(S03E20) It's funny this episode came along when it did, because in just the last week or so, I've said to a few of my House-watching friends that it had been a bit since we had a big tragedy on the show, and sure enough, here we are. The title of this week's episode, "House Training," is a curious one, as what went down wasn't as much about the value that House adds to his friends' and colleagues' lives, but how they're trained "with him" or "by" him, even indirectly. Additionally, Cuddy gives House the business with a laugh-out-loud quote about how now that Wilson is playing with a toy in the sandbox (her), now he wants it too. Ouch.We also got to see Foreman's mom and dad make an appearance, and at a very critical time in his medical career. Between the effective killing of a patient and needing to learn how to give grim news, along with the sadness of his mother not regularly knowing who he is, Foreman has a lot to think about right now. Interestingly to me was that his father didn't bring up God, his mother did - followed by Chase - which kind of flipped the script on how his dad was portrayed the last time he was featured. Whether or not any of that will have an effect on the young doc is another story, though.
A good part of me actually felt that Foreman would rethink his career choices in this episode, partially because of how he was reacting to the woman that the House team had just killed by making a bad diagnosis, and partially because of his family pressure. Thankfully, that wasn't the case - at least as of right now - but he was more than emotional when his mother didn't realize who he was at the end of the show, mentioning that she had a son named Eric, too. Could we see a church-going Foreman come forth with the re-emergence of his family and Chase's suggestion to pray or think about God when it comes to situations such as the one they were in this week?
As for the Chase-Cameron scenario, it looks like her reaction to the flowers at the end of last week could have been a misread. Then again, is it possible that Chase is smart enough to keep dropping hints and reminders about how he's "available" for some after-work services to the point where he'll wear Cameron down, or have we seen the last of those two? In fact, do we want to have seen the last of those two? I mean, since it looks like Cuddy and Wilson aren't exactly having a bad time so far, shouldn't the younger crowd get to have their cake as well? Then again, with both of House's potential women off the market, he'll have no choice but to go back to prostitutes, no?
I was really happy with this episode as I think it brought a lot to the table as far as where are characters are - or may be, at least - going with their lives. For some reason, I really like when Wilson is more than tangentially involved in the cases. This week, he proved that he was indeed good at what he did, at least when it came to the
people part of being an oncologist. Maybe that's why House likes him so much, because of the people stuff. Did you notice the small part of the show where Wilson handed House a cup of coffee late in the episode? Of course, it's probably a nod to House's trashing of Wilson's coffee that he swigged while taking his meds earlier on, but it was also a little bit of the friendship that he has with his doc pal. I'm going to give this show a 7 as it had a great case, some fantastic dialogue, and good growth on Foreman's character, along with a grinning Cuddy who might just find a father to her baby after all.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-25-2007 @ 11:07AM
Bill said...
7, really? Maybe I'm weird, but I've never been attached to Foreman, Chase, or Cameron at all, so a Foreman-centric episode doesn't do a thing for me. And other than Cuddy's sandbox line (which was great), I don't really care for the love triangle thing. This was one of my least favorite episodes of the season.
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4-25-2007 @ 11:22AM
David said...
This episode was not perfect by any means. Of course the rating systeem is a joke anyways so why not.
It was ok, they finally killed the one person a year they like to kill.
I really don't have anything else to say besides the exwife there is a bitch.
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4-25-2007 @ 11:27AM
edd said...
At tops a 'six', but I would rate it a solid 5, esp. compared to last week's and the plane episode - last week's was pretty close to a 7 for me. But, again the ratings are a joke. Maybe you meant 7 out of 10? :)
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4-25-2007 @ 11:36AM
Cyndi said...
Worst House episode ever IMO. I was bored out of my mind.
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4-25-2007 @ 11:36AM
Bash said...
SEVEN?
Dude, NOT cool...
You mentioned the plothole yourself (Foremans's father not mentioning god whatsoever) so how on earth can you say this episode is perfect, because that is what the highest rating in a rating system should be reserved for. A pefect rating.
There's a reason why gaming-magazines and other publications often use a 1 to 100 Rating (or percentage). There isn't something like a "perfect" product. So if you chose to use the highest rating possible, you have to keep in mind that there is no option that if next week's episode is better you can give it a higher rating. You have to _justify_ that rating and that plot hole alone makes this episode not golden.
I wonder how you would want to rate an episode without flaws? 7 with a gold star?
