As season eight begins, House is several months into a prison sentence for plowing his car into ex-girlfriend Lisa Cuddy’s house in the season seven finale. “Twenty Vicodin” begins House’s journey back to what he believes will be his old life, but not before we observe House both in his element among his fellow inmates, and victimized and bullied by those with more power than he has—a very different environment for him. But even once he returns to Princeton Plainsboro Hospital, as much as he tries—and as much as he’d like—House is in a different position. Powerless, without either staff or budget, he suddenly finds he has no staff, no office, and no budget. He suddenly finds himself reporting to a new Dean of Medicine—Dr. Eric Foreman (Omar Epps), his former fellow and occasional antagonist. Foreman knows House’s tricks and proves a pretty decent foil for the worst of House’s behavior (much better than I had expected). For much of the season, House has his parole hanging over his head, and Foreman seems fairly comfortable using that as an often, but not always, effective check on House’s behavior.
Eventually, House manages to finagle his way into some money for the department—enough to lure Chase (Jesse Spencer) back into the fold, and to hire a new fellow (played by Odette Annable), as well as take on a socially awkward female medical student (played by Charlyne Yi). His cobbled-together staff, headed by Chase and Taub (Peter Jacobson), come into their own, with House often distancing himself from the weekly cases, something I think is one of the main weaknesses of season eight. For it is when House has connected with his patients that we see into his soul—what he’s thinking and what he feels.
Overall, however, season eight is a strong season, especially for a series nearing the end of its life. There are a few really exceptional episodes, including the premiere “Twenty Vicodin,” and “Nobody’s Fault,” one of the series occasional non-linear narratives, which reveals through flashback events that led to a near fatal accident, and House’s responsibility for it. In my opinion both episodes belong on a "best of" House, M.D. list.
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Article comments
1 - Jane E
I agree Barbara. I really believed we would have the option to hear David Shore voice over commentary on Everybody Dies. I was disappointed. Also I had entered the House contest and even signed a contract and the fan tribute was no where to be found. Oh well.
I like your warning if you haven't seen House start from the beginning. I will never forget watching that pilot episode and not able to leave the TV. I don't think any television show has had such great episodes one after another like House did in Season 1.
I have already been though 4 on the DVD's and love the blue ray downloads! I can take House anywhere with me.
2 - rjw
I have so enjoyed your column over these past few years,so I'm looking forward to your takes on the first episodes.Season 8 was a terrific season.It was pretty strange not to have Cuddy there,but it certainly made sense that she would move on after House slammed his car into her house!There were several episodes that I considered great,but I think that my favorite one is "The C-Word".I also totally loved the open ending in the finale... it was very close to my idea of how it would end(House driving off into the sunset on his motorcycle,after leaving PPTH). The addition of Wilson was a bonus.Haven't seen the extra features yet,but am very disappointed that no commentaries were included.
3 - Tracy
I planned on watching the series from the beginning this fall. Right from the beginning. Now I get to do it and read your column. I am totally psyched to start the journey again. Thank you Barbara!
4 - Ladybelle Fiske
Wow! I can't believe there are no commentaries on Season 8. I already have the eps through iTunes on my iPad, but probably will buy the DVD anyway, at some point-- to see the xtra content...
WHY didn't they include a commentary by Shore, Jacobs, et al?
I want to be around for the fall House retro with you. I'll keep an ear or eye or whatever out through Twitter. (Weirdly, someone I know well is going through what I think is crush syndrome-- so central to HOUSE... God I miss that show.
5 - Ladybelle Fiske
What happened to that fan tribute thing?
6 - Action Kate
Oh, I am excited to hear you're going to rewatch from the beginning! I may have to travel along with you.
The first ep we saw was "All In." We happened to have been watching the "Family Guy" we'd recorded earlier in the week, so the TiVo/cable was still on FOX. I flipped to "live TV" while we were clearing the table, and it popped in on this closeup of an astonishing pair of intelligent, penetrating blue eyes in a weathered face.
Hubby said, "Hey, what's this?" And both of us literally stopped dead in our tracks. I think it was the scene where the team has come in from the party so they're all in formalwear while doing a DDX at the whiteboard.
We could not tear our eyes away. We tossed the dishes in the sink and sat down to watch the rest of the episode. When Wilson showed up I yelled, "Hey, it's the guy from Dead Poets! I love him!" And promptly set up a Season Pass.
I still have that ep on my iPod as "emergency entertainment I will never get bored of rewatching," along with Star Trek's "Amok Time."
7 - Leodie
Hi Barbara,
If you are wondering if people are going to follow your "rewatch and comment" sessions, i don't know for "people" but i will.
8 - lobentti
Hey, everybody! About season 8, I´d already said, but I´m saying it again - I didn´t like it, except for 3 episodes - Nobody´s fault, Chase and the swan´s song;I found it sad, without the briliance and funny mood that made the 6 first seasons so good ( I didn´t like season 7 very much too); but for re-watching from the begining, I´m in! See you ...
9 - smkearns46
lobentti, i'm with you.
10 - swell
I'll be with you in September! I have had the great fortune of attending TWO of Hugh Laurie's shows with his Copper Bottom Band - in Alexandria, VA and Red Bank, NJ. Wow! He is a fantastic musician/entertainer. He does a lot of that self deprecation stuff on stage as he shares his love of some the great blues artists whose music he plays. I think Hugh Laurie is very much like the complex character that was House. That is why he played the part so well, so genuine. He is one of the greatest actors ever.
11 - Tracy
I too saw Hugh Laurie in concert last week. He's a very hard working performer. He looked like he was having such fun on stage. It was infectious. You can't help but have fun at his concerts. BTW, Barbara, when do we start with episode 1?
12 - DeeS
Swell, I totally agree. He is perfection in everything he does, acting, music, writing, directing, athletics, etc. Stephen Fry said he was the best father he had ever seen. I am totally in love with HUGH LAURIE (can you tell?).