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House S05E20, Simple ExplanationS05E20

House · Season 5

House season 5 episode 20: Simple Explanation

Aired 6 April 200944 minRated TV-14

7.8TMDB · 45 votesMark watched

Where to watch House Season 5 in Australia

House season 5 is streaming in Australia on Foxtel Now (subscription), Binge (subscription), Disney+ (subscription, listed for the whole show) and Netflix (subscription). You can also buy it on Apple TV from $17.99 and Prime Video Store from $17.99.

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Availability checked 16 November 2026.

What happens in “Simple Explanation”

Charlotte, an older woman who has spent the last six months taking care of her dying husband Eddie, is rushed to Princeton Plainsboro after collapsing from respiratory failure. The couple becomes a double mystery for the team when Eddie begins to improve as Charlotte’s condition worsens. The previously unthinkable becomes real when it seems that Charlotte will die before Eddie, and the team will be forced to make a difficult decision.

Episode summary: TMDB.

Before you watch

  • It is episode 20 of 24 of season 5, so watch episodes 1 to 19 first.
  • It runs about 44 minutes.
  • Directed by Greg Yaitanes, written by Leonard Dick.
  • TMDB users rate it 7.8 out of 10 (45 votes).

House trailer

The official trailer for the series (no preview of this episode has been published).

House trailerPlay video: House trailer

Cast and crew of this episode

Director
Greg Yaitanes
Writer
Leonard Dick
Guest stars
Mary Jo Deschanel as JuliaEd Brigadier as RichardColleen Camp as CharlotteMeat Loaf as EddieBob Rusch as PhilHart Boykin as ArthurDebbie Campbell as KatherineTaylor Hardick as Rosabel

Credits: TMDB.

More from House Season 5

Previous · S05E19Locked In30 March 2009Next · S05E21Saviors13 April 2009
  1. E01
  2. E02
  3. E03
  4. E04
  5. E05
  6. E06
  7. E07
  8. E08
  9. E09
  10. E10
  11. E11
  12. E12
  13. E13
  14. E14
  15. E15
  16. E16
  17. E17
  18. E18
  19. E19
  20. E20
  21. E21
  22. E22
  23. E23
  24. E24

Every episode of Season 5House episode guide

Episode names, air dates, runtimes, stills and ratings: TMDB. Air dates are the first broadcast anywhere; where it streams is our daily Australian check.