Over the last year, my articles about House, MD have been generally pretty positive. Having watched the series from year one (if not exactly day one), I still adore House and its star Hugh Laurie, and his alter ego, Dr. Gregory House.
But this is not to say that I think the show is flawless — or even brilliant — every week. There are things wrong with the series and things very right with it. Things that have gotten better and better over the years, and things that (in my most humble opinion) have gone the other way.
So, in the spirit of end of the year review, I would like to offer you my insights on House — what is wonderful and keeps me coming back week after week (not to mention writing this column) and what I think needs fixin’ in this old House. So, all you “powers that be” — if you’re out there, have a listen.
The Best of House, 2008
The stunning conclusion to the Wilson/Amber/House arc. Arguably two of the best episodes in the series. Ever. Kudos to Garrett Lerner and Russel Friend for writing them from Doris Egan’s original story idea, and to Hugh Laurie (especially in “House’s Head” for a raw, grueling, fearless performance), Robert Sean Leonard (in “Wilson’s Heart”) and Ann Dudek (as Amber Volakis).
The intricacy of the writing. The writing staff on House is remarkably stable. Most of the series’ scribes have been writing for the show since the first or second season. They know the characters well and each writer has slightly differing takes on them, without violating series canon. The characters do not always act consistently, but then again, when do I act consistently? Each character has his or her flaws, which often pop only in the most subtle ways. This gives them a multi-dimensionality I’ve rarely experienced in watching television.
One of the things I like best about House is that it is written in many layers, like phyllo dough. I can go back to a season one episode, watch it for the umpteenth time and still find something new in it — some nuance, some “aha!” The same can be said of episodes from each season, as the writing has remained complex (if not become even more so.) On one level, the casual viewer can enjoy the week’s medical mystery, House’s snark, the banter between House and everyone else. At the same time, the main series narrative unfolds at an often tantalizingly slow pace, with steps forward and back, hesitation and growth. The series continues to be at its absolute best when the several strands of each episode weave together to tell not only a compelling human drama but make intelligent and pointed social commentary. And House still does that. My New Year’s wish for the writers is that they keep writing strong and nuanced stories, and continue to learn how to better utilize the larger cast without sacrificing the mesmerizing presence of Hugh Laurie as House. And don’t be so enamored of “Fourteen.” (Sorry, had to say that.)
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - marykir
As usual, I'm in pretty much complete agreement with you.
The show seems to be getting better at coping with the longer ad breaks (they're more evenly spaced), but those still bug and I wish for a return to the post-tease and pre-preview ad breaks :)
Otherwise, the biggest refinement I would like to see in 2009 is more emphasis on episodes with House and/or the patient at the emotional core. I want to remember episodes as "the one where House..." or "the one with the patient who..." not "the one where {pick a supporting character} {pick some activity not related to the patient}"
That's not to say I dislike the supporting characters and don't care how much screen time they get. However, if what *I* remember is a supporting character's story, for *me* the episode feels like it's lacking something. Namely House at work.
2 - Habitusa
Very thoughtfull review, thank you for posting. I found myself agreeing with you almost on all counts, especially on this:
"New Year’s wish: David Shore and the writers remember that this is neither a procedural nor an ensemble show, but is, at its core, a brilliant and detailed character study."
Probably the only thing that I see differently is that I don't believe there is any way to return to the brilliant and detailed character study (that House used to be in the first three seasons) with the show's currently overblown cast. I think it's time to let a few people go.
3 - Phillip Winn
I agree with Habitusa: there are simply too many characters right now. Some need to either go away completely or fade into the background more often.
Nice wrap-up, Barbara. Your analysis is always first-rate.
4 - blacktop
Thank you for this incisive and thoughtful overview of the year in "House." I agree with most of your points, especially the displeasure with the additional advertising breaks. I would add that the move to the earlier time slot has not served this edgy and daring show well this fall.
I don't feel that the Thirteen story arc has taken over the show nor do I feel that it has intruded or taken attention away from House. I think that the writers have been remarkably careful and precise in making every twist in her storyline echo ethical or moral questions that continue to confront House as we have watched him develop over these past five years. The same applies to the evolution of Foreman. As long as the writers keep true to the central pursuit of peeling the layers from the character of House I have no fundamental issues with the show.
