I'm watching it right now. and the part when House is trying to leave for like the 3rd time the ducklings come and give him the test results. He throws the cane to Cameron and then the three of them rattled off diseases and for some reason that scene reminds me of Mary Poppins. Anyone else have that problem?

Just a few quick thoughts to get things rolling.

OMG! My very new favorite episode! The most screen time for Wilson. House on a motorcycle. The clinic is back. and on top of that a great mystery and story.

The balcony thing was weird, gotta watch that again!

I liked it too. I dunno if it was my favorite episode, but that's ok.
I liked the part where where he's snorting anti histamines, reminded me of a time when me and my friend were bored, except they were nortriplynes. ,most of my stories start out with when me and my friend were bored... anyways great episode. I kind of wanted to see what the clinic patient's balls looked like after his partner tried to circumcise him.


I'm watching it right now. and the part when House is trying to leave for like the 3rd time the ducklings come and give him the test results. He throws the cane to Cameron and then the three of them rattled off diseases and for some reason that scene reminds me of Mary Poppins. Anyone else have that problem?

Wow, lots to chew on with this episode.

Once again, House's pessimism re: humanity was thrown in his face. One of these days he's going to have to give in and admit that his misery is mostly his own fault.

"She could outlive you." This line particularly caught my interest. Could be interpreted on Wilson's part as optimism for the girl's future (unlikely since she's diagnosed terminal), or commentary on House's many drug abuses. The "crack" antihistaminte scene was funny but very ominous. They may wait until the end of the season or even next season, but I think House is going to reap what he has sewn with his Vicodin addiction very soon, namely in the form of liver failure.

The bike was awesome.

I'm sure there's more I could say, but I've spent hours studying physics for my exam tomorrow and my brain is fried.

oops, sorry, the other one wasn't there yet when I went to post!

One of the mods can delete this thread if they want to.

Well I'l be darned if I can find out how to merge these threads. I know I've seen the somewhere. I'll keep working on it and we'll get it eventually.

**ETA** Got it!

I agree Sam, eventually he will reap what he sews, but I don't know if they'll go there this year. I think it's a little too early for that, it would seem to contrived and ratings oriented. Even though there is truth in the fact that his vicodin intake over the period of time he has been taking it should be taking a noticable toll on his liver.

The comment from Wilson may be a little foreshadowing for something they have planned later this season but I hope they don't go for the big dramatic 'House is sick' approach. Again I trust the wonderful writers to handle this with just the right tone.

Wow. I loved the shot of House standing there, his back completely in darkness. That was just an awesome picture.

Very good episode. The whole Wilson "Go to Hell" thing was really shocking. House was very...wow.

Loved it, can't wait for more.

By the way, I don't know, but tv.com has the next few episode names and their descriptions...

Humpty Dumpty is next, you all know the drill, then...

TB or not TB, Spin, Pests, The Mistake, Deception.

Some intense names, there.

Oh well, I don't know if it's right to talk about in this topic.

Also, incredible acting by Hugh Laurie. He pulled off an incredibly convincing illness while maintaining the typical House status. Almost made me think he is actually sick.

First off, I have to rant a little bit. People kept interrupting me while I was trying to watch the show. If it wasn't someone on the phone (grrr...), it was someone asking me questions. %$#@%$!!! :angry:

As for the episode, I found it to be a beautifully written episode. The girl who played Andie, I found to be quite good. The "she could outlive you" line also caught my interest. Even House seemed to be taken back when Wilson first said it. House's addiction is like the pink elephant in the room. Everyone knows it's there, but no one wants to talk about it.

BTW, did anybody else totally cringe when Chase kissed the little girl? I know she'd manipulated him into, but as an adult, he shouldn't have been so easily duped. There are sooooo many big ethical no-way-in-hell's involved there. And I mean, he really kissed her, maybe not a french kiss, but still, it was not just a quick peck. Creepy! Argh!

One of the very few times I've agreed with Cameron's response on anything, anyway...

