Act I—The Happiness Scale. The season started out hopefully for Dr. House, in the aftermath of his near-fatal shooting and subsequent treatment with the veterinary drug ketamine, a radical procedure that would, if it worked, end House’s pain to the point where he could exercise, do physical therapy, and regain the use of his leg. Side note: This is why you should also watch Season 2 before Season 3. We first meet the new (and maybe improved) Season 3 House all sweaty and running! Pain free and cane-free! However, House’s Season 2 finale hallucination had convinced him that “meaning” was lacking in his miserable, lonely existence. And Season 3, as much as anything, is about House’s search for meaning and humanity - and for healing. House’s Season 3 journey is also about change—change that is within his control, and change that is not.
But from the start, House is at a loss as to how to insert meaning into his life. So much of season 3 is about things that House cannot control, such as the terrible disappointment of the ketamine treatment’s failure. There is a devastating scene in Episode 3 (“Cane and Able”) where House tries to push himself on a treadmill in the dead of night. He’s in terrible pain, desperate, trying to deny the pain its final victory. Then there is the tragedy of that episode’s final scene, made even more tragic by the musical backdrop of the song “Gravity,” as House seeks out the familiarity of his cane, his face awash with defeat.
Season 3, Act I concludes with “Lines in the Sand,” as House tries to understand how parents could devote themselves to an autistic child. As he had wondered about the patient’s wife in the season premiere, so, too, he wonders how the boy’s parents can be fulfilled by the all-consuming task of raising their needy son. What is the meaning they derive from it? Are they happy? House connects with the autistic boy, and for his efforts is rewarded with a gift that I think both stuns and moves him. It is also in this episode that House engages in what appears to be a power struggle with the Dean of Medicine, Lisa Cuddy (who alternately tries to both control and protect Dr. House), over something seemingly trivial - the replacement of House’s bloodstained carpet - that actually gets to the heart of House's control issues. That carpet was something he could control when everything else in his life was spiraling away from him. It had become, in effect, his anchor. He doesn't want it replaced.
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.