I could take it! :)
33 - sassydew
Thank you for another wonderful review, Barbara! I could hardly wait to read what you would say about this episode, as I still, days later, haven't been able to put all my thoughts together and still become breathless when I even try!
I can't help wondering if being so close to Wilson's pain over potentially losing Amber will make House reflect on his own situation with Stacy and the infarction. I thought that the "mystery woman", with the exception of her pale blue eyes, looked a lot like Stacy. (Also, a brilliant friend pointed out that the key was in Amber's necklace and Stacy wears a cross as her personal talisman - don't know if that's significant or not.)
In any case, it certainly cannot be a coincidence that the metal pole punctured Amber's upper right thigh (or that House hallucinated that it had). Since the more obvious similarities between House and Amber were illuminated in previous episodes, particularly "Don't Ever Change", it's hard not to compare their situations here as well. Though I think that House forgave Stacy for the debridement by mid season 2, I'm not sure that he ever really understood what motivated her decision. Maybe seeing Wilson willing to do whatever it takes to save his lover will help House understand. Also, this ties back to similar themes in "Frozen" (House's comment that Cate's friend loves her enough to do anything to save her - even drink her urine) and "Don't Ever Change".