House is famous for its beginning scene always featuring the introduction of a new patient and their first symptom. This time the show starts out in a virtual world, where creatures (including a monkey and a lizard) are navigating through a desolate science lab and shooting freakish birds and beasts. When the talking, human-like creatures are killed we see the real players taking off their virtual headsets and complaining to their boss about not saving their back inside the virtual world. Only problem is, their boss's hands feel like they are on fire, and queue the House opening music.
"I quit."
House is a man who cuts right to the chase. House is in Cuddy's office with Foreman there and tells them both that he quits. He has to change where he is at and what he is doing, so that he does not fall into his old ways and get back on the pills. He already looked for a job in research and says that it will be good for him. Cuddy respects his wish and House leaves. Cuddy tells Foreman that House was the entire reason for the hospital's diagnostics department, and without him it is gone. Foreman promises that he can do the job if she gives him a chance, so she lets him have at it.
Chef Gregory House?
House has a visit with Dr. Nolan, discussing his quitting the hospital and what to do about the pain in his leg. Dr. Nolan tells House that he needs a hobby, and it will help him ignore the pain. House seeks for help from his one friend, Wilson, and joins him at a cooking class. When Wilson's balls start to burn (meatballs), House saves the day with science, remembering chemistry and reactions and using vinegar to help the meat cook evenly and not burn. Voila, a new hobby! House spends the rest of the episode cooking, day and night. Wilson wakes up to House making spaghetti sauce and working on three dishes at once. Wilson is not pleased, but House explains that he couldn't sleep because of his leg, so it was either go out on the streets trying to score something, or sit in the kitchen and cook. Wilson concedes and tastes a dish, proclaiming wow. It seems that House is as good of a chef as he is a diagnostician.
Foreman and the Hands of Fire
Foreman takes over House's job and begins to diagnose the new patient with the help of Taub and Thirteen. The patient, however, is not the easiest to diagnose. Every step of the way he is using the Internet to either find out his own diagnoses and order tests from the team, or worse, put his symptoms online. The first two diagnoses that the team try fail, naturally, and they are left wondering what is wrong with their patient. Taub isn't wondering though. Taub walks into Foreman's office and tells him that he quit. He got a new job on a friend's surgical team. He came to work for House, and since House is gone, so is he. Now it is just Thirteen and Foreman, the 'happy' couple. However, thanks to his new position, Foreman and Thirteen are at odds and arguing every step of the way. Meanwhile their patient decided to post his symptoms online with a $25,000 reward for anyone that can solve what is wrong with him. The faxes and emails and phone calls flood in and the patient insists that they give him the treatment that the masses decided on. They do it, and he seems to get better. Foreman and Thirteen try to reconcile, not wanting to lose their relationship over a job. Of course, since the episode isn't quite over, the patient turns out not to be cured. Foreman, in a House moment, discovers the symptom that ties it all together and rushes in to give the diagnosis before it is too late. However, Thirteen beat him to the punch. How? She looked online again and someone had figured it out before Foreman did. He is not pleased.
Doctor Gregory House?
House goes to Dr. Nolan for a session and shows him a $25,000 check. He slept. How? He went online and diagnosed a patient. His team's patient actually, and won the $25,000 reward. It made the pain in his leg subside long enough for him to sleep. Dr. Nolan seems pleased. House is worried about returning to anything in his past life, but Dr. Nolan thinks that if he can keep away from the pills, being a diagnostician is the only way for House to be happy, because it is what he loves to do. The House everyone loves, the puzzle solver, has gotten a doctor's note to return to active duty.
Foreman & Thirteen
The case is done, and Thirteen went behind Foreman's back to solve it. She had to, and they both know it, but neither of them like it. They can't work together and keep everything happy, because they will always be arguing. She says that they can eventually settle in and be able to balance the work and the relationship, but Foreman is afraid that by the time that happens, there won't be any relationship left. He wants them to work. She doesn't want him to give up on the job of his dreams. He isn't. Naturally, that means he is firing her. Remy is certainly not pleased.
After the first two episodes of the sixth season it seems the masses are finally getting their wish. House is back in the saddle as a diagnostician. Of course, where the season will go from here is anyone's guess. Taub is gone and Thirteen is fired, so that only leaves...the original team? A quick preview of next week shows the old team walking into the office with House at the table proclaiming that it looks just like three years ago. Are they back for good, or is it just temporary? Stay tuned, Mondays at 8 pm on Fox to find out.
Thomas Froats - My name is Thomas Froats and I am a freelance writer as well as a law student at the University of Kentucky's College of Law. I am ...
