While the doctors were normally the stars ofHouse, in season 6, episode 4, “The Tyrant,” James Earl Jones plays a one-off character that stole the episode and changed the course of the entire show.Househad many actors make cameo appearances, and Jones played a character that was completely against type. Jones' character was President Dibala of an unnamed African country, who Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) calls “one of the most repressive dictators in the world.”
Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer) and Cameron are happily married and, while still part ofthe cast ofHouse, they no longer work for House directly, but they are asked to help on Dibala’s case. This causes Chase and Cameron a lot of ethical stress, because Dibala is accused of repressing an ethnic rebellion through genocide, and initially, Cameron finds treating him reprehensible but Chase finds it “interesting.” Because Jones brings so much to what could be a one-dimensional villain, his role starts a chain of events that leads to a rift in Chase and Cameron’s marriage.
Why James Earl Jones' President Dibala Is One Of His Most Underrated Roles
Jones Uses Every Second Of Screen Time To Make Dibala Threatening
President Dibala is arguably one of Jones' most underrated roles, a twist on the type of character Jones normally plays. He often portrays imposing characters who come across as threatening but are ultimately good, but onHouse, Jones brings a facade that barely masks Dibala’s true ominous nature. The natural gravitas Jones gives to Dibala makes it understandable why Chase could be persuaded by Dibala’s dulcet tones with a soft African lilt.
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Perhaps because Jones was only on one episode ofHousedeep into the show’s run, his role of Dibala is largely forgotten. Jones has a rich, celebrated filmography, and it is hard to equate one small guest role toJames Earl Jones' best movies. His role as Dibala is also underrated because it came at an interesting stage in his career where he was largely playing himself on television, on shows likeSesame Street,Two and a Half Men, andThe Big Bang Theory. While he was only in one episode ofHouse, Jones makes the most of every second of screen time as Dibala.
Even playing a physically weakened, bedridden man, Dibala still projects immense strength. Dibala is chillingly threatening when he grabs Cameron’s arm and calmly tells her to “act on [her] beliefs” and kill him.Jones conveys so much menaceas he evades Chase’s questions, not admitting to details but making it clear is willing “to do whatever it takes” to save his country. While Jones does not get much screen time as Dibala inHouse, the character certainly left an impression on the show.
Cameron Becomes The First Original House Team Member To Leave The Show
After struggling to find the morally right solution, Chase decides to swap another vial of blood for Dibala’s, causing the team to reach the wrong diagnosis and subsequently, Dibala’s death. When Chase confesses to Cameron, the show’s moral compassion, she blames House’s influence over Chase more than Chase himself. In fact, it is not what Chase did butthe fact that Chase does not regret killing Dibala is what Cameron cannot forgive. Cameron sees House as evil and Chase does not, and it took a case as polarizing as Dibala’s for this to become a breaking point.
Without a case as ethically complicated as Dibala’s, Chase and Cameron might not have separated, Cameron might not have left the hospital, and Chase might not have rejoined House’s team.
Cameron leavesHousein season 6, divorcing Chase and becoming the first member of the original team to leave the show. Without a case as ethically complicated as Dibala’s, Chase and Cameron might not have separated, Cameron might not have left the hospital, and Chase might not have rejoined House’s team. While Cameron needs physical distance from House, her departure puts Chase on a path to becomingthe next House. Jones' underrated performance as Dibala grounds the drama unfolding around him onHouse.
House
Cast
House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into account that he rarely actually sees his patients.
