#2 – Cyclical Stories; Everything Stays the Same
The cast of House has both changed and remained the same.
Nothing annoys me more than a story that digs its heels into the mud and refuses to go anywhere. House has been doing this for years, and it’s finally getting even more annoying than it has been. Season three marked the real beginning of this, with House reverting back to using his cane and popping pills after receiving the ketamine treatment in the aftermath of season two’s finale. And then there was the entire Tritter storyline, which, for all its drama and cliffhangers, resul
ted in no change to the overall story of House. House just remained the same sardonic, pill-popping jerk.
And I understand that’s what makes him who he is – makes the show what it is. But if we’re forced to sit through pointless storylines that only end up at the same emotional point as where they began, why bother? The most recent example that springs to mind is the season five finale, which revealed that a lot of what House had been experiencing for the past few episodes was all in his head, and that he was going crazy. Sure, this was a wonderful plot twist when they used it the first time in the season two finale (one of the greatest, if not the greatest, House episodes ever made). But reusing the same storyline of “it’s all in House’s head” for the second time had no effect for me at all. The entire House/Cuddy relationship which had been building up over the season was immediately washed out with the tide, and it made me angry at myself for having invested myself emotionally in the relationship between these two characters, only to have it all rendered fairly pointless by the fact that House imagined the big payoff.
Of course, it can be argued that there was a big change in the nature of the show, which came with season four, with the hiring of the three new members of House’s staff. Admittedly, it did change a lot of who got more face time on the show, but really, it didn’t change it that much. The box art for the season four and five DVDs still feature the faces of Chase and Cameron, even though they appeared much less than Taub, Kutner, and Thirteen, who have all been reduced to adorning the back of the box. Kutner, easily my favorite of the three newbies, has already been written off with the very special episode midway through season five, and the remaining two newbies are, in a way, very reminiscent of the original team. While the characters of the show have shifted, the dynamic still hasn’t changed. It’s the same old House it was five years ago.
NEXT: It's Dying
I agree with these points for the most part. House generally sit on my DVR until other options are exhausted.
That said, I am still obsessed (maybe addicted?) to last season's finale. It was as mind bending as the last couple of episodes of Dollhouse. And to pull together, in a drama, that dissociative schizophrenic sensation is an admirable feat in my book.
So much so, that I will probably be watching house within a few weeks of its airing… at least for a few episodes.
I agree with these points for the most part. House generally sit on my DVR until other options are exhausted.
That said, I am still obsessed (maybe addicted?) to last season’s finale. It was as mind bending as the last couple of episodes of Dollhouse. And to pull together, in a drama, that dissociative schizophrenic sensation is an admirable feat in my book.
So much so, that I will probably be watching house within a few weeks of its airing… at least for a few episodes.
I totally agree about storylines going nowhere. After the so called split between House/Wilson in S4, they get shoved back together in S5 and all is well again. I felt emotionally manipulated and screwed over. That is just one example. I wish I could leave the show, but Hugh Laurie is just too good not to watch. House is still an interesting original character but the method of storytelling is unsatisfying.
I totally agree about storylines going nowhere. After the so called split between House/Wilson in S4, they get shoved back together in S5 and all is well again. I felt emotionally manipulated and screwed over. That is just one example. I wish I could leave the show, but Hugh Laurie is just too good not to watch. House is still an interesting original character but the method of storytelling is unsatisfying.
I don't mean to sound facetious, but did you not see the last few episodes of Season 5?nbsp; The show, indeed, went somewhere – a few somewheres, actually – and the finale displayed some of the best acting I've seen from RSL, LE and HL.nbsp; It took me two weeks to sit down and write a synopsis of that episode.nbsp; The episode actually messed with the heads of viewers, who became delusional and "hallucinated" right along with House.nbsp; The patient of the week was an incredibly interesting and well-acted parallel to House's issues.nbsp; House dismisses the right brain, unaware that his right brain is actually staging a coup.nbsp; The acting was phenomental – perhaps some of LE's best work.nbsp; The entire cast conveyed so much emotion in the last several minutes with ZERO dialogue.
