I missed House. Plain and simple, no other show on television makes keeps me guessing what will happen next, and gives a more satisfying payoff, whether I've guessed the twist or not. That was the first thing I thought watching last night's season six premiere episode, "Broken." I'll even forgive the suddenness of a couple of plot twists (Dr. Nolan's father, and how House suddenly had keys to every room in the hospital when he needed a quiet place for a booty call). I know how those things fit into the plot, and I'll let the contrivance slide a bit. The other thing I thought watching "Broken" was that I also missed Andre Braugher. His character, Dr. Darryl Nolan, was the toughest, smartest I've seen him play since Homicide. (Note - I haven't seen everything he's done since, so if you have any suggestions on something to seek out, I'll take a look). It's not easy to hold your own onscreen with Hugh Laurie's House. It has been said lot, but it's worth repeating, Laurie is great in the role, and the role itself is one of the best on television (good enough that they named the show after him).
But Braugher did it well with Nolan, checking House scheme for scheme (see more on that in Jonathan's review). I'm hoping that Nolan isn't a one-shot deal. House doesn't make connections easily (that was the whole point), and if he sees any reason to speak to a psychiatrist later on, he won't seek out someone new. The natural next progression would be for him to speak to some of his colleagues, especially Wilson. But I'm hoping there's a reason or two for Nolan to pop back up somewhere else in season six.
The back and forth between Braugher and Laurie reminded me a bit of the "Subway" episode of Homicide, much of which concentrated on Braugher and Vincent D'Onofrio, who played a man stuck between a subway car and the platform who would die once the car was moved. That was a legendary episode, and "Broken" ranks up there with it.
Since it's been more than ten years since Homicide last aired, here's a refresher of that episode. Most of the best interactions happen later on, but you can't just watch part of this episode, so here's part one from YouTube:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-22-2009 @ 10:08AM
Robynn said...
I agree totally! Every time I see Braugher on television, I am reminded how much I admire his acting. I hope he does show up as a regular this season. It would be a shame and a waste of his character and his talent!
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9-22-2009 @ 10:15AM
David said...
Braugher was in a short-lived cable series where he was a thief. (It was called, "Thief") He was amazing in it. Totally carried the show. Loved him last night on "House".
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9-22-2009 @ 10:43AM
Shannon said...
I'm so glad I wasn't the only person who watched "Theif"! I thought it was a terrific show, and I was really dissapointed it didn't warrant a second season. I think it was on FX 2 or 3 years ago. It would be great if he became a recurring character. House could use a little outpatient therapy...
9-22-2009 @ 11:25AM
Jack said...
Yes! He was fantastic in "Thief." I just read he won an Emmy for it, after the show was canceled, of course.
9-22-2009 @ 10:35AM
evie said...
Why doesn't this guy work more? I don't get it. He's amazing in the few things I ever see him do.
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9-22-2009 @ 1:41PM
Mitch said...
Braugher was also good as the dirty detective Marcellus Washington on the David Morse series Hack. He may appear to be Morse's friend, but we later learn that his character is as dirty as Vic Mackey.
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9-22-2009 @ 10:46AM
Parl said...
Yeah, he was in a really bad movie a while back called Passing Glory and it was still obvious how good he was despite the bad plot/writing.
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9-22-2009 @ 11:03AM
Jason said...
spin-off.... ???
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9-22-2009 @ 3:09PM
Diane said...
they had been discussing that at some point last year.. maybe this was the "test" for it.
someone later posted about mental- i loved that show and the characters. sorry its gone.
9-22-2009 @ 11:33AM
Doompatrol said...
Make sure you see the film "The Mist". Fantastic King adaptation with an amazing performance by Braugher.
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9-22-2009 @ 11:35AM
zkbzjm said...
cutty out...nolan in?
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9-22-2009 @ 12:45PM
David said...
ooh, two thumbs up!
9-22-2009 @ 11:49AM
kate said...
NO KIDDING! I'd watch a show about a mental hospital with all these characters. I tried to watch Mental, but all those yahoos were such jerks. Even the main guy. What a waste.
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9-22-2009 @ 12:17PM
Elf said...
FYI, Braugher is going to be in Ray Romano's new show on TNT called "Men of a Certain Age" (or something similar to that-somene pelase correct me if I'm wrong.) I'm pretty sure the show is Romano, Braugher and Scott Bakula dealing with various mid-life crises together. Braugher's acting will certainly stand out in that ensemble.
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9-22-2009 @ 1:48PM
jffm said...
Great episode. Hugh Laurie is gold. Andre Braugher was the perfect foil for House. In a way, a healthy (for House), non-enabling version of Wilson (And I'd love to see Wilson bat around some of his problems with Dr. Nolan). A new star crossed love for House. Although I'd bet dollars to donuts we haven't seen the last of Lydia. And in "the scene", my heart went straight into my mouth when I realized where 'they' (I won't say who, for those who may have DVRed the show) were parked. :-)
The writers on House are fabulous. The get so many of the small things right, that so many writers would get wrong. And the shirt at the end was nothing short of classic. That closing shot really needs to be a poster.
A great start, and we still haven't even got all the players on the board.
Another vote for a "Mayfield" spinoff series. Intentional or not, all the elements are there.
A powerful lead character with a possibly checkered past, and maybe still wrestling with demons. A strong supporting cast. Blonde Dr. Beasley, who still has to learn the real world rules of doing her job. Alvarez, he wants to get better, but is he strong enough to make it? 'Freedom Man', what happened to his wife and why is he racked with guilt to the point of delusion? Dr. Medina, who just might enjoy "tough love" a little too much.
They've got characters suited to ongoing storylines and can still easily move new both short and long term characters into the story.
Fox, you're sitting on a great thing. Pick it up and run with it!
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9-22-2009 @ 6:29PM
The1337 said...
Hugh Laurie was absolute amazing. He gave a mind-blowing performance that has to be remembered for years. He could have won an Academy Award for that.
For a single episode, it was good, but the pacing was slow and the whole mental facility setting felt a little disingenuous. Full review of the episode on my blog.
http://th3tvobsessed.blogspot.com/2009/09/review-house-season-6-episode-1-broken.html
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9-22-2009 @ 7:33PM
Jgreenefields said...
Thief was not on long enough, and I totally agree with every word about this episode of House, THANK GOD he is baaaaack!!!
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9-22-2009 @ 8:35PM
comctrl6 said...
The very interesting fact is that when Andre Braugher won his Emmy in 2006 for "Thief," Hugh Laurie was the one who introduced Andre on stage (along with Helen Miren).
Here's the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AO9Z4bAvMU
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9-22-2009 @ 10:06PM
C C said...
More Andre Braugher? No kidding. My mom, who almost had a counseling degree, said Mayfield, in her opinion, was "a really good psychiatrist".
I'm hoping this episode is merely the beginning of a creative evolution in the series.
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9-23-2009 @ 8:38AM
chris said...
I really liked this episode. More so than just about any in the last 3-4 years. Loved seeing Braugher. And I kind hate his affair didn't go anywhere. I really liked that character as well. The actress did a fantastic job. I think it might be a bummer actually seeing him go back to the hospital. This episode made me realize that I really don't like the people he works with very much with the possible exception of Wilson.
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