First, let me say I admire Hugh Laurie immensely. From House on back to Blackadder, the guy is first-rate, smart, and funny. I would have been happy if he’d won an Emmy on Sunday. And in general, I like House. I thought it took guts to shake up the show and introduce so many new characters in 2007, and the producers have made the cranky-but-wise-doctor concept remain fresh longer than I’d have imagined possible.
Now, all that said: I thought last night’s two-hour House season premiere was one long slog — a tedious, obvious drag. Putting House in a psychiatric hospital and showing the various stages of his struggles with pain and addiction was an interesting notion. But most of the premiere was spent establishing that no matter where you plop down House, he’ll always end up the smartest guy in the room. It wasn’t much fun, the way it often is with the impish side of Hugh Laurie, to see him quickly diagnose the symptoms and the stress-points of his asylum-mates. In recent years, this vaunted ability of House’s has become all-too-familiar, and in this case, it was too easy.
But, of course, you say, that was part of the point. Like any addict new to recovery, House thinks he’s above it all until he learns for himself that he’s no better than anyone else, including his rapping roommate, a fellow who thinks he’s a superhero, and a woman who hasn’t spoken in a long time. It requires a doctor equal to House to help him reach this realization. That doctor was played by the mighty Andre Braugher, needing only about 20% of his huge talent to play the head of Mayfield Psychiatric Hospital.
For two hours, House played cat-and-mouse mind-games with Braugher’s character and other authority figures. He also had a sincere flirtation with guest star Franka Potente. (Women are always drawn to House, even when he’s looking most drawn.) Fans of House got plenty of scenes in which the hero triumphs amusingly over his captors, because that’s what the audience comes to House to see. But then viewers were asked to watch Gregory House weaken just enough to admit that his problem is greater than he is, that he is, as the title of the episode had it, “Broken.”
It’s a nice, change-of-pace way to begin the season, but, as I said it was too long (even if you enjoyed the episode, wouldn’t you admit that the talent-show thing toward the end went on forever?) and left me less moved than wondering: How long is House’s new attitude going to last? Once he gets back to his old stomping/limping grounds, how many weeks before he’s the same delightfully arrogant cuss viewers adore?
You might say that “Broken” worked if it got me thinking about the character’s development in this way. But prompting an audience to think like the producers — i.e., how can we change House just a little to make things intriguing, but not so radically that we alienate our audience — just pulled me further out of the episode. (One more such thought: I’ll bet this is the episode House submits to the Emmys for Laurie next year, and I’ll bet he’ll win an overdue-award for it.)
Obviously, many of you probably disagree, including not just one but two of my colleagues here at EW. What did you think about last night’s House season premiere?
Ken, I think you are really off base with this one. This was 2 of the best hours of television I’ve ever seen. Hugh Laurie deserves an emmy for this episode alone. The emotion and ups and downs that his character went through were done amazingly.
This was one amazing episode and the time flew by for me. In this episode House learned two things humanity and humility
1. I really liked seeing House find and lose love. I also liked seeing House try to genuinely help the other patients — esp. when his efforts didn’t produce positive results (i.e. the death defying delusional ‘I can fly’ jump).
2. But let’s leave that psychiatric stuff to that other FOX show MENTAL. I don’t care for MENTAL and the premise just dosen’t work. So please don’t ruin House by its incorporating elements.
3. I prefer the disease of the week format and look forward to its return.
I loved it — One point I was crying,one point laughing, one point shocked the entire time rivited! GREAT SHOW
I loved this episode. I couldn’t wait for the commercials to end! If the rest of the season is as good as last night I won’t be missing an episode!
I loved it! I agree with the majority of what I’ve seen..it was very emotional. He is amazing!
i totally agree with cookie–hugh laurie was brilliant. loved the guest performances too. my only criticism was that i could have done without the rather cheesy skit bit; other than that…i’d say laurie just nabbed next year’s emmy nomination.
I agree cookiemac. This was one of the best season openers I have seen in a long time. I loved House’s interaction with the characters in this episode. Surprisingly, I felt more connected with them then I do the regular cast.
I don’t know what the reviewer was talking about. This episode was fantastic.
I completely disagree with you. This episode of House was fantastic. You are right, the cast & crew of House have managed to keep the concept fresh for awhile now – and the show needed this departure. And long time fans, like myself, needed to see growth from the good doctor. I think he will go back to being the arrogant cuss we know him to be once ensconced at Princeton Plainsboro again – but he will be a happy arrogant cuss. And I, for one, cannot wait to see how House and Wilson play off each other now that House has figured out how to connect with people.
