When a young boy comes down with a mystery ailment that proved fatal in an elderly female patient 12 years before, House becomes a man obsessed in finding a solution before time runs out. To say he goes to extremes in this episode is no exaggeration. He risks losing everything, including his career and that of his staff, to find the solution. This is one of those Very Sick Kid episodes, which can prove very disturbing to the sensitive among you. It is not unlike the Very Sick Baby episodes, which don't always come out the way we'd like -- and this is a good thing, as life works that way sometimes. I know. I worked in a city hospital as a student. At this point in the second season, I have noticed that HOUSE has begun using increasingly graphic segments featuring more frequent invasive procedures such as lumbar punctures and close-up surgeries. It has gone way past ER in this respect, but it also has turned out to be better than ER. And I loved ER, at least the first five seasons. HOUSE meanwhile has been renewed with good reason for a third season, and as of this writing, the third season has kicked off.
5 Reviews
I'll See Your Elder and Raise You a Kid
kj_tenneson5 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
During a charity poker event, House overhears the admittance of a 6 yr. Old patient of Cuddy's, but the symptoms reminds him of another case. Apparently, an elderly woman died of a mysterious illness 12 yrs earlier and House hadn't been able to save her. As House becomes more and more obsessed with stopping the progression of the disease, Wilson compares his fixation with Capt. Ahab and his white whale.
Eventually Cuddy finds out and takes House off the case, but he still has enough tissue to run 3 tests without having to interact with the kid at all. Unfortunately, the team has 7 viable theories as to what is killing this boy, and subsequently, what killed Esther (House's patient from 12 yrs ago).
This was a pretty incredible episode. We all know that House is deeply flawed, but the one thing he has consistently been (if only in regards to diagnostic medicine), is confident. In fact, 'cocky' would be an apt description of House, and that's among a members of a profession where confidence is key! But here, we see House truly doubting himself - haunted by the possibility that he either made a mistake, or simply wasn't able to solved the problem.
Kudos to David Foster, (who wrote the episode) for his witty banter, as well as the tension he created on the page; and which the cast delivered beautifully.
Side Note: If you're one of the people out there who find House attractive, you're in for a treat - House wears the hell out of that tuxedo!
Eventually Cuddy finds out and takes House off the case, but he still has enough tissue to run 3 tests without having to interact with the kid at all. Unfortunately, the team has 7 viable theories as to what is killing this boy, and subsequently, what killed Esther (House's patient from 12 yrs ago).
This was a pretty incredible episode. We all know that House is deeply flawed, but the one thing he has consistently been (if only in regards to diagnostic medicine), is confident. In fact, 'cocky' would be an apt description of House, and that's among a members of a profession where confidence is key! But here, we see House truly doubting himself - haunted by the possibility that he either made a mistake, or simply wasn't able to solved the problem.
Kudos to David Foster, (who wrote the episode) for his witty banter, as well as the tension he created on the page; and which the cast delivered beautifully.
Side Note: If you're one of the people out there who find House attractive, you're in for a treat - House wears the hell out of that tuxedo!
No ordinary review
zonkiboy16 November 2018
Oops
gavinsdad-3208923 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
They totally test an old Sample and get a new result. House even gives the break down "it wasn't there yet" (disease in the colon) "but it's there now". Which is great, but they took that sample out hours ago and it's still not there. Still give it a 5. It's a great show.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews