5.19 - Locked In

Wow, what an episode. Really interesting story and being told in a clear, different way. Loved Mos Def, House was hot, poor Taub, agree on those. Patient's observations about the team seemed realistic, not at all House whispery, which was great. Key seems to be why did House crash, not where. Didn't think the last scene was meant as showing House as being psychologically locked in at all. He was definitely having a physical event, he looked really scared. Time to rewatch. Right away. Excellent.

Those of you who knew House was in therapy, what tipped you off? I didn't see that coming. One quibble, but it's not the fault of the show: Because of the week off, it took me a minute to remember where we left off with Taub, and I was surprised at House's initial comments. Didn't he tell Taub to bring donuts in the last ep (signifying he was still on the team)? I guessed House was in therapy because he goes to great lengths to keep people out of his private life, so if he was sneaking off to NY it was definitely for personal reasons. There aren't many reasons so personal he wants to hide the trips to NY from Wilson. So I thought it was either therapy or something to do with his biological father. When the spoiler came up that this ep revealed one of the major characters to be in therapy, it seemed to me that it was certainly House. Too bad that he's not planning on going back; it would be interesting to see House on the couch. He did tell Taub to bring in donuts and Taub delivered; I think this episode's heated exchanges were to mess with Taub's head. I don't think he had any intention of firing him. He was probably just experimenting to see how much he could get away with and to goad Taub into a good idea...or else he resents Taub's open dislike of the job and wants to make his life miserable as a result.

Those of you who knew House was in therapy, what tipped you off? I didn't see that coming. One quibble, but it's not the fault of the show: Because of the week off, it took me a minute to remember where we left off with Taub, and I was surprised at House's initial comments. Didn't he tell Taub to bring donuts in the last ep (signifying he was still on the team)? I guessed House was in therapy because he goes to great lengths to keep people out of his private life, so if he was sneaking off to NY it was definitely for personal reasons. There aren't many reasons so personal he wants to hide the trips to NY from Wilson. So I thought it was either therapy or something to do with his biological father. When the spoiler came up that this ep revealed one of the major characters to be in therapy, it seemed to me that it was certainly House. Too bad that he's not planning on going back; it would be interesting to see House on the couch. He did tell Taub to bring in donuts and Taub delivered; I think this episode's heated exchanges were to mess with Taub's head. I don't think he had any intention of firing him. He was probably just experimenting to see how much he could get away with and to goad Taub into a good idea...or else he resents Taub's open dislike of the job and wants to make his life miserable as a result. I think House was testing Taub to see just how sincere he was about wanting to stay in the job. ETA: Wow, what an episode. Really interesting story and being told in a clear, different way. Loved Mos Def, House was hot, poor Taub, agree on those. Patient's observations about the team seemed realistic, not at all House whispery, which was great. Key seems to be why did House crash, not where. Didn't think the last scene was meant as showing House as being psychologically locked in at all. He was definitely having a physical event, he looked really scared. Time to rewatch. Right away. Excellent. I said this earlier up thread but I think it bares repeating here: I think that House was not only referring to the patient when he asked if maybe the brain damage cause the accident.

Those of you who knew House was in therapy, what tipped you off? I didn't see that coming. One quibble, but it's not the fault of the show: Because of the week off, it took me a minute to remember where we left off with Taub, and I was surprised at House's initial comments. Didn't he tell Taub to bring donuts in the last ep (signifying he was still on the team)? I guessed House was in therapy because he goes to great lengths to keep people out of his private life, so if he was sneaking off to NY it was definitely for personal reasons. There aren't many reasons so personal he wants to hide the trips to NY from Wilson. So I thought it was either therapy or something to do with his biological father. When the spoiler came up that this ep revealed one of the major characters to be in therapy, it seemed to me that it was certainly House. Too bad that he's not planning on going back; it would be interesting to see House on the couch. Ah, thanks. I'm unspoiled, or try to be. He did tell Taub to bring in donuts and Taub delivered; I think this episode's heated exchanges were to mess with Taub's head. I don't think he had any intention of firing him. He was probably just experimenting to see how much he could get away with and to goad Taub into a good idea...or else he resents Taub's open dislike of the job and wants to make his life miserable as a result. Thanks, good to know I remembered correctly. I guess it is fairly clear that this job is a fallback for Taub, and I can see that bugging House. But he knew that when he hired him. Mentally reviewing Taub over the season, he is pretty miserable, and it comes out in a few different ways. eta spelling

Also thought that House might be seeing the psychiatrist for a medical brain condition rather than behavioral therapy, though he allows Wilson to think the latter. Perhaps his blurry vision caused his crash and then recurred at the end. Could be from earlier brain damage as angelcat2865 suggests, or could be the vicodin, etc. or something else entirely. Lee saw House as his heaven-sent savior, even hallucianted him as such, and touched his hand at the end when he told him, but House doesn't see himself that way. Wonder if House was starting to hallucinate when Wilson told him he would end up alone. Cool stuff.

Wasn't the DBS in the occipital area? (Wilson's Heart). And isn't that the area that conrol's vision?

I was intrigued by the supurb camera work (all these close-up shots of Hugh, Hugh, Hugh!!:D), the monologue of Lee was great (Mos Def is a rapper?) , but after 10, 20 min. that blurry screen began to bother me a little, and the voice over made my English listening quite difficult... But that's just my problem, and I thought this episode was really done well and fun to watch. Kutner ruled (last time, it was kitty (??) pee, this time it was rats!:D). And it was fun to hear the patients inner voice. If I were the patient, I would feel so insecure to be treated by a doctor who's taking the drugs. :D ...but now, reading all your posts about the last scene, I'm beginning to worry about what's going to happen to House next. I haven't seen the preview yet... I was just thinking that the end scene was done so clevery, showing that after all, House may be the one locked in, but...a psychiatrist...the accident... Wilson's "you'll end up alone" sounded like a prophecy, and makes me nervous. (I hate American dramas that toward the end of the season, make a big cliff-hanger! Our TVs do the same, but we don't have the looong summer vacation!)

