I disagree with the previous comments; I thought this episode was one of the best. It may lack a lot of action, but this is not an action series. I laughed out load several times and anxiously awaited the next episode to see how things turned out in some of the sub plots. Admittedly, I found the CIA story more engaging than the race car driver story, but mainly because Hugh Laurie figured more prominently in that one and I LOVE Hugh Laurie! As to the other doctors on the show having "cameos" in this episode - not everyone gets full air play every episode in virtually any show - that's just the way things are - but they all get their turn in the limelight eventually and it all comes out pretty evenly in the end, just maybe not this particular episode. I thought the writers dd their usual excellent job on this episode - as did the cast and crew.
12 Reviews
cia
sam_avb12 September 2014
This is one of the better episodes. It was enjoyable and hilarious. Dr.House goes to Cia while Dr.Foreman battles with the new crew. They have issues with Foreman leading. Really it was extremely tough episode for Dr.Foreman. Patient is giving hard time, the new crew doesn't seem to obey Dr.Foreman and wants to prove him wrong. This conspiracy theory humiliated Dr.Foreman before things came back to normal. Some people will do everything they can just to score some brownie points. But they failed to understand that going in wrong path will only lead to their downfall. Someone learnt that at the episode. On the other hand Dr.House is having really awesome time with hot doctor at Cia trying to help one of theirs. The way Dr.House speaks he can win any lady over million times. He is witty, sarcastic, harmless and he has that remote control to turn on any women he speaks to. Even if he did unintentionally it works. And even doesn't realize that. Really a slick talker, a charmer with his remarks about female human body I enjoyed this episode. Ending was nice. Good to see House finally treating Foreman with respect and supporting him. Its all good. Now down to 5 new fellows. Lets see who goes next. The way Foreman fights his way back to win his respect is awesome. Foreman deserves special mention here. He really had harrowing time. Once you see the episode you will know how wonderful he was and how much he tension he had to bear.
Not 40 days!
lizs128915 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
One reviewer mentioned about Brazil/ carnival/ 40 days. It was the patient who said this. House picks up on this and says it's only 8 days realising, putting all the symptoms together, what was likely to be wrong with the patient. Selenium poisoning from eating too many Brazil nuts.
Yeah.. this one deserves 10 stars. I was so impressed.
InvisableMirages6 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Starting out, everything fell into place like it normally does. People get sick and the doctors have no clue as to what is going on. However, House is asked to treat/cure an agent for the C.I.A. Of course, he goes along with it.
While House is busy with that, Foreman is left with the duty of being boss over the trainees. And uppity Dr. Amber and the plastic surgeon (who's name escapes me for the moment) go behind Foreman's back to treat the patient for Lupas. Which Foreman was most definitely certain is wasn't. And of course, it's /never/ Lupas.
After a lot of being jerked around, everyone comes up with new ideas for the patients. Foreman's and House's.
However, a very entertaining twist fell into the puzzle when Brennan fakes a test for his theory so he can test an experiment treatment for a disease which isn't curable.
Honestly, I was shocked that he did it. It was really the last thing I expected.
Overall, great, entertaining House that deserves 10 stars.
Plot: 10/10 Acting: 9/10 Ending: 11/10 (Yeah.. like I said, I was *very* impressed.)
While House is busy with that, Foreman is left with the duty of being boss over the trainees. And uppity Dr. Amber and the plastic surgeon (who's name escapes me for the moment) go behind Foreman's back to treat the patient for Lupas. Which Foreman was most definitely certain is wasn't. And of course, it's /never/ Lupas.
After a lot of being jerked around, everyone comes up with new ideas for the patients. Foreman's and House's.
However, a very entertaining twist fell into the puzzle when Brennan fakes a test for his theory so he can test an experiment treatment for a disease which isn't curable.
Honestly, I was shocked that he did it. It was really the last thing I expected.
Overall, great, entertaining House that deserves 10 stars.
Plot: 10/10 Acting: 9/10 Ending: 11/10 (Yeah.. like I said, I was *very* impressed.)