Someone on one of the other boards mentioned this and it had occured to me but I didn't quite know how to phrase it. So I'm going to paraphrase what she said.

'The beautiful contrast between the ominous signs the whole "razor blade, drug use, 'she may out-live you'" scene and the ray of possibility in the 'zest for life' motorcycle ride at the end.'

That he could be intesifying his drug use (really long discussion could be had on this) and yet at the end he seems to be allowing himself to enjoy a little bit of life again. Taking back something that he felt had been taken away.

Looking back I can see that they have been playing this pendulum swing for some time. I'd have to go back and rewatch some of the early episodes but I'd say almost from the beginning. It was a slow long swinging arc that seems to have grown shorter and faster as time goes by.

With that thought, I'm not so sure House is headed for a big fall. Or is even in fact in a 'downward' spiral. I think he is trying to come to grips with things but just doesn't know how. He's just too emotionally crippled to know how to deal with all the intense emotions he has felt and is feeling. So he shuts down, pushes he people away, and uses drugs to dull it all to a managable level. But his intellect keeps trying to find an answer to the problem.

I don't care what any of you say, he knows he's broken and his natural curiousity wants to find out what is broken and fix it. Solve the puzzle. But since it isn't something that can be fixed with medication or some proceedure he's at a loss as to how. I think he's begining to look at his patients for answers. That's why we get all this voyeuristic 'watching'. He's always playing people to see how they'll react or examining their motivations for doing the things they do. So he feels that by watching them he can figure out why they react the way they do, maybe find an answer to why he can't or won't deal with his feelings. Or find a way in which to deal with them that doesn't hurt quite so much.

Deep doen he knows he's headed for a fall and I think there are times when everything is just so overwhelming that he welcomes that and other times when he's just desperate for answers. He wants so bad to live again that it just adds to the emotional pain he's already feeling, pushing his right back in the other direction. Yet when he gets there the prospects at that end of the spectrum I suspect grind against his ego enough to push him back to the search for answers. He doesn't like to lose.

As you all know, I could go on for hours with this so I'll stop here and let you all join in!

RT - totally got that impression on House's curiousity with Andie's reactions and the paralell with his own.

Overall I loved this ep- House is just as I like him - able to feel/recognise some humanity but not really learn much from it and the darkness of his character is so fascinating. I also liked how consistant he was in only being interested in the patient. Aside from the hugely well-acted side to his talking with Andie over the 'dead' surgery, it was great characterization- House is only ever about his patient and he was, as always, prepared to lie to her Mum if it meant her making her own decision.

Wilson was superb too - he seemed frayed and stressed, almost edgy, beyond his usaul irritation and RSL showed it with his typically perfect subtlety. I am really hoping it is the start of more stuff for him this season and his calling House out is as great as his support.

As for House being unable to open the Vicks - what do people think? I fugured it may have been sweaty palms from hayfever and too many pills floating through him. I get it and it Benadryl (here at least) which is our strongest OTC/ don't drive med does whack me out- but I don't know if it makes me that weak. Mind you I don't pop Vicodin and I'm betting House got his weak mitts on the strongest stuff going.

Sticking the stuff up his nose didn't freak me out as the 'speed' hint last season didn't either. House is Mr Means To The End and I do see him as having taken some illicits in the past and cutting his nose med struck me as nail on for something he would so- he's all about speed (no pun intended) after all. Made for a nice parallel with the awesome bike too.

Whoa- just realised I went on a bit but much love for this ep and not to forget the actress who played Andie was awesome too.

I'm basicaly on board with rtlemurs concepts as well. I think he knows his limits and is willing to push at them to see how far they'll stretch, but he's not going to break them. Just the fact that he wasn't necessarily going to buy the bike, but is willing to take it for a test drive, to me seems to signal that he's giving his new life a test drive.

I don't see himself as having truly come to terms with his new life as of yet, but he keeps putting his toe in the water to at least check it out (especially with Wilson doing the "come on in the water's fine" speech -- metaphorically speaking of course).

