One of the greatest strengths of House was its ensemble cast. Unfortunately, some of the doctors on House’s team were overlooked, and the series missed a lot of fun opportunities. Hugh Laurie stole the show with his portrayal of the antisocial doctor, who became one of the greatest TV characters of all time. However, House would not be the same without his team.
House’s team changed after season 3, and this sparked a trend that came to define the show. The changing cast of doctors prevented a very formulaic show from becoming boring or samey, with their clashing personalities and relationships working in parallel to the medical mysteries. That said, one forgotten doctor could have been a standout, and a real challenge for House.
House Season 7 Introduced Masters As The Antithesis Of House
Masters hugs House while he looks uncomfortable
Martha Meredith Masters was a third-year medical student who began working with House in season 7. The show took a gamble by having her replace the fan-favorite Thirteen. While Masters initially appeared meek and unsure, she soon revealed herself to be House’s opposite, confidently challenging him.
Masters is a rule-follower, with a strict and self-imposed moral code that includes honesty at all times. This often meant that, like House, she had no filter. That said, unlike House, who used his intellect and experience to dominate his team, Masters was inexperienced and aware of it, which gave him one less weapon to use with her.
House’s contempt for rules often led to some frustrating moments, but it also made him both frustrating and hilarious. His anti-authority stance and habit of pranking Wilson are a signature part of his character, and when Masters arrived, she could have been the unlikely person who could truly deal with him.
Masters Was Different From All Of House’s Previous Pupils
House, Chase, and Masters in House You Must Remember This
All of House’s other pupils were already board-certified, which meant that they would generally be held accountable for their own mistakes. Masters is the only one of House’s team members to be hired as a student, and this put him in a position of responsibility over her. The dynamic was unusual, with Masters appearing both much older and younger than her years.
House’s team all challenged him at some point, but most of them still wanted his approval. On the other hand, Masters judged herself by her own code, pursuing excellence in her field as her goal rather than House’s respect. While most of the diagnostics team were outstanding in some way, Masters was special, coming with recommendations from existing characters on the show.
Many of House’s team members were quirky in their own way, which did not always land, especially in Park’s case. Masters was confident enough in herself that her presence and unique fashion style were part of her character, rather than defining it. As one of the best characters in House, her short-lived appearance in the series should have been a much more significant storyline.
Why Masters Didn’t Return For House Season 7
Masters speaking to Cuddy in the hall
Amber Tamblyn was one of several House actors who left the show before the ending, as she was only set to appear in 13 episodes of the show. Tamblin explained to TVLine that House creator David Shore wanted her to become a full-time cast member and that while she moved on to other projects, she was sad to leave the show.
For her character, leaving House’s company was likely a relief. Masters had a strict policy of never lying to patients, no matter how hard he tried to get her to do so. As he eventually persuaded Masters to break her moral code after a period of hiring and firing her, this was one of the worst things that House ever did.
When treating her final patient, whose parents want to delay potentially life-saving treatment, Masters induced symptoms to persuade them otherwise. This conflicted with her ethics, and she abruptly left the hospital. While Masters appeared in the House finale, giving a eulogy about how he gave her the confidence to quit, her story could have been much more significant.
Masters’ Story Was House’s Biggest Missed Opportunity
Amber Tamblyn and Hugh Laurie as Greg House and Martha Masters in House, M.D.
While plenty of characters tried to stand up to House, Masters’ combination of ethics, skill, and logic made her a formidable opponent for him. As she was only a student at the time, it was clear that Masters could have become better at diagnosing patients than House, and her development could have been a great storyline, with the two rivals either becoming friends or enemies.
Additionally, while it has not been confirmed whether Masters is autistic, many viewers perceive her as being a realistic example of a well-written autistic character. This would have been a great point to elaborate on during the show.
The show needed a challenger for House, and the uneven power dynamic added another layer to their story. Masters and House could just as easily have become close friends, which would have been an interesting new storyline, and one of House‘s biggest missed opportunities.
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