The show refused to sink to the lowest common denominator when it comes to the House/Cuddy "relationship" – leaving some wanting for more and others, like yours truly, satisfied that they handled it so intelligently.nbsp; And the House/Wilson relationship was probably never as important as House hands off all his valuables to Wilson, as Chase and Cameron exchange rings (no wedding overkill…thank you!) – conveying that the House/Wilson friendship is very much like a marriage.
Which brings me to your comment, Robin.nbsp; All was not well.nbsp; Not entirely.nbsp; Wilson still has to work through a few things during the 5th season, including letting go of Amber (the cup) and trying to repair the still-awkward friendship with House (messing with House by pretending to eat healthy, leaving House with an impossible puzzle to solve.)
Now we'll find House facing the consequences of ignoring his own emotions.nbsp; I can think of no other character for whom this will be more interesting.nbsp; There's not going to be any magic pill.nbsp; Mark my words (and this is speculation, not a spoiler), House is going to have to do what he hates most – get in touch with his feelings and SHARE them.nbsp; He'll HATE that but he can't scam his way out of this one.nbsp; He'll have to have a REAL good cry at some point.
I don’t mean to sound facetious, but did you not see the last few episodes of Season 5?nbsp; The show, indeed, went somewhere – a few somewheres, actually – and the finale displayed some of the best acting I’ve seen from RSL, LE and HL.nbsp; It took me two weeks to sit down and write a synopsis of that episode.nbsp; The episode actually messed with the heads of viewers, who became delusional and “hallucinated” right along with House.nbsp; The patient of the week was an incredibly interesting and well-acted parallel to House’s issues.nbsp; House dismisses the right brain, unaware that his right brain is actually staging a coup.nbsp; The acting was phenomental – perhaps some of LE’s best work.nbsp; The entire cast conveyed so much emotion in the last several minutes with ZERO dialogue.
The show refused to sink to the lowest common denominator when it comes to the House/Cuddy “relationship” – leaving some wanting for more and others, like yours truly, satisfied that they handled it so intelligently.nbsp; And the House/Wilson relationship was probably never as important as House hands off all his valuables to Wilson, as Chase and Cameron exchange rings (no wedding overkill…thank you!) – conveying that the House/Wilson friendship is very much like a marriage.
Which brings me to your comment, Robin.nbsp; All was not well.nbsp; Not entirely.nbsp; Wilson still has to work through a few things during the 5th season, including letting go of Amber (the cup) and trying to repair the still-awkward friendship with House (messing with House by pretending to eat healthy, leaving House with an impossible puzzle to solve.)
Now we’ll find House facing the consequences of ignoring his own emotions.nbsp; I can think of no other character for whom this will be more interesting.nbsp; There’s not going to be any magic pill.nbsp; Mark my words (and this is speculation, not a spoiler), House is going to have to do what he hates most – get in touch with his feelings and SHARE them.nbsp; He’ll HATE that but he can’t scam his way out of this one.nbsp; He’ll have to have a REAL good cry at some point.
i'm sorry to say this but you are completely wrong.
Have you nothing else better to do??
The main reason one show dies is because it gets boring because either the stories remain the same or the dialogues. But house is a show that mutates not alowing people like yourself to even try to say the show is boring.
i’m sorry to say this but you are completely wrong.
Have you nothing else better to do??
The main reason one show dies is because it gets boring because either the stories remain the same or the dialogues. But house is a show that mutates not alowing people like yourself to even try to say the show is boring.
…I'm sorry, but yours is just an opinion, and so is mine. Please try and be courteous and polite.
…I’m sorry, but yours is just an opinion, and so is mine. Please try and be courteous and polite.
okay, I think you are missing the point here. The show was never supposed to be about the medical mysery -em /emstrongbut the guy/strong who solves the medical mystery. There is a fundamental difference. The show was always about the doctor and how the patients affected him, or brought out different responses from him, not about the patients. The patients are merely tools that are used to explore House's psychology, moral compass etc.
