Confined-space scenarios (or as they are sometimes called, “bottle” episodes) in film and television (and in theater) generally are intended to produce heightened tension as the room seems to become smaller and options become more and more desperate. The ninth episode in House, MD’s season five, “Last Resort,” was such a “bottle” episode — and a wonderful showcase for the acting talents of Hugh Laurie and guest star Zeljko Ivanek.
Dr. Gregory House is a medical court of “last resort.” People come to him for diagnoses from all over the world because they have tried everything else and everyone else. They don’t care if he bends (or breaks) established protocols or ethical standards. They usually don’t care if he is arrogantly blunt or verbally abusive. They simply want to know. They simply want to get better. But seldom do they seek his unique skills at gunpoint. (Although, House was, of course, nearly fatally shot by an angry family member at the end of season two.) And despite the fact that the gun-wielding patient threatened House, 13, and a roomful of other people, House deeply empathized and related to this week's very disturbed patient.
Jason (played with a wonderful neurotic intensity by Emmy-winning character actor Ivanek) has seen 16 doctors over a two-year period. He has racked up tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills; he simply wants an answer. Now! He is sick and tired of being sick and tired. And so he comes to Princeton Plainsboro Hospital to see dean of medicine Lisa Cuddy. To see her best doctor. (I wonder if he had come to PPTH specifically seeking House’s services.) Unfortunately for a handful of clinic patients and medical staff, this time he has come packing a handgun.
The high-strung Jason surprises House as he rummages through (or rather, dismantles) Cuddy’s desk drawer… (STOP! Hold on a moment. Rummaging through Cuddy’s desk drawer? Okay, so just what was House doing in her office in the first place? Was he dismembering her drawer as one of his playful pranks? In Housian terms, that would be full-on courtship, as Wilson would likely say — and as he say — did in “Joy.” )
As I started to say… Jason surprises House, who chases him away, but only momentarily. After all, Jason’s looking for Cuddy, not House. But he returns shortly thereafter, bringing with him several clinic patients, a nurse, and 13, taking everyone, including House, hostage, while Cuddy and her security team empty the main hospital foyer until the Princeton SWAT team can arrive.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Mary K. Williams
Good work Barbara!
2 - Liz
House's gesture at the end, when he touched his stomach and inhaled, was telling Jason to take a deep breath..which Jason was able to do, confirming that the diagnosis, and the medication given, were correct.
3 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks Mary. I think I wrote that in record time (and as such I'm sure I missed many a nuance :))
Have a happy Turkey day!
4 - Cate Malone
Thanks for the review, I agree that Laurie and Ivanek were so compelling to watch. Olivia Wilde was wonderful, too. I don't think House was reassuring Jason at the end, though. He was asking him to take a deep breath to see if he could, and he did. It was House finding out if he was right, which, of course, he was. I love that they are going to play out the Huddy thing, though. It's gonna be fun to watch!
5 - Barbara Barnett
House's gesture at the end, when he touched his stomach and inhaled, was telling Jason to take a deep breath..which Jason was able to do, confirming that the diagnosis, and the medication given, were correct.
Agreed. But that was only one of thing, I think at play in House's psyche at that moment. Hugh conveyed so much more than a simple diagnostic test with that gesture and his expression. The emotion in his eyes in that scene was incredible.
6 - eve K
Thanx again for an overwhelmingly positiv review. I needed that, because I just dont know about this ep. I agree that Laurie can do wonders with anything, but this ep was abrupt, and in some ways to short, even if it was longer than usual. But the thing with giving the gun back was idiotic. Maybe you can write it off as a character flaw, but - I dont know. Please not more over the top eps.
The thing that saved it all was the drawer prank at the end. LOL! And the remark to Cuddy, telling her that she is already way beyond choosing if she is in a relationship with him. Sort of anyway.
