I enjoyed it generally, and agree that there was some interesting stuff, just that it did feel oddly unfocused. Also, I thought it was going to be the Christmas episode? Boo. I read those spoilers of the Final Three that were posted months ago so all along I knew the outcome, which made it perhaps harder to get too invested in those I knew were departing. And made this episode anticlimactic for me. (Even if I hadn't read the spoilers, realizing Anne Dudek is a cast member on my other favorite series - which starts filming again in January, assuming the strike is resolved - would've probably clued me in that CTB wasn't permanent.) I did end up liking Amber, though, to my surprise, considering my dislike when she started out. Which is a reverse of my feelings to Thirteen (who is starting to annoy). Anne Dudek was actually really excellent in this episode, and I found her emotional scenes very affecting. I think Olivia Wilde is pretty but marginal at best as an actress (so I guess she is a suitable replacement for Jennifer Morrison). BTW if House had a staff of three (Kutner, Taub and Foreman) I don't think he would get into any discrimination trouble (as Cuddy said), considering that two of those three are minorities. I bet that's a better statistically diverse makeup than any other department in the hospital (if the glimpes we've seen of the hospital board is anything to go by).

Well, I guess all I can say is thank god that arc is over. I believe I'm starting to understand some of the misery that people who didn't enjoy, say, the Tritter arc sludged through. Except at least in previous arcs (Vogler, Stacy, Tritter) you didn't lose everything else you liked about the show along the way. At least in those arcs there were storylines independent of those arcs happening and the entire show didn't become bogged down, suffocating from the weight of its own gimmick, awaiting the conclusion of that particular storyline. But now I can take a big sigh of relief. I'll probably have to give this one a re-watch and hope there's something alot more subtle that I missed on my first viewing. Like, for example, what Kutner did (or has done all season, for that matter) to warrant keeping him around other than the fact that it's Kal Penn. I definitely want to watch the House/Wilson scene again. I get the sense that was something they're going to build on. I'm not even close to being a slasher, but for the first time ever, I thought that scene might have been the best time for them to just start kissing. At the very least, my interest in the episode might have perked up some. I've been trying to come up with a description of the oft-commented "tone" of the season and I've finally decided that it just has this "Boston Legal" feel to it this year. Every episode feels just a little too cutsey/smug/pleased with itself. Maybe they're really taking those Spader Emmy wins to heart and trying to mimic. Olivia Wilde manages to pull off that oh-so elusive combination of "exotic" and "caucasian" but I can't say that her portrayal of 13 leaves me wanting more. (In fact, her character's going to have to work overtime redeeming herself for last week's stunt of performing 3 non-consented biopsies on House.) I didn't quite get the turnabout that happened which caused 13 to evolve from her knowing, enigmatic :roll: Mona Lisa smile that she's had for the last 7 week's into tonight's chatterbox but whatever. 13 made me quite weary of her. So with reluctance, I'll say that I'm interested to see how this new team works out. Maybe with the overriding gimmic out of the way, they'll gel together. Thus far, virtually every line of dialogue between every new character has had something to do with "the game." I felt like I learned virtually nothing about them as people through this exercise. What I did learn of them usually came out as quick bursts of exposition rather than seamlessly crafted reveals. I hope to god that changes. Most of all I'm looking forward to them figuring out what they're doing with the old cast. Because to be honest, as much as I completely prefer the dynamics of CCF---both with each other and with House and Wilson and Cuddy, for that matter---right now their presence on the show is just not making any sort of dramatic sense. TPTB clearly couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time, so logical storylines for CCF got tabled in favor of focusing on the new team, but hopefully someone will have the good sense to evaluate where those characters are and determine where (and why) they need to be. Otherwise, let those kids send out their resumes and be done with it.