I would like to see a paring down of the cast of characters to allow for more exploration of the compelling core trio of House, Cuddy, and Wilson. I suggest that the themes explored through Chase and Cameron have run their natural course and their interactions with House cease to either enlighten or amaze at this point. A happy send-off for this couple would be a welcome and unusual turn of events for the show.
Oh, and as long as we are wishing, I hope for more clinic patients in the New Year, more House at the piano (he touched his guitar twice in fall episodes but never the piano), and an unguarded moment of zesty lovin' for House and Cuddy.
5 - spicyride
Awesome review Barbara. I agreed with every word.
I really miss clinic duty. I hope 2009 brings it back.
I also agree with others that have said the cast is too large. I think this has created a lot of the problems I have with the show. They simply don't have time to fit it all in.
6 - monique
No offense, but I really cannot stand to read your reviews and articles anymore. I am so glad that I did not read them before this season, and I will stop after this.
You of course are welcome to liking Wilson and RSL before the past year, but I really am not sure exactly what sure you have been watching. To say that Wilson was manipulative and cruel to House in S3, well it doesn't make any sense to me. Yes, Wilson did some things that were not particularly smart, but he never did anything in S3 if not the whole series for any other reason than love and concern for House. Even in Meaning, C&A, and FJ, everything Wilson did was to try to help House, even if in a possilby misguieded way. But Wilson was never deliberately cruel to House, he always thought he was helping him. But House was unbearably, heartbreakingly cruel to Wilson, in Whac-a-Mole, MLC, and Family, among numerous other instances.
I will stop rehashing S3, but I also do not agree with your wish that Wilson finds a new girlfriend. They have done it already, and no one can replace Amber. Maybe in a year, but still not now. I really wish that the TPTB would had shown more of what is going on between House and Wilson, and how Amber's death has really affected both of them. They should have been focussing a lot more on House/Wi;lson than on HOuse and Cuddy this season. But you have a right to your opinion.
But the main reason that I have a real big problem with your articles is that you see the whole show through very Huddy tinted lenses, so much so that a lot of what you write is just pure fantasy, in its everything revolves about Cuddy and Huddy viewpoint.
I have been rewatching all the past seasons, and yes, House has always flirted with Cuddy, and yes I will agree there has been sexual tension between t them, but the view that Cuddy has been the all consuming love of House's life, (at least since Stacy) is just totally ridiculous to me.
Of course, you are more than entitled to your opinions, and you certainly have the right to write about them.
But you are trying to pass yourself off as the ultimate chronicler and reviewer of House.
That is what really bothers me about your articles.
You are simply far too biased and one sided in your opinions for that. Maybe you should be a little honest and up front about your very narrow viewpoints and judgements of the show
7 - Mel
I agree with you as usual about almost everything....
The one thing I disagree is the "My New Year’s wish for House and Cuddy: No long-term happiness for either of them (with each other, at least). Not for now, anyway."
I'd be more interested in exploring their "disfunctional relationship" that their "not-relationship". I don't think is belivable or natural keep them apart for another season.
8 - Skreenz
I was with you all the way until you got to 13. You're right that she gets much too much screen time. But there's a reason so many of us find that so grating: because the character is grating, and Olivia Wilde is simply not a good enough actress to redeem her. Huntington's IS a tragic disease. Yet I could care less about 13's struggle with it.
Compare and contract with Amber, surely one of the most unsympathetic characters on television--yet Anne Dudek gave her extra dimensions, made us believe a man like Wilson could fall for her, made us (well, me, anyway) cry like a baby when she died.
As I see it, the problem isn't that 13 gets so much story time, it's that Wilde is at a loss to make something compelling out of what she's given.
9 - barbara barnett
Thanks everyone for your comments. Monique, I wanted to address one thing in your comment:
But you are trying to pass yourself off as the ultimate chronicler and reviewer of House.
That is what really bothers me about your articles.
You are simply far too biased and one sided in your opinions for that. Maybe you should be a little honest and up front about your very narrow viewpoints and judgements of the show
I'm actually not trying to do that, and, like everyone else, I see the characters as I see them. These aren't "objective" recaps that chronicle each episode: he said this, she said that. These are opinon pieces, and as such, are...opinions. Viewed through my own perspective. I've read mainstream media reviews of this or that episode that have absolutely hated one or another character or story arc. Like me, they see the show through their own biases and eyes. I may not agree with them, just as you do not agree with me. Doesn't mean I'm wrong, you're wrong or they're wrong. It just means we see the characters differently.
