I also think that House's part of the scenario ended up where it did because of random events he had no control over. Calling your friend for a ride when you are drunk should not lead to said friend's girlfriend being in a bus accident and getting kidney damage just after having taken amantedine. To me, that does a disservice to the situation. House wasn't to blame, but he wasn't an innocent schoolchild crossing the street either. A lot of his guilt will, I think, come from the fact that this wasn't just "calling a friend for a ride home." Nothing in the series leads me to believe that was true - in fact the opposite. I don't for a second believe House's motives were pure in calling Wilson. He's an adult, a doctor with more than enough money, and a phone. He could have called a cab. He knew Wilson worked all day, just like him, and that unlike him Wilson had somebody at home. We saw back in season one that House calls Wilson when he's drunk and lonely, and doesn't care if it inconveniences Wilson's life (leaving Julie's dinner party in "Honeymoon"). I think House knew full well what he was doing, and the past episodes have established that he does these things deliberately. He was drunk and lonely and wanted to confirm for himself that Wilson, once again, would drop what he was doing and come get him. He always wants to test Wilson's friendship, see how far he can go. He was probably happy that the prospect of picking him up meant ruining Wilson's evening with Amber, just as when he took Wilson out drinking in "No More Mr. Nice Guy." Now none of that makes House a bad person. It makes him House, and very human. Just like the previous episodes and the "custody battle," it was petty, immature behavior. But we're all prone to it. For the past twenty years, House has probably done the same thing many times and it unfolded like it did in "Honeymoon" - Wilson drops what's doing and comes anyway, though he complains about it a bit and House lets him, then they talk and everyone gets home safely at the end of the night. This time House was thinking about his needs, and he was being petty and insecure and probably vindictive and not so nice things, but unlike the other times it resulted in someone else being harmed. This time, the results were different. He's going to have to deal with that.

It's pretty interesting that the House writers put perhaps the most pivotal scene of the series in the actors' hands: no dialogue at all, but very strong acting choices made for a brilliant scene that seems utterly clear to me yet also seems to lead to a lot of interpretations. My impression was that Cuddy's statement wasn't meant to be taken literally, but was more of the kind of statement you say to an annoying child...like, "If you do that again, I will kill you!" You don't necessarily mean it, but you mean you are serious about having the child stop. To me, her "fatal combination" statement was an exaggeration of the potential risk meant to impress upon House that she REALLY REALLY needed him to stop pushing himself. It does not mean there wasn't a risk, obvously there was, but that it was not necessarily "fatal." Dr. Cuddy was completely serious and acting in her capacity as physician and dean of medicine. None of these people are children or parents. They are highly educated and trained physicians: they are adults. She said "fatal" because she meant "fatal" which makes perfect sense because House had just been in a serious accident resulting in a concussion, skull fracture, and a heart attack, all in the last 24 hours. Further stress to this very damaged person was something she was vehemently opposing as a fully trained professional. Foreman, another fully trained professional, absolutely agreed with her. I don't know why Chase went ahead with it, maybe he thought Wilson would do it himself if he didn't (who knows) but I think he'll have issues to deal with as a result as well.

I think it's interesting and surprising (and satisfying to me) that in the end we've seen House willing to go farther for someone he loves than any of the other characters. That is interesting, just as I've always found it interesting that House (the abrasive, antisocial jerk) has a larger support system (at least that we know of) than any of the other, "nicer" characters. He's an adult, a doctor with more than enough money, and a phone. He could have called a cab. I agree. I'm of the opinion that if you're going to go out alone and get drunk and get yourself into a situation like that, you should get yourself out of it. I'm not saying he should have driven drunk but he could have called a cab, he could have taken the bus without calling anyone. He's used to having Wilson there (and he's constantly needing to reassure himself that Wilson will always be there) so he tried to drag him into his problems. I'm still not saying this is House's fault but if Wilson does wind up blaming House, I can see where he's coming from.

That is interesting, just as I've always found it interesting that House (the abrasive, antisocial jerk) has a larger support system (at least that we know of) than any of the other, "nicer" characters. I hear ya! I've noticed that too and think it's interesting. It definitely works...or at least it makes sense to me that House has the largest support system cause none of them doubt for a second that the abrasive antisocial jerk would kill himself if it meant saving them. Kinda cool...

