Amber’s Tragic Death: Why She Was on the Bus Explained

Among the most debated personalities on the TV series House, there was Amber Volakis, who appeared cold-hearted at first glance. However, her demise turned out to be one of the saddest scenes in the show. When Dr. Gregory House (played by Hugh Laurie) dismissed his entire team and aimed to build a new one, Amber was among the candidates. In an attempt to demonstrate her worth as a prospective member of House’s diagnostic unit, she gained the moniker “Cutthroat B” due to her perceived lack of compassion and readiness to sacrifice other characters for her benefit.

Despite Amber not being the main antagonist in House, her character was generally disliked by many viewers. However, opinions changed when she began dating Wilson. House harbored suspicions about her motivations, but they seemed deeply in love and their relationship promised to be a significant one on the show. This development was tragically cut short in season 4, as Amber met an untimely death in a bus accident. The ensuing mystery regarding the crash victim’s identity and the events leading up to her demise became the focus of two of House‘s most haunting episodes.

Amber Went To Pick Up A Drunken House After He Called Wilson

Like Other House Patients, Amber Had A Strange Combination Of Symptoms

The fourth season’s episode titled “House’s Head” unfolds as House recounts events following a bus crash he was involved in. In a haze, House struggles to recall the sequence of events that transpired that night, only realizing later that he had been on the bus when he stumbled out of a strip club and witnessed the accident scene. Earlier in the evening, House had called Wilson asking him for a lift, but instead, Amber responded and fetched him. Later, Amber agreed to have a drink with House, and subsequently boarded the bus to return his cane that he had left behind.

In the hit TV show “House“, the episodes titled “House’s Head” and “Wilson’s Heart” are the most emotionally impactful, due to House and his diagnostic team trying to restore House’s memory and dealing with Amber’s health issues. Amber, who had undergone surgery for kidney damage sustained in a bus accident, started showing signs of distress, such as an irregular heartbeat, jaundice, a rash, and hypothermia. After careful examination, House discovered that these symptoms were connected to the flu Amber had contracted. Sadly, this revelation led to the discovery that Amber’s condition was untreatable, resulting in some of the saddest moments ever depicted in House.

Amber Was On Amantadine For The Flu (But Her Liver Was Destroyed)

Amantadine Poisoning Is Unusual, But It Can Happen

On the bus, House’s companion, Amber, was given Amantadine, an antiviral medication used to alleviate flu symptoms. However, her kidneys, damaged from the crash, were unable to effectively filter the drug, leading it to accumulate in her bloodstream and cause an overdose that poisoned her vital organs. Eventually, she suffered a fatal heart attack. Despite this being a common occurrence in House episodes, this instance was particularly heartbreaking as Wilson was deeply affected.

In many instances, the TV series House bent the truth and, much like other medical dramas, didn’t always portray the authenticity of diagnosing a rare condition. However, Amber’s case was an exception to this rule. It would be challenging for most healthy individuals to overdose on Amantadine due to efficient kidney function filtering the drug. But in Amber’s case, her damaged kidneys made it possible, resulting in heart damage. Although aggressive dialysis could reduce the drug’s levels, Amantadine poisoning has no cure, and by the time it was discovered for Amber, it was already too late.

How House Was Able To Remember What Happened To Amber

The Episodes Covering The Bus Crash Are Some Of The Most Disturbing In House

In the episode titled “House’s Head,” Dr. House resorted to drastic methods in an attempt to regain his lost memories. These memories resurfaced in a sequence of dreamlike, fragmented scenes. He subjected himself to medical hypnosis and spent time in a sensory deprivation tank. While there, he hallucinated a woman adorned with unique jewelry who seemed out of place among the other travelers. This woman asked House to tie a ribbon around her, reminiscent of the tourniquet he had applied to Amber. However, it was only when he dreamt about her inquiring “what’s my necklace made of?” that he recognized the response as related to Amber.

The House episodes that cover the bus crash
Title	Episode number	Central Mystery	Answer
House’s Head	Season 4, Episode 15	Who is the dying patient?	Amber Volakis
Wilson’s Heart	Season 4, Episode 16	What is wrong with Amber?	Multiple organ failure due to a kidney injury after an accidental overdose of amantadine

As a die-hard fan of House, I must admit that throughout its eight seasons, the show underwent changes, yet one constant remained – House often proved himself correct. However, this unwavering accuracy was occasionally challenged, and it was during Amber’s demise that we saw glimpses of House’s fallibility. The episodes that left me most on edge were those where House found himself locked in a battle with his own mind. Episodes like “House’s Head” and “Wilson’s Heart” brilliantly utilized House’s fear and agitation to heighten the suspense. Despite knowing deep down that this patient was different, the revelation of the truth still sent shivers down my spine.

Why Wilson Was Angry At House For Amber’s Death

Wilson And Amber’s Relationship Had The Potential To Be The Best In House

In the role of House’s closest friend and the one who knows him best, Wilson does not hold House accountable for Amber’s demise. He recognizes that House never desired harm to come to Amber, but his self-centeredness and recklessness inadvertently led her to join him on the bus. However, he remains enraged, expressing to House, “I’m not placing blame for Amber’s death on you. Despite my attempts to find a way to, I couldn’t. But we’re not alright“. This incident marked a significant shift in the dynamics of their relationship. Although Wilson had been hurt by House before, this instance stood out as his most severe moment.

The most surprising love story on “House” unfolded between Wilson and Amber. For much of her screen time, Amber was portrayed as an unpleasant character, but she gained empathy from viewers when she struggled to conceal her emotions after being dismissed. The audience discovered a compassionate side of her during her courtship with Wilson, and although the relationship seemed unlikely, it had the promise to be the finest on the show. Wilson and Amber were stark contrasts, yet Wilson could have brought about an improvement in Amber, while she appeared poised to encourage him to challenge House.

Was House To Blame For Amber’s Death?

Amber Returned For The Excellent House Finale

While Amber’s tragic demise wasn’t solely due to the house, one could make a case that House played a role in it. If Amber hadn’t gone to pick up House, and instead stayed on the bus with him, she wouldn’t have been present when the bus met with an accident. The flu pills alone wouldn’t have taken her life, and it was this crash that set off a chain of events leading to her death. Though House has done numerous unpleasant acts throughout the series, he was partially responsible for Amber’s death, but it was an unintentional occurrence.

In the highly praised final episode of “House,” titled “Everybody Dies,” Amber makes an appearance to deliver her bluntly honest style to House once more. Throughout the show, House experiences hallucinations featuring significant figures in his personal growth, including Kutner and Amber. Each of these figures offers House a unique kind of guidance, with Kutner urging him to be truthful about his emotions (something Kutner himself struggled with), while Amber is more straightforward. This particular scene showcases Amber using her harsh characteristics for a positive purpose, inspiring House to rise up and ultimately redeeming her image in the end.

2025-05-01 20:18