Further, Taub also risked his position with House by fighting for his own medical opinion. And he did it because he believed he was fighting for the patient above all else (something that wins him a gold star — of David — from House.)
I love the tension between Taub and House, two very experienced doctors. House’s curiosity about Taub led him to the truth, House’s discretion prevented him from harming Taub’s relationship with his wife. And Taub stood his ground, took House’s best shot, and then gave it back. I think that House, the romantic (agree or disagree with me), appreciated Taub’s sacrifice for his marriage. (See “Need to Know” in season two, if you don’t believe me.) I think the tension between these two doctors — nicely portrayed by Peter Jacobsen and Hugh Laurie — is better and more real than any of the tension created between House and Foreman. He is more experienced than Foreman in medical politics and probably more polished at it than the politically and socially inept House. He should watch his back.
The serious tone of the episode is lightened considerably by the side plot of House and his infatuation with Dr. Samira Terzi. But this story, too, ties in with the episode’s theme of normalcy and perception. House had thought himself immune to the charms of pretty much everyone. (Well, maybe except Stacy). His laser beam vision, which is usually so acute that it can cut effortlessly right down to the idiot gene, cannot pick up on Dr. Terzi’s lack of medical chops. His vision is blurred by the blinding light of her beauty and his (as Wilson puts it) crush on her. He has to rely on Foreman, Wilson, and Kutner to help him judge her contributions to the differential, which makes him doubt his confidence in 13. Wilson tells House to simply go with it; to enjoy the fact that some part of him is simply a “normal guy.” But House can’t accept that he’s a normal guy.
The episode is also lightened by all of the “playing to the camera” by everyone from Kutner to Cameron (okay, I’ll admit it — liked to see her squirm in front of the mirror and Chase!) to Wilson. And then the final scene — the veritable icing on the cake.
Article comments
1 - hl_lover
I agree, House was not telling the patient that he shouldn't have his surgery, just that he should wait until it is safe to do so. Some have wondered if this contradicted his advice to the patient in Merry Little Christmas, but it doesn't. He wouldn't discourage anyone from having at least the outward appearance of 'normal', the ticket out of the freak show, as he put it.
Kudos to the writer of this episode of "House", and kudos to you, Barbara, for summarizing so well the major themes and revelations of this excellent episode in a (to-date) excellent season of "House". How unfortunate that it will be terminated so prematurely!
2 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks as always, HL_L for your kind words. House has never begrudged anyone their ticket to normal. He's risked his life and career to make that possible. He just understands that you'll still be the person that lifetime of misery has wrought. I found no contradiction either.
Also apologies for mistakenly calling Kenny Darnell. Darnell is the name of the interviewer. The boy's name is Kenny. I wasn't totally out my mind, however. In the season 2 episode Daddy's boy, the patient's name was Carnell.
3 - Louise
Barbara,
Another wonderful review. Thanks for focusing in on (a pun, I know) the perception theme in this season. Right on target. This episode will take me four or five times through it to catch all that was going on. It particularly satisfying--and simultaneously annoying--to see the empirical House not able see and hear reality as he "blinded" by lust.
Then we have reality TV frameworks within a narrative fiction television series with a storyline where documentary film-makers distort the reality of a supposedly actual situation. Nothing like a bit of jump-cutting among genres to delight and confuse the senses.
Louise
4 - Barbara Barnett
Hi Louise,
There are just too many potential plays on words that would work with this episode; lots of symbols to play with. Focus, perception, distortion (as the camera is able to accomplish), image, lens, prism.
Some people, I know, were confused at House's sudden blindness regarding Terzi. After all, he's surrounded by beautiful women who like him and find him attractive. Why Terzi (who's nowhere as pretty as 13, and nowhere as sensual as Cuddy) And why now? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And like those of us who find Hugh Laurie more attractive than say Patrick Dempsy, when Dempsey is more conventionally handsome, none of us know who and why we find ourselves deeply and inexplicably attracted to someone. To me, my husband is the most handsome man on the planet; my sister might say "eh" about his looks. Also, post season 3, House may be in a better place emotionally (for now anyway)and more open to that sort of infatuation. It was funny to see House doubt himself around not only Terzi, but 13 as well, when his own lens went soft-focus on him regarding Terzi. Loved it.
Thanks for stopping by.
5 - Robin
I loved House's reactions to Terzi's medical comments. Like he was trying to shake himself from a love spell. And had to depend on Foreman to tell him the truth. Or any of the guys when the women spoke. I was surprised Foreman didn't make any comment about House's weakened state. He seemed to have figured out what his place is on this new team, which is back up support while others try to learn from House. I liked Wilson's comment "you were protected by Foreman" during his fuzzy moments.
6 - Barbara Barnett
I loved House's "guy-ness." And his horror that he's acting like a middle aged guy having a mid-life crisis.
Late breaking news: Writers Guild Negotiations will be resuming on 11/26. Good luck to all concerned.
7 - nickel
Barbara, I believe that you missed a couple insights in this episode. First, as you have noted many, many times, House wants to help people OUT of the freak show. Taub's outburst about House not being normal and therefore not wanting anyone else to be normal, only solidifies the fact that perceptions (or as House duly notes in Occams Razor, that REALITY is almost always wrong) are almost always wrong. I also believe that Taub (from the very start) was only concerned in Kenny's facial surgery, not really in finding his more serious illness. Unfortunately, Taub's age and experience keeps him from really learning the lessons that House tries so desperately wants his fellows to learn. Taub is already set in his "medical thinking". And as we all know by now, that constricted way of thinking never changes. Taub may be smart, but the very last thing that House needed on his team is another arrogant intellectual, who starts his diagnoses process with pre-determined judgments.