The first episode of 4th season you might like. (contains a spoiler so mild, that it doesn't even deserve the full 7 letters)
asgard-59 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This is an excellent episode. Basically the best one the 4th season has offered yet. House is supposed to help another patient that'd only suit this TV show, but all of the sudden he's on a mission for CIA. It doesn't look just like another episode of a chewed up drama show, that lasts just because it's still popular, but in fact it is easily on par with the first two seasons. The idea of the new doctor characters that the writers were trying to nourish the famed-TV-show-gone-insipid with in previous 5 episodes is now interesting all of the sudden, there is some character development that works. They don't try to throw each of those faces at you anymore saying "lookout, another new twist". It's more House-oriented but nothing is overwhelmingly bad about it. This one shows some balance.
"If there's anything you learn today, it's gotta be that you can be wrong"
IamROCKAS10 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Two cases in one episode are always a treat. The answers for both cases surface early in the episode but, though unforeseen consequences, whether it's the misinformation about where the CIA agent was stationed or some tampering from Dr. Brennan, trying to get some light on his experimental Vitamin C treatment for Polio, the cases followed the wrong path. In the end, both patients survived.
The idea that everyone lies was pushed a lot through out the first three seasons but with season four, the narrative is slowly turning to the point that out protagonists, the doctors, can be wrong. Of course, they've been wrong before and people died because of those mistakes but the moral dilemma that they can be wrong wasn't brought out much, it was more about grief and bouncing back, trying to deal with their actions.
Now, in retrospective, it's kind of funny that Dr. Brennan was the one, who told Dr. Foreman "If there's anything you learn today, it's gotta be that you can be wrong" and later it was true but for all the wrong reasons, since the original diagnosis was correct. That can be said for the Dr. House's case too because he was wrong only because of the misinformation about where John (the CIA agent, struggling with radiation poisoning) was stationed. So we can be wrong because someone else screwed up too.
Over all, this episode did a great job with the writing, since it's was unexpected, clever and, surprisingly, memorable and thought provoking, which happens from time to time on Dr. House and always seems new. The humor has been a staple of the series and it was surely present in this episode too, the new characters and the plot with the CIA surely helped giving a spark to the series.
The last few episodes, starting with season 3 finale, also pumped up the quality of cinematography. Whether it's the shot of House from above in season 3 finale, symbolizing House witnessing something incredible, a miracle at first sight, or the shot of Dr. House in the background of Dr. Curtis applying antibiotics to the patient while House has his cane over the shoulder and the camera steadily moves down to get a better shot of Dr. House and focusing on him more, the cinematography has somehow steadily improved over the series. Or at least it got better and easier to appreciate. As a young teen, watching the series for the first time, I didn't appreciate these kind of things but now these kinds of details add a lot of spice to the series and they keep me hooked.
This is probably the best non-major episode in the series, at least so far. By non-major, I mean not adding a big bomb on the plot (for example, the reveal on how House's leg injury was caused in season one or the two-part episode with the corrupted cop where Dr. Foreman becomes the patient with unknown and rapidly spreading disease).
My favorite episode so far
edlima-334494 September 2021
Insulting to third world
fabiogaucho11 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Well written, with good jokes and surprising twists, and the different setting (the CIA for half the episode) is a nice change. One must note, however, the utterly stupid notion developed in the end that Brazil stops for carnival for 40 days. It doesn't. Yes, I am Brazilian, take my word for it. I can't believe they could not find a less stereotypical and - frankly - insane plot device to make House find out that the patient was actually in Brazil.
The episode also shows that, without House, all other doctors put together - the old and the new gang - are essentially a group of bumbling idiots that either can't diagnose the simplest problems or cannot figure out the most obvious foul play. Which was fun. Quite within the spirit of the series, which is not exactly about the collective.
The episode also shows that, without House, all other doctors put together - the old and the new gang - are essentially a group of bumbling idiots that either can't diagnose the simplest problems or cannot figure out the most obvious foul play. Which was fun. Quite within the spirit of the series, which is not exactly about the collective.
