House

It's A Wonderful Lie

Season 4, Episode 10, Aired 1/29/08

Episode Summary

A mother's sudden paralysis during a indoor rock-climbing incident leaves her daughter injured, and House's new team looking for a cure. Meanwhile, House organizes his new recruits' Secret Santa gift exchange... with a few twists of his own.

8.7

EPISODE RATING: Great

608 votes

Your Rating: 10

"Perfect"
Your Rating: 9.5

"Superb"
Your Rating: 9

"Superb"
Your Rating: 8.5

"Great"
Your Rating: 8

"Great"
Your Rating: 7.5

"Good"
Your Rating: 7

"Good"
Your Rating: 6.5

"Fair"
Your Rating: 6

"Fair"
Your Rating: 5.5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 4.5

"Poor"
Your Rating: 4

"Poor"
Your Rating: 3.5

"Bad"
Your Rating: 3

"Bad"
Your Rating: 2.5

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 2

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 1.5

"Abysmal"
Your Rating: 1

"Abysmal"

Rate It

Watch Online

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Hugh Laurie

Dr. Gregory House
Omar Epps

Dr. Eric Foreman
Jesse Spencer

Dr. Robert Chase

Fan Episode Reviews (28)

See All

Old team meet New team!

9.0

"Superb"

By super_friend21, Apr 03, 2011 Report Abuse

I love the chemistry and dialogue between the characters the most about this show and then it is how interesting the case is. I was impressed with both of these requirements especially House/Wilson and Thirteen/House. Although the clinic patient and House were rally good together and I loved those scenes especially the last scene in the church with their cheeky smirks!

The Secret Santa sub-plot was quite funny and the actual case was entertaining. And the scene at the main desk with the new team and the old team was very good. Anyway, good episode but now there is no games or competitions it feels a bit off like what other running storylines can the writers come up with?moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
1 0
Classic Episode.

10

"Perfect"

By DonStants2, Jul 14, 2009 Report Abuse

If anyone was worried about the new team and their effect on the show, I think they should have their worries eased by this episode- it was classic House.

The new team finally seemed to blend in with each other and also find themselves as character. 13's very much like Cameron used to be as far as caring about her patients, yet she also clashes with House and doesn't love him like Cameron did. Kutner is quite childlike yet provides great comic relief, whilst Taub seems to be a cross between Foreman and Chase. On the mention of Foreman, it was nice to see him back involved in the teams runnings.

The case itself was interesting, and the patient focus was also classic House from the earlier Seasons. The daughter telling the blunt truth but caring was actually quite haunting to watch- credit to the guest stars acting. It was also the first episode for a while that House goes back to his favourite prognosis that "everybody lies". Meanwhile, House plays a secret santa game, and makes everybody give presents to him! (except Foreman by the looks of it). It provided some good comic moments, and also showed the developing bond between the new team. I did like the end of the episode when the new team meets with the old team.

There was also a welcome return of a clinic patient, who flirts with House providing some good scenes.

Overall, I understand why people may be a bit off with this Season, and indeed I myself looked at this episode and thought of immediate negative thoughts because of the lack of the old team, but basing it on face value it is a classic- House was full of one liners, his scenes with Wilson were classic, the team memebers banter has improved, there's a clinic patient and an interesting case. A great episode.moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
0 0
The Christmas episode of Season 4.

8.5

"Great"

By Canogaparkcindy, Nov 15, 2008 Report Abuse

This episode was basically about the truth about honesty, once House's method is proved wrong. Since when is it good to lie. Everybody lies according to House, but not to this patient, I would hate to share everything with my mom, that would be just awkward. My favorite scene is when the old fellows and the new fellows come together for the Christmas spirit. I loved that montage. And House ends up again with Wilson, then alone of course. The patient is cured, after being brutally honest. I guess it was a Christmas miracle. Sorry for all the Christmas references. An okay episode. I also like the whoel Secret Santa plot, hilarious. I loved Kutner in this episode.moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
0 0
The Christmas episode of Season 4.