7 - Amri
I've stopped by because of your advertising in the livejournal community housemd. I wanted to say that I really enjoyed your take on this episode. It had wonderful insight on what was going on emotionally and I enjoyed the banter between House and Jason.
Thank you for writing your review!
8 - Sheelagh
I really, really wanted to like this episode. I know House MD likes to take risks and can do superior 'over-the-top' episodes when called on. This was not one of them. This episode however was (as House would say) " a dog wearing a cape". The kernnel of the idea was strong and it should have worked but the writing just wasn't there & I found the direction choppie & cluttered.
Actors can only work with what they are given and I really felt for Hugh Laurie in this one. My family actually burst out laughing at the ' hostage shuffle-to-radiology 'scene. That's bad for dramatic tension.
Olivia de Wilde is an arrestingly beautiful woman but possesses no were near the acting chops required on a show of this complexity. I didn't believe in her character's situation for one minute, which really hurt the episode. Hugh Laurie as an actor can make a connection with a rock, but he just seems to be going through the paces in his scenes with Olivia.
Lastly, the hero's best friend should have been scripted to demonstrate just a bit of angst over the scenario. Here is is his "bestest buddy" with a gun to his head; a buddy he fled in fear of loosing only a few short months ago and it was as if House had gone off to the gym. What a missed opportunity for some great writting for Laurie & Robert Sean Leonard.
The writing is so inconsistent this year, I'm almost prepared to walk away. But I won't because of those now one-off shining episodes that show what a TV Drama can be
9 - Marianna
I have mixed feelings about this episode. I was expecting it with hopes up, tried not to spoil anything with the previews etc, and when the first three minutes were over, i felt my heart beating faster nad my eyes locked on the screen.
But then, although i could see the the tensity and suspense allover, i just.. couldn't feel it. I wasn't into it, it felt.. "Meh". I can't explain it!
Hugh Laurie was excellent, as well as Zeljko Ivanek (you could see Jason wasn't an agressive madman but just a desperate, repressed and frsutrated poor guy who was left with nothing to lose -he didn't plan it, he didn't know what to do at most times, he was making amateurish mistakes with the hostages. But he wouldn't back up, at any cost. Excellent portrayal). Olivia Wilde and Lisa Edelstein and the others, hm, not so much this time.
But it wasn't the acting that felt wrong to me -it was the continuity, the feeling of the characters, the development of the situation. I couldn't feel it. I couldn't feel the "it", you know? House was there, in danger, with a gun pointing right at him, and my heart wasn't beating any faster (and i do love my Gregory, you know that :p). Cuddy was delivering the stuff and exchanging apprehensive glances with House, and i couldn't feel the angst and the passion. The ducklings and Wilson were on the phone, bouncing answers off the wall under those impossible circumstances, and couldn't feel the pressure and the expectation for the right diagnosis. All the elements were there. Frankly, i don't know what was missing. It just wasn't there most of the time.
I can point out the right stuff, the ones i clearly liked: i, too, loved the fact that House gave him back the gun. That was the highlight of the episode -completely in character, completely Housian, i actually yelled "yes, guys, now THIS is our man". I loved his prank at Cuddy. I loved the glances with Jason at the end. I loved his paternal behaviour to 13. And I can actually point out one negative thing that annoyed and disapointed me: the fact that 13 got the last "boom" scene with Jason. House shoulda been there, in that high tension and heart breaking scene. That is something i can point out as being plainly wrong.
The rest of my negativity, frankly i can't explain it. Maybe my hopes were too elevated, the hostage situation and all and the huddy arc at its possible peek, but the delivery wansn't what i expected.
Sorry for all the negativity - as alawys i love your positive view and review. And as always House is tv at its best. But sometimes when you expect the "bestest" out of the best, you get just a little dissapointed, you know? Just wanted to whine i little bit somewhere :)
10 - genagirl
This could have been done in the regular forty-odd minutes. What benefit were those extra eight? Nothing I could see. I thought Hugh did an amazing job as always and damn, he was smokin' HOT last night. Still, this episode didn't involve me very much. I don't care for Huddy, I like them as antagonists much better than as lovers. I just didn't get any connection there, except for a few fleeting looks between them. And I agree with the above post, Wilson could have added the needed emotion. Laurie and Leonard have great chemistry and their scenes are always charged - this was a wasted opportunity.