I actually enjoyed the episode. It was a different change of pace for us viewers. It showed that House could actually be human and admit his mistakes. Lin-Manuel Miranda was amazing! I admit it was a little long, but all in all pretty good.
I agree, and was even more disappointed than you were. Yeah, Hugh was great as always, but the story was dull and disjointed, and it didn’t really carry over any of his issues from last season. The sessions with the psychiatrist (a very wasted Andre Braugher) were shallow and cliched. Quite frankly, what the show lacked was anger.
It lacked a lot more than that. I am getting very frustrated with shows that continue to ignore any semblance of reality just to advance their story. Even so, I have been a fan of House for years but this was just too much. By the way, I am being released later. I just ate my pudding.
I won’t argue with you that it lacked more than anger, but that was the big thing I missed. Why wasn’t house p**sed as all get out? He’d shown more emotion over having his caroet removed than he did nor being allowed to leave the institution.
Oops, “carpet”.
He wasn’t so angry because he knew he needed help. He was disproportionately angry over his carpet etc because of his mental illness.
Actually he could leave, he just couldn’t get the letter he wanted.
I am wary of this episode being irrelevant in the long term. From the previews of the season, we see Taub quitting (again), and 13 being fired (again), and the whole Huddy thing showing up (again). So, with the writers going back to the same wells (again), I have little hope that this changes House in the long term (see Season Three’s Tritter Arc if you doubt me).
I agree that if this episode becomes irrelevant, then I will love it less. But if the writers are dipping into those wells again to see how the new and improved House deals with these situations, that’s progress (and interesting TV) that I can get behind.
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Although I liked the episode, I totally agree with you. I am concerned that the season will be more of the same old House; in which case, what was the point?
To entertain you last night!
That’s my concern as well. As much as I loved last night’s episode, I’m wary of how gimmicky it might feel compared to the rest of this upcoming season. I hope not.
Even if the psychiatric ward episodes are a distraction from the overall season 6 story, I’d watch half a season in that place, unlike the unbearable slog that was the Tritter Arc).
. House premiere was excellent. Show-saving excellent. They had gone as far as they could, and, strictly speaking, a little farther than they should have, with the emotionally broken, drug addicted doctor. The show was well past becoming predictable and trite, and there was so much more focus on the personal issues than on the Patient of the Week. Too much of House explaining people’s motivations in insulting terms to demonstrate his cleverness and put people off. But now, drug-free and trying to change… there is real potential there. His fears about whether he will lose his edge as a doctor because of his attempt to have personal happiness/peace. The conflict between what people expect of him and what he is now trying to be.
@KT- I couldn’t have said it better. I am looking forward to this season more so than the past two seasons. I can’t wait to what unfolds.
I couldn’t have said it better either. At each commercial, I looked at a panic at the clock hoping that there was still LOTS more time. I was very moved, laughed out loud, and amazed. Kudos to the show and Laurie for their courage in the departure. There was a touch of cliche but , on the whole, the episode grabbed me hard and kept me the whole time. I can’t wait to see what unfolds. Whatever else happens, I will buy this and watch it many more times. There’s very little TV I could say that about.
Love your comment, KT. It’s House’s changes and vulnerabilities that have the potential to move the show to a higher level.
Ditto what KT said
Agreed with you 100%. This was the first episode in 2 seasons I never left the couch for.. I was riveted by the acting, the story and it’s dimensions and the hope that House will be a better doctor and teacher. His relationship with the doctor was the first time he hasn’t been about one-upping or proving the other person wrong like he does in all of his relationships. Humility is a good lesson for this doctor. I actually want to rewatch it… I was extremely moved.
Absolutely agree. We had just about given up on House. This wonderful season opener has us hooked again and gives up hope of enjoying the show again. Best episode ever.
Are you crazy! Both my husband and I were blown away by it! It was amazing, and Hugh Laurie is an acting genius. Even a friend, who tends to be critical of everything, emailed first thing this morning how much she loved last night’s show…and that it boded well for the season. We watched it without commercials, which always helps. Is something else bothering you, because you’re way off the mark on this one.
I think it should have been rated “TFA” for “Totally Freakin’ Awesome!” It was, hands down, one of the best episodes of the series. It proved to me that House can stand apart from his “friends and staff” and all their quirky weirdness and carry the show on his own shoulders. I hope we get to see more of Alvie and the head shrink through the season. And having seen how well House when he’s “not in,” I wouldn’t mind seeing a whole lot less of the staff, Wilson and Cuddy. There’s a reason the series is titled “House” and not “Princeton Plainsboro Diagnostics.” If our boy Hugh doesn’t win an Emmy for tonight then there’s no justice!