That said, though, it is interesting that the guy who takes his Vicodin dry normaly was downing pills (and snorting meds), followed by a milk chaser. Is that a sign that he's acknowledging he should balance the meds with a little more health awareness? A sign that perhaps his stomache is starting to rebel at all the crap he gives it? Or just product placement by the National Dairy Farmers? (Milk: It does a misanthrope good!)

"Go to hell."

Was that a great line? I was so proud of Wilson - he just dripped vitriol. And the look on Wilson's face when he saw that House was watching him tell the girl she was going to die. Sometimes I'm amazed at how quickly Wilson bounds back to his friendship with House. I guess that's his Achilles heel.

Do you think that even at that moment - when Wilson tells her she'll die - House was watching her with some kind of hidden fascination/curiosity in her ability to manage and love others even in the midst of her own pain? I doubt it was purely a medical curiosity even at that point in the story.

The moment at the end - all the "good" guys in white and there, off in the proverbial corner, stood the "bad" guy all dressed in black (well, mostly) - and the look on his face when she walked up to him. So similar and yet somehow different too from the look on his face when pitcher guy's wife hugged him in Sports Medicine. What does she do to his theory that everybody lies?

(The Cuddy hug sorta bugged me - when had their paths crossed? - but then I figured it'd be perfectly in line for this little girl to do this given the angelic semblance of her character.)

This show had me reacting both verbally and emotionally. I talked back to the screen (am I revealing too much here?), I championed Wilson, I teared up, I mentally urged House to test drive that damn motorcycle. (Was it a Triumph? And, can I have a ride?)

Moments: The Chase kiss. House bringing bagels. Who'dathunkit? All the House/Wilson stuff. (Doesn't that just get better and better? I crave it.)

Squee-dom: House looked quite fine in this episode, don'tcha think? Some of those moments around the whiteboard had me catching my breath. Yee-ow.

I'm going to have to watch again to comment more fully - this is my Wednesday morning knee jerk "what just happened last night?" response.

:blink:

-Pradon

Pradon- on House looking hot - hmm add hay fever to scruff,snark and all the other stuff House makes stupidly hot.


Just a quick bit on something that occured to me on the bizarreness that is the balcony- it seems to me that the last two eps are very summer in Houseland. House has been minus the extra layer, hay fever and everyone seems to be more lightly dressed. So I'm guessing the balconies don't get much use during the rest of the year, I figure New Jersey gets full strength seasons, and House hasn't been out on his until it warmed up.

It's a stretch - I find that after months of wondering if/where Wilson had an office it suddenly appears to be adjoinedish to House's slightly odd- but maybe it isn't totally left field.

Wow - sorry if I repeated others' sentiments/observations in my post. When I posted this morning only *one* post showed and now, I see, there were many! A veritable plethora of posts. And I thought I was bein' all original n' stuff. pshaw.

re: Wilson's office. It looked different to me too - all of a sudden has glass walls. In the season one episode (name?) when he was packing up to leave I don't believe it had glass walls. And what's that poster? It's cool. (There I go again, me and my poster fetish.) :P

Cheers,

-Pradon

Wilson's office first appeared in "Babies and Bathwater" and in that episode, he had a bad office. It was small, too small for the head of oncology. So, I have to admit that I am very happy that Wilson's office space improved. Maybe Wilson flirted with Cuddy into giving him a larger office...not! :lol:

I'm still not entirely sure the stuff he was cutting wasn't cocaine. It seemed like Wilson saying "Hey, your pretty good at that" was trying to bring up suspision that maybe House is looking for something stronger than the Vicodin. I don't know.

Go to hell- HURRAY FOR WILSON! I knew something was up when House said that but still, GO WILSON!

The kiss- uhg. I covered my eyes. Didn't want to see it. *shudders*

House being sick- Is it just me or do his eyes get bluer when he's sick? Oh, I love those eyes.

Motorcycle- AWSOME! It's was so great to see him trying to embrace life a little more! Maybe this is the first step for him moving on?