But I certainly don't presume to see myself as the "ultimate" chronicler of House. I wouldn't be so presumptuous to ever believe that.
As far as Wilson is concerned, I believe that his manipulations have sometimes been cruel and not especially helpful in their intended purpose. In "cane and able," Wilson was especially nasty, not only hiding the truth of the case from House, but then telling him "you're not always right House, you've sure proven that lately," before that heart-wrenching treadmill scene. Fact is, House was right, and adding to the lie only made House more depressed. Wilson realized his error in calling House simply "lucky" by the time MLC rolled around, but by then it was too late.
I've never said that Cuddy is or was the love of House's life--only that he does (in his own way) love her. and their relationship has lasted for many, many years, having withstood a past sexual liason and whatever else they've endured. I'm sorry you've decided to stop reading my columns, but you're certainly under no obligation here :)
10 - barbara barnett
Mel--I agree with you as usual about almost everything....
The one thing I disagree is the "My New Year's wish for House and Cuddy: No long-term happiness for either of them (with each other, at least). Not for now, anyway."
I'd be more interested in exploring their "dysfunctional relationship" that their "not-relationship". I don't think is believable or natural keep them apart for another season.
Well, I never said NO happiness, I just said "long-term" happiness. I say, let them consummate the thing already and let them deal with the attraction, the fallout and all of the other baggage. I would not keep them apart.
11 - to21be
Very nicely summed up, Barbara! I like it.
My wish for 2009 - the inclusion of the missing season 4 blooper reel in the season 5 DVD box.
12 - barbara barnett
to21b--I think you're on to something! 2 blooper reels in the season five dvd box. Must have!
13 - Orange450
Barbara, Chag Urim Sameach. What a great Chanukah surprise gift.
It seems like a very long ago that I wasn't a regular reader and participant here, but it was only around six months ago that I read your column for the first time, and I told someone on the Fox forum that I'd read a House review by a writer on the Blogcritics site who must live inside my head, because I agree exactly with almost everything she says, but I could never say it as well!
I just had time to skim this - haven't been able to read it in depth yet, but just from the quick look, I think I'm going to agree with most of it yet again. Maybe just enough disagreement to make for interesting discussion :-)
14 - Helen
So every character on House has a small section on your review except Cameron that is mentioned when you write about Chase. And then you say you're not biased. LOL.
And not to rain on your parade but Cameron and Chase will never become engaged, there's no happy ending for these two.
15 - Kris
Best year review I read so far. As usual, you were spot on with your observations, Barbara. As for the bitter ones, I don't consider myself a 'Huddy' shipper and Cuddy is far from being my favorite character. Having said that, I actually agree with Barbara's view on Cuddy and her relationship with House. It has always been an important element of the show - just as important as House's relationship with Wilson - and is not being written on a straight line. If I didn't know any better, I'd say people have a hard time with subtle and a little thing called subtext. Well, potato, potata.
Merry Christmas!
16 - Esperanza
Monique: you said it perfectly. I agree completely with you.
17 - Manu
Great review, as usual. You summed up mine and everyone else's (well, most of them, anyway) sentiments pretty nicely.
I'm a fan and always look forward to your reviews.
Merry Christmas, Barbara!
18 - Jan
Maybe you like Wilson more this year because all his role has been is to push House into Cuddy's arms. In previous seasons, he was his own character and took House's attention for himself.
Sorry, but I'm with Monique. You're seeing the show through Huddy glasses and everything that you pay attention to is through that. Anything that does not prop Huddy you dismiss. You even blame Wilson for Cane and Able, forgetting that it was Cuddy who lied to House and Cuddy who continued to lie to him even after Cameron told her how much it was hurting House (which Cuddy dismissed when House covered it up).
As someone said above, you don't even give Cameron her own section, she's only mentioned as an extension of Chase even though she had more development on the show in 2008 than he has, e.g. in Living the Dream and The Itch.
It's interesting that while you like the men on the show, you have no time for either Cameron or Thirteen. I can understand the over-use of Thirteen and how she takes time away from House and Cuddy but Cameron was one of the building blocks of the show, along with Chase and Foreman. I guess Amber is okay since she's no threat any more.