If you don't understand the basic premise behind the show (which Shore and Laurie have talked about ad nauseam) – sorry, but you are way off base and definitely in no position to be making any kind of assessment about it.
So where and when precisely do you think that House has strapped on the proverbial life jacket? You proclaim that it's dying, yet a moment like that isn't defined until after the show has died a slow and painful death. So you don't like the new characters. A lot of people don't. Get over it.
the show has always been and always will be a strong/strongemcharacter driven/emnbsp;medical drama. That's why the doctors are primarily the focus. One thing I will agree with you on – is that it's become too soap opera'ish for my liking. Thank god they've amped down on 13 and her Huntington's and her sexuality.
okay, I think you are missing the point here. The show was never supposed to be about the medical mysery -em /emstrongbut the guy/strong who solves the medical mystery. There is a fundamental difference. The show was always about the doctor and how the patients affected him, or brought out different responses from him, not about the patients. The patients are merely tools that are used to explore House’s psychology, moral compass etc.
If you don’t understand the basic premise behind the show (which Shore and Laurie have talked about ad nauseam) – sorry, but you are way off base and definitely in no position to be making any kind of assessment about it.
So where and when precisely do you think that House has strapped on the proverbial life jacket? You proclaim that it’s dying, yet a moment like that isn’t defined until after the show has died a slow and painful death. So you don’t like the new characters. A lot of people don’t. Get over it.
the show has always been and always will be a strong/strongemcharacter driven/emnbsp;medical drama. That’s why the doctors are primarily the focus. One thing I will agree with you on – is that it’s become too soap opera’ish for my liking. Thank god they’ve amped down on 13 and her Huntington’s and her sexuality.
"The show has lost sight of what it once was: a good medical drama that just happened to feature a sarcastic doctor."
I beg to differ. I think the medicine is not as crucial as you picture it. It's just a way in which House expresses his screwed-up psyche. He could be a lawyer, a policeman or a detective. What counts is the way in which he relates to his cases, subordinates, friends, and his method.
“The show has lost sight of what it once was: a good medical drama that just happened to feature a sarcastic doctor.”
I beg to differ. I think the medicine is not as crucial as you picture it. It’s just a way in which House expresses his screwed-up psyche. He could be a lawyer, a policeman or a detective. What counts is the way in which he relates to his cases, subordinates, friends, and his method.
To both Guest and loveandsqualor: During casting, Hugh Laurie did not think that his character was the main character. The show was untitled, but he was under the impression that Wilson was the main character. At that point, the show's conception, House was just the backdrop.
To both Guest and loveandsqualor: During casting, Hugh Laurie did not think that his character was the main character. The show was untitled, but he was under the impression that Wilson was the main character. At that point, the show’s conception, House was just the backdrop.
At that point Hugh Laurie only knew three pages of the script – how was he supposed to know that House was the main character based on that? As soon as he received the whole script he realised that he had been asked to be the lead. The character of House without any doubts has been the base and center of the show since day one!
At that point Hugh Laurie only knew three pages of the script – how was he supposed to know that House was the main character based on that? As soon as he received the whole script he realised that he had been asked to be the lead. The character of House without any doubts has been the base and center of the show since day one!
I too am just addicted to Hugh Laurie. The guy is truly brilliant. And even though some episodes do leave me 'unsatisfied' I will continue to watch House. Seriously, compared to other shows out there, it's still one of the BEST in my book!
I too am just addicted to Hugh Laurie. The guy is truly brilliant. And even though some episodes do leave me ‘unsatisfied’ I will continue to watch House. Seriously, compared to other shows out there, it’s still one of the BEST in my book!
"It had a nice run, but all good things must come to an end ndash; the producers of emLost/em realized that just in the nick of time,"
Thought it was around 2006 that they established it would be 6 seasons long as they already had the end of the series determined at the start. Saying the nick of time is a bit silly at that point were they not just barely heading into Season 4?