I thought this episode was interesting. I loved the House/Wilson scenes because they are continuing to show the change in their relationship. I have replayed the H/W fight scene several times. House tells Wilson, he's trying to teach him that everyone looks out for numero uno. And Wilson's retort was that House uses him too. Ouch!! Then Wilson tells House that he always has to control everything - House v. God (that line is also couple-speak) You think you can take away the pain and you won't even acknowledge the pain. Their argument was personal. Wilson's patient just provided the segue. I loved that Kutner knocked on the glass door before entering. He got that whatever was going on was personal. Then the win was their body language when he actually came in the room. And the ending, stop playing games and do your job. House gets mad and stalks out of the room.And House's "NO" to Wilson at the end of their tirade was just made of awesomeness. Kutner is like - what the hell is going on here? Priceless!! Yeah they're doing H/W under cover of the vajayjay chronicles. And yes, Wilson is in control of their relationship. I was soooo! sad that CTB was voted off. She was the most interesting of the newbies. I also miss Cole. I loved the Chase/House/Taub scene. I loved the scene in Cuddy's office with House and the newbies. It was classic Cuddy. There was way too much Foreman posturing. Why can't he get the same amount of screentime as Cameron - almost zilch. Not a big fan of Kutner but I can tolerate him. I like Taub's style - very political. I want Amber back :(

Count me in with liking this episode. It was still too busy for just one viewing,but I have always watched more than once.It was deeper in tone and less blatantly comedic.The H/W scene is going to take some thought because it was so layered.I need to know what was beneath the dialog.As horrible as the wait for new episodes is going to be,it will give all of us a chance for deeper thoughts about all of season four.I am looking forward to that a lot.

Hail - can you please tell me what number the HL impregnagation line is at? I haven't heard a number called in awhile. And if there are brochures available that would help pass the time. TIA. I think I heard some galloping hooves earlier, right before a horse with a dark haired rider in full equestrian dress appeared and, sadly, trampled the RSL impregnation line into dust. I think the HL line fled in terror.

My main thought after the ep was over was that 13 shall now be known to me as Token. He has to have one chick so she might as well be kinda pretty so as to give House something to gawk at. Beyond that, she has no point and is unnecessary. Once in awhile she might get a story line that ruins an otherwise decent episode, but in general she's just the character the guys can watch with the sound off. Rather like RSL is to the ladies. Except he's much more amusing with the sound on-since the changes pitch in his voice bring endless amusement.

It was just all over the place with no resolutions or lessons learned. Afraid I have to agree. After last week's ep (which I liked), this one was disjointed. I would have liked something "stronger," especially going into a 4-5 week hiatus. Not a cliffhanger, but something to look forward to, to think about, some promise of an issue to come, etc. This was . . . meh. Happy to see more H/W, but agree that this wasn't the meaningful interaction we usually get. And not happy to see Wilson screwing up again! I would like just ONE ep where we see him as a strong, competent department head. Just one, writers. Thank you. <mini-rant over> BTW, on the legal front, the patient would not have a case UNLESS he could prove that any treatment he received in error caused damage. The best analogy I can make is to someone who gets pregnant despite a tubal ligation or vasectomy (for the guy, of course). Courts have said that the joy of a child overrides the unhappiness and financial burden of having an unwanted one. The same would apply to someone who learns that he's going to live vs. die b/c of a medical error. There's a possibility he could sue for damage caused by chemo (if any) but the odds of such a suit being successful are very, very small. He wouldn't get any compensation for selling a house, etc. That was his choice -- not something caused by alleged malpractice. I thought that the reason House got the non-cancer patient riled up was to show Wilson that he can't solve all unhappiness -- and that some unhappiness is non-sensical. Here, the patient should be overjoyed, but wasn't. Instead of accepting that this guy is a nut, Wilson tries to "fix" the problem (that he believed he created) by paying the guy his $6k. However, the money wasn't what was making the patient unhappy -- rather, it was that he no longer had the "specialness" of being terminal. No way could Wilson solve this issue, nor should he try. House, IMO, was trying in his very odd way, to make this clear to Wilson. Obviously, the effort failed as do all attempts by these two to teach each other lessons -- and maybe that was the biggest lesson of all. From the previews, I thought this ep would largely be about the difficult personality of the patient -- somewhat like the chess prodigy kid. But I never garnered much interest in this guy -- although the music was totally terrible -- in almost a good way. The joke on Cuddy at the end was nice and it was good to see at least some banter/interaction b/t House & Cuddy again. Using the white board for a point system (vs. differential) was cute -- and then erasing it all. I wondered if that was supposed to have some deeper meaning . . . Much as we all kibbitz about the quality of these eps, it is going to be hard to wait until 2008 for a new one -- and then maybe only get another 4 all year!

