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House Fodder

House: Human Error

House Episode 3-24C : Human Error

Airdate May 29, 2007

This is a capsule review : it will be supplemented soon by a full review.

The Hook:

A coast guard helicopter hovers over a stormy ocean at night. In the water a rescue diver struggles to reach a young man nearby under the brutal downwash of the rotor. The man persists in holding onto a suitcase as he struggles. The diver tells him to release the suitcase but the man continues to struggle with it. In the helicopter a woman shivers and rocks in pain. The crew fights to maintain the helicopter in position and worries over the their fuel status, which has reached the point that they must return to base or crash themselves. In the water, the diver grasps the young man an attempts to get him onto the rescue harness, but the man begins to sink, still desperately gripping the suitcase. With heroic effort the diver pulls the waterlogged man to the surface and hooks him to the rescue cable from the helicopter, but the weary man's grasp fails and the suitcase slips from his clutches even as the winch hauls him to safety. Once in the helicopter the man rattles off a rapid string of Spanish as he tenderly embraces the woman. One crewman translated for the rest that he says his wife is sick. A crewman tells the translator to tell him he should have worried more about his wife and less about her clothes. The man explains that the suitcase contained medical records, not clothes. The translator says that he wants to go home, but the man, in broken English, corrects translator. He doesn't want to go home, he wants to see House : Dr. House.


Act 1

House watches Foreman's farewell party from outside without participating in it, when Wilson tracks him down to chastise him for not answering his phone. House has apparently become a celebrity because of the publicity of the refugees risking death to come see him. The young couple, Esteban and Marina Hernandez left Cuba to seek the famous Dr. House because the doctors there could not cure her. After discarding the possibility of infection, because he says that Cuban doctors could have detected and treated that, House accepts Foreman's preliminary diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and OK's treating her with Interferon. House is behaving generally agreeable toward the soon-to-depart Foreman, and Chase calls him on it, saying that acting nice for a day is the wrong way to win Foreman back, which Chase says he knows House wants to do. When the treatment doesn't make Marina better, and her wrist breaks under a gentle examination by Foreman, the team suspects bone cancer (also at Foreman's suggestion) and begins to look into that possibility with a PET scan. When Chase attempts to discuss the Foreman situation privately, House abruptly fires him.


Act 2

While performing the PET scan, Cameron and Foreman discuss Chase's firing, which Cameron suspects Foreman had a hand in, despite Foreman's denials. They both angrily confront House over the firing, which House won't discuss. As the scan continues, Chase comes in and watches over their shoulders, spotting a clot before they do. Cuddy and Wilson both confront House over the firing and House still won't discuss it, or rescind it. Wilson warns House that he (House) can't deal with change : he still plays the same guitar he had in the seventh grade. "Eighth", House corrects him. Based on the results of the PET scan, Foreman begins a heart catheterization to check for abnormalities while Cameron pointedly refuses to assist. Before anything can be learned, Marina suffers a cardiac arrest. Foreman and Cameron launch into frantic CPR while House casually strolls out to contemplate the meaning of it all


Act 3

House casually interrupts Wilson in the middle of an operation of his own (by video) to ask for suggestions on his case. Cameron and Foreman continue heroic resuscitation efforts assisted by a team of nurses as Cuddy searches for House. Later, Esteban searches for his wife as Cuddy leads a group of first year medical students through the hospital. House interrupts from the balcony to ask for suggestions for his case from the students. One student suggests a novel but unlikely idea and House tells her to send him her resume. Cuddy is horrified to learn that the resuscitation efforts are still going after three hours, and orders a heart bypass, which House has been reluctant to do because of the danger of the bypass machine forcing a clot into Marina's brain and killing her. Esteban is horrified to see his wife being rushed into an OR for a heart bypass. He confronts House, asking him how he can diagnose a patient he never sees. House seems to react to this criticism and goes to the OR to examine Marina's now fully exposed heart. He watches as the heart surgeon applies electrical shocks directly to the heat six times with no result. The surgeon declares Marina dead and says he'll keep her on the bypass long enough for Esteban to say goodbye. House can't let go of the fact that a perfectly normal appearing heart just stopped beating. Foreman is packing and Cameron brings him a present and a hug. House enters and tell them both of Marina's status. House however refuses to declare Marina dead until he can figure out why her heart stopped. Chase sits eating lunch in a dim café when Cameron joins him. Chase says he's OK with leaving and apologizes for the whole Tuesday thing. Esteban sits alone in a room thinking about his wife. House sits alone in his darkened office and stares at the symptoms board, when Cuddy comes in and advises him it's time to declare Marina dead. House takes Esteban to say goodbye to his wife, then turns off the machine. But when the machine stops, Marina's heart begins to beat all by itself. It appears normal on the heart monitor.


