5.16 - The Softer Side
The team encounters a teenage boy who collapsed from severe pelvic pain after playing basketball. Tests reveal the boy has genetic mosaicism, or both male and female DNA, and the boy’s parents inform House and the team that the boy is unaware of his condition. They consciously chose a gender for him when he was born and raised him accordingly, never telling him about his unique condition. However, when his condition worsens and his life is threatened, the parents wonder whether they made the right decision. Meanwhile, Cuddy and Wilson suspect something is wrong with House when he starts acting way too nicely. When they discover the shocking answer, they must face the prospect that House may be changed forever in “The Softer Side” episode of HOUSE airing Monday, Feb. 16 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/ PT) on FOX. (HOU-516) (TV-14 D, L) Cast: Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House; Lisa Edelstein as Dr. Lisa Cuddy; Omar Epps as Dr. Eric Foreman; Robert Sean Leonard as Dr. James Wilson; Jennifer Morrison as Dr. Allison Cameron; Jesse Spencer as Dr. Robert Chase; Peter Jacobson as Dr. Chris Taub; Kal Penn as Dr. Lawrence Kutner; Olivia Wilde as Thirteen Guest Cast: Dominic Scott Kay as Jackson; Julia Campbell as Melanie; Ben Reed as Joseph; Nick Puga as Ian; Fred Kronenberg as Doctor; Meagan Gordon as Young Woman; Nicole Cannon as Nurse Helen; Bobbin Bergstrom as Nurse

WAH! No episode next week?! Are they trying to kill us? ETA: Very sad, but in character as to why House would choose not to continue with the methadone.

I have to watch this one again. And again. And probably another time after that. So many parallels. Achingly sad. He really is a tragic figure.

Me too, my head hurts, I need to watch it again to absorb everything. Definitely a depressing stigma of his personality. House can't change

That one was so good. So heartbreaking. I loved every single second of it. But it had to end that way. A happy House isn't House. Also, the clinic patient was a blonde joke that my best friend was telling me last night. Awesome.

Nice Wizard of Oz poster, kid. Subtle much, prop department? Dear 13, You went all Cameron on us there. So not needed. You date a boring guy and wear uncomfortable shoes that are totally inappropriate for a hospital (but would be perfect for an office in a large medical center, just sayin') You aren't as fun as Taub and Kutner. Please step aside and give other people screen time (and awesome shoes). thnx

Where've you been? We've been emmer effin' Fox for over a week on twitter. Haven't had much Twitter time over the past week. Basically oblivious. Argh. "This is the only me you get" - such a heartbreaking line.

Welcome to the latest episode of 13, MD. I swear she was in it more than House. And she was a total bitch for doing that to the parents. They ought to sue her. Cuddy wasn't much better for protecting 13 when the parents wanted her off the case. I think that there is a patient's bill of rights in most hospitals that says if you don't want a certain doctor you can choose to have someone else. I am so sick of 13 and 14 that I could just scream. Best moment of the night: Taub's Foreman impression.

I loved that the big cliff-hanger before one of the commercials was House putting on the shaving lotion. House should stay on the methadone. He made a bad call because he was pain-free. But it was a new sensation. The euphoria about being painless would wear off. And he would know to watch himself re accommodating people. He has a risk of dying from methadone. He has a risk of dying from the Vicodin. Pain-free is better. I always thought the desire to be pain-free was paramount with him. It was the reason for the fake cancer in Half-Wit. He wanted the ketamine even though he risked some loss of cognitive ability. But, given a choice, he'd rather be a great doctor with pain than a good doctor without it. A great episode.

God, 13 back off. I really hope she did feel horrible. She had no right to blab to that kid. And yeah, very Cameron of her to do so. The clinic patient was hilarious. *shallow* I'm sorry, I need the stubble to find him hot. That was weird and I almost couldn't look at him. *prepares to have rotten fruit thrown at her* I loved Kutner "babysitting" House.

So heartbreaking. I love it.

I liked it a lot - one of my favorite of the last 2 seasons. I felt like it was 'old' House - pre-shakeup. The emotions and focus just took me back to House in its prime - I just really liked it. The kid was very convincing - great actor, so that storyline didn't come across as too forced. My only complaint was how rushed it was - they could have spread House pain-free over a few episodes. And also Cuddy - you can't fire someone for being on methadone, and he could fairly easily die due to Vicodin use as well. And it got real cheesy at the end "this is where you belong" and the whole "you don't need your pain to be a genius" debate again. The ending let me down, but I enjoyed the vast part of this episode. Happiest Ive been with an ep of House since Don't Ever Change - one of the few since season 3 that has really impressed me.

I need to watch this one again. Good episode! The only thing I didn't like was the last scene, which should have been Wilson's. Or, you know, Wilson just not disappearing. I love Kutner. He really is the new Chase - hardly any screentime, but he's definitely more observant than the others. Kutner's always onto someone :lol: