But there lies his humor. And the fact that he's really, undeniably learned. That phrase was an allusion to something Sherlock Holmes would say to his sidekick, Watson, when they're solving a mystery ["The game is afoot"].
In House's case, he turned this week's mystery illness into a game of sorts. And the ones playing detectives are his three students: Cameron, Chase and Foreman.
TV.Com synopsis
An 18-year-old teenager is brought to the hospital after having a heart attack. House reviews the boy's file and believes he has the diagnosis. He then turns the case into a game by sealing his opinion in an envelope and challenging Cameron, Foreman, and Chase to guess House's diagnosis on their own.
^ This one was a good story on it's own. And the fact that the 18-year old decided to "be sick" rather than get well and get on with life and be both a parent and a brother to his 11-year old and 8-year old siblings (their parents already died), shows how human this show is.
The boy didn't want the responsibilities anymore, he didn't want to make sacrifices, taking care of two young kids was too much for him to take on. He would rather be useless and sick and the one being attended on, rather than the one doing the attending.
And there are people like that in the real world. It's sad, but it's true, but there are. And it's not for anyone to say it is wrong, I think. People are free to make their choices even if sometimes these are selfish choices.
That was a very realistic and unexpected ending to the story.
Meanwhile, the other story in this episode speaks of how much human and imperfect House is, his imperfections more magnified here.
Continue to TV.Com synopsis
Meanwhile, Tritter's actions against Wilson continue to strain the oncologist's relationship with House and destroy his ability to practice medicine.
Tritter is a cop who is after House. In previous episodes he arrested House for speeding, driving without a license, possession of narcotics (Vicodin), etc. etc. He's also after House because he was a former patient House treated but humiliated. When House didn't give him an apology for that, he went on the offensive and drew his cop card. By investigating, he found out House was given an abundant supply of prescription drugs, whose prescription was apparently signed off by Wilson... but it wasn't Wilson, it was House using Wilson's stolen prescription pads. And Wilson tried to cover House for that.
And now Tritter is after Wilson. He had Wilson's right to prescribe suspended. So now Wilson can't be an effective doctor. And he's very mad at House.
House visits Wilson who is referring his patients to other oncologists and he’s resigning his practice. He tells House to admit it and when House refuses, he tells him to get out. When House disputes him, Wilson points out his shoulder pain is a symptom of guilt.
House reaction to all of these was to act like a dick and an a-hole, refusing to apologize, refusing to turn himself in, thinking only of himself and not of his friend's well-being. If he did all that apologizing and if he began humbling himself, it would not be Gregory House, wouldn't it? House would never say sorry in the exact words, even if he's clearly at fault. His best apology would have to be making light of the situation, asking Wilson if he wants to "throw things off the balcony" and throwing clever retorts laden with insightful meanings.
My initial reaction of House's attitude was to point out how much an asshole he is. Then the more I analyze the dynamics of his relationship with Wilson and how different they are from each other (they do feel like a married couple! Hence Cuddy said: "Had a fight with the wife?" LOL!) the more I realize House is being House, Wilson is being Wilson and I should channel my anger at Tritter for messing with their relationship.
As I said earlier: People are free to make their choices even if sometimes these are selfish choices.
House being House chose to be House. Never mind if he's a dick, he still holds on to his principles like he's got nothing to lose but his pride. Wilson decided to go the unselfish route and ended up sacrificing his career and more importantly, his friendship.
The last scene at the end where Wilson sits by the bench and House comes riding by on his motorbike, speaks volume of how much both of them are hurting, albeit in different terms.
House's behavior might mean his relationship with Wilson is strained... but that's what I will have to look forward to in this show --- to see how stubborn House fixes his relationship with Wilson and to what extent can Wilson stand not to be friends with his best friend.
And then, in a way.... the game is really a(itchy)foot. Who are the players? It's House vs Wilson vs Tritter. Wilson has to choose which team he should be on.
Great, great show!