Act 4
Far from rejoicing for Marina, House is in a frenzy trying to explain the facts of the case. He speculates that there's a congenital abnormality in a heart artery which they didn't detect with the angiogram because it was aborted so early when Marina's heart stopped. He goes to convince the couple to repeat the test that, well, killed her. They agree with trepidation, and this time House finds a third extraneous ostium, a defect that caused all Marina's symptoms.

Cameron visits Chase's apartment, declaring that Tuesday comes on Monday this week.

Wilson is talking to House in the break room when Foreman drops by to say goodbye. He tells House he appreciates the opportunity House gave him. House actually says he wants Foreman to stay, that Foreman is an important part of the team, and House needs him. Foreman and Wilson both hold their breath, waiting for the sky to fall, or the last trump to sound. But the magic moment doesn't last and they get into an argument over House's attitude and Foreman's motives. Wilson sighs, and House returns to his office where Cameron is waiting with her letter of resignation.

House shares a cigar and a drink with Esteban, who commiserates over the loss of all House's people.
House goes home to his lonely apartment where a new guitar awaits him. He takes it out and begins to play.
Will the "House" show have a distinctly lightened payroll next fall? What about Honey, is she still in the running? And how about that medical student? We'll have to wait until September to find out.

- Cecil
----------------------------------------------
Next Week:
"Reruns" No schedule announced : no more original shows until the fall.
----------------------------------------------
Prev Episode: 3-23 The Jerk
Next Episode: 4-01 ?

==========================
Guest Cast Ep. 3-24, "Human Error" Aired 5/29/2007

Dr. Gooding _______________Stephen Markle
Esteban Hernandez__________Omar Avila
Marina Hernandez __________Mercedes Renard


Posted by Cecil on May 29, 2007 5:52 PM
Permalink |






Nice recap Cecil. I enjoy your comments on Mac's Lost blog as well.

I could not figure out why House fired Chase, but since it was House who did it, the reason does not matter, eh? But as soon as it happened I knew Cameron would resign during the episode. The medical equivalent of a cliffhanger ending.

Did you find Esteban's ESL skills a bit surprising? When he was in the water he seemed unable to speak any English (could not communicate the importance of the suitcase). Then in the helicopter he understood a few words but still spoke with difficulty. As the episode progressed he bacame chatty Cathy and was conversing very nicely with House.

The scene toward the end, with two very different characters, House and Esteban, happily sharing cigars and drinks was a lot like the scenes between James Spader and William Shatner on Boston Legal. This is a male bonding ritual, right? Obviously I am not a guy.

-- 1. Posted by: leegull at May 30, 2007 9:45 PM

Great recap, Cecil. I have to say, I bever understood the Foreman hates Chase subplot. Other than someone saying so, he doesn't act like he hates Chase. Certainly, their not close (he's not with cameron either after he stole her research or whatever that was), but I guess I don't get a sense that there is any real tension between those three, only between each and House.

I like Chase, Cameron and Foreman, so I hope to see them all back. But I hope the show doesn't just bring them in and pretend this whole episode was no big deal, everything is forgiven over night. Like Wilson says, House needs to see that there are reprecussions to his bad behaviour...

-- 2. Posted by: FenwayBen at May 31, 2007 1:43 AM

Enjoyed the recap Cecil! I just can't help feeling sorry for House. He's just lost the three best bets for making 'friends' with. But just as soon as I feel bad for him, he goes and does something so cold again and then I back to hatin'.

Favorite part of the epi was when he got his new guitar. Maybe, '''maybe''' he's willing to try and start changing his mean ole ways. On second thought, naaaaaaaa. Mean is as mean does.