I'm not surprised you want Cameron and Chase to get engaged even though all the signs point to this relationship crashing unless both characters are dropped from the show. That way she won't interfere with Huddy. I will never understand the fear of Cameron by those who say House and Cuddy will be together.
I've personally been disappointed in 2008 by the show. The promise of revitalization through a new team hasn't been kept. The diagnostic sessions are the even more boring and less believable, the story lines similar, Kutner gets even less than Chase did and the new team hasn't been incorporated into the show as a whole as the old team was. Cuddy mentored Foreman, Wilson mentored Cameron, Chase had a desire for a fatherly relationship with House; none of the new team has any kind of relationship with the original characters except for Thirteen and Foreman. Thirteen's story continues to drag the show down. I do agree about that part. House isn't involved with any one other than Wilson and Cuddy and that makes the show less complex and rich.
Re Kris's comment: Cuddy has been an important element on the show but as House's boss. In the first two seasons, House's primary relationships were with Wilson and his team, and temporarily with Stacy. The story where Cuddy loves him and he loves her but is too scared of hurting her to go after her appeared in season 3, along with the new light-hearted, fun loving House who cares more about the personal lives of his friends than he does about the medicine. The road block of Cuddy's adopting a child instead of actually seeing what a relationship with House and Cuddy would be like is a huge cop-out. Shore wants to have his cake and eat it too.
19 - barbara barnett
Where to start. OK, let's start with Wilson. Wilson's MO is to manipulate House. He has since the first episode when he lied about the patient being his cousin. House knows that Wilson lies to him, but can't really tell when Wilson is lying to and when he's not. Wilson is not as nice as he appears, just as House isn't as much of an ass as he appears. In Cane and Able, like in Merry Little Christmas the lying to House part came from Wilson, not Cuddy. Cuddy was uncomfortable with it and went along because she thought that maybe Wilson was right. And went along.
Regarding Cameron: I do think she's been way underutilized this season as has Chase. They both have. And I believe I said that somewhere, if not in this article, in some other article recently. I really like Chase and Cameron together as a team--they are like the bemused older siblings who've moved out of the House (as it were) and are wiser for it. They help when (and only when) they want. I'd love to see them become engaged, but it's not likely to happen, and if it does...it will probably fail. No one on this show can stay happy for long. Sorry if anyone feels slighted that Cameron didn't get her own special section, it wasn't intentional, nor was the article written to give anyone their own particular spotlight for either better or worse.
Jan--I completely disagree that I dismiss anything that isn't "huddy." I just don't watch the show like that. I simply don't. I would be happy if I got three shows in a row with House simply dealing with the patient. And no one else. I watch for House and with whom he interacts. Sure I like the flirting and the long-standing relationship that Cuddy (and Wilson) have with him, but they're not why I watch the show, nor how I view it.
As far as the new team--Taub is mentoring Kutner (and Kutner thinks very much like House--he even speaks in metaphors--but is a bit more zen about medicine and life in general that House can be). No, they don't fit into the cookie-cutter molds of the old team, and I'd really dislike it if they did. But I've enjoyed the new team immensely.) i don't think the writing has suffered. And if you listen to the diagnostic sessions, they are quicker and a bit subtler than earlier seasons. They move very, very rapidly through House's filter. More than they did, say, three seasons ago.
House is far from light-hearted. He's deeply troubled still, but beginning to reach out and act on the feelings he expressed in Wilson's Heart. I like the direction of the show, but it does need to get rid of some clutter.
20 - Kris
Cuddy has been an important element on the show but as House's boss. In the first two seasons, House's primary relationships were with Wilson and his team, and temporarily with Stacy. The story where Cuddy loves him and he loves her but is too scared of hurting her to go after her appeared in season 3, along with the new light-hearted, fun loving House who cares more about the personal lives of his friends than he does about the medicine.
That is certainly YOUR opinion, sweetie, and you are entitled to it, but others obviously see it differently. There is a certain thing called continuity (though I admit they seem to have forgotten what it means) and the seed of a House and Cuddy romance was planted in the pilot. There were always subtle hints lying underneath the banter and sexual innuendos in the beggining of the series. I am not a fan and I did see it in previous seasons. Sure, it might be up for interpretation, but you can't take your opinion and assume it is canon simply because it's yours. It is simply yet another opinion.
