"Babies & Bathwater" is the eighteenth episode from the first season of "House M. D." and if there was any doubt left, which really shouldn't be, if this show was among the most excellent small screen entertainment had to offer back in 2004 and 2005, then it was absolutely gone. What a brilliant episode. My favorite from season 1 and a definite contender for being my favorite episode from the entire show. I see the imdb rating this one got implies that I was not the only one thinking so. These over 44 minutes were close to perfection. The director was Bill Johnson, who worked on "The West Wing" before that, interestingly as an editor and this area of expertise is also what he scored two Emmy nominations for and the screenplay came from Peter Blake, who has really been with the show we have here from beginning to end pretty much, even if also in other areas of production. Good stuff. Series creator David Shore is once again also credited for writing. This episode is closure and new beginnings all in one. Vogler has had it with House after the latter's speech from the previous episode and he wants him gone for good. Not in a violent sense, but he is ready to ask the board if House should go and otherwise he will go and with him the 100 million Good news for House is that a unanimous voting is required. And good news for Wilson and Cuddy too. This also resulted in Wilson's great moment from the show where he talks about his life and the only two things that mean something to him. As for Cuddy, she has some more screen time here and carries the female-led scenes in the absence of Dr. Cameron who quit her job at the end of the previous episode.
So everything that is happening here away from the key patient is so interesting and tense that it tops pretty much every other episode in that department and while it is often those parts of the episodes that interest me the most and not the medial cases, I cannot say that it was the case here as well. The medical case is just heartbreaking: We have a pregnant woman showing severe life-threatening symptoms and it is all about the question if her own suffering could lead to a better life for the baby. Or a life at all. Add to that that she had several miscarriages in the past. In the end, it is one of the saddest episodes for sure, not only because of all this moral dilemma, but also because not everybody makes it out alive. The only other inclusion from season one that was equally sad was when we had two sick children and one would die and I think it was the child from the lesbian couple back then. But I reviewed that one already, so back to this one here now: There is one key difference here when it comes to the medial case at the center of the story compared to other episodes. They find out pretty quickly that she has cancer inside her lungs. So there is not a great deal of guessing or diagnosing in here, but rather trying all they can to get her healthy again and also elaborating on the baby inside her and the baby's health. The moment we see her gone and the baby starts crying was a definite contender for best (not sure this is the right word) moment from television in 2005. Joy and sadness are so close to one another and the baby's father goes through it all while we witness him, also how he struggles in making the decision. I cannot even say "right" decision there. There is no black-and-white in this episode, especially not there. When we see him with her corpse towards the end, it was also truly sad. Or how he cared for her when/after the anesthetic kicked in. There are many other inclusions and references I can mention here, but I will just go with one more and that is the scene in which House realizes that the woman gave birth already in the approximately 20 years ago and the child was born with a serious illness and we see from House's reaction how tough it must have been for her. Her slight joking about her health in that scene was also bittersweet. Well, more bitter, but in a good way. Blake so nailed the writing here that I must say it is a shame that he only wrote 24 episodes. I guess this statement says it all.
While there was great drama in the key story, there was also a supporting story here that was not exclusively comedic. This changed a bit during season one. Early on, it was almost all about comic relief with these side stories, but they reduced the number to one as the season continued and surely it was serious drama here as well that the couple got their baby taken from them because of the nutrition they provided. Also an interesting moment when they tell House that the person they consulted was actually a scientist and not a guru or so. What I also really liked about this part was that the couple was not just depicted as irresponsible and complete failures because of the nutrition choices they made, which many other shows might have done, but this show went a step further and eventually offered the solution that the baby did have an illness too and that this was the reason while at the same time now stating that the vegan nutrition was right, for example with the fire comment that came from House. But the parents are caring and no monsters. This was the key message here. It was also maybe this diagnosis in the end that made sure House could convince Cuddy to not raise her arm in the deciding poll and vote in favor of him staying instead. And thus also in favor of Wilson staying. So yeah, I mentioned the impact Cuddy had on this episode overall in the absence of Cameron and you cannot underestimate it. It was her speech in the end that managed to convince more board members to not follow Vogler's path and thus put an end to him and his millions for the hospital. The scene when they (our "heroes") are celebrating afterwards and once again Cuddy shows up and steals the show would also have made for solid closure for the season, but it is not yet over, even if after the level of quality here I doubt I will see the remainder of this opening season as more of an epilogue. You can also make a connection there between Cuddy's words plus the atmosphere in the room and the key medical case of the episode that is also stuck between ultimate joy and ultimate sadness. Again, what brilliant writing this. The song they used at the end then I really liked as well.
I don't think there is anymore to say really. This is an episode and show you need to experience yourself and don't wanna miss out, even almost 20 years later or probably more once you get here to read this review of mine. And as great as the writing was, it needs to be added that the actors also brought their very best here. This includes the regular cast as the guest actors. I want to mention Hinkle and Goorjian there I particular and the letter was already an Emmy winner at that point and the former went on to score multiple Emmy nominations afterwards. You can see in this episode that the talent is 100% with them. Also with everybody else. Unfortunately, I cannot mention the entire cast here, but it would be justified. Thumbs-up too for Michael Simpson and Natalie Shaw. And for Chi McBride whose time on House ended with this episode if I am not mistaken. I am curious what came next for his character and I would have watched a spinoff, even with how unlikable the character was. Anyway, the one who is still there is Chase. We see him celebrate with the rest in the end, but what is going to happen with him and House in the next episodes is probably one of the biggest question marks still left for the season. I have stop writing now because I want to go on watching. Sorry not sorry, guys. You should do the same with this extraordinarily marvelous program. I cannot recommend it enough. It is still as good now as it was back in 2005, if not better.
1 out of 1 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
