House M.D. is back even if House, played by Hugh Laurie, is stuck in a mental institution. After last season, when House was hallucinating seeing dead people, Wilson hand delivered him to the mental institution where this season picks up. Viewers, like me, are left to wonder exactly what is wrong with House, how is treatment will avail, and what his team is going to do without him.

House is told he is free to leave the institution at any time, but if he wants to ever practice medicine again, he needs to go to long term care in order to get the recommendation from the head doctor. He threatens to make the ward living hell for the staff until he gets his letter and can leave.

It is actually quite amusing watching House as he screws with the other patients, even when my heart goes out to the manorexic and the woman who tried to kill herself.

House must alter his position when his scheming almost gets another patient killed. He must actually connect with people and learn to trust other people. He accepts his fate that he must comply with the doctor and his plan on getting House to open up.

The episode culminates when House helps two catatonic patients speak again with one simple gesture on his part. It is a truly touching moment, especially when one of the patients is allowed to be released from the hospital.

In the midst of all this, House has found romance with a married woman and even has sex with her in the hospital. When he learns she is moving, he is devastated. It is this realization that leads the doctor to finally agreeing to write his letter and release House from his confines.

This entire episode was different than viewers are accustomed to seeing, but it was nice to see more into House’s mind and to see him open up. But how will this change him and the character we have grown to love? Hopefully House doesn’t get too in touch with his emotions or dealing with them because then we will lose him forever.