If you’re a long-time viewer of the series, the season eight DVD set is a must to complete your collection. The only thing really lacking is the presence of commentary tracks. Each season’s DVD and Blu-ray set has come with at least a couple of commentary tracks, and I was looking forward to enjoying at least the season premiere and finale with commentary from David Shore or the writers, but alas it was not to be.
All content on the Blu-ray, including the bonus features is presented in 1080p with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The picture is crystal clear, with saturated colors, even better than the HD broadcast versions. The sound for dialogue and music is rich and clear. If you have Blu-ray equipment, buy the Blu-ray set; the price is the same (at least at Amazon.com) as the DVD, as are the features. Both sets come with UltraViolet Digital Download versions so you can play the episodes easily on your computer or mobile device.
Note to my readers: I will be starting a House, M.D. "rewatch" beginning in September. We'll begin with season one, episode one, watching one episode each Monday night. I will follow up with a fresh commentary for each episode, and of course open the thread for lots of discussion. We'll go at least through season three, covering the seasons before I began Welcome to the End of the Thought Process here on Blogcritics. Stay tuned on Twitter for more information as we get closer.
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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?).