Last Temptation (House)

"Last Temptation" is the nineteenth episode of the seventh season of the American medical drama House. It aired on April 18, 2011. It is also the last episode to feature Amber Tamblyn as Martha Masters.

Plot

On her last day as a medical student Masters must decide whether to stay on with House's team as an intern or to join Dr. Simpson's surgical team. She initially opts to join the surgical team, but reconsiders House's offer after learning that the last patient she treated under House has taken a turn for the worse.

While brainstorming the case alone, Masters has an epiphany: She believes Kendall has salmonella, and checks her bones for signs of infection. An MRI to confirm reveals a potentially fatal lymphoid sarcoma in Kendall's humerus. Masters tries to convince the patient to amputate the arm but Kendall refuses, and her parents refuse to overrule her.

Unable to accept the patient's decision Masters goes to House for advice. House suggests that she break the rules if it is so important to her, but she refuses.

After talking once more with the patient who states that "at the top of the game, you play by different rules", Master's mind is made up. She causes Kendall to experience bradycardia and convinces the parents that the cancer has caused a clot to lodge in her heart. By pointing out that had this incident taken place at sea Kendall would be dead, Masters is able to convince the parents to consent to surgical amputation.

After amputating Kendall's arm, Masters resigns her position at the hospital.

Sub plot

"Thirteen" is back. Much to Thirteen's chagrin, House's cover story for her is that she was in drug rehab. The team is in disbelief, particularly Foreman. Masters later overhears Thirteen confront House about his lie; she is upset that the rest of the group will now overreact if she wants a drink, which eliminates much of her social interaction with Chase.

During the LP Masters performs to deceive House, Thirteen discloses that she has Huntington's disease. When questioned as to why Thirteen would lie about rehab, Thirteen responds that the truth is not something she wants to discuss.

Throughout the episode, House and Wilson have a bet to see who can keep a chicken in the hospital the longest without security catching on. Wilson acquires a quiet chicken. In response, House sets up fake chicken footprints leading outside Wilson's office; keeps a fake chicken in his own office; and sets a dog on Wilson's chicken in attempts to get him busted. Wilson is eventually caught, but with House's chicken (which he announces when the security guard asks who the chicken belongs to), and House loses the $20 bet.

Reception

Critical response

The AV Club gave this episode a B- rating.^[1]

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Last Temptation

• "Last Temptation" at Fox.com
• "Last Temptation" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Last Temptation" at TV.com