House makes us all better

Damn — how’d they do it? How did the writers of House create an obnoxious character who inspires the best in the people around him? We’ve been watching him taunt and tease everyone who works for him for almost eight full seasons, but have we ever really thought about how he inspires greatness in them?

The theme of this episode blew the theory that House wants his team to be like him right out of the water:

“If I wanted you to be like me, I would be urging you to make a stupid, stubborn decision that blows up your life and leaves you lonely and miserable. You reassess your life when you’ve made mistakes. You didn’t; you just got stabbed.” – House

I really thought the nun was going to be the one to teach Chase that sometimes, unexpected things happen (House quote!). It was easy for Chase to see that when the nun was telling him about the child that died on her watch, but he still didn’t see his situation from that point of view.

The whole team, each in their own way, tried to tell Chase the same thing, and he glibly responded, “Just knowing you’re there for me is enough” to Park and Adams. Perhaps Taub’s message was the most important one: “He’s annoying, he’s maddening, but he makes us all better.” Self-defense classes weren’t helping Taub be prepared for a possible attack, but House’s soda balloons, paint balls, samurai swords and water guns sure were.

Chase was finally able to see that he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong scalpel. He could see that the stabbing affected everyone on the team in some way. Park was scared, and when Chase finally got over himself, he could help her be a little less scared and a little better of a doctor.

So maybe he is becoming like House after all?

This and that:

• “If she likes crippled guys, I’m free for the next six minutes.” – House, to Chase about the woman he caught him sleeping with
• “I’d apologize again, but I’m still waiting for you to accept the first one.” – House to Chase
• “Hope you practiced the immaculate contraception.” – House to Chase after diagnosing syphilis in the patient he slept with
• Yes, the patient coughed up / vomited blood again … I think that’s four episodes in a row … at least!
• Lupus mention!
• “I’m happy I knew you.” This episode broke my heart on so many levels. Chase probably did find a soulmate and lost her, and House really is worth championing, and this show is going away at the end of this season and I will desperately miss the unwavering quality of the writing.

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Feb 13, 2012 @ 22:11 EST5EDT