8.5

"Great"

By Canogaparkcindy, Nov 15, 2008 Report Abuse

This episode was basically about the truth about honesty, once House's method is proved wrong. Since when is it good to lie. Everybody lies according to House, but not to this patient, I would hate to share everything with my mom, that would be just awkward. My favorite scene is when the old fellows and the new fellows come together for the Christmas spirit. I loved that montage. And House ends up again with Wilson, then alone of course. The patient is cured, after being brutally honest. I guess it was a Christmas miracle. Sorry for all the Christmas references. An okay episode. I also like the whoel Secret Santa plot, hilarious. I loved Kutner in this episode.moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
0 0
Who took the Merry out of Christmas

9.3

"Superb"

By CRaivios, Jul 29, 2008 Report Abuse

Everybody lies, even at Christmas time. A woman with an 11 year old daughter has symptoms that are getting stranger and stranger. It looks ominous and death approaches on Christmas Eve. . . until House comes up with a miraculous cure.

As usual, the clinic case was the comic relief of the show. A woman with strep throat and something to do with a donkey?

The Secret Santa was absolutely juvenile - and House at its best. New team meets old team as the show comes to a close. House walks out alone - off to a surprising rendezvous.

The funniest part of this show is that it was set at Christmas time and aired in January.moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
2 0

Write a Review

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

Trivia
ADD TRIVIA
- In the scene where House is talking to Jane and they are eating lollipops, Jane's hair changes between shots. When seen from the back, her right braid appears to be over her shoulder. However, when seen from the front, the same braid is now behind her shoulder. Edit
- In the opening scene, we see a second rope on the floor next to Maggie but on the close shots the second rope isn't there anymore. In the same scene, when Maggie has her hands problem, she let go of the rope and we see the end of rope passing through her hands well before her daughter hit the ground. Therefore the rope is too short for the girl to go all the way down. Edit
- In the beginning of the episode Maggie is holding the rope with her bare hands. When someone is climbing up and has a safety rope, the person who is holding the rope usually doing it in gloves because if the climber slips the one who is holding the rope may burn his hands and instinctively drop the rope with the climber. Edit
Notes
ADD NOTES
- International Air Dates: Australia, February 20, 2008 New Zealand, April 1, 2008 8:30pm TV3 Brazil, April 17, 2008 Italy, April 20, 2008 on Canale 5 Latin America, Arpil 17, 2008 on Universal Channel Bulgaria: May 15, 2008 on NTV United Kingdom: May 22, 2008 9pm on five Denmark: June 7, 2008 on SBS Net Israel: June 15, 2008 on HOT 3/YES Stars 3 The Netherlands: September 11, 2008 on SBS6 The Czech Republic: November 3, 2008 on TV Nova Germany: October 28, 2008 on RTL Hungary: October 29, 2008 on TV2 Greece: November 22, 2008 on Star Sweden: April 21, 2009 on TV4 Poland: May 14, 2009 on TVP2 Edit
- This episode was voted the "Worst TV Show of the Week" by the Parents Television Council the week of its airing because of House's sexual discussions with the patient's daughter, his method of proving his diagnosis, and his interactions with the clinic patient. Edit
- Injoke: House shows his team an e-mail on Maggie's computer. It reads: Sorry to hear you won't be coming along on the Halloween Day Climb. You're going to miss Matt's famous Ghou () Dance. Not to mention the wine and smores. Pam. The episode was written by Pamela Davis, and directed by Matt Shakman. Edit
Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- House: Things have their place when you hang them from Christmas trees. Edit
- House: I saw something amazing. Pure truth. Edit
- Kutner: She called her mom a slut?!? House: No. I called her mom a slut. Edit
Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS
- House: Okay, antibiotic cream for you and a love glove for Francis. This is a reference to Francis the Talking Mule, a celebrity mule featured in seven movie comedies in the 1950s. Edit
- House: I'm saving my money for a Red Ryder BB gun. References the 1983 film titled A Christmas Story, directed by Bob Clark and starring Peter Billingsley. The plot of the movie revolves around little Ralphie (Billingsley) and his eagerness to get a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas despite the fact that his relatives and teachers and even Santa Claus assure him it's too dangerous. Edit
- House: ... and a second-edition Conan Doyle. Referencing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of detective Sherlock Holmes, which House is often compared to. Edit