Make no mistake about it, I love House. I am a certified (or certifiable) fan of Hugh Laurie. So it was with great excitement that I loaded the VCR and parked myself on the sofa, ready to be wowed by the much anticipated first episode. But by the time it was over, I felt underwhelmed by what should have been a compelling season opener.
It had all the right elements that most of the fan-girls of the good doctor salivate over: House playing the guitar, witty repartee between House and Cuddy, amusing glimpses into the boyish friendship between House and Wilson, great shots of House’s piercing blue eyes, and even a gratuitous shot of his behind. I get it—Hugh Laurie is a sexy, multi-talented, amazing actor who richly deserves the accolades he has received (as well as those he lost out on – maybe next year Emmy voters!). Gregory House is a childish, sometimes clownish, but extremely gifted diagnostician who always gets the treatment right, but always almost kills the patient before he finally sees the big picture with a seemingly intuitive epiphany that hits him toward the end of every episode. This week’s patient puzzle was a tough one and the resolution of her story was a complete surprise. But something was missing.
It starts with a girl, Megan, and her boyfriend, Ben, having a slight tiff by cell phone while he waits for her outside of her office. Next thing you know, the building implodes and he is left outside, covered in dust, with a bewildered WTF look on his face. (As if there isn’t enough in the world to worry about, now I have to be concerned about going to work – maybe I should call in sick tomorrow.) We next see House in his office, playing a cool V-shaped guitar, which is plugged into an amplifier. In walks Cuddy, with the girl’s chart – she has broken bones and a fever that is not responding to treatment. House has done nothing for two weeks and hasn’t even started hiring a new team. House is not interested in the case and goes back to playing an amazing Van Halen arpeggio, which Cuddy cuts short by pulling the plug and challenging him to solve the case alone and hire a new team. House takes the bait and counter-offers with the proposal that if he solves the case in one day, Cuddy will leave him alone for one week about this team business. And they’re off.
Here’s where we discover the first missing item: House’s team. Remember last episode—Foreman quit, Chase is fired, and Cameron, in a final flirtatious gesture toward her elusive boss, tenders her resignation and strokes House’s arm, telling him that he’s going to be okay? So here is House, writing on his white board and bouncing ideas off no one. Cue the janitor, a sweet guy with an honest demeanor who plays along with House in this game of cure the patient. The janitor even throws out lupus as an idea of what is wrong with Megan – a knowing wink from the writers to the fans because we all know it’s never lupus. House goes so far as to send the poor guy to talk to Ben and Megan’s mother, pretending to be a doctor. I’m sure there is a law against this sort of pretense somewhere, but House is a child and laws were made for other people. House then tries to talk Doctor Buffer into doing the usual breaking into the patient’s home but the poor janitor won’t go for it without the requisite $50 bribe. House must not pay him, because the next scene has House luring Wilson into a free lunch but forgetting to tell him that it comes with a little larceny.
Article comments
1 - Kaonashi
I feel sorry for those poor, poor interviewees. House will eat them for breakfast.
2 - Householder
Many thanks for your brilliant & insightful review! I look forward to reading more of your blogs...
3 - Ex-House Viewer
Big disappointment. Watched 3 seasons but noticed a decline in storyline last year. The writers seem to be running out of fresh ideas. This premiere stunk. I won't be watching House any more.
4 - Vanessa
This was a really great premiere, and I don't think they have been declining, they are definitely rising, but I really don't know how long House M.D. will last on the television. I love this show.
5 - Shirley
I enjoyed the premiere. Especially the interaction between House and Wilson which hadn't been the same for alot of last season.
6 - OJU
I thought the premiere was great! I think they did an excellent job re-establishing the dynamics of the character relationships, so as not jar us into thinking "this is a different show! It's not the same!". It felt really comfortable, but at the same time was moving towards something exciting and fun, but different. I thought the writers did a good job and are going to handle this "House survivor" thing very well. This is quite obviously not the same show that premiered in 2004, I think it has gotten a lot better.
7 - CindyC
Thanks for the comments and encouragement. I am looking forward to the survivor game. I'm sure the Housisms will be flying. And for Ex-House Viewer: I'm sorry you feel that way and I'm curious to know the top three things that you think the show needs to do to keep you as a viewer.
8 - Mary
This episode was, incredibly, based on an actual case that happened in, as I recall, Michigan. The family only found out late in the game that the girl they thought was their daughter was in fact another girl entirely. I remember thinking at the time that it was only a matter of time until someone used it as the basis of a TV episode.
9 - Alex
I enjoyed the episode, and I didn't miss the ducklings at all. I'm ready for a new bunch. House, Wilson, and Cuddy have always been the core of the show for me.
10 - wee_ko
Today the fourth season of House M.D. premieres in Spain, and here I am, spoiling myself! But I have great expectations. Great review 8)
11 - Cassandra
Just started on House. Not much of a tv person. My friend knows how addicted to Blackadder I was so she thought I should see Hugh in another light. Oh, yeah...totally different. Such a good looker too. And the "American accent"? Not so American I think. The shows great. I'm glad that last lot has left though, they were flooding the show with cliche emotional issues.....especially Cameron and Chase. Too much emotion for me. Tell how Season 4 pens out, I'll be waiting for the DVD release. It's so much easier to watch House that way for me, I can overdose on yes, his "spectacularly blue eyes"....his eyes are very very blue and the mini pout is great too.
GOOD GOOD SHOW ......... BEST RIDDANCE OF CLICHES ON TV SO FAR......... HOPE THEY DON'T MAKE HIM ALL FEELINGLY LATER THOUGH!
12 - Danielle
Wow, thanks for getting me connected! I am not much of a TV fan, but got 'addicted' to House in the first season when I was in grad school. I now live in Africa and can't get the video stream on Fox.com to work, so I am just counting the days until Season 4 is available on video! My husband brought me Season 3 on DVD and I never imagined that Cameron, Chase and Foreman would not be back! I also thought it was often too much 'drama and not enough medical mystery' but I did like the team. Anyone know why they were all ousted at once? This blog was posted four months ago; can anyone tell me what their updated feelings on the show are? I have months to go before I can see it!
13 - toni
love house cant wait for season four keep goin