-- 3. Posted by: HouseHater at June 1, 2007 4:10 PM

Wait, why did her heart start again when she came off the machine? A miracle? True love? Maybe I *would* like this show.

Don't spoil it for me with clinical explanations, Cecil Rose. I'll wait for your full episode review to debate the details :)

Very intriguing recap!

-- 4. Posted by: Clementine at June 1, 2007 10:32 PM

Hey Clementine - her heart started again because she had an abnormal heart. She had an extra artery - I think. I think, therefore I drink...
I drink, therefore I don't really know. Just wanted to let you know I'm here for you, et. al.

Sincerely,
BunnyLover aka HouseHater

-- 5. Posted by: HouseHater at June 2, 2007 10:39 PM

Hey Cecil - over at the LOST blog when you accidently used your "Alabama" handle and I had to (of course) mention I'm a UT fan, you said you live in the Raleigh area. Guess what?! So do I!! I try and watch all the UT games at the alumni meeting places (Bogarts and what used to be Profiles, now the Upper Deck). Perhaps I'll see you there at the UT vs. Bama game. I'll be the one in all orange... GO VOLS!!!

-- 6. Posted by: HouseHater at June 5, 2007 11:48 AM

@Leegull

I can understand the bonding, just not the cigars and drinks. Although in the referees' tent in the middle of a soccer tournment on a hot summer day, beers and brats seem to have the same function.

You're right about Esteban's rapid English improvement. I guess total immersion really does work . When watching the helicopter sequence repeatedly on DVD I changed my take on the action. Esteban wasn't sinking and snatched back from the jaws of death by the pararescueman - the diver *held* him underwater to make him let loose of the suitcase.

I kept waiting for there to be some master plan that would explain House's treatment of Foreman and Chase, but it never happened. Is the great House so little in control of himself that everything was just petty reaction?

Did you notice when he finally did make his last second humble plea for Foreman to stay, it looked like bamboo shoots were being driven under his fingernails to make him do so? I kept looking for electical wires leading to Cuddy's office, attached to sensitive areas of his anatomy.

o------

@FenwayBen

>Great recap, Cecil. I have to say, I bever understood the Foreman hates Chase subplot.

There sometimes seems to be a subtext of Black rage to Foreman's outlook. Probably not abated by House's mock-racial digs. Maybe Chase is just the convenient white-bread outlet.

--

>Other than someone saying so, he doesn't act like he hates Chase. Certainly, they're not close (he's not with Cameron either after he stole her research or whatever that was), but I guess I don't get a sense that there is any real tension between those three, only between each and House.

I don't think he so much stole Cameron's research as poached her idea and rushed to be the first one into print with it.

--

>I like Chase, Cameron and Foreman, so I hope to see them all back. But I hope the show doesn't just bring them in and pretend this whole episode was no big deal, everything is forgiven over night.

I respect the writers enough to believe that they're good enough to not just paper over the differences. Let's hope there's a story to why House behaved as he did, and how he manages to overcome the hurts he's inflicted in the upcoming season.

o------

@3 HouseHater (but you'll always be BunnyLover to me) said:

>... I just can't help feeling sorry for House. He's just lost the three best bets for making 'friends' with. But just as soon as I feel bad for him, he goes and does something so cold again and then I back to hatin'.

>Favorite part of the epi was when he got his new guitar. Maybe, '''maybe''' he's willing to try and start changing his mean ole ways. On second thought, naaaaaaaa. Mean is as mean does.

I've seen some hints that the Hice may return but not as subordinates. Maybe Cuddy succeeds in pulling off the reorg she hinted at with Foreman, and House has to learn to deal wih them all as equals.

o------

@4 Clementine:

>Don't spoil it for me with clinical explanations, Cecil Rose. I'll wait for your full episode review to debate the details :)

I'm afraid my research hasn't turned up any more explanation that we saw in the show. There's a doctor who publishes a medical analysis of House episodes (URl coming shortly in the House News Area), and he doesn't have a good explanation either.

o------

@5 HouseHater:

>Hey Clementine - her heart started again because she had an abnormal heart. She had an extra artery - I think. I think, therefore I drink...

