Wilson (House episode)
Encyclopedia
"Wilson" is the tenth episode of the sixth season of House
. It aired on November 30, 2009. The episode, uniquely centered on Wilson and a day in his life, was notable for departing from the usual House-centric storyline.
" by George Michael
. House is curious as to why Wilson is not getting ready for work, and Wilson explains that he is not going to work - he is taking a day off, and going hunting. He returns to bed but is followed by House who states that the person Wilson is going hunting with is a "self-important jerk" who does not even know his name. Wilson ignores him and goes back to sleep.
The hunting trip is with Tucker, a former oncology patient who credits Wilson with saving his life 5 years prior. Tucker wants to reward "Jim" in various ways (such as taking him on this hunting trip) for saving his life. They follow a ritual of sticking an empty chemotherapy bag into a tree, Wilson labeling it with the number of years Tucker has been free of cancer and Tucker shooting the bag. Wilson turns away, using a hunting whistle to try to attract turkeys, Tucker misfires, narrowly missing Wilson. Wilson turns around, Tucker is on the ground and complains he cannot move his arm.
Tucker is summarily brought to the hospital for diagnostic tests. Initially, Wilson diagnoses the man with transverse myelitis
after noticing that Tucker's girlfriend has a cold sore, and prescribes Acyclovir. House bets Wilson $100 that it's actually a recurrence of leukemia
. Tucker is discovered to have acute lymphoblastic leukemia
, a different form of leukemia than the one he was treated for five years ago. The cancer seems very treatable, but Tucker does not initially respond to treatment. During the treatment process, Wilson decides to employ a double dose of chemotherapy, which cures the cancer, but leads to severe liver damage. Wilson realizes that without a transplant, Tucker has about twenty-four hours to live.
House informs Wilson of a motorcycle accident victim who might be a potential donor, but his sister, an Asian woman who appears to be a member of Mahikari
, is unwilling to allow organ donation. They visit her home and attempt to convince her, but she objects, not wanting to violate her brother's remains before burial. House then suggests a loophole to her: according to some definition, her brother is not truly dead yet - to donate his liver would be a last generous act of a living man rather than a violation of his body. Even though this is successful, the liver has already degraded beyond usefulness and House angrily declares this another patient being killed by religion.
Remembering Wilson had donated blood to him before, Tucker realizes his friend would be a compatible donor and impinges on their friendship by pleading for Wilson to donate a portion of his own liver. Wilson realizes that to do so would be professionally derelict, placing him in an ethical quandary wherein he would feel obliged to donate tissue to any needy patient. Nevertheless, he considers complying due to a sense of guilt over prescribing the chemotherapy. House finds this moral dilemma quite asinine, given that Wilson is blaming himself for treating his patient's cancer. Furious, Wilson tells House to move out of his apartment.
Wilson gives in to Tucker's plea after seeing how the man had reunited with his estranged family in light of his dire situation. After the donation, however, Tucker reveals that now that he's going to live, he is summarily casting his family aside again to pursue a love interest almost the same age as his own daughter. Wilson contains his reaction, but it's clear that his view of Tucker is now similar to House's.
Meanwhile, the relationship between Cuddy and House continues, shown from Wilson's point of view. Cuddy wants to buy a new home through Wilson's realtor ex-wife, Bonnie, and is seeking House's approval, also indirectly through Wilson. Saying she has hurt him, House schemes and plots to interfere with this, again through Wilson. Wilson brings House to the apartment that Cuddy had wanted, and tells House he has bought it, explaining it is because she had hurt House and the two of them needed a bigger place.
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
. It aired on November 30, 2009. The episode, uniquely centered on Wilson and a day in his life, was notable for departing from the usual House-centric storyline.
Plot
House wakes Wilson from sleep at 6:30am by playing his guitar and singing "FaithFaith (George Michael song)
"Faith" is a #1 song, written and performed by George Michael, released as a single on Columbia Records, from his 1987 Faith album. According to Billboard magazine, it was the top-selling single of the year in the United States in 1988....
