I can't believe it. I was actually interested in a Foreman storyline. Partially because we learned something about him other than the fact that he's smug and he doesn't want to be like House. Orlando Jones was excellent as Marcus. I loved that he made stuff up to tell House (e.g. "Erica.") I liked the moment when he tried to stop House from bringing up their mother's death. It was nice that all the stories were about family without our being beaten over the head with it -- POtW wanting to take care of his mother; clinic guy wanting to be there for his new baby and Marcus/Eric. Why on earth do all these people think physically injuring a disabled person makes for a good prank? First Wilson sawed his cane, then Cuddy rigged a trip wire (and made him climb stairs, etc.) and now Lucas sabotaged his grab rail and tripped him. And that's not counting the non-pranks like both Cuddy and Thirteen drugging him and letting him fall... wherever. I never minded Lucas. I do now. When he said it was Cuddy's dream place my reaction was "WTF?" She put one bid on the place. I was glad when Cuddy agreed with me. None of his pranks had any wit. They were designed to cause maximum pain and financial loss. It was creepy. And House, get your bathroom renovated. It's not that expensive and you can have your very own canoe.

Another thing I find annoying about the development of Lucas' character, is the fact that now he's no better than House himself, except maybe for emotional stability. You'd think the point of hooking Cuddy up with someone other than House, would be to show her with someone completely different, healthier and more mature than House. I guess maybe that is the point. Cuddy thinks Lucas is more mature and stable than House. She thinks he is more trustworthy, etc. However, we just saw him lie to her about pulling the pranks. I guess Cuddy is going to find out that Lucas isn't all she imagined him to be, and that will play into her working out her relationship with House, I assume. We have had a few instances in this episode where House's leg bothered him.

They were designed to cause maximum pain and financial loss. AND SCARE AN OPPOSSUM which is totally uncool, damn it! We have had a few instances in this episode where House's leg bothered him. Is it any wonder with all the tripping and whatnot? It made me even more pissed at Lucas because House was already in pain before all the bullshit "pranks"

I really enjoyed this episode - I was cracking up the entire time, and then there was that sudden melancholia at the end between the PotW and the soldier that sobered up the whole tone of it. One thing that's really struck me this season is this theme of how the various characters are coming to grips with the realization that their actions can have serious consequences, and that they need to change/mature in order to deal with those consequences. We of course see this show largely through House, and in previous seasons I feel like the consequences of any given action were less severe, more easily dismissed, and that was largely b/c House refused to face up to a full realization of the impact of his actions, and the other characters were the same way. In this season, though: House: is starting to realize the impact of his actions have effects on people around him and can cause unintended pain and anger - his arc this season is about recognizing that and trying to move beyond that. In this episode specifically, he chooses not to escalate the prank war out of recognition that Cuddy considers him a friend and that he and Wilson might have hurt her over the condo-stealing, and furthermore, escalating a prank war might end up hurting her more. Wilson: Wilson's pathological need to care/sacrifice to the point of martyrdom reaches a point where he starts realizing that this impulse to give until there's nothing left can actually cause more pain/damage, not least of all to himself (the "Wilson" ep). I find it telling that he's bought this condo with House - I get the impression that Wilson has never before really lived on his own as his own person - he lived with wives, with girlfriends (cancer patient, Amber), where in those cases he played a specific role (husband/boyfriend), and in a hotel room (impersonal, literally was not identifiable as being of something uniquely his). Wilson, having realized that his martyring ways are actually a negative behavior with serious and painful consequences, now seems to be trying to change that. (For one thing, it seems to me like he's lecturing House a lot less in this season - in past seasons it seems like his whole purpose was to lecture House, and I feel like we never got to see a lot of him. In this season, he is both less preachy and present more - he's become someone more than just House's nag of a conscience). Chase: obviously very severe action in orchestrating Dictator Guy's death, with of course the consequence of breaking up his marriage (due to his realization of the gravity of his offense and his unwillingness to run away from it as Cameron wanted to do) Cuddy: has become a mom, and as such has had to re-prioritize and give up on things that no longer fit with her new role (ie, a relationship with House), as well as make new decisions about what is the right thing for her and her family. I think that there's more to come on this, b/c I see her relationship with Lucas imploding in a completely catastrophic way before the end of the season due to Cuddy coming to realize Lucas' true nature (which based on this ep, is that he's something of a sociopath). I also think next week's ep might be interesting in terms of Cuddy having to face up to what the hospital means to her and how that's affected her life and relationships. end of spoiler I could go on, but you get the idea. PotW and Soldier patient also arguably fit into this general theme - PotW having to give up on his football dream as a consequence of recognizing that he needs to tend to his health, Soldier sacrificing his leg as a consequence of his decision to stay with his family. And just a final note: Taub is completely full of win. I want a Taub episode soon! Maybe we can have an ep where he and House are stuck somewhere together - I love their interactions and how Taub doesn't let House get to him (for the most part). mod note If it hasn't aired, it's a spoiler Poeia

I like this episode. First of all I really hate Lucas now. He has gone from clown to creep. Second is it me or does it seem like House is starting to give up on what he learned at Mayfield.

