House, M.D.is an American medical television drama that starsHugh Laurieas the titular medical genius with a streak of misanthropy who uses unconventional methods to lead a team of diagnosticians.
House constantly clashes with his superior, Dr. Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), and his team due to his disrespectful demeanor and controversial methods and finds his only friend in the head of oncology, Dr. Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard).
Running for eight seasons, this series quickly became one of Fox online grid’s most popular, receiving critical acclaim and multiple awards and becoming one of the most-watched primetime TV programs of 2008-2009.Househas many unforgettable episodes, but a few stand out because of their memorable plots, witty dialog, and excellent performances.Fans on IMDb have given high rankings to these bestHouseepisodes, cementing them as the show’s best offerings.
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25"Last Resort" (Season 5, Episode 9)
IMDb Score: 8.9/10
House and his staff find themselves in a life-or-death situation when a desperate man named Jason (Zeljko Ivanek) confronts them with a gun, taking them hostage.
The man explains that he has been suffering from a long-term illness that no doctor has been able to diagnose, and if House and his staff want to live to see another day, they must quickly figure out what is going on with their distressed patient.
“Last Resort” is an intense episode that highlights the drastic measures some people are capable of resorting to when they are faced with no other options.
While Jason’s actions are completely wrong,Ivanek brings a humanizing touch to his character and difficult situation, making audiences sympathetictowards him on a certain level.
The episode is full of intensity and riveting performances by the entire cast, but Ivanek easilysteals the show with his performance.
24"Birthmarks" (Season 5, Episode 4)
When House receives word that his father has passed away, he is encouraged to attend his funeral, despite the complicated relationship the father and son may have had.
Meanwhile, the staff at the hospital venture to diagnose a woman who was recently in China searching for her birth mother.
Not much is revealed about House’s family and personal background, which is why “Birthmarks” is such a rareand intriguing episode.
Both storylines correlate with parentage and, in some way, show audiences how some can resent their parents while others will risk it all to search for them.
The comparison between House and the young woman is the beauty of the series, brilliantly taking a personal situation and blending it into a medical backdrop.
23"Alone" (Season 4, Episode 1)
When a woman who survived the collapse of a building comes to the hospital with an unusual fever, House welcomes the new and challenging case as his latest puzzle.
Even though House is now without his team and their support, he tries to convince Cuddy and Wilson that he doesn’t need them, but when the woman’s condition begins to worsen, he starts to think there’s more to her case than he initially thought.
“Alone” showcases House’s stubbornness to its full extent, which eventually compromises the well-being of his patient.
As House’s pride keeps him from admitting he needs help,the episode shows how even someone asintelligent and capable as Housesometimes needs help from others.
As House is faced with his personal achievement and the health of his patient, a glimpse into House’s vulnerability and self-doubt adds another depth to the complex character.
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22"Airborne" (Season 3, Episode 18)
When House and Cuddy are flying back from an international conference in Singapore, a case of meningitis breaks out among the passengers while the aircraft is in flight, forcing House and Cuddy to act fast with limited resources and options.
Meanwhile, Wilson is back at the hospital where he is faced with a challenging case of a woman who keeps experiencing strange seizures.
“Airborne” takes a step back from the show’s traditional backdrop of the hospital to an intense setting of an aircraft in motion.
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The episode is one of several that feature House flying around the world and treating patients in different prefs, but"Airborne" features an unbearable intensity and anticipation that sets it apart from the similar string of episodes.
21"Lines in the Sand" (Season 3, Episode 4)
When a 10-year-old boy arrives at the hospital screaming in pain, he proves to be a challenging case for House and his team, as he is autistic and non-verbal.
As House runs all the basic tests, they all come back normal, leading him to think outside the box and give a shot to communicate with the boy through unusual but effective methods that eventually leads to a startling diagnosis.
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“Lines in the Sand” isa crucialepisode that puts a spotlight on autismand the difficulties that come for some individuals who are diagnosed as well as their families.
