House M.D. (TV Series) TB or Not TB (2005) User Reviews

HUMANITARIAN VS. HOUSE....Oh, Boy!

[kj_tenneson · 7/10 · 11 July 2021]

The patter of the dialogue between House and Dr. Charles, who treats TB in Africa. It's interesting because House is the protagonist of the show (well, sort of), and yet more often than not he is depicted as the 'bad guy' as it were, aside from his skill set to cure the patient of course. We're meant to think he's a grousing, curmudgeon with savant like skills at diagnosis. Right, I'm on board. However, he's NOT always the one in the wrong, outside of medical skills.

A great example of this is his ability to recognize how unhealthy Cameron's crush on him was, before anyone else chimed in. However, in this episode in particular, there was evidence of 'Ok, sometimes the biggest jerk in the room is right'. LOL Look, I'm just saying that there were some major character flaws in the patient this time, as well. I suppose it could be the actor's baseline persona, but I felt like yeah, he cares about the people in Africa he's saving, BUT he also enjoys his celebrity, too.

And there is nothing wrong with using your celebrity for a good cause, but from the moment he came back to the States, he was acting like a Kyle. And I think House saw that. Now, do I think it is also true that House was jealous in some ways? Of course. But I also believe that Dr. Charles started believing his own hype.

I thought House summed it up nicely, 'You can't ask to be treated like people in a third world country, AND call a press conference'.

A good episode, based more on characters than the medicine.

Great episode, calling out more of the hypocrisy...

[m-47826 · 7/10 · 12 April 2022]

Throughout the House character. He was anything but jealous, I think. He's just too insightful for most people, and usually see clearly their attentions. And the end of the episode, showed he was right about his patient all along, as well. He's nothing but a fame hungry medias philanthropist, who uses TB as a way to showcase his image. Just like House's blackmail, about lying regarding his probable cause of death, showed. And that stunt he pulled on the hypochondriac housewife, was brilliant. It's a shame his character was trivialized , afterwards. But that's where most of the show's appeal lied. The way his hero was, in spite of his rough exterior, someone very sensitive and clairvoyant, in a way.

Jealousy, thine name be House

[xredgarnetx · 10/10 · 26 August 2006]

"TB" takes an unusual twist: House is compelled to treat an internationally famous doctor who treats Africans for TB and who browbeats pharmaceutical makers to donate more and more of their drugs to his cause. The doctor himself now has a bad case of TB. Or does he? This is what House must discover. The episode is full of amusing bits as House is clearly insanely jealous of the guy, who is a smooth talker, completely self-absorbed and handsome as the devil. He very quickly wins over Cameron, and this makes House even crazier. Ron Livingston of "Office Space" fame plays the charismatic physician, and is one of the better guest stars to grace the house of House. As the Season 2 episodes roll on, Wilson has begun to play a larger role as House's only real friend. But his friendship is being stretched thin by House's antics.