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4-25-2007 @ 11:47AM
slutty_whore said...
David, why shouldn't the ex-wife be a bitch, if she feels (rightly or wrongly) that House is the catalyst for the deterioration of her marriage?
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4-25-2007 @ 12:01PM
Tom said...
Bash - I wasn't calling it a plothole as much as that if you think about it, maybe it's that Foreman's father didn't mention anything having to do with God because he truly valued being with his son in this way, rather than pushing him away in the past. After the many years of issues between father, mother and son, maybe he thought that his wife's life wouldn't be much longer, and that he thought it worthwhile to act this way. Hell, he even said something to his wife about it.
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4-25-2007 @ 12:02PM
BigTed said...
So: Foreman's mother has dementia and doesn't recognize him, just like on "Grey's Anatomy." House is getting involved in Wilson's personal life because a) he wants to help, b) he's jealous, c) he's a jerk, or (most likely) all three reasons at once -- just like in every other plot line between them. And House and his gang make a quick diagnosis and almost kill the patient, just like in every other "House" episode -- except this time it's worse and they do. Why are these supposed to be the greatest doctors in town again?
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4-25-2007 @ 12:50PM
Rogphi said...
This Episode WAS one of the best in a while. House actually spoke sincerely to Foreman at the end which was a huge departure from the normal Sarcasm he spits out at him.
Other than Cuddy's great line, I also Enjoyed House's response to " shall I tell you how the dog got its name"
" NO, Lets keep the mystery" Brilliant!
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4-25-2007 @ 1:15PM
kat said...
This was a great episode. I loved the character build on Foreman and the cute little hinting from Chase "only on Tuesdays". Tom, you got it on the ball rating this eppy a 7. I really enjoyed it from start to finish. Also great that House took the dog. Where do I know Wilson's ex from? She looks familiar, but I can't place her face...
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4-25-2007 @ 1:45PM
mike m said...
was lackluster, not well acted...the emotions didn't seem real, and boring.
I give it a 2 of 7, or a 4 of 10.
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4-25-2007 @ 6:37PM
innamorata said...
I've never really cared for the three underlings and this focus on Foreman didn't help change that fact. I was so bored by his first scene with the patient that I fast forwarded most of his scenes.
As for Chase and Cameron, I've warmed up to them a little when they were "together" but now that that's gone they're back to being boring.
Put me down the "bad episode" column. Thanks.
1/7
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4-25-2007 @ 10:39PM
Gloria said...
kat - I think wilson's ex-wife also played niles crane's ex-wife maris on fraiser.
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4-26-2007 @ 6:21AM
Brent McKee said...
Gloria, we never saw Maris. Jane Adams, who played Wilson's ex-wife Bonnie, played Niles's second wife Dr. Mel Karnofsky who he left when he discovered that Daphne felt the same about hims as he did about her.
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4-26-2007 @ 4:07PM
nukethewhalesagain said...
I didn't really like this episode. It felt like they were throwing too many things in one episode, none of which were given enough time. Wierd thing is, I thought that was going to be a plot point when she died. I thought they were going to mention the fact that House spent so much time digging around Wilson and Cuddy's relationship that he didn't give the patient enough time and she ended up dying.
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4-30-2007 @ 4:23PM
DeAnn said...
I thought this was a good, not great, episode. Somewhere around a 6 out of 10, mainly because of the good lines with Cuddy and Wilsons ex. I was glad to see that they added some realism into the show with the death of a patient through misdiagnosis. Having worked in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice and private duty, I can tell you that its very real for doctors to bury their mistakes. They're human, and they err, and when they do, people often die. That's just the way it is, people. Its ridiculous and unrealistic to believe that even a brilliant doc like House and his team would never be wrong, and never kill a patient. They made that easier by making Foreman be a prejudiced jerk toward her and then comfort her at the end. The fact that she was a grifter also made her seem more 'expendable' in the minds of the viewing public. This happens everyday in hospitals all over the world. People go in, and don't come back out alive. My mother even dated the guy from the funeral home who would come and pick up the bodies from the hospital, because she saw so much of him she grew to know him.
I'm still bummed about Cameron and Chase, though I think its fairly cute the way that Chase is dealing with their separation. I think Cameron is being an idiot, but she's not been too swift this whole season. I really hope that House fathers Cuddys baby, because that will make for some good TV in later episodes, as House doesn't really like kids.
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