I guess maybe that is the point. Cuddy thinks Lucas is more mature and stable than House. She thinks he is more trustworthy, etc. However, we just saw him lie to her about pulling the pranks. I guess Cuddy is going to find out that Lucas isn't all she imagined him to be, and that will play into her working out her relationship with House, I assume. Mmh yeah, but that's sort of my point. If she leaves Lucas just because he turns out to be no better than House, than her decision against him won't have that much of an impact and will be less meaningful, it'll be just along the lines of "House isn't so bad after all". I did like that angle in Known Unknowns, where they showed us that he's there for her and is ready to integrate her child in his life. That's a real threat to House, because he can't do that. But they ruined it with Lucas' dorkiness, him blurting out personal details and now with these pranks. I loved Chase's reaction after Wilson berated House for supposedly placing the opposum in the tub. He was just so eager to hear about House's latest prank ;). I always liked the fact that Chase genuinely enjoys House's humour, I never believed it was all just ass-kissing. Also Taub, as adorable as ever. I just love his detached and serene attitude towards life and House's craziness. Have I mentioned that I hate Lucas? AND SCARE AN OPPOSSUM which is totally uncool, damn it! That's right, the man hates animals, you wouldn't want someone like that around your child, would you?

Is it any wonder with all the tripping and whatnot? It made me even more pissed at Lucas because House was already in pain before all the bullshit "pranks" Seriously. Didn't it look like he was limp was much worse in the scene following Lucas tripping him?

You're just taking it personally tonight. Wink Oh totally. Endangering wildlife and small furry creatures in general is not high on my list today after the Great Near Cat Squooshing Terror of 2010. And yeah, a raccoon would make much more sense. I liked that tub alot, design-wise, but in terms of sneaking a look at HL, not so good. Taub is always my fave. Lurve him. More Taub, please! ETA: I call bullshit on the medicine as well. No way you could be cleared for football after laproscopic surgery. I've had it twice in the abdominal area and both times, I wasn't supposed to do any heavy lifting or major activity for weeks.

hello all newbie here. Been a lurker for long (too long) and finally decided to take the plunge. I'll start by saying that I love this awesome forum and all that is discussed about my favourite TV show. One of the reasons that got me into action was the look on Houses face when he sees the soldiers leg at the end. Maybe it's just me and maybe I am reading too much into this, but to me it felt eerie + a little off. It was almost as if he was thinking about himself in the context of how the other guy is minus foot but plus wife and soon to be kid. I know they'll never go down the 'House minus leg' path but that moment just gave me the shivers. I liked this episode and will rewatch as I felt there was a lot going on. Loved Wilson running away from opossum :)

Welcome rumandraisin! Glad you decided to join in the fun. :) That look on House's face at the end was definitely haunting. I think it started him thinking about the PotW and soldier and what they were willing to sacrifice for those they loved. House doesn't have that. In a way, House making the choice to keep his leg is what drove him and Stacy apart. The pain would always be a reminder. Perhaps he's wondering if he had chosen the amputation, what would he have gained?

I dunno. I live in Philadelphia and we've had opossums stuck in our attic twice. And once caught a humongous one sharing the cat's dinner out back. I don't want to say this show has lowered my standards, but the only prank Lucas pulled that really disturbed me was the fall in the tub. Probably because a neighbor of ours died that way. What I was struck by in the clinic patient's story was that for once, House wasn't all that interested in helping someone get away with something. Remember how he helped out the guy with the botoxed vocal chords and the woman getting every test she could think of before she lost her insurance? ( Not to mention the times he's covered up for his team.) House didn't seem all that interested in how desperate the guy was to stay with his family, and sticking it to the man is usually right up his alley. I think he underestimated the patient, and it stunned him. I liked the story with Foreman and his brother, but then I've generally liked the stories with Foreman's family. It really brings an emotionality and vulnerability to Foreman's character that usually just waits below the surface. Also, man, do the people in this department have communication issues. As for the PotW -- Is that really how sports work? He was acting like it was the end of the world if he missed That Game because he'd blown his chance of being scouted/drafted by the pros. What about the next game? Or video of his previous games? Or is the NFL draft like the Miss America Pageant -- you miss The Big Event and you don't get another chance? Universities sometimes have a "pro day" when NFL scouts come to check out the team, which was probably what was happening that Saturday. Since he didn't attend a Division I school, he had fewer opportunities to be seen in the first place (whereas a Division I school might get TV coverage that would get his name out there). In theory he could still get into the draft through another avenue like playing in the Arena Football League if they ever start playing again, but it'd be even tougher.