Robert Chase

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For the former Chairman of Norwich City F.C., see Robert Chase (businessman).
Dr. Robert Chase
First appearance "Pilot"
Portrayed by Jesse Spencer
Information
Specialty Intensive Care
Occupation Physician
Family Dr. Rowan Chase (father; deceased)
Mrs. Chase(mother; deceased)

Dr. Robert Chase is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is portrayed by Jesse Spencer. His character is a part of the team of diagnosticians who works under Gregory House until the end of third season when House fires him.[1][2] Robert Chase is the longest-serving member of House's staff.[3] Chase has been attracted to Cameron since the beginning of the show and embarks on a relationship in "Human Error".

Contents

[edit] Characterization

Chase has been portrayed to be an eager fellow of House, often supporting his opinions and carrying out his orders without question. Though his character is a Christian (before becoming a doctor, he was in the Seminary) he often takes part in House's morally questionable plans when the other members of the team have refused, showing a situational application of ethics and a flexible stance on morality. This leads to tension between Chase and Foreman, who is quick to disagree with House and prove him wrong. It is stated several times that the thing Chase cares most about is his job. When Edward Vogler begins to put pressure on House, Chase is willing to pass on information about House to Vogler in order to prevent House from firing him.

However, as the show progresses Chase begins to develop real loyalty and respect for House. Later, when Michael Tritter is looking for information about House, Chase does not work with him, although Tritter makes it appear that he does. Chase begins to develop a more assertive personality and even disagrees with House, eventually leading to him getting fired at the end of the third season.

Chase has, at times, shown a shrewd capability of deducing people's motives, rather similar to House. He correctly deduced that Foreman was ashamed of the reason for his resignation, and then correctly deduced that House was also. He also figured out that House was the one who canceled Foreman's job interview in "The Jerk", for no reason other than to get the staff to distrust and suspect each other. He has also learned a great deal about diagnostic medicine from House, proven in "The Right Stuff" when he correctly deduces the patient's affliction to be Von Hippel-Lindau Disease.

After he was fired by House, Chase has shown little to no interest in House's department, although he often gets inadvertently recruited by either House or his teammates in some form. In 97 Seconds despite being fired, Dr. Amber Volakis manipulates Chase into performing lab tests for her in an attempt to disprove House's initial diagnosis. In at least one episode he has cycled betting pools against which fellowship candidate House is going to fire next, and subsequently winning all of the pools himself after promising House half the winnings in exchange for fixing the outcome.

[edit] Biography

In the episode "Cursed," House speculated that his father's accent is "Czech with about 30 years Aussie," which the father confirms (Jesse Spencer is Australian himself). Chase has also had a rough relationship with his late father, Rowan, a famous doctor in his own right, as Chase talks to House about trying to mend the gap with his father many times, but finding his father simply didn't care.

Rowan Chase is revealed to have left the family when Robert was a teenager, which gave his son no other option but to care alone for his alcoholic mother until her death, a good five years later which was approximately ten years before "Damned If You Do". In "Cursed," Rowan visits the hospital claiming he is in town for a conference, but close observation of his behavior allows House to deduce that there is no conference and in reality, Rowan is dying from terminal lung cancer. Rowan was at the hospital to visit Dr. James Wilson, a cancer specialist. Initially, Robert is intensely frustrated with his father's presence, but offers to buy his father a drink at the end of the episode. Rowan declines, and leaves without ever revealing to Robert of his condition. In the Season Two episode "The Mistake," viewers learn that Chase's father died about two months after the visit in "Cursed." Later viewers found out that Chase's father cut him off his will before dying, leaving him no money at all.

In "Damned If You Do", Chase reveals to a patient that he attended a seminary, quoting 1 Peter 1:7. This aspect of his life was shown again in the episode "Forever," when he said a prayer for the soul of a baby who died under his care. It has also been alluded to that he has been into BDSM in the past, although he says that his familiarity with the scene was only because he was dating a banker who liked to be burned. (cf. "Love Hurts")

Chase's attraction to Cameron has been featured early in the series when he asks her on a date, only to be rejected.[4] In season two, Chase has a one-night stand with Cameron while she is high on methamphetamines.

Chase begins a "friends with benefits" relationship with Cameron in season 3. Chase's feelings for Cameron were made clear ("Fetal Position") through his reaction to the picture of her taken by a celebrity photographer patient and Cameron's remark on how she has never seen him glow like that when she sees the picture taken of him while he was gazing at Cameron's picture. However, when he informed her that he wanted to take their relationship forward, she ended it. Despite Cameron's refusal to reconcile, Chase asks her out every Tuesday, saying "It's Tuesday...I like you."

At the end of Season 3, Chase is promptly fired by House following an outburst, but the official reason is that he has been around the longest and has learned all he can from House. Later, Cameron realizes her feelings for Chase and the two begin a relationship. Chase then picks up a job in the surgical team at Princeton-Plainsboro instead.

[edit] Concept and creation

When his agent suggested that Spencer audition for the role of Chase, he expected House to be a medical drama similar to General Hospital, and told him he would rather go to a bar. However, he was impressed with the show once his agent showed him the scripts, and found out that Bryan Singer was producing the show.[5][6]

Jesse Spencer's character was originally intended to be American. However, it was later changed to an Englishman. Spencer persuaded the producers to change his character into an Australian since Spencer himself is Australian. He said to them that the scripts have been changed anyway and that it is rare to see Australians on American television.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "The Right Stuff". House, M.D.. 2007-10-02. No. 2, season 4.
  2. ^ "Human Error". House, M.D.. 2007-05-29. No. 24, season 3.
  3. ^ "Pilot". House, M.D.. 2004-11-16. No. 1, season 1. According to the deleted scenes.
  4. ^ "Occam's Razor". House, M.D.. 2004-11-30. No. 3, season 1.
  5. ^ Doctor in the house
  6. ^ a b Young doctor

[edit] External links

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