Funny, when I heard that my only thought was that she had been the victim of some gunman on a shooting spree. Any particular reason to assume it referred to 9/11?
I would have assumed it was something more recent than 9/11 for the guy to just now be entering therapy.
It’s a very bad sign when I think I can plot a show better than the professionals, but this is what I would have done: Amber is there from the start during the detox. And she’s still there after detox, which shows us his hallucinations aren’t from the pain killers. Moreover, she feeds him some of the ideas he uses for stirring up the place, showing he’s not entirely displeased with his alter-ego.
Until she’s gone, we know he’s not cured. Towards the end, when she knows he’s getting better, she warns him that “you can get rid of me for now, but you know I can always come back someday”. To keep up the tension, you know.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital some of the put-upon nurses are celebrating that House has been tossed into the “loony bin” and likely won’t be coming back. The team, with Foreman at the helm, struggles with a tough case without House’s leadership. Cuddy fires Thirteen, ostensibly because her advancing Huntington’s is affecting her job performance, but really because she’s younger and prettier than Cuddy. (And also not a very good actress).
In the end, the team, with some foreboding, await House’s return.
Nah, I like the episode as shot. I was glad there was no Amber or the other regulars because they were unnecessary to the point of this episode which was to show House establishing some new relationships and getting rid of his addiction and other hangups, on his own. They had to have that one brief scene with Wilson to show that his connection to the outside was cut off until he could get out. It was a better way to start a new season with title character House only. It helps to bring in new watchers who aren’t familiar with the regular cast. Next week, we can get back to the normal grind with the usual gang at the hospital.
I really liked the episode until the damned girl talked. Argh, that was so damned TV stupid! My problem with the show (well, one of them) is that they can’t ever let House actually change as a character, or the show would be gone - if they have the courage to do that, I’ll gain a lot of respect for them.
My other problems with the show are many and start with Thirteen, and since this was a Thirteen-free episode I am well pleased.
Since no one has yet answered, I’m gonna third the request for info on the PSA
I’ll fourth it. I didn’t see a PSA, either.
I don’t really think that’s what they were referencing. I got the impression FreedomMaster had just recently started acting on his delusions. Why would he wait 8 years and then finally become crazy? Not everything has to be related to 9/11.
And there was no PSA at the end here either. I’m going to guess that poster was referring in to Lin Manuel Miranda’s character deciding to go back on his meds, though calling that a PSA is a bit confusing.
I thought the title of the episode should have been “Nut House.”
This is pretty much it- perhaps I should have said “Touchy feely Awww… look the sick paranoid man is going to go back to trying to trust the Medications” moment.
But I tend to use PSA for those sorts of things. Just reminded me of last season where they DID have PSA’s for depression, suicide awareness, and such things all w/ House’s depression and Kutner’s suicide. That’s why this episode’s ending reminded me of those PSAs, and this one was much more implicit (as yeah- there was no PSA), but it was def. there. “House got better with Meds, and you can too!” Just amused how the PSA comment was misread and it kept snowballing. :smack:
They showed him detoxing in the opening credits- that right there would take several days depending on what’s in his system, and then I believe he spends 4 weeks in the new “ward” when he’s assigned to stay there (as the psychiatrist mentions this sometime at the earlier portion of the 2nd episode).
So I’d guess he’s been in there for at least 6 weeks to 2 months at least.
I for some reason thought of 9-11 as well though- whenever people refer to “an evil act” that’s the first one that always comes up in my head.
Though maybe he had been to other hospitals and just was finally transferred to this one- so he could have been in denial and his symptoms might have progressed over time?
I thought the episode was good but not great. For one thing, focusing on him instead of cutting away to “Meanwhile, back at Princeton-Plainsboro…” eliminated some of the usual tension, House/Cuddy, House/Wilson, etc. I could have dealt with that for one hour but for two, no.
It felt like an expediency to me that all his issues were resolved in one episode, or at least resolved to the satisfaction of those who held the keys to his departure. I think I would have rather he be released about 2/3 in, return to the hospital, and discover he wasn’t ready or something more “two steps forward, one step backward.”
I agree that Amber needed to be in the episode in some capacity. It would have been nice to have reprises of some former patients that haunted him for some reason as well, specific triggers.
Ah well. We shall see whether he’s really all better or not. He won’t be as much fun to watch if he is. Maybe it’s like the Leaning Tower of Pisa…I understand they want to fix it but not completely. I.e. if it falls, that’s bad, but if they right it, nobody would come see it.
First, I echo all those who thought that the institution was way too stereotyped. Plus, wouldn’t House be able to afford a private institution that was way classier?
My DVR left off the last several minutes, so I please need a recap. We saw the catatonic chick playing the cello, barefooted, and then cut to House smiling and … that was it. What happened after?
I assumed it was 9/11 also, for what it’s worth.
She went to a rehab facility in Arizona. That’s the only realistic thing about the situation–though I do understand that many people emerging from long-term catatonic states function at a much higher level than you might expect. No cite, though:(
And as to 9/11: doesn’t Captain Freedom seem a little young to have been married eight years ago? Or am I just showing my age?
Ya know, before House went into the stall to pee, ya think maybe the nurse should have taken two seconds to, I dunno, check to see if anyone else was in there?
Everyone who has ever appeared in a production of Starlight Express could skate through that hole!
Well there was a little more than that. Catonic Chick was released, House stormed into Dr. Andre’s office there and said she hasn’t talked for 10 years and you’re letting her go.
The Dr. says she’s going to rehab in Arizona along with her family, including your squeeze.
House demands an overnight pass, gets it, confronts her. She says yeah I’m not breaking up my family for you, sorry I didn’t say good-bye.
House sits next to Dr. Andre’s car until he comes out. The wise doctor says “You’re ready. You connected with someone and then when it hurt came here instead of hitting the pills.” House says good-bye to his new buds, is released, has enigmatic smile on his face as he rides the bus home.
He apparently spends all of his money on hookers and gambling.
True, but not so much insofar as the cellist is concerned.
Right, when someone’s DVR cuts off they only want to know about that one character. 
Well, it wasn’t misread; it was simply taken at face value. You used “PSA” to mean something that it doesn’t mean to the rest of us. If you’d written “Gee, that last scene played just like a PSA!” then your intent would have been clear and this little misunderstanding would not have happened. Say what you mean rather than blame the reader for not understanding your unclear communication.