Not many...but House was willing to potentially die for Wilson. But would Wilson be willing to die for House? He hasn't been asked, but I suspect he would, so I don't think one can say House is a better friends to Wilson than Wilson is to House based upon this one decision. I think what House does for Wilson is proof he really DOES love Wilson a lot. I think this makes the decision a pivotal change in their relationship - It is House for once proving how much Wilson's happiness means to him. But where others see it as relationship altering because it proves Wilson does not love House as much as House loves Wilson (cause he loved Amber more). I tend to see it as proof that House loves Wilson as much as Wilson loves House, (as he has shown in the past with his willingness to stick despite all.) Relationship altering, but in a more positive light. Maybe I am just a romantic at heart. She said "fatal" because she meant "fatal" I am not saying the treatment could not have been fatal, just that I don't think it was presented as it *would* be fatal - which would mean Wilson was making a conscious choice of Amber's life over House's, as some have suggested. I mean, it obviously *wasn't* fatal, as House is still alive. Maybe if one looks at the potential risks as a continuum, with "fatal" being the worst case outcome. I think Wilson was choosing to assume the outcome would fall towards the other end of the continuum and that everything would turn out fine for both House and Amber. That is what gave him the ability to ask for the sacrifice. I truly think that if he was convinced the treatment would be fatal to House, he would NOT have asked. I don't know why Chase went ahead with it A very good question. Chase is not entirely blameless here. He too is a doctor, and if he felt the treatment was an ethical violation or potentially fatal, he has an obligation to speak up or refuse or report to someone higher up... but he didn't which I hope is something the writers do deal with. I would like to see Chase trying to come to terms with that as well - in part because I do enjoy watching JS! Wow. I haven't had this much to say about an episode in a long time. Great work on the part of the writers. I think House is at it's best when the answers and impressions are NOT clear cut, and when different viewers see different things. Because life itself is never clear cut....

I agree. I'm of the opinion that if you're going to go out alone and get drunk and get yourself into a situation like that, you should get yourself out of it. I'm not saying he should have driven drunk but he could have called a cab, he could have taken the bus without calling anyone. He's used to having Wilson there (and he's constantly needing to reassure himself that Wilson will always be there) so he tried to drag him into his problems. I'm still not saying this is House's fault but if Wilson does wind up blaming House, I can see where he's coming from. House was also peevish that Amber picked him up, and so he was the one who didn't wait a minute for her to pay and climb into her car - he hopped on the bus. Again, not saying he was to blame because of course he didn't mean for it to happen, but he wasn't an innocent. He was being a petty, prideful immature drunk with Amber and it had dire, unforeseen consequences this time, unlike the many other times he's been a petty, prideful immature jerk (including previously to Amber). That's why it's so powerful, because we've seen it happen so many times and seen House behave that way so many times. Even with Tritter, we've never seen the consequences. I love this quote from someone on the Onion's AV Club: "One of the best aspects of this episode is how the events in House's memory are handled. House is there both as a participant and an observer, and from Hugh Laurie's performance, you can tell exactly which role he's playing at any given time. It's amazing how, as a participant, he acts like a complete asshole and resentful drunk, but as an observer, he's horrified and guilty about how he treated Amber, knowing what happens next. The switch of emotions happen instantaneously, and it's amazing to watch."

Oh, thanks for that quote Dr Spaceman. So well said. And it's so true of HL's performances: he can turn on a dime (or a farthing) and still convey how the character's mind is working, who he is in the scene, and precisely what thoughts he is having, what his whole process is, from denial to dawning awareness to horrified realization, and it's so very subtle and precise. Amazing, moving and enthralling.

But would Wilson be willing to die for House? He hasn't been asked, but I suspect he would I don't doubt that he would too. What was it he said to Tritter about House being a more positive force in the universe than he was or something like that. I do believe that Wilson would die for House. I also don't think Wilson was thinking that House would die. Obviously, he knew it was a risk but I think if he allowed himself to really believe that House would die, he would not have asked. I love this quote from someone on the Onion's AV Club That's a great quote and totally true. How he can switch from one to the other so convincingly is truly amazing. The look of horror as Amber swallows the pill is my favorite part of that scene.