An off episode
xredgarnetx7 November 2007
House gets called away to take care of a sick CIA agent while Foreman and the Surviving Six take on a race car driver who may or may not have polio, among other considerations. To say the episode is slow-going is putting it mildly. The CIA schtick is boring, with the exception of the introduction of a drop-dead gorgeous CIA doctor (Michael Michele) whom House implores to have sex and/or come back to Princeton with him. The race car driver story is dull, although it ends up weeding out of one of the Surviving Six. Also, it turns out Foreman as the diagnostic leader appears to be wrong at every turn, and the team definitely lets him know it. Chase, Cameron, Wilson and Cuddy make brief appearances. Not one of the show's more sterling episodes, but House does get an interesting surprise at the end.
"Where's House?"
ygwerin16 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Believe it or not House becomes physician to the CIA, and Foreman is left child minding with House's brat pack.
House has to contend with the CIA who cover up of their operation parameters such that they, wouldn't even tell him what country their patient was stationed in. Making it harder to even diagnose what was wrong with him, let alone hope to treat him.
Foreman has to contend with the hiatus caused by the fractious behaviour, of the would be medics. They resent Foreman being left in charge of them, and go out of their way to spite him. They misstrust his medical judgment to the extent of putting a patients life at risk by pursuing their own pet theories.
House tries to get off with a CIA operative to the extent of, giving her the theoretical offer of a job. She tells him that she has jacked her job in, and would like to take him up on the job offer.
Who would be stupid enough to quit a good well paid job to go for one, that you have no idea whether you you have a cat in hells chance of getting it?
House has to contend with the CIA who cover up of their operation parameters such that they, wouldn't even tell him what country their patient was stationed in. Making it harder to even diagnose what was wrong with him, let alone hope to treat him.
Foreman has to contend with the hiatus caused by the fractious behaviour, of the would be medics. They resent Foreman being left in charge of them, and go out of their way to spite him. They misstrust his medical judgment to the extent of putting a patients life at risk by pursuing their own pet theories.
House tries to get off with a CIA operative to the extent of, giving her the theoretical offer of a job. She tells him that she has jacked her job in, and would like to take him up on the job offer.
Who would be stupid enough to quit a good well paid job to go for one, that you have no idea whether you you have a cat in hells chance of getting it?
The low point so far this season
mockturtle14 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
To the contrary, Foreman was right in his initial diagnosis, and he's right each time after, but the results are being manipulated.
I was very disappointed by all of the sexist dialogue from House in this one. Naming one of the prospectives "cutthroat bitch" is one thing, but add to it continually propositioning another professional and it's going far.
The worst is that now this wooden, boring CIA character is going to take the place of one of the well-developed and interesting "game-show contestant" characters. I personally wanted him to hire both "Cutthroat Bitch" and "13" at least, but now one more person has to go so a bigger "name" actor gets the part (though how Michael Michele is a bigger name than Kal Penn or Anne Dudek I'm not certain).
I was very disappointed by all of the sexist dialogue from House in this one. Naming one of the prospectives "cutthroat bitch" is one thing, but add to it continually propositioning another professional and it's going far.
The worst is that now this wooden, boring CIA character is going to take the place of one of the well-developed and interesting "game-show contestant" characters. I personally wanted him to hire both "Cutthroat Bitch" and "13" at least, but now one more person has to go so a bigger "name" actor gets the part (though how Michael Michele is a bigger name than Kal Penn or Anne Dudek I'm not certain).
Bad Direction, Michael Michelle Make for a Disappointment
inspectorcloset6 November 2007
When I saw Juan Campanella credited as director, I thought the producers had decided to give a chance to a young director. When I saw the result, which was heavy-handed and used meaningless hand-held shots, I was very disappointed they had hired someone with no experience.
Then I checked IMDb.
Juan Campanella has lots of experience. He is loaded with awards...
What's his excuse? Once again, we can see that awards are totally meaningless.
Add to that the as awful as usual Michael Michelle (as the prospect of seeing more of her lack of expression) and this was a blown opportunity. This should have been a fun, quirky episode.
It was a major disappointment and easily the worst episode of the past two seasons.
Then I checked IMDb.
Juan Campanella has lots of experience. He is loaded with awards...
What's his excuse? Once again, we can see that awards are totally meaningless.
Add to that the as awful as usual Michael Michelle (as the prospect of seeing more of her lack of expression) and this was a blown opportunity. This should have been a fun, quirky episode.
It was a major disappointment and easily the worst episode of the past two seasons.
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