" by George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
. House is curious as to why Wilson is not getting ready for work, and Wilson explains that he is not going to work - he is taking a day off, and going hunting. He returns to bed but is followed by House who states that the person Wilson is going hunting with is a "self-important jerk" who does not even know his name. Wilson ignores him and goes back to sleep.
The hunting trip is with Tucker, a former oncology patient who credits Wilson with saving his life 5 years prior. Tucker wants to reward "Jim" in various ways (such as taking him on this hunting trip) for saving his life. They follow a ritual of sticking an empty chemotherapy bag into a tree, Wilson labeling it with the number of years Tucker has been free of cancer and Tucker shooting the bag. Wilson turns away, using a hunting whistle to try to attract turkeys, Tucker misfires, narrowly missing Wilson. Wilson turns around, Tucker is on the ground and complains he cannot move his arm.
Tucker is summarily brought to the hospital for diagnostic tests. Initially, Wilson diagnoses the man with transverse myelitis
Transverse myelitis
Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by an inflammatory process of the spinal cord, and can cause axonal demyelination. The name is derived from Greek referring to the "spinal cord", and the suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation...
after noticing that Tucker's girlfriend has a cold sore, and prescribes Acyclovir. House bets Wilson $100 that it's actually a recurrence of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. Tucker is discovered to have acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a form of leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells characterized by excess lymphoblasts.Malignant, immature white blood cells continuously multiply and are overproduced in the bone marrow. ALL causes damage and death by crowding out normal cells in the bone...
, a different form of leukemia than the one he was treated for five years ago. The cancer seems very treatable, but Tucker does not initially respond to treatment. During the treatment process, Wilson decides to employ a double dose of chemotherapy, which cures the cancer, but leads to severe liver damage. Wilson realizes that without a transplant, Tucker has about twenty-four hours to live.
House informs Wilson of a motorcycle accident victim who might be a potential donor, but his sister, an Asian woman who appears to be a member of Mahikari
Mahikari
Mahikari is a Japanese new religious movement , with a number of variants or offshoots, founded in 1963 by Yoshikazu Okada...
, is unwilling to allow organ donation. They visit her home and attempt to convince her, but she objects, not wanting to violate her brother's remains before burial. House then suggests a loophole to her: according to some definition, her brother is not truly dead yet - to donate his liver would be a last generous act of a living man rather than a violation of his body. Even though this is successful, the liver has already degraded beyond usefulness and House angrily declares this another patient being killed by religion.
Remembering Wilson had donated blood to him before, Tucker realizes his friend would be a compatible donor and impinges on their friendship by pleading for Wilson to donate a portion of his own liver. Wilson realizes that to do so would be professionally derelict, placing him in an ethical quandary wherein he would feel obliged to donate tissue to any needy patient. Nevertheless, he considers complying due to a sense of guilt over prescribing the chemotherapy. House finds this moral dilemma quite asinine, given that Wilson is blaming himself for treating his patient's cancer. Furious, Wilson tells House to move out of his apartment.
Wilson gives in to Tucker's plea after seeing how the man had reunited with his estranged family in light of his dire situation. After the donation, however, Tucker reveals that now that he's going to live, he is summarily casting his family aside again to pursue a love interest almost the same age as his own daughter. Wilson contains his reaction, but it's clear that his view of Tucker is now similar to House's.
Meanwhile, the relationship between Cuddy and House continues, shown from Wilson's point of view. Cuddy wants to buy a new home through Wilson's realtor ex-wife, Bonnie, and is seeking House's approval, also indirectly through Wilson. Saying she has hurt him, House schemes and plots to interfere with this, again through Wilson. Wilson brings House to the apartment that Cuddy had wanted, and tells House he has bought it, explaining it is because she had hurt House and the two of them needed a bigger place.
Music
- FaithFaith (George Michael song)"Faith" is a #1 song, written and performed by George Michael, released as a single on Columbia Records, from his 1987 Faith album. According to Billboard magazine, it was the top-selling single of the year in the United States in 1988....
(by George MichaelGeorge MichaelGeorge Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
) performed by Hugh Laurie - A Slow Parade by A.A. Bondy