We used to be big House watchers in this house a few years ago. We loved seeing Dr. House be snarky and cynical, and while an addiction to Vicodin is tragic, it was part of who he was. Really, maybe that's part of what addiction is -- it becomes familiar and part of your psyche, and you don't want to give it up. I'm no therapist, though (clearly). We lapsed with the show as it became more and more predictable, and even the addition of the new team and the Survivor-like way House picked them wasn't enough to make it must-see TV. We watched only an episode or two last season. House's spiral was sad, and we didn't want to watch it anymore. I know long-running shows have to evolve, but we had lost the old House.
But we eagerly tuned into the season premiere this week, and I feel like the old House is back, only better than ever. He still has lots of issues to work out, but the way he played the staff and patients at the mental hospital was classic, even to the point where he got some of it back from the staff. They're no dummies.
The storyline definitely gave House a much-needed reboot. I only wish he would have stayed in the mental hospital a little longer, like maybe another episode or two. The patients were all so kooky and damaged and funny, and I would have loved to see more of House's interactions with them, as well as the staff, led by the fabulous Andre Braugher. I'm a little nervous that the show will go back to being the procedural that Jason talked about in this post.
What about you? Are you liking the reboot (if, indeed, that's what you think it is). Are you nervous that it might return to its disease-of-the-week formula (or doesn't that bother you)? Would you have liked House to stay in the mental hospital just a little bit longer?
[Watch full episodes and clips of House, as well as other shows, over at SlashControl.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-23-2009 @ 2:58PM
c9house said...
Nice spoiler in your title. Thanks!!
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9-23-2009 @ 4:02PM
Jake G said...
Seriously?
If you don't watch it 24 hours after it premieres, DVR, download or otherwise, you can't bitch about spoilers. PERIOD.
Its people like you who tweet me every time I talk about last nights episode of Heroes, House, Lost or any decent show, complaining because you haven't watch it yet.
Thats not a spoiler in the title folks.
9-23-2009 @ 4:19PM
Shaun said...
Uh, how is the title not a spoiler?
Doesn't it imply that House got out of the asylum?
Which in turn reveals how the episode ended.... Maybe I don't understand what a spoiler is...
9-23-2009 @ 4:48PM
Gill said...
It's not a spoiler if it's already aired.
9-23-2009 @ 3:10PM
Karen said...
If only they could find a way to throw Wilson in there with him - I would absolutely love House to stay in the asylum a little longer! The staff there; especially Andre Braugher, were outstanding! And it was refreshing to see House interact with a new set of dramatic foils, and view his character through a stranger's eyes. God bless Hugh Laurie - I think that guy could make reading the phone book out loud into must-see TV. But I do miss Wilson!
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9-23-2009 @ 4:35PM
Craig said...
The title of the article is certainly a spoiler.
I'd agree that one shouldn't complain if they read an article about a show and it contained a spoiler-but it's rather difficult to avoid a TITLE, especially if you enjoy certain sites on a daily basis.
Please keep in mind, Jake G ( and Ms. Boursaw) not everyone has the cushy TV viewing life of a TV REVIEWER.
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9-23-2009 @ 10:27PM
Xyz said...
So how long do you have to wait for it to not be a spoiler? The episode aired over 48 hours ago - everyone has had a chance to view it by now regardless of timezone, and there's been an additional day and a half to watch it online. The title has to be indicative of what's in the post, no? It doesn't matter if you don't have the 'cushy schedule of a reviewer' (pretty presumptuous, that), at a certain point you're just going to have to accept that some things are going to be public knowledge and you've fallen behind. Tough luck.
9-23-2009 @ 5:11PM
punksrus said...
Personally, I'm hoping this will be a spin-off. The staff was great, the stories are there, and the pleasure of getting to see the great Andre Braugher on a weekly basis would be fantastic!
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9-23-2009 @ 5:43PM
Midnight13 said...
Do we know just how long he stayed in the asylum? Was it like three months or 60 days or six months? Seemed like he was there for an extended period of time but then the episode never indicated just how long his stay was.
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9-23-2009 @ 8:41PM
Ian said...
It's the sixth season and the show needs a redirection both for the viewers and for the sanity of the actors.
Let's hope that last night's show is a start for this.
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9-23-2009 @ 6:34PM
wulfn1 said...
I would have liked to see house stay just a bit longer at the asylum. It would have been great to watch him avoiding his issues (as he usually does) for another week or two , while expanding the characters in the asylum. They could have had the regular cast show up here and there for visitation (some to gloat maybe, some to worry) Though I think it would have harmed the show itself if they'd have kept him there beyond that.
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9-23-2009 @ 7:08PM
Streamheat said...
Estimating House's stay in the hospital:
When Freedom Master jumps, Dr. Nolan states that House had been in for four weeks. He starts taking SSRIs the next day, which take five weeks to work. Figure at least another three for therapy and evaluation. Twelve weeks, or just under three months.
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9-23-2009 @ 7:10PM
Kate said...
I used to watch House but, like Jane, quit because House was too unpleasant. I thought this was the best episode EVER. I, too, dread what might happen in the weeks ahead; now I only watch to see Robert Sean Leonard, who never gets enough air time. Would love to see Andre Braugher again, too. Anyone know if Homicide is in reruns anywhere?!
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9-23-2009 @ 8:55PM
chris said...
In a word. Yes.
The episode was fantastic. Made me realize how much I personally find the regular cast boring and unnecessary. I would have loved to have seen a whole year of House and Andre Braugher, as well as the further exploration of the relationship with the German woman. The actress who played that part was fantastic.
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9-24-2009 @ 1:41PM
Eludium-Q36 said...
"...find the regular cast boring and unnecessary."
That's pretty insightful. I wonder if the regular cast was concerned about that ? Has to be an ego-killer at the least.
9-23-2009 @ 9:33PM
Garrett said...
I liked the premiere but I know they have to get back to the regular show. I just hope that maybe we will see Alvi in an upcoming episode which could be if he gets better.
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9-24-2009 @ 12:14AM
Jane Boursaw said...
I'd just like to know where this "cushy" schedule is ... :-)
c9 and Shaun and Craig - In your mind, how long should a TV blog wait before something isn't a spoiler?
Punk - I'm loving that spin-off idea.
Reply
9-24-2009 @ 1:34AM
Craig said...
In the body of the article it's perfectly fine to have a spoiler at any point, because reading an article about a TV show would indicate spoiler potential. However, an article's title should never contain a spoiler, because a casual browser of IMDB or TVsquad could stumble across it, even if they were avoiding spoiler material to catch up on shows at a later date(the weekend, for instance).
9-24-2009 @ 8:43AM
c9house said...
If you've never seen a movie, do you want to know ending?
Any way, wow. It's not that big a deal. Just need to be a little bit more selective with the title.
Internet....Srs bsns.
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