Favorite part- The guy who tryed to circumcize himself. That had my entire family rolling around laughing, and they don't usually find tv funny anymore. "Gonna call a plastic surgeon, see if we can't get the twinkie back in it's wrapper." The custody battle comment was great too.

Great episode, one of my favorites! Can't wait for the next one!

-PS: I liked the "It's good!" thing with Cameron and the tea too. For some reason that cracked me up.

And more thoughts-

Could House letting Cameron touch the *Sacred Markers* be his way of maybe sorta underhandledly apologizing for his attitude in the last ep? His throwing all his belongings at her was sure amusing.

The kiss was weird, yeah. I was like, Oh boy, if they have cameras in this room like they seem to sometimes, he could get in biiiiiiiig trouble.....

Though I can't blame her for it . . . if you were dying girl, wouldn't you want a kiss from a hot guy? I sure would. Granted I'm more Chase's age, vs. being 9, so I might be a little biased here....

Go Foreman finding the clot. And also go House for trusting him about it. See? Your team can do stuff.

I also wondered about the razor and white powder . . . was it drugs? Or "drugs"? Wilson seemed a little undecided about that too. And House seemed to be pretty jazzed about inhaling it . . . What else makes me suspicious is that by this point in the ep, his cold/allergy was kinda cleared up and he was talking a lot more normally (see scene where he talks to Cuddy about killing the girl "but just for a little while!"). Hmmm.

"She could outlive you." was a great line from Wilson (well, most of his are, really). Calling House on the carpet without being too specific. And leaving us to wonder, "What does it mean????"

Was glad they left Stacy out of this one. Too much else going on.

And the motorcycle, good for you, House, but that must be a hell of a test drive, to end up out in the country like that . . . hope they don't think he stole it.

Freakin' long post again. Can you tell I used to be an English major? Sheesh.

I wouldn't be surprised if House has messed with cocaine in the past. He may not be scratching 'HATE' into his forearm with a compass but his level of self-abuse is pretty high. Alongside over-doing the Vicodin, he uses a cane rather than crutches and drinks heavily on his meds. I suspect it will be like the timeline and loads of other hints the writers make but don't confirm. He definetly pocketed the speed and the camera to Chase and Camerom meant something. I'm sure he didn't take it in the final scene but there was some reason. I like that we don't know but it really wouldn't shock me nor would it seem OOC for him.

yeeOWW. What an episode.

Firstly, Pradon, that's a poster for Hitchcock's Vertigo. Very cool movie, very cool of Wilson to have it in his office. (Which is totally different from the tiny closet office featured in 'Babies and Bathwater').

I know the song is popular, but I live under a rock in terms of pop music.... Could someone tell me what the name of the song at the beginning (and end) was?

'You're kinda freaking me out.' Right on, Andie.

I wasn't bothered by the kiss so much...their eyes were open. It was sooo awkward. And this is a little sick, I know, but if Andie were in her 20s the 20 year age difference wouldn't matter much. Just ask Cameron.

I love Chase when he's awkward. He can't be that attractive and also completely suave.

'Balls are in your court, Doctor.' I love Cuddy. Someone mentioned that she'll get old without more development...but they sure are good together.

They were both different versions of the same song, Beautiful by Christina Agulara. The one at the end was done by Elvis Castello specifically for the show, so you won't find it to download it so soon. At least I haven't.

Woah! Nice! Even though I am a H/C shipper, that was nice.

Thanks for the info, CaitDC.

And thanks for the props, but I didn't mean for that to be as sarcastic as it looked. I'm all for older men and I've got Cameron's back on her attraction to House too.

Tee hee. :)

It's funny, especially now that I've read everyone else's comments, but it didn't even occur to me while I was watching that the powder House was snorting was anything other than cold medicine. It just seemed so completely in character for him. ^_^: Although I wouldn't be shocked if he's ever done something stronger...for a doctor he has an amazing ability to ignore consequences.