House is only going to hold onto a viewer as long as their interests are perked, as people go in and out of their daily lives they might avoid the show or find themselves turned off for their own reasons. While you'll be going you'll also be replaced by new viewers just barely coming into the show. It's the cycle of all things really. Season 5 was a shift for me, the show started out well it dipped mid-season and picked up in the last 5 episodes or so. When it returns in Sept I'll still give it a go simply because it has been reliable as a form of entertainment.
“It had a nice run, but all good things must come to an end ndash; the producers of emLost/em realized that just in the nick of time,”
Thought it was around 2006 that they established it would be 6 seasons long as they already had the end of the series determined at the start. Saying the nick of time is a bit silly at that point were they not just barely heading into Season 4?
House is only going to hold onto a viewer as long as their interests are perked, as people go in and out of their daily lives they might avoid the show or find themselves turned off for their own reasons. While you’ll be going you’ll also be replaced by new viewers just barely coming into the show. It’s the cycle of all things really. Season 5 was a shift for me, the show started out well it dipped mid-season and picked up in the last 5 episodes or so. When it returns in Sept I’ll still give it a go simply because it has been reliable as a form of entertainment.
Sorry, I didn't mean to say anything worthy to be banned. English isn't my mother tongue.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to say anything worthy to be banned. English isn’t my mother tongue.
I noticed the same thing about the patients. They've gone from interesting individuals with their OWN drama to simply mirrors to the main characters. Their only purpose now is to reflect some character flaw in order to spur development. The medicine used to be genuinely interesting and the outcome was usually surprising. Now it's almost an afterthought. I can cite only three good medical subplots this season (the beazor, alien hand syndrome guy, and mos def) that stood out. It's frustrating.
Still, even though the medicine suffers the character development hasn't halted entirely. I think that the writers just don't know how to change House significantly without eliminating what people love about him. It's a tough spot to be in. On one hand I'm glad for the teases this season–All of the House/Cuddy drama, the rift between House and Wilson. It shows that the writers aren't willing to go cliche just yet. On the other hand it's also weak to tease every other episode and go nowhere. The episode where House starts using Methadone felt like a complete waste, for example. The same goes for him buying Cuddy that desk only to end up with a hooker at the end (even if it was kind of hilarious).
I'm not going to stop watching but I really hope they stike a better balance next season. 5 was a TON of character development and I think it's time to go back to what the show was written around in the first place. Inevitably the characters overshadowed this aspect of the show and as great as they all are I'm ready for some lasting changes that don't involve death or madness.
I noticed the same thing about the patients. They’ve gone from interesting individuals with their OWN drama to simply mirrors to the main characters. Their only purpose now is to reflect some character flaw in order to spur development. The medicine used to be genuinely interesting and the outcome was usually surprising. Now it’s almost an afterthought. I can cite only three good medical subplots this season (the beazor, alien hand syndrome guy, and mos def) that stood out. It’s frustrating.
Still, even though the medicine suffers the character development hasn’t halted entirely. I think that the writers just don’t know how to change House significantly without eliminating what people love about him. It’s a tough spot to be in. On one hand I’m glad for the teases this season–All of the House/Cuddy drama, the rift between House and Wilson. It shows that the writers aren’t willing to go cliche just yet. On the other hand it’s also weak to tease every other episode and go nowhere. The episode where House starts using Methadone felt like a complete waste, for example. The same goes for him buying Cuddy that desk only to end up with a hooker at the end (even if it was kind of hilarious).
I’m not going to stop watching but I really hope they stike a better balance next season. 5 was a TON of character development and I think it’s time to go back to what the show was written around in the first place. Inevitably the characters overshadowed this aspect of the show and as great as they all are I’m ready for some lasting changes that don’t involve death or madness.
em/emem/emspan"To both Guest and loveandsqualor: During casting, Hugh Laurie did not think that his character was the main character. The show was untitled, but he was under the impression that Wilson was the main character. At that point, the show's conception, House was just the backdrop."/span
You know what? Who cares about the inital conception. The whole point being: that may have been the initial idea, but that changed after Laurie read for them. They changed their original thought. So if you fail to understasnd that and go by the way they are and have been writing the show since the first episode – that the central character is House and revolves around him: you're beyond perseverating. Get over the fact that they changed their minds eons ago and the show flourished.