Jeez Ken, I think you need to take off your critic’s hat for a few moments, sit back, and enjoy the ride. An episode like this deserves more than a bit of jaded knowing cynicism. They tried something genuinely different with it, and I think that the changes to House’s character are more than cosmetic. Now we have the excitement of seeing how these changes affect his interactions with the regular characters. On top of that, the episode was well acted and executed. I grinned all the way through the talent show and I teared up when the mute woman started playing her cello. Do I care that it wasn’t that original? No. This is the show that wholesale ripped off the Diving Bell and the Butterfly. There were some neat pastiches of Cuckoo’s Next, some rather less clever, downright copies of Girl, Interrupted. But I’m over it. The execution more than made up for a mild lack of originality in the storytelling. And far from being bored, I really felt like I went on a journey with House. I haven’t watched the show more than periodically in a long time, but this has really encouraged me to start tuning in again more regularly. Congrats all round, I think.
I did’t think I would like it. Since it was bucking the tradition of the show and was really a House only show. Only one brief scene of Wilson… But I got drawn in. But Hugh’s performance. I agree, if he doesn’t win for this episode next year at the Emmy’s. I’ll be shocked. But I grew to like the episode. And the characters. It was such a departure. And they tried to get to the bottom of the issues with House. Whether he will stay changed or gravitate back to his old self, we’ll see. But I actually though the episode was the best episode in a few seasons… Very emotional.
I also disagree. I thought the episodes were great — it showed the cranky House that I love but also showed him moving toward being a better person. I love Hugh Laurie – brillant and a terrific actor. But, I am biased because I have the biggest crush on him afterall. I did miss seeing the rest of the gang! Also, do you think it would have been sufficient to show his recovery in one full episode…no, it would have seemed forced. I love you Hugh!
I thought the best part of it was that the gang wasn’t there! I am so sick of Chase, Cameron, Foreman, 13……
I would like less Foreman looking annoyed and sanctimonious and less Cameron trying to rescue House and less shots of Cuddy’s breasts. However, the more Chase the better!!
It was OK. probably should have only been 90 minutes. Parts of it were brill, parts were excruciating.
Technically, if you take away the commercials, the total running time is around 90 minutes (45 minutes per half). But I get what you’re saying.
You are an idiot and a troll.
A good point about the commercials. I would suggest for those out there that feel the pacing was off for this episode to try and watch it again commercial-free. I’ve heard this will be the last season for House, and if so, I could see the themes of recovery and redemption sustaining the medical drama to the end and allowing its many plot lines to reach satisfying resolutions – and not necessarily sunny ones (as was indicated by the birth, life and death of his brief affair in this episode). I agree the decision to make the opener focus on House with almost zero standard cast appearance was a smart move that indicates how the seed for this resolution/redemption season must be sowed by Greg House and only Greg House as he learns to reach out to others … to become whole.
As for Braugher, I doubt (hopefully) that that was the last we see of him. Plenty of out-patient work ahead, right? right? The episode gives me a little faith that the show is moving in the right direction. Let’s hope the writing and acting lead us to a real, human outcome.
If wow’s message is addressed to me, how am I trolling? It’s kind of weird to see a criticism of this episode being reduced to 90 minutes when it IS about 90 minutes of material. But I knew he meant that the episode was too long, regardless, so I didn’t call him an idiot. Sheesh. You make a few critical replies, and people think you’re trolling…
I thought the sequences with Andre Braugher were very convincing–for some reason, actors don’t usually play shrinks very well. and this was a remarkable exception. I thought the episode went on too long, and I didn’t really want House to be “cured” of anything except his Vicodin addiction. I hope we get the same House back again for the rest of the season. Don’t want some cheerful, touchy-feely newborn House in this role.
I loved the episode until the Woman Who Hasn’t Spoken in 10 Years (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, remember?) finally spoke. I know it was necessary to eventually get rid of Lydia, but it’s the kind of miracle I don’t need from this show. It’s strange to see House so “happy”, he genuinely smiled alot in yesterday’s episode.
IMO the fact House continued to help her, knowning that her sister-in-law would not longer visit as a result, was one of House’s few moments of humility out of the entire series. He geninuely helped someone other than himself and gained nothing from it, rather he lost something out of it.
I, too, thought it was two hours of some of the best tv I’ve ever seen. Was it “House” as we know it? Not at all… After 5 years of the same show every week (brilliant though they can be), with the many, many, many wrong diagnosis and then the inevitable revelation to make everything right, it was glorious to see the fall and rise of House… he became a human being to me for perhaps the first time. It took House out of the same tired story and made him real, not a walking encyclopedia. I am, as ever, in awe of Hugh Laurie’s talents.