You know, I kind of liked the scene with Chase...to be honest, it made me feel more warmly toward him than I have in a long time (the whole 'passing info to Vogler' thing made me lose most of my affection for him). I think there's hope for him...this isn't the place to get into a character discussion, but he seems to want to do the right thing, at least most of the time. (Is it a coincidence that every time he does he provides House with a source of amusement that lasts at least the whole episode?)

I thought that little girl was amazing, and I liked Wilson in this episode, as a lot of people have said. The only thing I didn't care for was the ending--the House on a motorcycle thing didn't quite do it for me. But overall I loved it. I can't wait for next week where hopefully we'll get to see more Cuddy. :)

The actress who played the little girl was also in an episode of Stargate and she was amazing in that too.

Taru

additional musings after 2nd viewing:

I found it interesting (odd?) that House was sitting with his legs crossed in the shower/locker room. I wouldn't've thought this was possible with his bum leg but apparently I was wrong. Maybe all those meds made him more limber.

I've also been trying to figure out why Hugh/House looks so much younger-taut-fresher than during last season's run. He seems much less sallow and harried-looking than before - even seems to have fewer wrinkles and such. My guess, perhaps some 'work' was done over the summer? Or did all that time off just give him that smoother rose-y glow?

-Pradon

I think part of it is the new hair cut but I also think that the rest over the break and the less hectic shooting schedule have contributed. Plus I think the makeup people are doing some things as he didn't look that 'unwrinkled' at the Emmys.

I forget now who mentioned his eyes this episode but I thought that in the first one. It almost looked like his eyes were glowing in some scenes. I think there are making an effort to accentuate his eyes and got it right this episode. It was nice and not as creepy as the 'death ray' glow they had in 'Acceptence'. Kind of like the orange tint in the pilot!

Unless they're having him wear blue contacts, but I don't think so.

RealRazumihin -- Long posts are good!

On to the episode and some comments on other posts.

I never got the impression that it was cocaine. But I can see that House may have some 'experience' with that in the past.

The leg crossing thing struck me too. I think he probably could sit cross legged but I would think he would need to use his hands to help get it up and in position. Plus I can't see that it would be a very comfortable position for him. At least not worth all that effort.

I don't remember if I've mentioned it or not but I'm beginning to suspect that these little 'lapses' in continuity are not slip ups. I am suspecting that House isn't in as much pain from his injury as he seems.

:blink:

Put the stones down and hear me out.

I don't doubt the injury. I don't doubt the pain. I just doubt the frequency of the pain and possibly the intensity of the pain.

The scene at the end of Honeymoon suggest that yes, he is in pain but that was when he tried to walk normally, with out his cane. In normal everyday use, with the cane and taking into consideration his limitations I don't know if it would be that intense, it doesn't seem to be as he doesn't wince everytime he takes a step. Even when he has just taken a vicodin for the pain, it's not like it kicks in immediately, he doesn't wince when he walks.

Now I do believe there are times where he is in intense pain and the vicodin would be needed. I'm just wonder if he uses the leg as an excuse to keep taking the vicodin all the times.

We have been lead to believe that he is taking the vicodin to ease some emotional/mental pain as well as his physical pain. I believe that to be the main reason he takes the vicodin when he could be taking a lesser pain killer and handling the leg pain.

He may even be consciously/unconsciously doing things to increase the leg pain to a) justify the vicodin (as well as his continued bitterness) and/or punishing himself for something.

Just another theory. I'm probably way off but I don't feel it's a continuity error. The writers are too good for that and I believe Hugh would be right on top of it, questioning if that was something House would be able to do.

Okay, let the stoning commence. :unsure:

No rocks, but an interesting theory, rt. I sort of disagree but I sort of do.

I agree that he'd probably need to lift the leg to get it into position. We've seen House folding himself up as early as last season, back in "Maternity" when he was chillin' in the OB lounge, right knee up to his chin.

I could. My theory is that the infarction mostly affected the muscles on the front of his leg. Bending the leg would help stretch the remaining muscles, perhaps relieving stiffness and cramping. The actual bending is done by the much stronger muscles on the back of the leg.

