Comments on: House — Episode 5 (Season 5): “Lucky Thirteen”

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:55:54 +0000

I actually give the show a little credit for having lesbian characters in two earlier episodes, “Maternity” and “Sleeping Dogs Lie,” where their inclusion was not just “zOMG GURL ON GURL SO HAWT!!!~!” it really had no bearing on their characters at all. And you don’t see that very often. We’re normal people, too :)

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:51:26 +0000

And they never would have had one of Thirteen’s girlfriends (or Thirteen herself) be played by anyone other than a Maxim cover model.

You’re not seriously questioning that, are you? I mean, yes it’s crap, but _House_ is FAR from the only guilty party.

By: Sammy

Sammy — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:54:58 +0000

You know, they never would’ve had a male bisexual (or gay) doctor on this show. And if they did, they never would’ve had the scenes that 13 did with this girl. It’s because for some reason, people find girl-on-girl less offensive than guy-on-guy. I’m guessing that’s because they see it as less serious? Maybe like a hobby, whereas penetration (with guy-on-guy) makes it serious business? I hate seeing sexism like this; it was a ridiculous episode. And apparently the medicine wasn’t very good, either.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:50:17 +0000

While i follow H since 08, I just watched this episode 1st time (here in Germany).
Q to everybody but especially to Scott: with the acute fungus infection Spencer cannot be treated with steroids – first the fungus.

Was this too obivious that it did not come to anybody’s attention or not worth mentioning?
I think, for educational purposes this detail is important enough to critizise.

By: Danny2312

Danny2312 — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 06:25:26 +0000

Actually, Spencer fakes the seizure to get to House. It is explained in the episode.

By: Colin

Colin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:22:04 +0000

Thirteen having a rubout with a pretty girl made me forget all about looking for misdiagnosis or other missing links.

By: RF

RF — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:53:53 +0000

A major complaint was that the seizure was unexplained, but it seemed quite clear to me. Sjogren’s syndrome caused renal tubular acidosis, type I (RTA 1) which caused hypokalemia. Hypokalemia caused the seizure.

The real mystery is why it took so long that the patient was hypokalemic considering potassium is part of the basic chemistries that get checked almost immediately. Moreover, you can’t treat RTA 1 just by surgically removing calcifications on the kidneys. They’re a sign of disease, not the cause. So basically, they operated on her for no reason and conveniently forgot to consider the differential on what causes RTA 1.

By: kevinc

kevinc — Sat, 08 May 2010 19:07:58 +0000

first off i love House and Love your site! i have wondered if any doctors really enjoy the show or not. my uncle was a doctor before he made alot in some investments and retired. he reminds me a ton of House as he is nearly void of any care for humanity… he just wants to prove he is right lol. i really want to contact him someday and watch his face as he watches House. i like the reviews that you do but apreciate them all the more with the red, blue and green points at the end. i like to know what exactly is wrong or off about the show. and its nice to hear your personal perspective of it. i did want to say … regarding the seizure at the beginning… im pretty sure i remember the patient finaly addmitting to faking it. maybe i am wrong… but that is what i remember. she said something to the effect of “ok, so maybe i did use you to get to House” (a really cheesy line however) then it seems like she addmitted to taking something to induce the seizure, or faking it… i will have to watch it again to be sure… but it does explain it as something the patient did if i remember right. im like 95% sure. either way… thank you again for your site. its very entertaining and enjoyable to read.

By: Chic

Chic — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:56:57 +0000

About what Daniel said, well, almost a year ago: I don’t think the show was making a point that it hurts to have casual sex, what they called a downward spiral was the getting drunk and taking drugs and partying every other night and going to work the day after, plus having sex with people whose name she doesn’t even know and whose motives she could easily miss, as she did with this girl (and she *was* hurt that Spencer was using her); and she herself has the wrong motives, if House is right about her control issues.
As for the drugs and exaggerated dangers, my impression is the opposite — often when the patient is proven to be using or have taken drugs, it’s not the cause of the problem.
About atheism, misery and morality — just about everyone on the show is miserable in their own way, regardless of their life philosophy, even nuns and priests (which is understandable, as happiness does not make for great drama), and very rarely is a moral decision connected to religious beliefs or lack thereof.
An episode lasts about 42 minutes, so the handling of all controversial issues is bound to be somewhat simplified.

By: Skooma

Skooma — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:45:53 +0000

Fist-pounds all around for the lesbo scenes.