Eye Worms | House M.D.

I know they didn’t show it, but I still appreciate the fact that House went to buy a charger for the psp and actually kept using it, it’s like keeping the relationship between him and the boy in a poetic way.

It should be noted that House can be seen playing that PSP in later episodes.

8:04 brings me to tears every time I watch it. That PSP was basically the kid’s whole world for the entire episode. The fact he handed it over AND looked House in the eyes (the first time he does this for anyone) shows his gratitude toward House for not only curing him, but for understanding him when no one else could. Such a beautiful and underrated moment in the series.

Earlier in this episode, House convinces the child to breathe the anesthesia. When the boy's Dad asks, "Who are you?" House responds with something like, "someone you will never send a gift to". That's sort of why I tear up when the kid hands over the PSP to House as a gift. It's a nice callback, and the scene is incredible.

boy: has eye worms mom: ITS BECAUSE OF THAT DAMN PHONE

The fact that the parents cared more about him making eye contact than giving away a $200 gaming system (back then) says alot.

I love how House took over the chapel and just started talking like a preacher. Hugh Laurie is a phenomenal actor.

As someone with autism, I'd just like to say something. The fact that this show has better asd rep than "the good doctor," a show that paired with autism speaks, really says something. The moment where the boy manages to look House in the eye, something I struggle with, moved me. He felt safe with another adult for the first time.

When I was 12 I contracted the worm featured in this episode from a trip to the beach over spring break. I was sick for months, constantly making trips to the doctor and getting sicker and sicker. I lost a third of my body weight and went to the hospital twice. None of the doctors could figure out what was wrong with me, they even accused me of faking my symptoms and purposefully starving myself, making myself vomit and have diarrhea up to 15times daily on the worst days. It wasn’t until my pediatrician I’d been to since I was a baby though of this parasite due to factoring in my recent trip to the beach that I was properly diagnosed and treated. When I was given an endoscopy the worms had worked their way up my stomach and were right below my lungs, I could have died or at the very least had permanent damage if it wasn’t caught when it was. Ironically the following week when I was recovering this episode of “House” aired. You remember watching it with my mother and talking about how ridiculous it was that I had been suffering with this worm for months and then saw my condition featured on tv of all places. I feel very grateful to my pediatrician that he never gave up on me and didn’t try to accuse me of having an eating disorder when I was really life threateningly ill like several other doctors did. Too long didn’t read? I had this same parasite as a child, it was caught a few days before it reached my lungs by my childhood doctor who incidentally was the only doctor who believed me that I was actually ill and not suffering from bulimia.

“HEY! Don’t touch his eye!” “This is an appendectomy.” “...Like I said, don’t touch his eye.” That interaction was golden

Being a father of an autistic boy for about 10 years I can tell you with all knowledge that the eye contact means EVERYTHING in this circumstances. I saw this chapter and I was crying for about half an hour. It was too strong and satisfying at the same time.

The thing about this episode is that House explained WHY to this kid. He didn’t order him to do anything like his parents did and didn’t strong-arm him like everyone else. As a neurodivergent person myself, I appreciate this very much.

His voice in the house of the lord was hilarious

The whole "the boy can't communicate" from everyone really pissed me off. It was relieving when House finally got it and said they just didn't know his language. It's such a common thing to think that autistic people, especially those nonverbal, can't communicate at all, and it's wrong and honestly the belief is so damaging. We just got to see it be immediately damaging in this episode.

The best part about all of this was how House actually kept the PSP and is seeing playing it multiple times in later seasons.

The view from within the boy‘s eye full of worms is by far the most terrifying visualisation in the whole series! And the final eye contact is surely one of the most touching

With age you come to realise how powerful that moment is, the one where the boy just looks at house and house looks at him.

Lesson learned: don’t eat sand

Shout out to Braeden Lemasters, who plays the little boy in this episode. He's a great actor. That ending scene always makes me tear up, it's such a touching moment.

I love how House knocks his nonchalant snarky ways when children are involved. Like how eager he was to try to get Cuddy’s daughter into the special school.