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Robert Chase (House)

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Dr. Robert Chase
File:Chase housemd.jpg
First appearance"Pilot"
Portrayed byJesse Spencer
In-universe information
OccupationPhysician
  • Chief of Surgery
FamilyDr. 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".

Characterization

Chase is willing to betray House to keep his job when Edward Vogler threatened his career in the first season. He leaks the details of House's rather unconventional (and sometimes illegal) style of solving cases to Vogler over the course of five episodes resulting in a tension between House and Chase.

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 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 learns that Chase's father died about two months after the visit in "Cursed."

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 intoxicated with drugs.

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 anyway, saying "It's Tuesday...I like you."

Later, Cameron realizes her feelings for Chase and the two begin a relationship. 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. Chase then picks up a job in the surgical team at Princeton-Plainsboro instead.

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]

References

  1. ^ "The Right Stuff". House, M.D.. Season 4. Episode 2. 2007-10-02. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Human Error". House, M.D.. Season 3. Episode 24. 2007-05-29. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Pilot". House, M.D.. Season 1. Episode 1. 2004-11-16. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help) According to the deleted scenes.
  4. ^ "Occam's Razor". House, M.D.. Season 1. Episode 3. 2004-11-30. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Doctor in the house
  6. ^ a b Young doctor
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