(Mos Def is a rapper?) He made his name that way, but he started acting professionally at 14. In addition to multiple Grammy nominations for his music career, he's been nominated for an Emmy & Golden Globe. He was brilliant in the Tony nominated and Pulitzer Prize winning Topdog/Underdog on Broadway and he's won an Obie (award for Off-Broadway theater). He's also very politically active. The dude is super talented.

I have issues too. I've often wondered if House wears cologne (I would assume Hugh does), and if so, what it is and if Hugh and House wear the same cologne. I would guess he doesn't. Doctors and nurses are not supposed to wear cologne because they work with sick people and, at any time, could run into people whom cologne makes worse (like many asthmatics). Of course it doesn't always work that way in real life. I have a few friends who are nurses who have told me they were taught that in nursing school, but it never ceases to amaze them how many people ignore it. I remember one time when my dad was in the hospital that this one nurse was wearing so much cologne that it made him sick every time she came in the room--and he wasn't even asthmatic.

Key seems to be why did House crash, not where. I don't see that as being any kind of a plot point, personally. (Spoilerphobe here, people. :wave: ) Bikes crash. It doesn't take much, when you're at speed, or on a corner, for it to wipe out. A guy I knew hit a stone at just the right angle while on a bike on vacation in Hawaii and ended up breaking his collarbone, needing surgery, rehab, etc. As to why House was kept overnight, I'd guess that House could have given "five very good reasons" why he should be kept there, solely as excuses to remain in close proximity to Lee. After all, the doctor pointed out he wasn't on staff there, had no privileges at that hospital and really didn't want him messing in his case. As a patient, House had better access to the patient and a reason to be in the hospital. And not only is Mos Def a rapper, he's got a new release coming out this summer.

When there's head trauma and especially after a motorcycle/car accident you get to spend the night in the hospital, there's no why about it , TBI doesn't always manifest itself immediately ... a doctor won't risk discharging you

Also thought that House might be seeing the psychiatrist for a medical brain condition rather than behavioral therapy, though he allows Wilson to think the latter. Perhaps his blurry vision caused his crash and then recurred at the end. Could be from earlier brain damage as angelcat2865 suggests, or could be the vicodin, etc. or something else entirely. I always like the way you think, Boffle! You and I always seem to be on the same wavelength. This is just a guess, not a spoiler, but I'll white it out just in case: Well, we never did get much follow-up on the fractured skull & deep brain stimulation after the bus crash. Since House values his brain so much, perhaps he's having trouble thinking clearly (or something) and he went to a psychiatrist for that... OR he's trying to remember something and went for some hypnosis, which was unable to help -- which would explain why he said, "It didn't work."

Excellent choice of guest star. They needed someone with an interesting enough voice that he could hold our interest in a part that was mostly voice overs. But, at the same time, it couldn't be over the top. He had to sound real (after all, the guy had locked in syndrome, he isn't a talking cockroach.) I think Mos Def really pulled it off. The actress who played his wife was also excellent. Everything about this episode worked beautifully. The patient’s perspective was used judiciously and effectively. Not only did we get some idea about how terrifying and helpless it must be feel to be ‘locked in’, we also got some really funny one liners from the PoTW. And of course, the icing on the cake was all those lingering shots of House’s beautiful eyes. The switching to the patient’s point of view and back was done so smoothly. And they even managed to work in his beach “hallucination” without making it confusing. And the theme of House struggling with how much meaning to attach to semi-random coincidences was nicely continued. Also, WTH, this episode was written by Friend, Lerner and Foster. No Shore? I may be mistaken, though (My 20 pound cat jumped into my lap around the time the writing credits were airing and I was dealing with him). David Shore rarely takes a writing credit unless he writes all of an episode or a substantial portion of it. He's in charge of the overall shape of the season and he gives the scripts a final polish to ensure that the characters remain consistent (although he's not terribly interested in that part of the job) but he doesn't get a writing credit on each episode for that. Sorry for not being more specific. Some of us on the spoiler thread had speculated that he wrote a substantial portion of this one since he tends to do the "edgy" episodes that experiment with the narrative format. Now I do admit to some totally irrational prejudice against Huddy, but that "if she turns around, she's into you" bit felt forced and tacked-on. Just me? OK, I'll show myself out. I agree (and I like House/Cuddy). What bothered me more was Cam suddenly appearing in House's office to tend to his wounds, though. It brought back bad memories of Stalker! Cam! from season One. LOL. I am amused that even people who are 'locked in' find Foreman boring. Oh I think it’s hilarious. This is the fourth time this season they’ve brought it up. First House, then Chase, then Taub and now a patient. I feel like OE has been sleep walking through the part all season long and it just occurred to me that it may be a conscious acting choice on his part. ETA: Interesting observations, angelcat2865, boffle and sherlockjr.

So House is obviously stubborn in some ways, won't give up on certain things, but yet blows off physical therapy, walks away from potential human connections, tries a shrink once... It strikes me that if it had been him in that bed with the brain computer thingy, he would have tried to move the cursor for 10 minutes, then said: "Screw it. This doesn't work."

One more thing: anyone think House is wearing his glasses more than he used to? He is, but it could just be a "HL thinks House should be wearing them in this scene" type of thing. It may not mean anything more than that he is getting older. Or it could be relevant from the DBS, etc. Also his vicodin use is on again/off again. I don't remember seeing him take any at all last night, and I am sure he was in considerable pain given his accident.

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