The show is visually as well as viscerally and intellectually appealing. The wardrobe and props add to the attention to detail. Each character has a particular style – Cuddy in her sexy power suits, pretty Chase in his hideously mismatched outfits, Foreman in his stylishly professional garb, Cameron in her vests and heels, Wilson in his ever-present tie and pocket protector, and House in his concert t-shirt under long-sleeved shirt under ill-fitting blazer, usually accompanied by jeans and always by sneakers. House's office is a treasure trove of offbeat toys that contribute evidence of his juvenile side. Besides his Gameboy and portable TV, House plays with a turntable, unidentified ball, and iPod, in an office full of quirky personality indicators.
The gorgeous wood and glass sets must be a pain to shoot properly, and walk-and-talk shots are a signature, but otherwise the direction tends to the clean and simple. The pilot episode, directed by executive producer Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-Men, Superman Returns), oddly seems to have been shot with an orange filter, but otherwise the episodes are presented here in a pristine DVD transfer.
A downside to this DVD release is that it is presented in non-anamorphic widescreen. While this isn't an issue for those with regular 4x3 televisions, anyone with a widescreen TV will be disappointed at the resulting reduction in quality.
The brevity of the extras is another downside, but there are nice moments and it's not all scripted PR fluff. The biggest omission is the lack of commentary on key episodes or any other meaty discussion of the show by its creators. But the inclusion of what must be Hugh Laurie's original audition, taped in a Namibian hotel bathroom when he was shooting Flight of the Phoenix, is a treat. While the producers may seem like visionaries to have seen the potential in Laurie despite his tendency to be typecast in roles that are polar opposite to Dr. House, the reality is here: Laurie made it easy for them by absolutely inhabiting the role from the second the camera began to roll in that African hotel.
A minor quibble is that the episode order on the DVD is as they were aired on Fox, not the production order. Because the early episodes were the ones rearranged, and they are self-contained, this isn't a big issue, but there are character developments, like Cameron's escalating crush on House, that are subtly affected by the reordering.
Article comments
1 - Doreen
This is a most brilliantly written review.
I am absolutely mesmerized by this show and the phenominal acting of Hugh Laurie.
In my House, Tuesday is HOUSE.
This is a not to be missed show, and your review perfectly captured the essence, and brilliance of this remarkable show.
I am practically in grief counseling until it comes back on 11/1.
2 - deekay
Thank you! Yes, October is a cruel month, but I'm grateful Fox didn't make us wait until November for the season premiere.
3 - Rosemary Rimmer-Clay
I think Hugh Laurie would have made a wonderfully interesting Bond...
In 'House' he is everyman struggling with the cruel lessons of life, with only music and his intelligence and barbed wit to deflect the slings and arrows! If only Hugh Laurie could understand how magnetic and compelling his performance as House is.No other actor could reveal the flawed humanity in all of us, in the way he has.
I hate the way the press are hounding him in his private life, so that he can't even go for a quiet stroll with his wife and dog!
He is a very fine actor, and I am very grateful to him for his dedication to his craft, as a sensitive and thoughtful actor he has made a lot of people feel genuinely happy, as they engage with the character of House. Well done Hugh!