House regained its footing over the last few episodes and then took a little break in order to give us a chance to pick a new leader of the free world. I’ve been really interested with how House is going to pick up the ending scene kiss between House and Cuddy they dropped on us.

Cameron makes an appearance bringing the crew an agoraphobic who is this week’s diseased and crazed patient. Obviously, his fear of being outside keeps him from leaving his house to seek medical care. As you might imagine, House isn’t particularly sympathetic to the patient’s mental health. House tries to trigger a seizure in him by bringing strangers into his house. It works and House decides to trick him into surgery by telling him they’ll do the surgery in his house, but then putting him under anesthesia and transporting him to the hospital without his consent. Cameron decides to inform the patient and he understandably loses it when he finds out he’s been tricked. House decides to inflict pain on the patient in an attempt to force him to return to the hospital. Cameron fights him every step of the way. I have missed Cameron’s unstoppable moralizing. Its refreshing in the face of House’s anger and cynicism.

After several surgeries and dead ends the crew finds the source of his problem. Years ago, the agoraphobic and his girlfriend where mugged and shot. The bullet fragments have remained in his body for years slowly giving him lead poisoning. The patient makes a recovery and even gets up the courage to break his fears.

The real impetus of the episode is the relationship between Cuddy and House. Wilson talks to them separately and starts to believe that the two of them really want a relationship but can’t seem to make it work.  Wilson actually encourages them to pursue it, which does seem out of character. Its the plot line we’ve been hoping for, but something about it seems forced. House agrees and accuses Wilson of wanting to live vicariously through him. Wilson continues to try to play matchmaker, but as expected we never get any proper closure. House just plain chickens out.