I am not saying the treatment could not have been fatal, just that I don't think it was presented as it *would* be fatal - which would mean Wilson was making a conscious choice of Amber's life over House's, as some have suggested. I mean, it obviously *wasn't* fatal, as House is still alive The treatment was presented as having a good possibility of being fatal. We know that it wouldn't be fatal because House is the star of the series, but in Houseland, Cuddy forbade him to do it becxause of his skull fracture, despite the fact that it may have helped Amber, and Wilson agreed at that point (because he still wanted to avoid dealing and keep Amber in cold storage as it were). House agreed--and we know he wouldn't shy away from doing many things to help any case, never mind Amber. When Wilson asked him, House made sure Wilson understood it was a risk to his life. And it indeed was almost fatal, as Foreman tells the team. Wilson may have to process this more when he gets through enough grief, but one thing he'll have to process is that he did know the risk level. Would he still have put the pieces together even without "hearing" Amber mention she was coming down with the flu? I suspect he would. So House took what was already a risky procedure and, being House, ramped it up. "As long as I'm risking my life ..." he said, with the unsaid part being "I might as well risk it more. Again ignoring the fact that DBS doesn't work like that, I think we were presented with the procedure not working enough unless House ramped it up. He not only wasn't getting a clear memory of the words, he was jumping around and not getting a coherent memory. I think his unspoken part was "I might as well risk it to get what I need." And Wilson didn't argue with the ramping up in the least--he threw a pleading look to Chase, so he's still very aware of the danger he asking House to undergo and accepting it. I also don't think Wilson was thinking that House would die. Obviously, he knew it was a risk but I think if he allowed himself to really believe that House would die, he would not have asked. But the show made a point of Wilson being there when Cuddy stated the level of risk and why it was there, and had Wilson agree. When he does ask House, House makes a point of making sure Wilson understands what he is risking if he does it. He doesn't agree to the procedure until Wilson says nods yes to his question that Wilson wants him to risk his life for Amber's. It wasn't ambiguous. To me, what House now knows, and what I know as a viewer, is that Wilson would indeed ask. That's where the relationship changed. I do get what some people are suggesting when they say maybe Wilson just didn't believe that House could ever die, but given that he'd just dragged House off to scan a huge skull fracture that had blood dripping out his ear and then had to perform heart massage on House as Cuddy gave him CPR because he'd had a heart attack, I don't think he's thinking of House as untouchable. House isn't thinking of himself as untouchable. He won't take the alzheimer drugs again and he agrees not to do the DBS when Cuddy says his fracture makes it too dangerous, even though he still has those lost hours. I think we were meant to think Wilson knew what he was asking and he asked it anyway.

You know the show also made a point of House early on saying, "Wilson, don't get lost. I'm barely coherent. I need your help right now." And yet, we see Wilson struggling throughout the entire episode to keep his composure and (for me) objectivity. They were both under such extreme duress, Wilson's emotional trama and House having physically suffered, that both in no way mentally, bodily or otherwise were in any position to have lead the way on Amber's case. Maybe House realized he was running on empty and part of his consent was also factoring in that it would clear things up for him. I'm probably reaching here, but I can see House wanting the answer for the sake of the answer-being a bit part in his agreeing to do it, with the overriding reason being he wanted to do for Wilson. On another note, I found it refreshing to have House unequivocally admitting to himself that he was miserable and an addict; it seemed to indicate he was interested in changing that self-destructive pattern. But if House never truly changes what could that bode for him?

When he does ask House, House makes a point of making sure Wilson understands what he is risking if he does it. Jair, I am still confused. I think I just can't quite understand what you are saying fully - are you saying Wilson knew the *risks* or are you saying that Wilson would have chosen Amber if the choice *had* been presented as "one gets to live and one gets to die - now chose which one"? If it is the former, I agree... he knew there was a risk of death or damage - but risk does not equal certainty. If it is the later, and you are saying Wilson choose to kill House to save Amber, then we definitely do not see Wilson's decision in the same way at all.

Jair, I am still confused. I think I just can't quite understand what you are saying fully - are you saying Wilson knew the *risks* or are you saying that Wilson would have chosen Amber if the choice *had* been presented as "one gets to live and one gets to die - now chose which one"? If it is the former, I agree... he knew there was a risk of death or damage - but risk does not equal certainty. If it is the later, and you are saying Wilson choose to kill House to save Amber, then we definitely do not see Wilson's decision in the same way at all. I'm saying that Wilson had the choice of allowing Amber to get warmed up, with the risk but not certainty that the diagnosis would be wrong, or asking House to risk his life--and really risk it, with a good probability that the procedure will either kill him or leave him with brain damage--in order to minimize but not eliminate Amber's risk. He doesn't know for sure that Amber will die if warmed up or that House will die if he does the DBS--but he knows there is a high risk with both. And he chooses to risk House's life in order to minimize risk to Amber. And yes, I do see that as deciding that if he has to choose which one he needs in his life, it's Amber. Doesn't mean he doesn't care about House, but it does mean he decides he needs Amber more. And again, I'm not saying that makes Wilson evil or rotten, etc., though I do hope he at some point processes what he asked for and got from House. Obviously, he has the right to find love wherever it appears. But it is very ironic that just at the time that Wilson was revealing to House that he comes second to Amber, he asks him to risk his life because Wilson needs Amber. And House does. Now he needs to think what it means that Wilson comes first with him, but he doesn't with Wilson. I think it means he has to accept the limitations he's just glimpsed with his relationship with Wilson, because Wilson is looking for something more than he gets with House. Interestingly, when the Amber/Wilson arc started, House thought Amber was a proxy for him. He found out he was a proxy for Amber.

Something I thought of just now, does anyone else wonder if House (or any of the staff) might have figured out Amber's flu meds without the DBS? They already knew Amber had the flu, they had access to her medical records, it's not a huge leap of logic. Even if the meds were undocumented, this seems like something that would take just a bit of head-stratching. Of course, it was impossible to know what exactly House had forgotten, but was House remembering necessary for the diagnosis?