From34;Everybodylies34;to34;Everybodydies34;

quot;Everybodylies.quot;IsawthisratherbitterdoctoronTVatafriendshouseeightyearsago.IdidntknowIwouldbelookingforwardtoseethisbrutallycandidandmiserabledoctorweekafterweekforthepasteightyears.WhenthefinaleoftheseriesendedthisMonday,Ifeltalmostlikesayinggoodbyetoanoldfriend.IcanthelpsmilingabitwhenImwritingthisdownquot;sayinggoodbyetoanoldfriendquot;.Seriously?Thismanipulativedrug-addict?Dr.Houseisacaustic,egotisticalpill-popperwhodinsultadyingwomantoherfaceforhisownmisanthropicreasonsbutalsobecausedoingsowouldhaveprovidedhimwithsomevitalinsightintohersecrets.Hedthrowabomblikequot;Nobodywantstodiebutyouaregoingtoquot;toanine-year-oldsfacejusttoquot;testquot;thetruebraveryofthisdyinggirlandwhetheritsherownwilltogothroughthesebrutalpains.Hesaskaleukemiaboytoundertakeasuicidalproceduresimplybecausequot;youaredyingeitherwaybutyoucansaveyourbrotherquot;.Therewasbrilliancebehindthosecantankerousbehaviors.IfitwerentfortheHolmesianpowersofdeductionthatallowedhimtosavelives,hewouldhavebeentotallyirredeemable.Hedoesntbelieveanyone,especiallyhispatients.quot;Everybodylies.quot;-thatshisfamousmotto.Surprisingly,youdbeamazedbyhowfarpeoplecouldgotohidethetruth,ortoavoidconfrontingthetruth.Hemockseveryonearoundhim:friends,colleagues,patientsandfamilies.Hemanipulateswhoeverstandsinhiswayofseekingthetruth,ofsolvingthepuzzlesanddiscoveringthefacts.Heshrankapatientsoversizedtumorinordertoqualifyhimforthesurgery.Hehidthefactthathisdrug-addictiveheart-failingpatientwasself-destructivesothatshehadthechancetoreceiveanewheart.Hemockedandmanipulatedabrain-deadAsianguysfamilyandmadethemagreetodonatehisliver.quot;Theresnosuchthingasdiewithdignity.Youonlylivewithit.quot;Wasitallforthesakeofthepatient?Notnecessarily.Itssimplyforthesakeofquot;solvingthepuzzlequot;.Intheend,hispatientsweresaved.quot;Doyouwantanicedoctortoholdyourhandswhenyoudie,orajackassdoctortosaveyourlife?quot;Houseonceasked.Imaskingmyselfthesamequestionhere.Theansweris:Iwouldchoosethelatter.Dr.Houseisahealerafterall.Hesaveslivesthatotherdoctorsfailedtodoso.Youcansaythattheonlythingmattersforhimisthepuzzles.Icouldntthinkofonesingletimewhenheabusedtherules,eitheradministrativeorethical,wasforhisowninterests.Somehowpartofhimknowshowtolove.Hehasaheart,andprobablyasoul.Asitstands,hesthemostmemorableandbelovedcharacterinrecentTVhistory.quot;EverybodyDies.”Dr.WilsonisDr.Housesverybestandonlyfriend.Whentheywerenearlystrangers,HousebailedWilsonoutofjail.Thatshowthislongbittersweetbromancebegan.TherewasamilliontimeswhenHouseneededWilsonandWilsonwasthereforhim.TherewasonlyafewtimeswhenWilsonneededHouse.Housealwaysranaway,ratherthanconfrontedhisfriend.Thatseemstobethewaythisjerkdealswithrealproblemsinhispersonallife.Heescapes.Hehides.Hetriestoquithislife.Thefinalefindsourdoctorinpurgatory.Thefiresofhispersonalhelllappingathim,waitingtoconsumehim.Facingjail,thesoon-to-comedeathofDr.Wilson,andtherefusalofhiscolleaguestofurtherenablehim,Housewasatacrossroads—onceagaininhislife.HisplanofspendinghistimewithWilsonduringhislastfivemonthswastotallyjeopardizedbyhissentenceofsixmonthsinjail.InsteadofaskingWilsontobailhimoutortogothroughchemo,Housechosequot;deathquot;.HefakedhisdeathinordertoavoidgoingtojailandtospendhistimewithWilsontheywayWilsonwanted.Houseplayedhislastcard.Hecouldneverpractisemedicineagaininhislife.Hedbesenttojailforyearsfromwhathedid.quot;Wilson,Imdead.quot;Althoughwewillnotseethem,thenextmonthsforHousewillnotbeeasyones.Hewilllearntocareforhisfriend,tobetheadultinwaysthathehasneverhadtobefore.Butheiswilling,atleastnow,toconfrontthistime.Heisnolongermorewillingtoself-destruct,tohide,torunaway—tokillhimself,butinstead,forthelastmonthsofWilsonslifetoputsomeoneelseaheadofhimself.TherewasamilliontimesWilsonwasthereforHouse.Intheend,HousewasthereforWilsonforthelasttime.Thecostwashispractiseofmedicine,andhisquot;lifequot;.Hisfirstthreeducklingslivesshine:Dr.CameronistheheadofEmergency;Dr.ChaseistheheadofDiagnostic,whichusedtobeHousesposition;andDr.ForemanistheDeanofMedicine.NoonecouldeverquestionDr.Housesmasteryinmedicine.Althoughhesremovedfromtheliving-peopleslist,hewillremaininmyheartforalongtime.