IIRC, the seats in the locker room were very low and sitting cross-legged on the bench might have been more comfortable.

That scene could also be read as being about weakness -- with the debrided muscle his right leg simply wasn't strong enough to take the weight.

Using the cane's going to help with pain control because he won't be putting as much weight on the leg. He also probably doesn't wait for the pain to get really severe before he takes a Vicodin. That way the pain never gets really out of control. He also may avoid wincing, etc, in front of others.

House also has pain from the nerves that were injured during the infarction, and from what I understand, that kind of neuropathic pain is really debilitating and doesn't always have a logical trigger. He might have it set off by putting too much weight on the leg, from not putting enough weight on the leg, from muscle strain, from muscle cramp, from sitting too long in one spot, from a cold breeze.... who knows?

I sort of agree, but I bet he needs to be taking stronger and different pain meds (as opposed to just less Vicodin.) Vicodin's not meant for long-term pain management. Maybe something like long-acting OxyContin with something for the nerve pain and another pill for breakthrough pain.

House may just be too ornery to admit that he needs something stronger than the Vicodin -- perhaps he's too proud to admit that the chronic pain is that bad, or sees going on that kind of regimen as a kind of defeat.

He's also just used to the Vicodin, and House likes having things the way he's used to.

And then, of course, there's the fact that he may like the side effects of Vicodin -- the way it kind of smooths out the rough edges of life.

"The brain has a gating mechanism...."

I don't think House is consciously trying to increase the leg pain, but I could see himself not bothering to treat it properly for unconscious reasons -- and because he likes the side effects of the Vicodin.

I do think there are some continuity errors in there, though. The writers are good, but they're not always good at the continuity or at the details. They do play fast and loose with the science for the sake of the drama, and Cameron tends to be a different character from week to week. Remember how in "Socratic Method" they put the apartment on the third floor, and the fans went whaaaaaaaaaa? and then they moved the apartment down closer to the ground floor later in the season?

A lot of what the characters are shown doing results not just from the writers but from the decisions of the director and the set designers. The show really doesn't show us that much about the practical implications of his disability, because ultimately that's not what the show's about.

The only thing they've shown House doing that's made me say no way was when he was climbing the steps to the stage in "Three Stories." (He was going up one step after another instead of taking one step at a time, and leading with his right leg.) But I can explain that away to myself by telling myself he wanted to go up "normally" in front of this room full of strangers, and was just leaning very, very, very heavily on his cane....

So basically, yes, I agree that he's taking the Vicodin for more than just his leg pain. But I do believe that the leg pain is real, and I would be willing to consider the idea that it's actually worse than House lets on. There's been a lot of interesting speculation that House's bad habits are going to be catching up with him soon....

rtlemurs, interesting theory. I can see a lot of that being true.

Hurrah theories!

They're fun to have however they end up turning out. Quite a lot of enjoyment in speculation, really. If they "solve" House as a character too fast, no more show. And that would be tragic.

Auditrix: maybe House's whole apartment is some sort of giant elevator? No clue about that one. Maybe House wanted a house?

I guess it was one of those, "while you were out" or "Meanwhile, off camera-" sort of moments.

So basically, yes, I agree that he's taking the Vicodin for more than just his leg pain. But I do believe that the leg pain is real, and I would be willing to consider the idea that it's actually worse than House lets on. There's been a lot of interesting speculation that House's bad habits are going to be catching up with him soon....

Auditrix, well put since this is basically my belief, too. One thing about Detox that bothered me was that they challenged him to go off Vicodin, yet did not suggest another pain-killer to take its place. I mean, addiction (or dependence) or not, he is in pain. Nerve damage does not magically stop hurting and something tells me Tylenol ain't gonna cut it. But Hugh is such a great actor that I enjoy the show despite its continuity issues :).

And yes, I can see it catching up to him. Drinks too much, mixes meds, not using the right meds, and does the guy go to physical therapy? I would think that might help based on research I did, but feel free to correct me :).

