I thought the episode was great. I may have had lower expectations based on some of the disapointment stated in here, but I thought it was good.
I was hoping (and still hope) this isnt some sort of delusion or dream, because that gets tiresome.
That being said, I liked seeing the vulnerability and growth of houses character. I liked that he could 'solve' a case without the drugs or the team. And after the carnival, I was not expecting the little twist, so that certainly was good. All in all, I was laughing a fair amount during the episode, I think a bit more in the first hour then the second, but never the less, a funny episode to me.