House Review: "Carrot or Stick"

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The case of the week on "Carrot or Stick" was especially heavy-handed. That's guaranteed to be the result any time a character utters a line such as: "He doesn't need a drill instructor. He needs a father."

But the two-thirds of the episode that didn't focus on a mysterious illness delivered enough laughs to make this episode satisfying.

I know the hour dealt with multiple questions of whether or not someone can change - Chase and his womanizing, the patient and his belief in strict discipline, House and his feelings for Rachel - but I enjoyed it more for comedic reasons than anything overly profound. Multiple jokes were made about the size of Chase's penis, remember.

With Flowers

The show has gone to extreme lengths in order to depict Chase as a whore (if I may be as blunt as Masters). I mean, three women in one night? At a wedding that was not thrown at the Playboy Mansion?!?

Still, for the second time in two weeks (following a focus on Taub's crumbling marriage), House dedicated a chunk of time to an underling, giving viewers something to care about other than whatever scheme House was cooking up. I appreciate the effort and laughed hardest when Taub thanked Chase for giving him a distraction from his divorce, and also when he asked simply:

"How is this not hilarious?"

As for House's storyline, is anyone else totally creeped out by Rachel? She's like two years old and her expression never changes. Instead of checking her IQ, perhaps House should run a few diagnostic tests on Huddy's poor, silent daughter.

On a more serious note, it's typical for House to couch his feelings in terms of logic (if Cuddy is sad, I will be put out; therefore, I must do whatever I can to make Cuddy happy...), which made the final scene of the episode nice and heartwarming. There's no way rationalize a little girl crawling into your lap. You've just gotta go with it and appreciate the position you are in.

You've also gotta admire that same girl for her ability to lie! There's serious talent there.

Carrot or Stick Review

Editor Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.6 / 5.0 (32 Votes)

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.

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House Season 7 Episode 10 Quotes

Dr. Wilson: I am not giving you advice just so you can distort it to suit your own warped world view.
House: But it's been working so well.

She's brilliant, but new to the real world.

Foreman [about Masters]