Lines in the Sand

Season 3, Episode 4, Aired
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Episode Summary

When doctors are unable to diagnose why a severely autistic boy screams loudly for no apparent reason, House takes the case. As the boy's condition worsens, it becomes obvious that House relates to the boy because he has no social niceties.
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Fan Episode Reviews (45)

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  • Perfect.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By DonStants2, Nov 24, 2010 Report Abuse
    This episode was absoultely brilliant. The actor who played the autistic child was so harrowing and so very realisitic. I thought the portrayal of a family in trouble was absolutely brilliant, and very moving.

    I also thought it was great character development from House- it was interesting his parallels with Aspergers, even though Wilson and House both know he doesn't have it. As Wilson says, "You wish you were (autistic)". House envy of the boy, and his interaction, were extraoridnary viewing. House, who rarely visits his patients, was brilliant in how he interacted with the boy, and the end scene when the boy gave House his gameboy and looked him in the eyes was one of the most powerful scenes in House.

    I thought the stalker episode was brilliantly handled, and hiliarious funny to watch- especially when House gave his "Casablanca" speech! Trying to get his carpet back was also entertaining, as it always is when he and Cuddy are at war.

    Overall, this is the best episode of the Season to date- a brilliant episode, so moving and extraordinary.moreless

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  • An emotional and hilrious episode!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By callie127, Sep 23, 2009 Report Abuse
    My favoruite scene is the one where Wilson cant get Adam to stop moving and everyone is there trying to calm him down and then House comes in and Adam trusts him. That was pretty deep.
    I also love the scene where Cuddy and House are aruging about the stalker and when Cuddy walks away back to the room with all the people House yells, "You cant stop our love!" and smiles really big. Hugh Laurie never disappoints!
    The running gag with the carpet not only shows how funny House is but also how much he hates change. I dont know what else to say! GREAT episode!moreless

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  • A house best....

    10
    "Perfect"
    By uk6strings, Jun 11, 2009 Report Abuse
    A severely autistic child, Adam, is brought to Dr. House and his team after a period of choosing to draw squiggly lines rather than respond to pictures, breaking out in screams of pain, and having odd choking spells. Meanwhile, Dr. House engages in an office battle of wits with Dr. Cuddy and confronts his jail-baiting stalker.

    "Lines In The Sand" does everything that makes House M.D. a brilliant show and it does it so good. The acting could not be better with Hugh Laurie going even above his already usually high standards, Leighton Meester stealing every scene as House's stalking temptress, and Braeden Lemasters giving a very shocking performance as Adam. Of course, the medical mystery case is also very interesting and has a very satisfying conclusion. The humor is also in abundance with House using every available place in the hospital but his own office for conducting meetings so Cuddy will bow to his will, House's back-and-forth with his booty-licious stalker, and just flat-out being House. But where there is humor there is also depth and drama with the motivations behind House's office battles and a terrific one-two emotional punch ending.moreless

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  • She's back...

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Canogaparkcindy, Sep 18, 2008 Report Abuse
    Hey, the from GG returns, that's nuts! Well that girl is nuts & it turns out she was the one sick all along, I love her attitude though, she was funny through the whole episode. I loved when House found out she was sick. Hilarious! Another plot I liked, the carpet stain! That was amazing & Cuddy finally gave in & gave it to him, Cameron looked so in love with House in this episode. The sexual tension was everywhere! Now finally to the patient, a kid eats sand and gets worms, I liked when the little kid gave House his favorite game in the end, And I would not want to have tape worms in my system. A great episode.moreless

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  • Some of the funniest, some of the worst scenes of the series

    8.9
    "Great"
    By CRaivios, Jul 22, 2008 Report Abuse
    OK, does anyone remember that I have a son with autism? The work being done with the son is not done with anyone with seizure disorders, severe retardation, self injurious behavior or the like.

    I am going to vomit if I ever hear the word SAVANT again. Suggesting that House has Asperger's was pretty insulting.

    As usual, the diagnosis came out of left field and was what no one would have suspected.

    On the other hand, the part with Ali having San Joaquin Valley Fever is one of the funniest ever. The part about needing the carpet back? That was pure anal retentive House at his best.moreless

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    0 4
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • House diagnoses Ali with coccidioidomycosis in Cuddy's office. However, whilst Coccidioides immitis would cause cold-like symptoms, it would not cause lack of inhibition like House suggests. Edit
    • When they are strapping Adam to the scanner, the hands that strap his head belong to a woman, and have perfectly manicured fingernails. When the shot pans out, the person standing near Adam's head is a man. Edit
    • When the kid is laying down about to be scanned, you can see his hair is perfectly arranged, after that his hair is all messy for no apparent reason. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • International Air Dates: The Netherlands: July 12, 2007 on SBS 6 The Czech Republic: December 3, 2007 on TV Nova Belgium: December 27, 2007 on KanaalTwee Sweden: February 26, 2008 on TV4 Norway: Thursday, August 7, 2008 on NRK1 Edit
    • Adam is seen playing the game Frantix (from SOE) on his PSP. Edit
    • The Handheld that Adam has is a PSP (Playstation Portable). Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • House: You remove this kid's eye, he's only gonna be half as good at not making eye contact. Edit
    • Dr. Cuddy: What are you doing here? I have this room booked from two to three. House: Oh, two East-Coast time. I thought you meant Pacific. Ah, which is stupid of me, I guess. Edit
    • House: I want it back the way it was. Dr. Cuddy: It's identical to the old carpet, except without the hazardous, biological waste. House: I shall not return to my office until every patented, durable microfibre has been restored to its rightful place. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • House: Devious. I saw it in a James Bond movie. James Bond, aka 007, is a fictional British spy created by writer Ian Fleming in 1952. James Bond is now best known from the EON Productions film series. As of late 2006, twenty-one films have been made. Edit
    • House: So, think maybe Gray's Anatomy got it all wrong? House sarcastically alluded that Adam's liver cells were in the right place and that Henry Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, one of the most reliable and comprehensive resources used by medical students and professionals, got the placement wrong. Edit
    • Dr. Foreman: Our kid's been tripping on "Lucy in the Sky with Cubic Zirconium." Foreman is making a pun on the famous Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1967), which purportedly was about the psychedelic drug LSD, also known as acid. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" or just "Lucy" became slang for the drug. Edit

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