It's still one of the better shows out there and if you want to stop watching – you're the one missing out.
em/emem/emspan”To both Guest and loveandsqualor: During casting, Hugh Laurie did not think that his character was the main character. The show was untitled, but he was under the impression that Wilson was the main character. At that point, the show’s conception, House was just the backdrop.”/span
You know what? Who cares about the inital conception. The whole point being: that may have been the initial idea, but that changed after Laurie read for them. They changed their original thought. So if you fail to understasnd that and go by the way they are and have been writing the show since the first episode – that the central character is House and revolves around him: you’re beyond perseverating. Get over the fact that they changed their minds eons ago and the show flourished.
It’s still one of the better shows out there and if you want to stop watching – you’re the one missing out.
I only discovered House in January of 2009 and have seen the whole series over a matter of a few months. The way I watch it, the show was NEVER about the diseases or the patients or even the costars. It was about House and Hugh Laurie's unbelievable talent. I admit the formula became predictable: about about four-fifths into the show, House would have his epiphany and make a timely and miraculous diagnosis that nobody else would EVER have thought of. That was interesting, but not why I watch. I watch for only one character: House. He never disappoints. And I enjoyed the Tritter episodes because it's just as much fun to see House get his comeuppance. I am disappointed that they're going to dangle a Cuddy-House relationship in front of us this season; I've always hated "Sam-&-Diane/sexual tension" type stories (I am the only creature on earth who didn't like Cheers for that reason) and this is no exception. House is at his best as a pain in her ass, not as a tool in her bed.
I will agree about Kutner being my favorite after House; I was thoroughly angry at that episode and annoyed by Kal Penn's lame reason for leaving.
I only discovered House in January of 2009 and have seen the whole series over a matter of a few months. The way I watch it, the show was NEVER about the diseases or the patients or even the costars. It was about House and Hugh Laurie’s unbelievable talent. I admit the formula became predictable: about about four-fifths into the show, House would have his epiphany and make a timely and miraculous diagnosis that nobody else would EVER have thought of. That was interesting, but not why I watch. I watch for only one character: House. He never disappoints. And I enjoyed the Tritter episodes because it’s just as much fun to see House get his comeuppance. I am disappointed that they’re going to dangle a Cuddy-House relationship in front of us this season; I’ve always hated “Sam-&-Diane/sexual tension” type stories (I am the only creature on earth who didn’t like Cheers for that reason) and this is no exception. House is at his best as a pain in her ass, not as a tool in her bed.
I will agree about Kutner being my favorite after House; I was thoroughly angry at that episode and annoyed by Kal Penn’s lame reason for leaving.
You're right, show should always be about the patient mysteries, in every season finale there should be a character emotional makeover, the female characters should sleep around (they always do apparently, those trollops)and the show should change name based on which character says the wittiest line.
Point behind this is, and oddly enough I think the writers of the show keep hinting us of it, is that change is difficult, and reason why they try to make the show about the Doctor instead of the patient is mainly 'cause if they keep using 30 minutes of a 45 minutes show on the patient, there would be a LOT more seasons, they are trying to give focus to all the characters, and it just seemed like the writers are testing the audience's response to every subtle change.
For example I noticed that Cuddy/House, or even Cameron/House got a lot of episodes just focused on those relationships, the audience enjoyed it, but the writers didn't think (and correctly) that House was ready for any relationship in his current messed up state, basically the writers refused to use the "love cures all" trick that so often is portrayed in Sitcoms.
Another thing that got response from the audience? House's mind. Several episodes have been about explaining House's state of mind, and on one occasion a patients state of mind about House. And I believe that it won't be the last time we see an episode where House's mind is revealed to be a lot more complex then we could initially imagine.