11 - sf aka jim (Joy in the Morning)
Thank you, Barbara, for the quick write-up before you rush off to your Thanksgiving preparations.
I was glad that Shore addressed the problem of using patients as bargaining chips. House has done it twice in the past, himself, so I think we will have more episodes clarifying and exploring the parameters of the problem. We have already seen an exceptional portrayal of the complicated question of Amber's death. I hope Shore is as direct as he is nuanced with the patients-as-bargaining-chips problem.
On a lighter note, House and Cuddy do not disappoint. Reading the double speak in the last scene was a rare pleasure given the recent kissing scene. It's just a matter of deleting all negatives.
As Cuddy said, "You negate everything!"
Consider, "We can try it again, without me." (delete "without me")
Or, "I don't know what I can do to help you." (delete "don't")
And "God, no! (becomes God,yes!)
When I remember my single days, I always knew a man was very serious about me (and rather a 'good' man) when he started looking for meaningful ways to help me. I wonder what House will find to do to help Cuddy. Of course House had to add the prank as well!
12 - Lisa Wood
I must agree with Sheelagh here, while I absolutely loved this episode and the intense scenes with Hugh Laurie and Zeljko Ivanek I was a little disappointed with Wilson's reaction to this all. Cuddy's reaction was great and just what I expected/wanted but Wilson seemed to be perfectly fine with everything that was going on. We got the one line, "Are you alright?" to which House shrugged off with sarcasm and that was that. I must say I was looking forward to some Wilson angst for his BEST friend as they built up on this relationship earlier on in the season. Oh well, I am, however, very much looking forward to next week's holiday episode as those are usually light and fun to watch.
13 - sdemar
Thanks for your speedy and comprehensive review, Barbara. I hope you have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving and are able to spend them with your kids.
I liked this episode and thought Katie Jacobs did a fine job with directing. She kept it tight and I was wondering how do they keep it all together. What a massive project. I think she is a very talented woman and have enjoyed all the epiosodes she has directed.
I read the reviews above and can understand where some of them are coming from. I think to underutilize Wilson in this episode is sort of strange and unfortunate. RSL has incredible acting chops and can stand toe to toe with Hugh. How wonderful it would have been to see House, Wilson and Jason in at least one scene together.
I thought Olivia did a nice job in this episode but I am a little OD'd on her character and hope she drifts into the background. I much prefer to see more scenes involving Wilson and Cuddy and less 13.
The scene where you could see House after the door/wall was blown up reminded me of House's heart. He had a shell-shocked look and was trying to take it all it. Very surreal.
I do believe the final scene between House and Jason was House asking Jason if he could breathe. When he could, his puzzle was solved and both of them were pleased in spite of the consequences for TPOW. I forget the actor's real name but wanted to say how awesome he was. I remember him in "Damages" and knew we had a pro on our hands. The scenes between House and Jason were pure delight.
While I screamed "I can't believe you did that" when House returned the gun to Jason, I do think it fits in line with who he is. He was determined to figure out the diagnosis. It is what makes him tick so as absurb as that was, it should not have shocked me. But he did put a lot of lives on line.
All the House/Cuddy scenes makes me grin. Those two had some serious bedroom eyes going on when House entered Cuddy's office at the end of the scene. They were both relieved and happy to be back in each other's space. Then like magic, their eyes/smirks/words start to dance around each other again. I did love Cuddy asking House if he wanted a relationship and the prank at the end was priceless. Those pranks are House's way of showing the love.
Shallow-Hugh in tshirt with beautifully buffed arms.
