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House Season 3 Episode 8

Whac-A-Mole

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8.7

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EPISODE REVIEWS
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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 11/21/06

An 18-year-old teenager is brought to the hospital after having a heart attack. House reviews the boy's file and believes he has the diagnosis. He then turns the case into a game by sealing his opinion in an envelope and challenging Cameron, Foreman, and Chase to guess House's diagnosis on their own. Meanwhile, Tritter's actions against Wilson continue to strain the oncologist's relationship with House and destroy his ability to practice medicine.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (29)

House vs Tritter- Round 4

10

By DonStants2, Jun 18, 2009

The episode once again provided a decent medical puzzle with a dramatic, character developing storyline. Tritter, although not appearing in this episode, continues to make Wilson's life a misery, taking away his ability to practise medicine. The dynamics between House and Wilson, always one of my favourite aspects of the show, is what made this episode stand out for me. Wilson's hurt and anger at his friend was powerful, and its difficult to see how their friendship is going to survive. House's "shoulder pain" was also a good effect, showing his remorse and conscience.

House's team standing up to him was a first, and it showed how each of them has grown up and progressed over the last 3 Seasons. The case itself was also entertaining, but I was so sad that the boy decided not to keep caring for his brother and sister- I really hoped he would! Another dark element, balanced by House's little game which provided good humour as he guessed what his team would do to test for the diagnostics.

Overall, another great episode that keeps the story and Season running strongly.moreless
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House's game.

9.0

By Canogaparkcindy, Oct 06, 2008

House is very clever in this episode & you see House gives a damn, he feels guilty for what is happening to Wilson, he should, Wilson's life is being destroyed by Tritter & it is House's fault, so that is never god, my favorite card, is when the team opens the envelope & sees that House knew all along. Pretty creepy, I liked the patient in the beginning but towards the end, I absolutely hated him, he'd rather die than have the responsibility for 2 children, that is just nuts! Anyways Tritter has gotten on my last nerve, Wilson better get his life back or House needs to do something cause he is so annoying!moreless
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9.2

By cavanagh15, May 16, 2008

Good epsiode as the relationship between House and Wilson continues to grow worse and worse. Wilson seems to be the one suffering the most from this outbreak of the FBI investigation on Dr. House and he finnaly erupts near the end of the episode as he kicks House out of his office for not allowing him to use Cameron to give the patients their diagnosis. The case itself was once again okay. Its been a while since I've been really interested in a case. I think most of the cases are just filler for the rest of the drama in the episode. Every now and again the show will come out with an epsiode like "No Reason" or "Three Stories" that has you interested from the beginning but most normal episode just dont have it.

Tritter wasnt in this episode but his precense was certainly felt. With the big blowup between House and Wilson in this episode Im very interested to see where the next episode goes. Im sensing the conclusion to this storyline coming very soon.moreless
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House plays a game with his underlings...or does he?

9.0

By Erica-1970, Aug 04, 2007

I loved this episode with the game that wasn't really a game, but just went to show how well House knows his team :D! Really felt for the poor kid, 18 and having to look after younger siblings, no wonder he fell ill. Not too much of the cop story in this one, also a relief 'cause it's getting a bit silly now, with Wilson's car being "held hostage" and no-one wanting to write prescriptions for...well, anyone realy :w. I hope Foreman was right though, and that once the kid had a break and felt better again, he would go get his brother and sister from their foster parents...I like a happy ending ;)moreless
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Poor Wilson,how much more can this poor guy take?

10

By i_lv_chocolate, May 11, 2007

The saga continues between House and the Police Office,although the person who is being most affected by the ordeal is Wlison,who stood up for House by lying about the forged prescriptions.

Ths week things just keep going from bad to worse for the poor oncologist.It all sarts with his car getting towed and then his prescriptions for his patients being stopped.He asks for help from House,saying that he needs one of his team to write the prescription and House sends him off with Cameron.Who,when later asked if she could come and write a prescription for a seriously ill patient,House says she can't go and must stay and save the patient of her own case.

The case is of a young boy who comes into the hospital after a heart attack.The story takes a sentimental turn when t turns out that he is also guardian to his younger sister and brother after they're parents died.

When it turn's out to be a problem with his bone marrow,he refuses to take a transplant from his brother,claiming he didn't want to put his brother through it.But with Houses lack of trust in the human race,he falsly claims that there is another donor and when the boy refuses the team realise that it is because the boy if finding the pressure of the responsability and the true reason behind his not wanting the transplant is because he enjoys the lack of responsability which he finds whilst being a patient.It ends sadly with Foreman feeling let down and the younger children boing taken into care.

Because of Houses lack of help and remorse,Wilson decides that the best thing he can do for his patients is refer them to another doctor and close down his practice.

