Charity Case

Season 8, Episode 3, Aired
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8.2
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House and Park treat a patient, Benjamin, who collapsed after making a surprisingly large charity donation, and come to suspect that the altruistic behavior is a symptom of a deeper disorder. When the patient offers to donate an organ for another patient, the doctors must convince Thirteen to help them confirm whether Benjamin is in his right mind or not. Meanwhile, House cons Dr. Adams into volunteering her time as part of his team.

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Fan Episode Reviews (13)

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  • Great send-off for Olivia Wilde!

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Lisa__S, Nov 27, 2011
    I think House will suffer a bit from the loss of many of its great leading female characters like Olivia Wilde, but even so, fans were given yet another great episode last week. Wilde's send-off was done beautifully. I especially loved her exit scene when she said her final goodbye to House. Even the music fit perfectly! A Big Star cover by The Wellspring... I found it herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7tY8LF6W2k

  • More of the same

    3.5
    "Bad"
    By ActiveSparkles, Nov 27, 2011
    Boy howdy, my last review of house took a thumbs down pounding. Afraid this one might be the same. What an aweful episode.
    The formula of "House is never wrong" becomes really very dull if there is never even a glimmer of hope of anything else being the case.
    From the outset of this weeks mystery, you knew how it was going to end. Its a House staple episode. I will give it praise for actually focusing on the medical mystery this week though, something last season did not seem so bothered by.
    New girl and newer girl, well there was a side plot I could have lived without. Not sure which one displayed less screen charisma, like two shades of grey competing. The premise being "new girl" cant accept gifts. A house team mate with a quirky characteristic? We have seen it all now!
    Wilson has become more unintersting as the weeks go on, and spent another week being the moral compass of the audience. Foreman has been promoted to "cuddy replacement cameo man" and the less said about Thirteens upteenth exit from the show the better.
    " Why do you keep watching it if you dont like it?" being the obvious question. Problem is I love House, and just hate to see it being sailed down the river to a bland and dull ending.moreless

  • There are almost 20 producers, co-producers, executive producers, and co-executive producers... you think it would show a bit more.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By aldaros23, Nov 04, 2011
    Not that they probably don't care, but the producers should be scrambling on how to send off this show with a level of perfection that exudes the capabilities of this show.
    One thing is consistent: Hugh Laurie's commitment to the character and the quality of his acting. The character strongly shines through with this one.
    Olivia Wilde shows why she was so effective in her role. She captivates the screen. She commands the audience's attention and gracefully fills the camera. Can't say the same for Charlene Yi. Nor Odette Yustman. At least not yet. These are not great choices as replacements. Or at least they have not provided much to bite on so far in terms of interest. Wilson has taken a very diminished role and Foreman, well he's still Foreman but man he is still boring.
    Overall, the medical case was interesting to me. I enjoyed the storyline with Wentworth Miller and liked the banter of medicine regarding this case. The idea that altruism can be caused by some physiological basis was cool.moreless

  • loved that song!

    8.5
    "Great"
    By EdFr50, Nov 01, 2011
    episode 3 was the best of this new season so far. 13 will be missed and her goodbye scene with House was perfect, in part b/c of the beautiful background song chosen, "the ballad of el goodo" cover by The Wellspring. i looked it up and found the full version here for all you music lovers like me, enjoy! -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7tY8LF6W2k

  • A Change of Heart

    7.5
    "Good"
    By Neksmater, Oct 31, 2011
    More meh in the land of House this week as an undercover millionaire gives a large donation to an unemployment office of some sort and then collapses. House takes his case, still in only half of his office, and is joined by Doctor Adams as well having said that they would "meet for coffee." But the patient's altruism may prove to a symptom and House needs to prove that it's irrational and being caused by something. The really strange parts of the episode were the parts where the millionaire (Prison Break alum Wentworth Miller) offers House a million dollars after hearing two sentences of his so called plan to rebuild his old team, and when 13 asks him to donate her his kidney instead of Wilson's dying patient and saying that he could then die and save many more lives. While nice in thought and sentiment people just aren't wired that way but I picture his wife to be much more of a gold digger than she turned out to be. It all turned out to be some sort of thyroid deficiency or something that caused a hormone imbalance and he didn't give House the money after all. House kept trying to keep in touch with 13 even though she wants out. Altruism was brought up as a point to deviate from the other countless episodes where House diagnoses kindness as a symptom of a disease this time around. In the end when he let 13 go with her girlfriend as Olivia Wilde's farewell to the show it shows House is capable of changing in little ways like when he bought the motorcycle in season 2 or letting 13 go and "trying to save her." The game between Park and Adams was a good side story but utterly unnecessary when the episode should instead have focused more on House and 13 even though Adams needs to be added more to now. While charity is good to contribute to, there's no need to give away all your organs after all you have to live too right? Just maybe not as a millionaire.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (1)

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    • At the 21-minute mark, a redheaded extra with a distinctive lavender shirt walks by House and Wilson once in one shot, and then again going the same direction in the very next.

  • QUOTES (6)

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    • Dr. Adams: You said we were meeting for coffee.
      House: Well, when someone asks you if you want coffee, they obviously don't just mean coffee. Wait, did you think I was referring to sex? (to Park) Would you shut the blinds on the way out.

    • House: In the meantime, there's no way a do-gooder like you isn't volunteering all over town. Ladling kittens, spaying soup.
      Dr. Adams: There is a free clinic in Trenton.
      House: Well, think of it as today's free clinic, only with fewer bums with herpes.

    • Dr. Park: That's naive and sick. You really want to improve things, you do it through policy. This guy empties his pockets, what really changes?
      House: That's right, all those babies with AIDS, they're just using us.

    • Dr. Foreman: House, I worked for you for seven years. I know how you operate. So when I see symptoms magically show up right when you need them...
      House: And I was your boss for seven years, and I know what a suspicious, micromanaging hardass you are.

    • House: What's with you and Park?
      Dr. Adams: Nothing.
      House: I expect my people to lie better than that.

    • House: I'm not joking. You're fired. Don't come in tomorrow.
      Thirteen: House...
      House: I can work with people who've got nowhere else to go. People who've got something to prove. People who just get off on weird cases. but I can't work with someone whose here so she doesn't have to feel bad.
      Thirteen: You're trying to save me.
      House: Yes. I think that little of you and that much of me.

  • NOTES (2)

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  • ALLUSIONS (2)

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    • House: And Adams, when you treat and he gets better, and doesn't give Bob Cratchit his Christmas day off, you owe me a coffee.
      Referencing Charles Dickens' 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol. Bob Cratchit is the impoverished employee of Ebenezer Scrooge, the father of Tiny Tim. Despite being abused by his employer, Bob remains loyal to Scrooge and is rewarded in the end when Scrooge has a change of heart and embraces the Christmas spirit.

    • House: You know, the down vibe in here is totally ruining my Charlie's Angels fantasy.
      Referencing the ABC series (1976-1981) starring three beautiful women who work for a private detective agency run by a mysterious patron known only to them as Charlie. The show was remade the same year as this episode premiered, but it had already been cancelled when the episode aired.

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