I really enjoyed this episode. I had to watch it again becuase it's pretty packed with stuff. Can't believe I actually felt bad for CTB, but I did! She just could not stand to be wrong - it killed her. But she was wrong: the patient had played the game and he wasn't always a loser, and he still wasn't a loser. Some surprisingly deep House moments. I liked how mournful the firing scene was - the music was a nice touch. House was genuinely sad to let Amber go. I enjoyed that little insight into the character. I also enjoyed the House/Cuddy interaction: yes, he played her, but as a result of their manipulation games they both essentially got what they wanted. Did anyone else notice that Taub is now prescribing for House? I didn't catch it the first time. Sets up some interesting issues...

It was just all over the place with no resolutions or lessons learned. And I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree. House learn lessons? Happy resolutions? I've never gotten the vibe personally that "House" the show is about wrapping things up in neat little 60 minute packages. Yes, some of the episodes have happy endings, but for every scene with Stevie and his family at the end of "Needle In A Haystack," you've got Foreman sad and lonely. The Mom dies and House isn't fired at the end of "Babies & Bathwater," but you've got the reminder that House's obstinance cost the hospital $100 million that it could have used. In House's world, nothing is neat and everything is messy. With this episode, you've got dichotomies all over the place. The newbies were all wrong, but their thought processes and tests led House to the ultimate "correct" answer (which arguably is why House needs the team in the first place). There's CTB who wants to be right but for the wrong reasons -- it's not about the patient, it's about her. Heck there's even Foreman who's refusing to play the game, but -- as Chase points out -- that's precisely his role in the game. So count me on the "liked" side of the column. (I'll have to rewatch to see if the "like" gets bumped up.) But I did love House's response to Kutner, when Kutner had to comment during the firing scene that the music was actually: "kind of folky." House: "You really don't know when to shut up, do you?"

I would have liked something "stronger," especially going into a 4-5 week hiatus. I thought that the reason House got the non-cancer patient (NCP) riled up was to show Wilson that he can't solve all unhappiness -- and that some unhappiness is non-sensical. To be fair, they didn't know they'd have a 4-5 week hiatus when they wrote the episode. Had the writers waited a few weeks before striking, there might have been a couple more eps before Christmas. I didn't see House advising non-cancer patient for that reason. He didn't want Wilson to give him the money. There were no legal grounds for the patient to get it. But Wilson felt guilty. By telling NCP that he should sue for more, House got him to rip up the check. Next he'll go to a lawyer who will tell him he's an idiot. And Wilson won't be stupid enough to write him a new check.

I definitely want to watch the House/Wilson scene again. I get the sense that was something they're going to build on. I'm not even close to being a slasher, but for the first time ever, I thought that scene might have been the best time for them to just start kissing. At the very least, my interest in the episode might have perked up some. Heck, I am slasher and there was a moment in that scene where I almost held my breath. I thought they might actually be about to go for it. That would definitely be unexpected - no big build up or anything.

I didn't see House advising non-cancer patient for that reason. He didn't want Wilson to give him the money. There were no legal grounds for the patient to get it. But Wilson felt guilty. By telling NCP that he should sue for more, House got him to rip up the check. Next he'll go to a lawyer who will tell him he's an idiot. And Wilson won't be stupid enough to write him a new check. That's the way I saw it. Maybe House is feeling a little more aware of Wilson's money. He mentioned loaning him back some of the money that he owed him in "Alone" and here he saved him $6000.

It was pretty clever of Wilson to suspect House had anything to do with that. I never thought of it. I liked the scene between POTW and House about liking or not liking his music and how people react to that. Yet another metaphor about House and the way he deals with people and they with him. We have seen a lot of patients lately who don't really seem to care that they will die, if living means that thei life will have to change dramatically. I think I get the message by now.