This episode is keeping me full with suspense and anticipation for next weeks episode.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Hugh Laurie	Dr. Gregory House
Jennifer Morrison	Dr. Allison Cameron
Jesse Spencer	Dr. Robert Chase
Lisa Edelstein	Dr. Lisa Cuddy
Omar Epps	Dr. Eric Foreman
Robert Sean Leonard	Dr. James Wilson

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Cassi Thomson	Kama Walters	Guest Star
Patrick Fugit	Jack Walters	Guest Star
Tanner Blaze	Will Walters	Guest Star
Marco Pelaez	Pharmacist	Recurring Role
Bobbin Bergstrom	Nurse	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- The address in House's envelope is:
  
  Dr. Gregory House
  Departament of Diagnostic Medicine
  10 Burlington Boulevard
  Princeton, New Jersey 08540
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- Omar Epps mispronounces the word "misanthropy" when referring to Dr. House, emphasizing MISS rather than ANN.
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QUOTES (18)
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- Dr. Cuddy: You're just getting here?
  Dr. Wilson: Buses suck.
  Dr. Cuddy: Where's your car?
  Dr. Wilson: It's a hostage! Tritter wants me to testify against House.
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- Nurse: Ever thought about using your cane on the proper side?
  House: Yeah, that's the issue. Friday night, my cane suddenly noticed it was on the wrong side.
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- Kama: Is he gonna die?
  Dr. Foreman: No. No one's gonna die.
  Kama: In the whole world ever? That's so great.
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- Dr. Wilson: I need one of you.
  House: Take Cameron. (to her) Your idea was dumb anyway.
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- House: How are you going to learn to swim, unless I take off your floaties and throw you into shark-infested waters.
  Dr. Cameron: You can't know what's wrong after a 30-second perusal of his file.
  House: Apparently you can't.
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- Dr. Wilson: What are we, like, role-playing?
  Steinerman: Yeah, and you suck at it. Which is really unfortunate, because you're pretending to be you.
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- House: The other one's probably having sex.
  Kama: I am not.
  House: Yet, but when you start, you're going to lie about it.
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- Dr. Cameron: You know you have a problem.
  House: Yeah, it's got a badge and everything.
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- Dr. Cuddy: Your coming to me means your lackeys actually stood up to you, I'm impressed.
  House: Yes, their cowardice is inspiring.
  Dr. Cuddy: Well, you should be thanking them. If they caved it would give the cops evidence that you intimidated underlings to feed your addiction.
  House: I hate writing thank-you notes. Would it be weird if I asked Cameron to write them?
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- Dr. Foreman: I know the notion of self-sacrifice is foreign to you...
  House: You wanna think that he's sacrificing himself because if one person can do it then maybe the world isn't the cold, selfish place you know that it is.
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- Dr. Foreman: House, you're pathetic! You'll analyse anyone's faults, hypocrisies, weaknesses. But this kid's got some strength and all of a sudden there's no time to talk about anything but the medicine.
  House: He's teaching prepubescent kids that truth matters, God doesn't, and life sucks. I like him.
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- House: (to Dr. Foreman) Or we could just make small talk. You still seeing that nurse in Peds? I just don't think she's right for you. You need someone detached, calculating, ambitious. You need yourself in a skirt.
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- Dr. Chase: What are you doing instead?
  Dr. Cameron: Not telling.
  Dr. Foreman: Seriously? You're playing (House's) game?
  Dr. Cameron: We're all playing his game, might as well enjoy it.
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- Dr. Chase: (looking through the patient's file) House was on this page when he got that annoying "I'm such a genius" look.
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- House: (to Cuddy) Okay, fine! I'll father your child. First you gotta write me a Vicodin prescription; just so I can get through the foreplay.
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- Dr. Cameron: Are you okay?
  House: I hurt my shoulder playing Fantasy Football.
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- Dr. Cameron: Nice cane.
  House: (winking) If I know what you mean.
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- House: (to Cuddy) I knew that cleavage was a smokescreen. You're a genius.
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NOTES (1)
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- International Air Dates:
  The Netherlands: August 2, 2007 on SBS6 Greece: November 10th, 2007 on Star Channel
  The Czech Republic: January 14, 2008 on TV Nova
  Belgium: January 24, 2008 on KanaalTwee
  Sweden: March 25, 2008 on TV4
  Norway: Thursday, September 4, 2008 on NRK1
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ALLUSIONS (4)
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- Cuddy: Little Orphan Annie and Oliver Twist slept in our hallways last night.
  Little Orphan Annie is an American comic strip created by Harold Gray, telling the story of an orphan whose only friend was her doll Emily Marie. Oliver Twist is a novel by Charles Dickens, which centers on orphaned young boy who was forced to work in 19th century London.
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- Dr. Wilson: I'm not Pablo Escobar's evil henchmen cruising into Miami on a cigarette boat.
  Referencing Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria, the one-time seventh richest man in the world and a major Colombian drug lord. The hunt for him was made into a book, Killing Pablo, by Mark Bowden. It was made into a TV movie, The True Story of Killing Pablo.
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- House: Party of Five. Powerful stuff, the O.C. of its day.
  Referencing the TV series Party of Five (1994-2000), starring Matthew Fox, Neve Campbell, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Lacey Chabert. As noted it dealt with an older brother raising his brothers and sisters after the death of their parents.
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- Envelope label: The game is a itchy foot.
  Alluding to the famous Sherlock Holmes quote, "Well, Watson, the game is afoot."
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