When watching in HD yesterday I noticed that we actually get a name for House's father. It's on the first page of the book, when Chase opens it. It's Thomas Bell Th.D.. That's Doctor of Theology, right? I know props aren't always reliable in that regard, but we got Thirteen's real name from a prop betting slip long before it was confirmed in dialog, so they might go with this name for House senior as well.

Seems like "Be not afraid" is going to be a new motto.... :lol: I had to seriously restrain myself during consults, today

I think it was Hugh Laurie who said that the reason for the short-short hair was to give him an "institutional look." And he's rarely looked well-groomed, say the way Chase does (Wilson is too obsessive for comparison!). One of the few times he actually wore a suit and ironed shirt, etc. was "The Softer Side." That was only because he was going to a job interview. I know that it was HL who mentioned the "institutional look" in interviews, but I never assumed that it was the whole idea behind it. Why would an "institutional" look mean that he's healthy/stable and, therefore, why keep it throughout the whole season? I stand by my initial belief, that the short and clean-cut hair is meant to project that he's also literally clean and taking care of himself on an emotional level, which often translates into taking more care of one's outward appearance as well. I never compared him to a Chase-level of well-groomed, but the short hair and fuller beard definitely made him look less dishevelled and rather groomed, at least by his standards.

I just loved the episode. Funny, clever, and House who is absorbed in the diagnosis! :D And I'm now so thrilled to know his bio father's name. Thank you to21be! Bell, from Joseph Bell, probably?

I think House's old scruffy look meant lack of control, emotional withdrawal, etc. His hair growing out may indicate a spiral downward altairhough I don't like them using hair length to denote change. I think HL looks much much better with more hair. And yes "be not afriad" is definitely my new motto.

I think House implied that about Wison's mom just to be annoy Wilson, not that he actually did it. Don't remember about the nurse, but she seemed to have a dry snark about her too, so suspect she was just yanking his chain also.

The nurse (like the cashier) had a good poker face, and I think she was joking , but given Wilson's panty peeler reputation, there could be some past, too. I love when we are left like that with open possibilities.

This episode was so good that I've thought about it every so often since it aired and had a smile on my face. I used get that feeling with almost every episode back in Season 3. So it's been nice to have that again.

I think it would have been more effective if 13 had told Chase he could borrow her car--because he was her friend or because he was a trustworthy, competent person. It would have led more credence to her theory that people don't have an agenda and that the nurse loaned him her car because he's a doctor.