Nice thinking - very interesting

I do think House is in a fair deal of pain due directly to the removed muscle and resulting nerve damage and Aud's point about not letting the pain intensify before he reaches for a pill is probably closest to the mark. Wilson seemed to bear it out with his comment about House impatience and inability to pause on anything.

Also I do think they have made some errors with presenting his injury- the bike was fine but the manual car- no chance. Even a short trip and especially around town is going to involve changing gear all the time and the pressure on his right leg (which I'm thinking is the clutch foot in the US) all the time. It's not going to be something he could modify or lessen in anyway with a standard issue car. I have no problem with my leg but after a stop-start journey my leg aches and stiffens. I can't see how House could tolerate it- only maybe is that, like Aud suggests with the steps in TS, he was feeling really determined. I don't mind so much because they haven't over focused on too many specifics and the car is the only time I really couldn't see what they showed us.


Great point though RT - its one of those 'House' type questions which probably never see fully addressed- which is a lot of the reason I love the show.

Actually, left leg is clutch and brake foot, right is accelerator... but I think the pressure of that would still cause him a fair amount of pain...

Thanks Aud! I knew I could count on you to give us a better medical perspective on this. I'll get a more in depth reply to your post soon but I'm getting ready to go home and don't have the time to reply how I'd like to right now. More to you later!! :D

I just wanted to jot down a thought I had and see what you folks think.

I haven't rewatched it and so I don't remember the exact sequence of events. At the end, with the salesman, I think he told the guy no and turned away but then came back and asked if he could test drive it. Right?

The reason I ask is because the way the sequence was shot it just didn't seem 'real' until the end shot from high above. And even then it seemed almost like it could be a memory.

So I guess the question is (and I'll rewatch tonight to see if I still get this impression and the actual sequence of events) Do you think he really took the bike for a test drive or was he just remembering? I think we are certainly lead to believe he took it for a ride but my inquiring mind coupled with a crappy memory just has to ask these things!

Rewatching (only for the second time- honest) I wondered the same thing. There is a white flash, though not majorly obvious, between the hallway and before we see House crossing to the bike shop. That said it was the 'hollow/awesome stare shot on the bike which leads me to believe it was for real.

The scene with House/Wilson and the notcoke felt quite dark. Lots of space between them in the overhead shot and House's office looked really empty, along the Wilson's 'speed' comments it House seemed was more withdrawn and shut off than we've seen to date. I figure the final images of him and the bike are not memory like the lacrosse scene but are meant to convey something else.

I think a lot of what House has dealt with is because he never thought anything bad would happen to him, that he would be the lucky one and not die due to his decision not to amputate. He believes he has all the time in the world, as opposed to Andie.
The tragedy is, things DID happen to him, as they happen to a lot of people. Perhaps House was so used to being the best, the fastest, that to be anything less was inconceivable. He mourns what he once had, a great pain that adds to physical pain.
I do agree that the show seems to be inconsistent in writing for his disability, and it must be hard because Hugh Laurie actually does not have a disability. I actually have a disability, mild CP. (Cerebral Palsy).
So while I never have been actually that athletic as to mourn what I have lost, I can relate to the pain that this character faces, and not wanting to feel pity, etc.
Also, the fact that Andie would choose Love and Pain over freedom was difficult for House to swallow, because he tries to escape his pain through Vicotin and avoiding people.
Sorry that I have rambled on here and thanks a lot for reading
Melissa

Ok, I'm post this a little late cause I havn't been on, but who was she in Stargate? I've seen ever episode and I can't remember her for the life of me.

She was in the episode Grace, where Carter is stuck on the Prometheus, and she is the little girl entity that tries to communicate with Carter. It's the ep where the whole Carter/Jack thing was addressed.

Taru

Oh yeah yeah yeah, I remember that now. She was really good there too! I'll be looking for her in the future!

Wow, this episode was awesome, I've just watched it. It was really interesting and exciting!!! I think that this is very complicated surgery, which they did. It was really great episode. I liked the end most, when the child got out from the hospital and everyone was happy. It's really thrilling.