I am curious, what was the purpose of 8 extra minutes? I don't know that it needed longer than the usual episode and wonder if there was a reason for it. Was it to see how ratings did after 9pm?
Next week should be lots of fun and seems like a light episode. War of the Roses and we can sing along to the "you put the lime in the coconut, daaaaatooooor."
14 - sdemar
PS-wanted to add, your left margin on my computer was cut off. Noone else seems to be complaining so it must be my set-up but I have never had the problem before. It made it a little difficult to read.
15 - triggerpt
Just wanted to add that Cameron came up with the diagnosis not House.
16 - sf aka jim
sdemar, Your reference to the 'lime in the coconut', just reminded me of something very sweet indeed! In the episode where House and Cuddy are on the airplane together and Cuddy gets sick, House describes her scent as 'toasted coconut', I believe. So is House the lime? Will they feel better if they are shaken together?
17 - Krisztina
I read the review (fantastic, as usual) and agreed with it, as usual. Maybe I'm so into House that my perceptive skills go up a notch every time I see Greg House, LOL. But I agreed with Barbara 100%.
I read the comments and that's when I realized something must be wrong with me... I think Season 4 is the BEST season of House to date.
Quite frankly, there was so much tension in yesterday's episode that I never missed RSL... House and the gunman alone were enough to steal the show. 13 was great, and the episode was much needed for her character development. What I missed was a bit more of angsty looks from Cuddy... although Lisa did her best and yes, it was obvious she was scared sick for House.
Hugh Laurie was amazing as always, and seeing him in that T-shirt it took all my self-control not to moan out loud beside my boyfriend, who would have understood, by the way, I just thought it inappropriate. LOL. HL looks hotter each episode, is it the hair? The arms? The acting? His soul? Probably all of these.
For me this episode was a highlight of this season.
18 - Claire
Thanks for the quick review, Barbara. Control. You really nailed the theme on this one. When House gave the patient back the gun, the writers had me. It was so very wrong. It was so self-indulgent. It was an act that could easily have killed 13 or the other hostage or even House himself. It was even worse than the jerky pick-up chatter in the the CIA episode. There is just no way to excuse it. It was so House. Yes, he is noble, attractive, competent--and a REAL JERK. That's why I love this series. The writers don't let the viewer off that hook any more than they do the characters. A very good House.
19 - JL
I couldn't decide whether I could quite believe House would actually give the gun back to Jason. But I agree that it fits with his pattern of seeing truth as ultimately more important than anything else. I like the point that House felt he and Jason had arrived at a point of trust - that made his actions more plausible to me.
I also like the point that House was shocked that Jason was prepared to continue having 13 inject herself. One might expect him to be more cynical. Expecting Jason to act morally and to care about another human being doesn't sound like typical House behaviour.
I noted the SWAT leader's comment relating to hostages beginning to sympathise with the one holding them hostage. That sounds like something House would see as evidence of people's irrationality - and yet it describes his own behaviour exactly.
Thanks as always for the review, Barbara!
20 - Anna
I've just seen the episode and yes,....House giving back the gun to Jason is so tipically House and of course difficult to digest for those who are not so much into this character. What House does is always surprising to the ordinary person but this does not mean he is always right: his action could have caused the death of somebody and indeed I was expecting someone to die (those stupid spoilers!). I liked the episode very much and I 'am happy that
the diagnostic part was stronger than the conventional drama that is usually present in situations like this one.This was also the very first time I happened to see Ivanek: great performance.And HL was as good as always.
I've seen some people have complained of Wilson's absence in the episode, and they might be right, but, apart from him being present in the room as hostage, I don't think two or three more answers on the phone would have made the difference.
21 - Barbara Barnett
So many comments and so much cooking to do! (Actually not too much, since we're not hosting Turkey day--just some vegetarian stuff of us non-carnivores :))
But I wanted to respond, comment make note of a few things, forgive the not addressing you all directly.
