3.04 Lines in the Sand
From tv.com: When doctors are unable to diagnose why a severely autistic boy screams loudly for no apparent reason, House takes the case. As the boy's condition worsens, it becomes obvious that House relates to the boy because he has no social niceties.

This is quite possibly my favourite House episode ever. And there aren't even that many House/Wilson moments, so that's saying something (I mean, there's all that passive-agressive anger and such over the manipulation. Ick.) I mean, have you ever heard more one-liners in a House episode ever? Not to mention the whole Casablanca bit (my favourite TV show ripping off the big speech at the end of my favourite movie, what else could a girl ask for?) I think some of my favourite non-H/W-related moments come from this episode. Along with the Casablanca speech, there's Wilson's "Unless you wanna make out?", for purely shallow reasons (RSL sounded hot, ok?). There's the whole "frisky went away" conversation between House and Cuddy (this was back when I could live in peace, thinking that their twisted friendship was wonderful just as it was). And of course, one of the best moments in House history - "YOU CAN'T STOP OUR LOVE!" Hugh's delivery of that line was just a thing of beauty. Seriously. One possible downside - if this episode isn't ship-pandering, I don't know what is. Don't know how I feel about that, but it sure did bring us some awesome moments.

Does it make me a wimp if I called the fact that this would be the first time House was given a gift and I still cried when the child gave him his Gameboy? I only just saw it because I missed it the first time around, and I finally got to see it, thanks to the DVDs. :) I agree with 407. This episode was fantastic.

"Unless you wanna make out?", for purely shallow reasons (RSL sounded hot, ok?). I wasn't aware that he was capable of sounding anything but hot. You learn something new everyday. :wink:

An excellent episode all around. Despite my prior misgivings, I thought that the teen stalker did a quite credible job of conveying dewy incipient sexuality and creepy stalker intensity. I loved all the scenes between House and the girl, but particularly the clinic one when he asks her what happened to all the horny 17 year olds in NJ. HL's flirty face was just perfect in that scene! Also great were the several House/Cuddy interactions: your girlfriend has phoned the hospital 15 times, even your mother isn't that interested in you was delivered expertly by LE. As was their entire exchange sitting in front of the fountain. Loved the little laugh of scorn Cuddy delivers in the parking garage watching the teen sashay away; she seemed confident that the little minx had nothing on her mature allure, which is why she could make that brilliant come back to House's faux invitation, I'm ovulating, let's go! These scenes make it clear to me that the ratcheting up of House's pursuit of Cuddy in the second half of season 3 had an established precedent in the first half. I think that the idea of her pregnancy increased his interest in her exponentially. The POTW invoked real pity I thought and as usual House's ability to reach into the inner world of children was wonderful to behold.

My love for this episode knows no bounds. I think I could watch it on an endless loop. As has been said, so many one liners, "You Can't Stop Our Love!" "The frisky it went away", "I listened to her heart, it went Greg House, Greg House, Greg House", the Southern preacher bit in the chapel, using Wilson's office, and the classic red berries scene that HL played for all it was worth.

Greg House, Greg House, Greg House I could have sworn he said 'Brickhouse'... *should rewatch my favorite S3 episode yet again to catch it* Too bad shortly after this, everything went to hell...

Uuh this ep is easily among the ten worst episodes ever made, imo. No, actually, I like the episode, but the case ruined it for me - I seriously disliked the POTW! He sure didn't invoke anything near pity in me! And House's "connecting" with the patient was just as horrible as the finger-grabbing in Fetal Position, and that's saying something! Only thinking about this makes me shudder.

I seriously disliked the POTW! He sure didn't invoke anything near pity in me! Wow, I guess it takes all kinds. I have worked with autistic kids (younger than this one, but still) and I not only found the portrayal very believeable (either he really is autistic or he and the director are amazingly talented), but I found both the patient and his parents heart-breaking. I didn't find the kid connecting with House cheesy either, I thought it made sense. House almost always "bonds" with the misfit, the outsider, the people who can't conform to society's norms, so I found it reasonable, not forced, that he and the kid would kinda connect. I came close to tearing up when the boy gave him his toy and that's rare 'cause I'm a hard-hearted old bitch most of the time! The fetus touching House was hollow pap but this one touched my heart because I could see meaning and pathos behind it. Oh well, to each his/her own. Lines in the Sand is one of my all-time favorite eps just because of that scene.

I very much related to the POTW, but that has a deeply personal reason (I have an autistic sister), and the little boy played his part extremely well (especially the way his eyes wandered all over the place without ever connecting). This is definitely one of my favourite episodes of all time (also because of the many funny moments - the scene in the chapel is priceless in my opinion) but it's always interesting to read other views. Just out of curiosity, Lulu, not trying to be annoying or anything, but why did you dislike the POTW so much?

This is possibly my favourite episode of all time, but I've already said that... I found the POTW touching, personally, which is major for me - there are only a handful of POTW's that don't bore and/or annoy me completely. This kid's story was incredibly heartfelt and very well done. That last scene between Adam and House was, I thought, wonderfully done. I guess mileage definitely varies on this one, huh Lulu? :wink:

I agree about the case and patient being well done and realistic, and I'm not saying you guys can't enjoy the episode ;) but I didn't like it. I only found that last scene awkward. I don't know *shrugs*. @Hibernia - I dislike children, it's as simple as that. (Cancer-girl-Andie was no favourite of mine either, for example) As to why I didn't like House connecting with the patient, I don't really have a simple answer to that, sorry.. ETA - just to make it clear: it's not the autistic thing that bothers me, if anyone thought that. :>

This episode is an anomaly for me... Usually I don't pay any attention to patients and relatives. But I love the boy ( but I didn't care about the parents...). I don't think the actor was autistic, but he was an amazing young actor and his story was interesting. Having said that, I really dislike the other parts of the episode, the carpet thing was boring, pointless. Cameron was... I have no words for her! Foreman was a jerk with the boy, I wanted to hit him so much! Cuddy was being silly. The last scene between House and the boy was too long... Less is always, always more. I couldn't feel the emotion they were aiming at because they stretched out the scene too much. Oh, yes and I loved Wilson. I always love Wilson...