Does anyone know if that trick House pulled on the amputee is a real neurological treatment? I couldn't figure out what the hell he was doing. An explanation of some kind would have been nice.

It is real, but I don't think it's ever been shown to work quite that fast. Basically, the mirror image tricks the brain into thinking that the missing limb (that it can still feel) is there again, and seeing it obviously unharmed, the mind relaxes its grip on the remembered pain. Phantom pain is fascinating and weird.

eta, or, just read Kristen's link.

Kate was too prissy for me. She also never met a protection detail she couldn't botch. I don't think the writers ever let her get one right, except for the bullet she blocked for Gibbs, and then she took one to the noggin right afterwards.

That was the dumbest thing. She took a bullet in the vest, saved his life, and then they all three stood around on the rooftop bantering, as if - what? the gunman dropped dead after he fired, like a bee? They should have been taking cover, firing back, calling for backup. Not just standing there.

That was the dumbest thing. She took a bullet in the vest, saved his life, and then they all three stood around on the rooftop bantering, as if - what? the gunman dropped dead after he fired, like a bee?

The same thing happens to honeybee drones after sex. They basically explode and leave their genitalia jammed inside the queen. You'd expect more performance anxiety from them, really.

The phantom pain treatment is fascinating. Thanks for the link and explanation.

And now that I'm caught up on this week's House, too: New And Improved House is getting a bit dull. I can't cope with a House who has an actual bedside manner. It's nice that he's making some effort to have relationships, as Wilson put it, but it's also a let-down when what we really want to see is him screwing with his employees' minds. In a more fun way than just by making a vague attempt to keep Thirteen. (And why did he bother with that anyway? And has she really gone? I'm seriously going to miss that leather jacket.)

If Chase literally gets away with murder, long-term, I might be annoyed.

Still hate Cameron. I miss Taub.

I'm guessing most of the audience thinks the opposite, hence the returning and leaving, respectively. I don't care much about either character, so I'm not bothered. I do like the original team very much, as a unit, though.

the gunman dropped dead after he fired, like a bee?

Actually, the gunman who had been shooting at them was dead. Ari didn't shoot until he was lined up on Kate.

House:

Wilson tried to stop Thirteen because he thought House wanted him to, I thought, and House was baffled.

I kept thinking Thirteen was going to Thailand for a sex-change.

Actually, the gunman who had been shooting at them was dead. Ari didn't shoot until he was lined up on Kate.

Okay, right; but still, it doesn't matter. They shouldn't have assumed they got all of them, and just stood around in plain sight like that. As long as your enemy has cover and there might be one left, don't assume you're not a target.

Wilson tried to stop Thirteen because he thought House wanted him to, I thought, and House was baffled.

Is that what happened? I thought when Wilson came to talk to House, House said something like "I know it wasn't you", which confused me, but if I heard that wrong that it makes much more sense, in a not making very much sense way.

I liked this episode, I have to say. Good medical mystery, love the old team back together, and Lee Tergesen always delivers. Even if I always have to shout "Dude, you made out with Chris Meloni" at random moments when he's onscreen.

I don't know why he's not a bigger star...Chris Meloni is no Letterman, I suppose. Will I ever stop looking for House on Tuesday?

Is that what happened? I thought when Wilson came to talk to House, House said something like "I know it wasn't you", which confused me, but if I heard that wrong that it makes much more sense, in a not making very much sense way.

Yeah, I thought that when Wilson came to talk to House, they said that House was the one who'd canceled the ticket.

I wish they'd discuss a bit more what House is doing for pain management now. He seems to be barely leaning on his cane in a lot of scenes, which seems weird, since I would have thought that getting off the Vicodin would mean more pain.