November 21, 2006: Whac-a-Mole
We felt his presence, though we didn't see him at all this week. Tritter has put the squeeze on House through his friend and colleagues. Being the friend, Wilson got the worst of it. He's had his car impounded, and the DEA revoked his prescription-writing privileges - to which House responded, "Who's going to prescribe my Vicodin?" That's just the tip of House's self-absorbed iceberg. Wilson is no longer of any use as a pusher, so of course House hit up his staff for Vicodin. Quick: Who would rather lose his job than lose his license? If you guessed Chase, then you were ahead of me. Boy, did I love seeing Chase stand up to House, as well as the Midol-throwing Cameron, who also did not cave under House's pressure.
There were so many great scenes that showed the effects of House's ill-advised pissing match with Tritter: Wilson not being able to treat his patients. Cameron sitting in on Wilson's appointments rather than blindly prescribing medication for his patients. House's new cane. Wilson at the bus stop - that just brought it all home. Most gripping was the showdown between the two friends. It was long past time for Wilson to confront House. And even though his screaming "Do something!" did not help, at least he voiced the sentiment.
It's clear that we're seeing the real addict in House come out as Tritter pushes harder and harder. Much like this week's patient, Jack Walters (
Patrick Fugit), who refuses treatment that would allow him to continue caring for his younger siblings, House is choosing to look out for himself rather than shoulder his responsibility to the other people in his life. Like Jack, House's choice leads to pain, but as Cuddy observed, the pain is actually guilt leaving us with a glimmer of hope that House is actually human.
The season began with Wilson wanting Cuddy to lie to House in order to save the surly doctor from himself and keep House's ego from killing a patient. Back then Wilson was the bad guy. Now it seems Wilson was right. The irony is that House's ego is killing Wilson's career and anyone else's who chooses to cover for him.