The diagnosis was Cameron's. But ultimately it's House that processes everything and gives the yea or nay based on what makes the most sense to him, so in effects it's probably always at least his co-diagnosis, but you're right Cam did come up with it.
I have to say, I was completely stunned that House gave back the gun. House believed that he understood Jason, and could control the situation, thinking that Jason wasn't really capable of harming anyone, and didn't really want to hurt anyone, but was desperate and frustrated. Giving back the gun was a sign of trust to Jason that House was going to finish the diagnosis. He thought he could gain Jason's trust enough to ensure no one was hurt (and maybe he took out the clip, too--something we never saw???-- Not saying he did that....) But House misjudged Jason. And House's arrogance about his knowledge of human nature cost him. He also thought he could talk him down and talk him out of using 13 any longer. Wrong again.
Would I have preferred he didn't give back the gun? Yes. Was it in character? Yes. Was it a stupid act? Yes. House is flawed as a character, and despite his ability to be noble and even heroic. Here he was not heroic. Not at all.
I completely loved the bookend scenes with the drawer! So House. Pigtails in the inkwell. He was testing Cuddy to see if she would put up with it or even bite back. when I was in Junior High, I was the sole girl in a group of geek-guys. The fact that I was accepted in this group as one of the guys was very cool. That prank was House accepting her as much as anything. It was fun, not cruel; something he would do to Wilson and vice-versa.
As far as the lack of wilson and angst outside the room, I think to keep it within the bottle-drama format, they could not (nor should they have done much of that). I would imagine all of the worrying happened off screen. I personally didn't miss it.
Ah...SF--you're "jim"--and jim isn't in "jim," it's joy in the morning. Now I have made the connection. Thanks for the clarity.
Happy thanksgiving everyone!
22 - Sarah
I always look forward to these reviews, but this one was just missing something: you discuss the wonderful acting of Laurie and Ivanek, which I agree with, but there was just as much of that wonderful in Olivia Wilde's performance.
I may be one of the only people who love Thirteen more than most of the other fellows combined, but I know that the emotions and turmoil presented in the character by Wilde in this episode were outstanding. Especially at the end of the episode. In the scene of her epiphany, Wilde displays Thirteen's crazed and rushed feelings perfectly. In the scene with Foreman, her facial expressions are right on, and that little smile after accepting his help with the trial was beautiful. I'm definitely looking forward to the future interactions between Epps and Wilde and their respective characters.
23 - SF
To answer your question why House patted his stomach/abdomen whilst looking at Jason, he was silently asking Jason to try and take a big gulp of air and Jason did and he could which meant House got the diagnosis right and Jason was cured. It wasn't a thanks for 13's life or anything.
24 - Sarah
The diagnosis was Cameron's. But ultimately it's House that processes everything and gives the yea or nay based on what makes the most sense to him, so in effects it's probably always at least his co-diagnosis, but you're right Cam did come up with it.
Because giving Cameron credit where credit is due would be too much to ask for, right?
25 - Barbara Barnett
Sarah, you are absolutely right. Olivia Wilde did a great job conveying 13's journey. She hit every note. Lovely. I'm also not one who hates 13.
I don't hate any of them; I even like Foreman sometimes ;). I dislike Wilson sometimes. I even dislike House sometimes (Like when he gave back the gun--and when he's being an ass just to be an ass--and when he puts his own needs ahead of the patients'.)
I did give Cameron credit in my comment. I generally don't count the number of times who gets what credit. The credit goes to House, because he synthesizes everything. But who did what doesn't matter in the grand scheme of the episode (at least not this one.) it's great that Cam got the diagnosis, but irrelevant to the story.
I agree about the hand gesture, SF. But there was so much else at play in HL's body language and behind those haunted eyes, othter things were going on, but not in the gesture. I stand corrected (after re-watching multiple times!)
Looking forward to what will be a fun episode--and for those who need something to do whilst the turkey (or in our case vegan casserole) cooks, USA network is running a House marathon!