Ep 21. Three Stories

House season 1 episode 21, titled "Three Stories," is a unique episode in the show's first season as it takes a break from the typical medical case of the week format and instead focuses on the backstory of the show's main character, Dr. Gregory House.

The episode is structured around three different stories, each one told by House as he presents a lecture to a group of medical students. The stories all revolve around a patient, and House uses them to illustrate different medical concepts and techniques.

The first story takes place years earlier, when House was still working as a doctor at a teaching hospital. He tells the medical students about a patient named Esther who had a mysterious illness that all of the other doctors couldn't diagnose. House becomes interested in her case and begins to investigate, eventually realizing that she had a clot in her leg that had traveled to her lungs. He performs a risky procedure to remove the clot, and Esther makes a full recovery. This story serves to illustrate the importance of thorough investigation and unconventional thinking in medicine.

The second story takes place more recently, and House tells the students about a patient named Lydia who had been in a coma for several months. The other doctors had given up on her, but House becomes interested in her case and starts to investigate. He begins to suspect that Lydia's husband is poisoning her with colchicine, and sets up a trap to catch him in the act. Eventually, Lydia wakes up from her coma and confesses to House that she had been poisoning herself accidentally by taking too much of her gout medication. This story illustrates the importance of considering all possible explanations for a patient's symptoms and not ruling anything out.

The third and final story is the most personal, as it revolves around House's own medical history. He tells the students about the time he had been working in a research lab and accidentally inhaled a toxic substance. He was rushed to the hospital and given a 50/50 chance of survival, but eventually made a full recovery. However, during his hospitalization, House experienced intense pain and had to be given high doses of pain medication, which led to his current addiction. This story serves to give the audience insight into House's backstory and the reasons behind his drug addiction.

Throughout the episode, there are also several flashbacks to moments in House's life that relate to each of the stories he tells. These include scenes with his ex-girlfriend, Stacy, who was a lawyer who helped him with Lydia's case, and his mentor, Dr. Cuddy, who was the attending physician on Esther's case.

Overall, "Three Stories" is a standout episode of House that allows viewers to get a deeper understanding of the show's main character and the medical concepts that he uses to solve cases. With its non-linear structure and use of flashbacks, the episode is a refreshing departure from the show's usual format and a must-watch for fans of the show.