The Season 3 DVD collection of House, M.D. has been out for nearly two months, and I’ve already watched it so many times that even my husband (who’s not really a fan) can quote chapter and verse and tell you, from one line of dialogue, which episode I’m watching (yet again!) So it goes without saying that I highly recommend that you go out and purchase this set (in the lovely red box) to match the blue (Season 1) and orange (Season 2) collections, if you haven’t already.
My suggestion is to watch the seasons and the episodes in order. Although House, M.D. is promoted as a procedural drama, the episodes also tell the fascinating story of Dr. Gregory House and the doctors who reside in his orbit. The Season 3 DVD set contains a hilarious blooper reel (my only complaint about it is that it is too short); a director’s commentary on the mid-season episode “Half-Wit” (which guest starred Dave Matthews); and a behind-the-scenes look at “The Jerk” (a late season entry). Other extras include a look at the props, a peek at the production office, and some alternate takes of several scenes. (None of these additional extras, in my opinion, is particularly special).
My favorite extra on the DVD has less to do with the show than with its star. It is a recorded recording session of Hugh Laurie’s band “Band From TV” recording Laurie’s arrangement of “Minnie the Moocher.” It’s a rare look into the recording studio and into Hugh Laurie's other life (one of them, anyway) as a gifted musician.
The advantage to watching Season 3 on DVD, besides the glorious color and richness of the print, is that you can watch episodes one after the other with no breaks, no commercials, nothing to interrupt the flow of the narrative. Broken up as it is aired, it is easy to miss the cohesiveness and story arc of Season 3. As I see it, the season unfolds in four separate acts (on five DVDs). Act 1: Episodes 1-4 (concluding with “Lines in the Sand”), followed by the bridging episode “Fools for Love.” Act 2 (also known as the “Tritter Arc” among fans was) was bridged into Act 3 with “One Day One Room,” which concluded with “Fetal Position.” “Airborne” led fans into the season’s final act. The following “road map” is intended to guide you through some of the glorious subtext and motivations (as I saw them) that suffused the series's third season. These are the things that can be easily missed in casual viewing, but that draw me back to this show week after week and viewing after viewing.
Article comments
1 - Blech
Love the show, the acting the DVDs and the CD, but what has happened to the usual blogcritic? This article is all over the place. I cannot figure what she is trying to say. Please go back to the old format.
2 - marie
I thought this review was terrific ,its exactly the way I saw it unfold as the season progressed , I picked up from the original veiwing ...week to week ... all of what you saw and more, I particularly agree with the last paragraph about Hughs acting ,.... the whole House personna is believable because of Hughs incredible portayal week after week ....great review , thankyou.
3 - BoffleB.
As ever, Barbara, I like your ideas and most thoroughly agree with your assessment of the extraordinary Mr. Laurie. It is a devastating, meticulous and moving portrayal every time and in every scene. Someone once said to me, how are we supposed to believe House can juggle, deliver medical jargon in a foreign accent, interact with the rest of the cast and convincingly diagnose a patient? Well, you just saw Hugh Laurie do all of that: guess both actor and character are geniuses at their craft!
Just one thought, though: I do wonder if you should spoiler alert the beginning of your article for anyone who might not have seen some part of season three?
Congrats on your new gig!
4 - Barbara Barnett
Hi Boffle,
I'm glad you found me over here. And thanks for the suggestion about placing a spoiler warning.
5 - hl_lover
Sasmom,
You have accurately captured in your review the meticulous planning that must go into each season of 'House' by its writers and executive producers.
As most House fans know, David Shore, creator and executive producer, once compared the journey of understanding the complex psyche of Gregory House to the peeling of an onion, each layer slowly removed (and occasionally bringing one to tears in the process!) to reveal a bit more about this most fascinating of TV characters.
Each mini-arc within each season gives us a bit more to ponder, another piece of the puzzle, and you have described these mini-arcs and puzzle pieces brilliantly!
6 - Nancy
Very good review.
HATED the Tritter arc....HATED.
LOVE Hugh Laurie.
He is AMAZING!!
Enjoying season 4 very much so far.
I like the older guy who really isn't a dr.
I wish they would keep him.
7 - NLP
I'm surprised your somewhat-comprehensive review of House's life & growth throughout the 3rd season mentions all his interactions with various women -- except for Cameron. Her interactions with him have affected his life changes too. And leaving all else aside, that kiss said a lot.
8 - Barbara Barnett
There was so much going on in that episode (Half-Wit)that I thought it all pretty much eclipsed Cameron's kiss (and House's return of said kiss.) I took that kiss as Cameron trying to distract House in order to get the blood. House, wary at first of even returning the kiss, gave in (I think he would have done the same thing had it been Cuddy or any other female, for what it's worth,) only to have his wariness proven correct. Cameron says to House "you kissed back." But I don't think that the kiss was any more than returning the kiss of an attractive female to whom he was physically attracted. But, as pretty much everything in House, it's open to interpretation.
Barbara
9 - NLP
I'm surprised your somewhat-comprehensive review of House's life & growth throughout the 3rd season mentions all his interactions with various women -- except for Cameron. Her interactions with him have affected his life changes too. And leaving all else aside, that kiss said a lot
10 - denise
sasmom, wonderful review as are all your comments.
my Hugh love knows no bounds. this man is an outstanding talent!!!!!! and the joy of watching him work (or play musical instruments) is heaven for me!
11 - Barbara Barnett
Denise--Thanks. I am really looking forward to seeing where the season and the character are headed. I feel that we are in a bit of a transitional period right now for all of the characters. You will get no argument from me regarding the amazing Mr. Laurie!
barbara
12 - Mary
Thanks for this insightful analysis of the various arcs of the third season. As somebody else's comment noted, the writers on "House M.D." must put an incredible amount of thought into planning the way in which we are learning, episode by episode, about the layers of this unforgettable and oddly admirable character.
But what we learn of him is not just in the renowned witty dialogue, but in silent moments when we can observe House reacting with his eyes and body language to what he has just experienced. For example, after That Kiss in "Half-Wit," there's a shot of him in his office where he touches his lips with his fingers, as if he were trying to analyze what he had just experienced there. In "Fetal Position," after the fetal hand-to-House's-finger contact, when he goes home on "vacation," we see him once again brushing his fingertips together in a contemplative way.
I don't know if these silent meaningful moments came from the script, the direction provided, or just come from Mr. Laurie's actor's instincts, but they are part of what makes "House M.D." a must-watch program for me. By must-watch I mean I actually watch every single moment of it, looking for those silent clues to House's character. Having Season Three on DVD means that I get to enjoy them over again.