It also gives viewers an opportunity to see someone experience a challenging situation and how others like House are able to reach them through unique techniques, providing insight into the condition and providing understanding for those who are not familiar with autism.
20"All In" (Season 2, Episode 17)
A six-year-old boy, Ian (Carter Page), comes in with the same unusual symptoms as one of House’s previous patients who didn’t survive when House did not diagnose his condition correctly.
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As House tries to redeem himself and find out what’s wrong with his young patient, the clinic hosts a charity casino night to help raise money for the oncology unit.
House shows a bit of emotional vulnerability in this episode, which focuses on him not only trying to save a child’s life but also bringing closure to how his previous patient died.
It’s rare for House to misdiagnose a patient but, like any medical professional, those rare cases stick with them for longer than most people may think.
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The episode has a heightened level of intensity as a young boy’s life hangs in the balance and once House and his team finally get the answers they need, it is a huge sign of relief for fans.
19"One Day, One Room" (Season 3, Episode 12)
IMDb Score: 9.0/10
When a series of patients come to the clinic and are diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases, House is startled to discover one of his patients contracted it after being sexually assaulted.
As House tries to pass his patient onto someone else more qualified at dealing with trauma, the patient refuses to see anyone but House, ultimately leading to the doctor having to face some trauma of his own.
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“One Day, One Room” deals with a few highly sensitive subjects like sexual assault andmental health that are rarely addressed on television, but the showrunners of the series did an excellent job putting these topics in an empathetic light in a mature, informative manner.
While the episode is noted for its bold, unfiltered plot, it’s also praised for how the patient’s situation has an immense impact on House, revealing another layer of the complex character.
18"House Divided" (Season 5, Episode 22)
In “House Divided,” House treats a teenage wrestler, Seth (Ryan Lane), who is hearing-impaired and has been complaining about hearing explosions.
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While House works with his patient with the help of his mother, he starts to see manifestations of Wilson’s deceased girlfriend, Amber (Anne Dudek), who soon becomes a distraction to the doctor.
As House tries to cope with the hallucinations, he leaves his team on their own to care for his patient.
The episode borders on the paranormal with House’s visions, which don’t seem too out of the ordinary, but they begin to take a toll on him that is rare for viewers.Aside from House’s personal drama, the episode is another that showcases a rare subject of those who are hearing impaired, shedding light on their world as well as the obstacles they deal with daily.Housedoes a fantastic job of centering around less common cases and individuals and “House Divided” is one of those great episodes.
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17"Half-Wit" (Season 3, Episode 15)
House takes on an intriguing case involving a 35-year-old pianist, Patrick (Dave Matthews), who suffers an involuntary musical spasm in his left hand during a concert.
As House examines Patrick, he learns that the gifted musician, who had no musical training, was able to play the piano after suffering a horrible brain injury as the result of a horrible bus accident that killed his mother.
“Half-Wit” is aunique episode featuring musician, Dave Matthews, andThat 70s Showstar,Kurtwood Smith, who both give excellent dramatic performances.
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The episode was met with high praise and earned several Primetime Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Laurie.Considering the intricate, emotionally driven plot and the epic guest star appearances, “Half-Wit” without a doubt reigns as one of the best episodes inHouse.
16"Nobody’s Fault" (Season 8, Episode 11)
IMDb Score: 9.1/10
House and his team face a disciplinary hearing after Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer) is badly injured by a patient while suffering a psychotic breakdown.
While the doctors give their accounts of the event to Dr. Walter Colfield (Jeffrey Wright), House takes another look at the patient and discovers his breakdowns are the result of a lymph node tumor, ultimately saving his life.
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In this particular episode,House finds himself in hot water again, but despite the unfortunate mistake, he redeems himself as usual, proving his immense worth and extensive knowledge that makes him one-of-a-kind.
The episode also gives insight into the consequences medical professionals may face when something goes wrong and, while many believe doctors and nurses are invincible, the episode reminds viewers that, at the end of the day, they’re still human and are bound to make some errors that are out of their control.
