Last week’s episode ended with my eyes bugging out and my jaw gaping in a manner somewhat less than attractive. Why? Because Foreman had tendered his resignation to House and was looking to flee the hospital before he became any more like his grouchy mentor – that’s why. This week’s instalment picked up where the previous one ended and Foreman was under scrutiny for his decision.

Chase persistently endeavoured to identify the reason why Foreman was off and was intrigued that neither the departing doc nor House would tell him why. Cameron was less pushy and was rewarded for her patience, with Foreman opening up to her with his private motivations. Whether he will actually leave is still anyone’s guess, with House seeming confident that he won’t. He accused Foreman of secretly wishing to stay, but during the course of the episode Foreman seemed even more appalled by House’s behaviour than normal. And, as we know, normal for him is pretty bad.

Addie, a female college student was admitted to the care of House and co. having coughed up blood during a karate class. The docs began their customary countdown of possible causes, with House adamant that the problem was an infection. There was no obvious proof to support this theory and when her symptoms worsened, Chase ignored the advice of House and persisted with his own treatment.

Unless deliberately sign-posted we know that any deviations from the path taken by House will prove to be wrong, and so it was. Chase administered steroids to Addie, and soon the young woman’s body was in meltdown. Believing that she was terminally sick, House informed Addie and her parents of her fate and was incredulous at their lack of medical curiosity. Addie didn’t care what was killing her and refused to hear House’s breakdown of her condition, but still he went on. Smiling even.

Later when enjoying one of the show’s comic sub-plots with Wilson, inspiration finally came knocking. House realised that Addie’s passive acceptance of her impending demise was not the reaction of a happy, healthy woman but that of a depressive looking to die. Away from the intense glare of her parents, House confronted the woman about her suicide bid. Clever House had correctly diagnosed that Addie had poisoned herself and soon she was making a tear-soaked confession.

Unaccustomed to caring about patients or taking an interest in them beyond that of the case, House demonstrated an unexpected sensitive side with Addie’s parents. Ashamed of her suicide attempt, Addie had asked House to keep the truth of her condition from her parents, a pact that he happily broke. He told them of their daughter’s unhappiness and suggested they help her receive psychiatric and pharmaceutical treatment. This intervention in the mental well-being of a patient was a pleasant reminder of the humanity hidden inside the belligerent doc and was at odds with his treatment of chum Wilson.

During a chat, Wilson yawned in the presence of House. To normal people this would seem inconsequential – not House. He surreptitiously spiked Wilson’s coffee with amphetamines to help him diagnose what was causing Wilson’s apparent sleepiness. This resulted in a hilarious scene where Wilson, high as a kite, inappropriately winked at a female patient while conducting a breast exam. Though to more morally sensitive viewers, House’s playful drugging of his friend might have seemed irresponsible and dangerous, and of course it was. It was also damn funny.

Resolute and uncompromising in his professional life, so he is in his personal life and House’s experiment on Wilson garnered him the information he wanted: Wilson was on anti-depressants. The real hum-dinger came when it was revealed that he wasn’t alone. Wilson had been just as duplicitous with the drugs, administering House with antidepressants, hence the slightly sunnier disposition and the tactless smiling with the dying patient. Touché Wilson!

On a side note, House met Honey (pictured above), a pretty young woman who accompanied her boyfriend to the clinic. Being a nutritionist, House invited her to apply for the departing Foreman’s position though it became obvious he was interested in more than just some nutritional advice.