After last weeks thoroughly satisfying but seriously overwrought episode, House is getting back to the formula. Someone gets a strange illness, House and team misdiagnose the illness, House is a jerk, patient almost dies and finally House has a break through. Happily, they through in a nice curve to keep it interesting.

After last week’s explosion, Cuddy is left without an office and decides to invade House’s, setting off war of wills. It gives House reasons to yell things to Cuddy like “Have you seen my balls?” loudly. Much to my delight, Cuddy gives as well as she gets and it leads to some fun banter and pranks between the star crossed couple. It leads to a moment of closeness between them, but it amounts to little more than a boob grab and a nice gesture from House.

The strange illness comes courtesy of a personal trainer who randomly passes out while working out. Years earlier she had her stomach stapled and the crew begins with that. Although it does expose her hypocrisy, it doesn’t do much to explain the crazy illness. The fear of being caught in her hypocrisy is eating her alive and as usual her health is spiraling down. In a twist, it becomes clear that it is a lack of carbs and sugar have caused her liver problems and in order to get well she has to get fat again. She’s so shallow that she refuses.

Thirteen has entered Foreman’s clinical drug trial for her terminal illness, and in turn we get some background flashbacks of her mother as she struggled with the neurological illness. It gives a fairly shallow character more development and it is welcome.

Kutner has picked up a side business diagnosing patients over the internet using House’s reputation. Eventually a patient comes to see House in person as she isn’t satisfied with Kutner’s side business. The whole thing blows up in his face when the patient dies in the hospital. It seems like the end until House reveals that the whole thing is a gag. Its a nice piece of side comedy and pretty well pulled off.