(S03E02) The previews for the second episode of this season of House created a bit of a stir in my stomach, what, with a potential alien abduction or something along those lines happening to a patient and all. In reality, did we really think that the creators of this show would *ever* go all X-Files on us, though? Hope not.

Much as last week ended with the dilemma of Gregory House snagging a prescription from Wilson's office to "treat the pain," we open with the good doctor about to take a jog, iPod Shuffle and all, and are quickly greeted by the pitter patter of his footsteps, back at the door, just seconds later. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when his leg pains him, leaving him no choice but to investigate the closet where he happens to have some Vicodin in a jacket pocket. And yes, that was indeed a glimpse of the cane that he's left behind since his surgery and treatment. Some part of me was frustrated by the writers in this episode, as the unethical behavior by Cuddy and Wilson (why should this shock me with how House acts half the time) combined with the oddity of the story seemed a bit far fetched, even for a show where medical miracles come along just about every week. By the end of the show, the pit in my stomach was somewhat cleared up, but that doesn't mean that this was stellar by any means.When a young boy is afraid of the dark and that monsters are going to come for him on a television program, it's really not that shocking. When that same boy is worried that the aliens are going to come for him - again - then that's a little peculiar. And when that same boy has his parents shrugging his concerns off, you know something's up. That's why, when said boy shows up on the front lawn - somehow - with some blood staining his pants from his backside, this is definitely a case for House & Co. Upon hearing the alien story, the jokes are sure to fly, and do, here and there. Chase tries to do his best to figure out what is going on, even attempting to fake out the boy by pretending to remove the metal chip that the aliens "planted" in the back of his neck, but the child isn't fooled.

With multiple tests giving multiple results, the boy is subjected to a battery of tests that his parents seem to become more and more frustrated with. By this point, that boy has tried to remove the metal from his own neck, leaving House to do nothing more than make a joke about how the lab analysis came back, saying that the metal "may not even be terrestrial." Even funnier was that someone actually believed him. Alien jokes aside, House got to have some fun with the various high definition televisions that he was looking at, even telling Foreman he had to steal one for his office. Foreman fired right back with "I'll make some calls to the homies." Good show, man!

Once the cause - or what House believed was the cause - of the child's problem was isolated, they're left to try a number of different ways to find it. This is where it got odd. Chase is doing eye surgery? Since when? After they believe they may have saved him, House is resolute to send him home with his family. All the while his leg is appearing to get worse and worse, and people are noticing. Cameron, having come across the news that Cuddy had saved the man in last week's episode by using House's "cure," she can't help but tell Foreman about it. And, when House is dismayed and about to leave all hope behind for his current case, Cuddy confronts him in the parking garage, and he figures out what the issue is, more or less. The other issue, though, is whether or not Cuddy is pregnant. She says no, but he seems pretty darn sure that she is. Another episode, I'm sure.

I guess we shouldn't be totally surprised at the solution to this week's case was, a "twin" that was embedded in the boy, only to be removed by faking an alien abduction. (House does brain surgery now?) Who knew that alien abduction fakes were such good medical cures. We should look into this more.

Again, I've got to say that the various stressors on the show may just cause someone to depart. Cuddy and Wilson holding information back from House seemed to really hurt Cameron, whether or not she likes House "in that way" anymore or not, and presumably Foreman thought it peculiar as well. She's the likely candidate, if anyone would, to leave. I'll give this week a B- for trying something new. Howabout you?