Unlike other shows, where writers make up a plot with a too many holes, House writers try and work with the audience, in my perspective, and that is why nearly all season finales in House have been incredible (the one where the subordinates leave, and the one where House's past love shows up were the least interesting one apparently), but episodes like "three Stories" (should of been the season finale- 17million viewers), "No Reason" (season 2 finale- 25million), "One Day, One Room" (arguably the best episode of season 3- 27million), "House's head" and "Wilson's Heart" (season 4 finale, with a combined of 30million viewers), "Locked in", "House Divided" and "Both Sides now" (season 5 plot and finale episodes, where they change House into something majority of the viewers liked).
People say writers on House don't care about the viewers and do whatever they want with the characters, I actually say the opposite, and the writers keep many of us still interested on "what will happen next", even though you opinion on the matter is diferent
You’re right, show should always be about the patient mysteries, in every season finale there should be a character emotional makeover, the female characters should sleep around (they always do apparently, those trollops)and the show should change name based on which character says the wittiest line.
Point behind this is, and oddly enough I think the writers of the show keep hinting us of it, is that change is difficult, and reason why they try to make the show about the Doctor instead of the patient is mainly ’cause if they keep using 30 minutes of a 45 minutes show on the patient, there would be a LOT more seasons, they are trying to give focus to all the characters, and it just seemed like the writers are testing the audience’s response to every subtle change.
For example I noticed that Cuddy/House, or even Cameron/House got a lot of episodes just focused on those relationships, the audience enjoyed it, but the writers didn’t think (and correctly) that House was ready for any relationship in his current messed up state, basically the writers refused to use the “love cures all” trick that so often is portrayed in Sitcoms.
Another thing that got response from the audience? House’s mind. Several episodes have been about explaining House’s state of mind, and on one occasion a patients state of mind about House. And I believe that it won’t be the last time we see an episode where House’s mind is revealed to be a lot more complex then we could initially imagine.
Unlike other shows, where writers make up a plot with a too many holes, House writers try and work with the audience, in my perspective, and that is why nearly all season finales in House have been incredible (the one where the subordinates leave, and the one where House’s past love shows up were the least interesting one apparently), but episodes like “three Stories” (should of been the season finale- 17million viewers), “No Reason” (season 2 finale- 25million), “One Day, One Room” (arguably the best episode of season 3- 27million), “House’s head” and “Wilson’s Heart” (season 4 finale, with a combined of 30million viewers), “Locked in”, “House Divided” and “Both Sides now” (season 5 plot and finale episodes, where they change House into something majority of the viewers liked).
People say writers on House don’t care about the viewers and do whatever they want with the characters, I actually say the opposite, and the writers keep many of us still interested on “what will happen next”, even though you opinion on the matter is diferent
The one point I agree with is that they have totally lost the dynamic of the doctors and the patients. In seasons 1 to 2 (maybe 3…can't really remember), House is egoistical and thinks that no one can outsmart him…but he is constantly challenged by his patients who are under his treatment (which of course in the balance of power, means that the patient is under House). That was really interesting because they are sick but dun mean they can't put up a fight with the cynical House. Season 4 and 5 basically wash this all out when they started switching in to focus on the doctors which means…it's becoming like every medical drama out there.
It had potential to bring this dynamic in this season in the episode of 'The Tyrant', featuring James Earl Jones as a fictional dictator visiting in U.S. However, given such a character with so much controversial material to work with, they had to give time to the doctors…(sigh)
The one point I agree with is that they have totally lost the dynamic of the doctors and the patients. In seasons 1 to 2 (maybe 3…can’t really remember), House is egoistical and thinks that no one can outsmart him…but he is constantly challenged by his patients who are under his treatment (which of course in the balance of power, means that the patient is under House). That was really interesting because they are sick but dun mean they can’t put up a fight with the cynical House. Season 4 and 5 basically wash this all out when they started switching in to focus on the doctors which means…it’s becoming like every medical drama out there.
It had potential to bring this dynamic in this season in the episode of ‘The Tyrant’, featuring James Earl Jones as a fictional dictator visiting in U.S. However, given such a character with so much controversial material to work with, they had to give time to the doctors…(sigh)