What's interesting about this debate is that people accuse Barbara of being biased, but they are biased themselves. I see a lot of contradiction in these so called 'ship wars' in the fandom. I have yet to meet one 'Huddy' fan that sees Cameron as a threat and yet those 'Hameron' fans do see 'Huddy' as a threat, hence the constant bitching.
There are people who see the show through Cameron/Hameron lenses as well. And as a neutral person, it is my personal opinion that this is much more of a fantasy than seeing it through any other lense you decide to pick.
The House fandom is hard to please. People are upset because there isn't enough Wilson, Cameron, Chase; they'll bitch about lack of development on Chameron, Hilson or Hameron scenes. Now if they start focusing on, say, House/Wilson and leave House/Cuddy and Foreteen behind, people will no longer complain about Hilson, but will bitch about lack of Huddy and heck, even Foreteen, while still bitching about Chameron and Hameron.
It's a catch 22. There needs to be balance, and there isn't.
21 - melly
Mostly I agree with your points,especially the Foreman as "nice" House point. It's been done over and over since Season One-and I didn't buy it then either.
I'm not particularly on the Taub-Kutner love train, however. I think they have the potential to be interesting characters, but I dislike the way they're used as some slap stick comedy duo. It just takes away from the seriousness of the medical drama, and also from their believability as doctors.
In the past the comedy seemed to arise more naturally from either the banter between the characters or as a result of their dysfunctional personalities. I'm not a fan of the exploding poo and other such juvenile nonsense that seems to be the basis of the Taub/Kutner humor. The rare glimpses of serious Kutner, however, have been very good. It's a shame that we haven't gotten more of that because of the never ending Thirteen saga.
Taub's marital issues seem a bit too much like a rehashing of Wilson's for me to care, but I think he would make a great peripheral character if they moved him from diagnostics to surgery. Taub's just opportunistic and questionably ethical enough to make a a great ally or nemesis for House in that department. (Chase, imho, would be better utilized butting heads with House in a ddx since he's been shown capable.)
The Huddy has also gotten out of hand. Their banter and sexual tension was great, but House isn't relationship material and Cuddy's pursuit of him has largely made her character appear weak and taken away from the medicine.
More than anything show really needs to get back to focusing on the patients and *their* stories with House pulling out all the stops to get the diagnosis. I miss how we used to learn about the characters through the patients. Now the patients seem more of an afterthought.
So I'm hoping for less Huddy drama (funny banter is good for them, but this current arc needs to die) and a hell of a lot less Thirteen/Foreman/Foreteen. I'm also hoping for more organic integration of Chase and Cameron into the story rather than the forced 45 seconds an ep we've been getting. It's been a season and half, writers, figure it out already. There's no excuse at this point.
22 - Helen
Jan, great review, you should blog it, I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said.
Cameron (and Chase) have been underutilized since they left the team at the end of season 3. Any Cameron and Chase fan will agree with this.
Why do you like Chase and Cameron as a team? I think Chase and Cameron are more interesting characters when they're not interacting with each other. Cameron works better with House, Wilson or Foreman and Chase with House or Foreman, but together they have zero chemistry. What do you think about Cameron then? You can add a word or two about her in your review, can't you? I bet there's an edit button somewhere.
23 - Manu
The House fandom is hard to please. People are upset because there isn't enough Wilson, Cameron, Chase; they'll bitch about lack of development on Chameron, Hilson or Hameron scenes. Now if they start focusing on, say, House/Wilson and leave House/Cuddy and Foreteen behind, people will no longer complain about Hilson, but will bitch about lack of Huddy and heck, even Foreteen, while still bitching about Chameron and Hameron.
Exactly. That is the main reason why I avoid debates such as this one. I usually read said critic/review/spoiler and leave before going through the comments. It's rare to find a mature debate that is not biased or shipper driven. Somehow I am glad Katie Jacobs does not read the feedback on the show. It is not like she will ever be able to please everyone.
24 - Helen
I usually read said critic/review/spoiler and leave before going through the comments. It's rare to find a mature debate that is not biased or shipper driven.
I think you could say the same about every critic/review/spoiler you read, they're always biased or shipper driven, as in this case.
25 - barbara barnett
Kris, Manu--well said. Everyone has an opinion and no one person's opinion is more valid than someone else's. Except mine (just kidding ;)). Let's keep this debate civil, intelligent and well-articulated and I'll be happy. People come here for what has really become a great place for intelligent debate about a great television show.