mandolin | House, MD: "Three Stories"

Forget the commentary.

I hope they submit this episode for Emmy consideration.

Not just for Hugh Laurie's performance - which alone makes the episode worthy - but the whole structure of the thing. I love frame stories, I love it when you can play with time and the illusion of what is and is not really happening in any narrative, and I loved how the episode played out within the frame of House's lecture to the students.

I am smug that I guessed it before House uttered the word "infarction" when talking about the middle-aged 'drug addict'. I did not expect that I'd be right and that it was him, I was just making insane speculation, but still.

This is one of those episodes that you want to watch a second time around to see what you missed, and I'm glad I recorded it. I do not hate Stacy for what she did - I would probably do the same in her place if I was witness to that much pain. And I can guess why their relationship went downhill after that, and why he probably pushed her away.

Anyone else notice that the half-filled auditorium was almost fully packed when Cuddy came in to tell House that class had technically ended 20 minutes ago? I pity the professor he was subbing for when he gets back - I wouldn't want to have to follow that act.

Wow.