The creator ofHouseresponds to the theory that Dr. Wilson hallucinated the ending. TheHouseseries finale, which aired back in May 2012, ended withDr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie)revealing to Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) that he had faked his death, and the two are shown spending Wilson’s final months together before he succumbs to his cancer. However,a popular fan theory suggests that House did indeed die in the fire early in the episode, and that the final moments were all Wilson’s fantasy.
Speaking withEntertainment Weeklyfor the 20th anniversary of theHousepremiere, series creator David Shore responded to several lingering questions about the medical drama, including the theory that Wilson hallucinated the finale. He acknowledged that viewers come away with different interpretations of the story than what the creator intended. But, while he admitted a Wilson hallucination wouldn’t be “inconsistent with anything,” Shore said thatit wasn’t an interpretation that he had in mind:
Look, you make a show, you put it out there, and people are entitled to enjoy it how they want to enjoy it, and interpret it how they want to interpret it. There’s certain things I wanted to say with the show, and I would hate people interpreting it in some way that was completely contrary to what I intended. Enjoy it however you want to enjoy it, have fun with it. I think that’s one of the most wonderful things about it is that people have taken it to heart and it’s living on for them.
But that was an interpretation that I did not have in mind, but it’s not inconsistent with anything. We wanted that form of a happy ending. The show was never about simple happy endings, but it was about finding moments of it here and there. I used two songs in the finale and both of them were kind of contrary messages as he drove off, and I think that says a lot about what we were trying to do with the show.
What Shore’s Comments Reveal About The House Finale
It’s Still A Complicated Ending
One of the songs that Shore mentions in response to the theory is “Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think).” A jovial tune, which is heard as Wilson and House drive off in motorcycles, the song urges listeners to make the most of the time they have while they’re still alive. The upbeat farewell scene does seem to dampen the grim hallucination theory. But, as Shore says, it’s not one that’s explicitly disproven by the finale.
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If a viewer chooses, it could be that Wilson has fully embraced his delusion and is happily lost in it. But from the show’s perspective, there does seem to be a larger point at play in terms of the kind of person that House is and what ending he deserves. That is a driving force in the medical drama. At least on some level, the show seems to be saying that Gregory enjoying what he has with Wilson before Wilson dies of terminal cancer is happiness enough.
Our Take On The Wilson Hallucination Theory
The Finale Isn’t A Triumph
It’s a cool theory. But, as it is, the finale isn’t exactly uplifting for theHousecast of characters. Wilson is going to die in months, even if viewers don’t actually get to witness the sad turn. There’s probably more to the idea of a person enjoying their brief time and prioritizing what matters rather than some hidden story about the delusions of a dying man.
Shore also talked aboutspinoffs centered on otherHousecharacters, mentioning that there have been talks about heading in that direction. The series creator likewisereflected on the show’s ending, calling it “bittersweet.”
House
Cast
House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into account that he rarely actually sees his patients.
