Review
There are some truly shocking scenes in House, but the darkest moment of the series made me rewatch the entire episode just to grasp it properly. The best episodes of House tend to be unexpected and surprising, but without fail, there is always a medical mystery for viewers to sink their teeth into. Gregory House’s team of doctors is like no other, and even in times of desperation, they’re ready to help the titular character when he needs it the most.
However, one scene in House stands out for being the most unsettling. The shocking return of some of the best members of House’s cast, paired with one of the most dramatic moments in the doctor’s addiction journey, all occur in the iconic episode season 5 episode, “Both Sides Now.” While “Both Sides Now” is a stellar episode, its darkest scene always makes me appreciate the show’s subtler details.
House Season 5 Finale's Hallucination Twist Was Shocking And Cruel
Knowing The Truth About “Both Sides Now" Makes It Hard To Rewatch
House’s hallucination twist was one of the most shocking moments in the show. In season 5’s finale, “Both Sides Now,” House believes he and Cuddy slept together after his detox. When he speaks with her about this at the hospital, Cuddy acts like she doesn’t want to talk about it, and would prefer to forget the entire ordeal. Of course, House doesn’t agree with this, and in one of House and Cuddy’s best moments in House, he embarrasses her in front of everyone by announcing their rendezvous. In retaliation, Cuddy fires him.
However, in a cruel twist of fate, it’s later revealed that House has hallucinated the whole thing. He hasn’t stopped taking Vicodin, as he believes he has for the entire episode, and he and Cuddy definitely didn’t have sex with each other, either. It’s heartbreaking, considering how House puts himself on the line and confesses his feelings for Cuddy, but at least this makes the titular character realize just how deep he has sunk.
House Hit Rock Bottom In "Both Sides Now" After Suffering Major Losses
House Loses Both Kutner & Amber
Gregory House goes through all kinds of pain in House season 5, but there are two key events that prove that “Both Sides Now” is his rock bottom. The first is the death of Lawrence Kutner in House, which sees Kal Penn depart the show in one of the most profound sequences on TV ever. The second is the fallout of Amber Volakis’ demise, which not only messes with House’s head, but it also impacts his relationship going forward with Wilson.
Amber’s tragic death in House may occur in season 4, but the true aftershock of the bus crash doesn’t hit the genius doctor until season 5. While there are a lot of painful moments throughout the show, these two deaths are by far the hardest-hitting on the titular character. His later hallucinations of them demonstrate this for all to see. With the addition of House losing his grip on reality (especially in a way that is connected to his romance with Cuddy), all of this plays a crucial part in his rehabilitation, which is how season 6 kicks off.
Rewatching "Both Sides Now" Knowing The Twist Makes It Even Darker
The Hallucinations Prove House's Addiction Is Out Of Control
Upon rewatching “Both Sides Now,” it’s hard not to be emotional, especially as viewers know the truth and are aware of what will happen to Gregory House in the ing season’s premiere episode. All the little details, like Cuddy’s lipstick and the strange glances she gives House during conversation, seem far more obvious after seeing “Both Sides Now” for the first time. What’s even more heartbreaking, though, is that House is genuinely oblivious to the fact that he and Cuddy haven’t slept together.
His feelings for her are real, and even though he doesn’t approach the topic in the best way the day after, as far as he’s concerned, everything he remembers is reality. The flashbacks, which establish that House actually turns up on Cuddy’s doorstep and hurls insults at her, shift the tone of the episode massively.
House sees Kutner and Amber as hallucinations just as Cuddy realizes the seriousness of the situation, which is nothing short of soul-destroying. While it’s great that House’s season 5 finale has a somewhat happy ending, with House leaving for rehab, it’s still unsettling to rewatch this episode knowing the truth.