Bibio, ergo sum?
Cogito, ergo bibio?

It was an extra ostium (connecting passage between right and left heart sides), but why that would stop her heart, or not allow it to restart while connected to bypass, or allow (or cause) it to restart when the bypass machines are turned off is beyond me.

o------

@6 HouseHater:

>Hey Cecil - over at the LOST blog when you accidently used your "Alabama" handle and I had to (of course) mention I'm a UT fan, you said you live in the Raleigh area. Guess what?! So do I!! I try and watch all the UT games at the alumni meeting places (Bogarts and what used to be Profiles, now the Upper Deck). Perhaps I'll see you there at the UT vs. Bama game.

>I'll be the one in all orange... GO VOLS!!!

Won't they all be? I'd be proud to join you there, if you don't think someone in Crimson and White would get massacreed...
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLL TIDE!
(Oh, and GO HOKIES!)

-- 7. Posted by: Cecil Rose at June 8, 2007 1:52 PM

@ Cecil Rose:
You should be safe enough. The place usually has a "Bama side" and a "UT side." And yes, there will be TONS of orange. I'll wear my bunny ears so you can find me... seriously...

Oh, and what does "Bibio, ergo sum?
Cogito, ergo bibio?" mean. I suppose I could google it, but I'd rather bug you and have you translate. Thanks!

I'm off to read the full House epi review.

-- 8. Posted by: HouseHater at June 11, 2007 1:59 PM

@8 HouseHater said:

>@ Cecil Rose:
You should be safe enough. The place usually has a "Bama side" and a "UT side." And yes, there will be TONS of orange.

So, you're saying more people leave Tennessee than Alabama...


>Oh, and what does "Bibio, ergo sum?

I drink, therefore I am.

>Cogito, ergo bibio?" mean?

I think, therefore I drink.

Did you hear that DeCartes was in a bar drinking heavily and the bartender asked him if he'd have another, and DeCartes said "I think... not."

And promptly vanished in a puff of smoke.

-- 9. Posted by: Cecil Rose at June 11, 2007 4:28 PM

@ Cecil - Thanks for the translation and the DeCartes joke. Too funny! I'll have to remember that one.

Oh, and to answer your question "So, you're saying more people leave Tennessee than Alabama..." I guess my only response to that would be "only the smart ones."


-- 10. Posted by: HouseHater at June 12, 2007 4:07 PM

Reminds me of the story about how there was a sign posted at the Texas Border "This here is Texas, No Hoss Thieves, Scalawags, or Poker Cheats Allowed".

So the Hoss Thieves, Scalawags, and Poker Cheats who could read stopped there and settled Arkansas, while the illiterate ones continued on and settled Texas.

-- 11. Posted by: Cecil Rose at June 12, 2007 5:10 PM

Yeeeee Haaawww Yall! I actually lived in Texas a couple o'years. My-oh-my Mr. Rose... You ain't the yellow rose of Texas are ya? Naw, I ferget fer a moment, youse a cremson tidist kinda guy... (For all yall yankee's - that rite thar means he's a red face. Indjun I reckon... or else frum Halabama...)

-- 12. Posted by: Guess at June 12, 2007 11:18 PM

An actual childhood trauma relating to Texas:

Remember the lines in the Ballad of the Alamo:

"The hundred and eighty were challenged by Travis to die,

One line that he drew with his sword when the battle was nigh,

The man who would fight to the death cross over,

But him who would live better fly,

And over his line stepped a hundred and seventy nine."

Well, 1958, I (age twelve) full of Disney's version of Davy Crockett, am standing there right in the middle of the actual Alamo, reading a brass plaque, and learning that the one who didn't cross over the line was named...

...........Moses *ROSE*

We don't claim him.

Now there was the original "Yellow Rose of Texas". (With apologies to the song.) Of course in my more mature years I think of him as the sensible Rose of Texas, who lived to fight another day.

-- 13. Posted by: Cecil Rose at June 13, 2007 11:00 AM

so informative, thanks to tell us.

-- 14. Posted by: DedoVioheds at September 25, 2010 11:18 PM

so informative, thanks to tell us.

-- 15. Posted by: DedoVioheds at September 29, 2010 6:07 PM

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