I LIke a TV Show That Isn't Afraid to Take a Stand About Faith

It was one of those where i thought I knew where it was going to go, and then it did, and then... well...

Elizabeth Anne

Me too. And it did go there ...

SPOILERS WARNING

This week's House, titled Unfaithful, was one that would have Christians and especially Catholics involved from the beginning. We've seen religious discussion on House done better I think, but this was still interesting and went a lot further than I've seen any prime time TV show do since I can remember. Certainly not by a show with edge. (I'm discounting things like Touched by an Angel.)

A disheveled young priest checks himself into the hospital for a "hallucination" after seeing a very vivid apparition of Jesus. Which we see also.

The priest, Daniel, has lost his faith. “It’s just a job now. The fairy tale ended a long time ago.” Every reason Daniel gives for this is rather worn out and any Catholic worth his (or her) salt knows the obvious answer. In fact, Kutner very knowledgeably brings up free will and is able to easily engage in dialogue on this level (interesting).

Unfaithfulness is examined on every subplot as well but the most interesting is that moment that we are urging Dr. House to realize. The light bulb goes on, as always, spurred by someone's seemingly random comment. "Even if an absolute truth exists we can’t know all of it ..." says Dr. Wilson to House. Who then realizes that the "hallucination" is not a symptom (which is as far as he's going to go in saying it might be real.

I especially liked the concept of House linking absolute truth with the "hallucination" and goes forward to diagnose the patient. While steadfastly not committing to anything but "coincidence." In case we don't get it, at another point Dr. Cuddy is marveling at the chain of coincidences that led to House saving yet another life when all he started out to do was manipulate his employees.

(Note: some of this is pieced together and some is from my, admittedly faulty, memory but it captures the gist well enough.)

Daniel: It was a coincidence?

House: Coincidences do happen.

Daniel: It was a coincidence that brought me to you.

House: You promised you wouldn’t go there.

Daniel: Einstein said "Coincidences are God’s way of remaining anonymous.’

House: A woman in Florida said, "Look, Jesus is on my cheese sandwich."

Daniel: I'm just thinking about how my life completely turned around in a single day.

House: Everything that happened can be rationally explained.

Daniel: I know. But that's a lot of coincidences.

Which I will add, for the record, I don't believe in. Coincidences, that is.

One of the most moving scenes was when the boy who accused Daniel of inappropriate contact learns that the priest might be dying. His coming forward for forgiveness of his lie was moving. It also was an interesting and brave move from the writers who provided that as the counterpoint to practically everyone's immediate acceptance of the priest as a pedophile as soon as they heard of the past accusations.

It was an episode I enjoyed. Although perhaps not the best writing they've ever done, it was definitely counter-cultural in admitting the possibility that faith and apparitions are true and that not every priest accused of "inappropriate behavior" is guilty.