Remember when House was a show about a brilliant but difficult doctor who solved baffling medical cases with a mixture of piercing insight and a pitiless work ethic? That was the House you and I lived in for quite a while.
But now, House is a show about a moony-eyed doctor who makes sweet, sweet love to his boss and then frets over being “not sure if you were ready to go public with the whole ‘us’ thing.”
“The whole ‘us’ thing”? Ye gods, had House stumbled upon an old script of Grey’s Anatomy and decided to reenact it, just for laughs? I looked really closely tonight, praying to find some glimmer, some lightning-fast wink, that Dr. Gregory House was being sarcastic when he uttered this mushy line on Monday night’s season premiere, but, alas, he was that thing some of us always dreaded Dr. House would become: sincere.
The week’s medical case was pretty much irrelevant except as (unfunny) comic relief. The only intended humorous moment that was genuinely humorous was Robert Sean Leonard getting stuck in House’s window trying to break in — Leonard is so good, he can make a visual gag like that work.
TV shows, when they become hits and go on for multiple seasons, evolve, of course. They move beyond their original concept. So it is with House. A turning-point occurred when the series pulled its expanding cast stunt, drawing out for weeks the question of which new doctors House would take onto his team. (Only Olivia Wilde’s character proved to be interesting… and she’s the one who’s leaving for a chunk of the season.)
I admire Hugh Laurie’s work and career enormously — have been a fan of his at least as far back as Blackadder. Lisa Edelstein is a terrific actress, as a talk-show guest she’s pleasure to listen to, and after years of doing excellent work in scores of shows including Seinfeld, Sports Night, The West Wing, and Felicity, I’m glad she’s in a hit. Robert Sean Leonard — the guy’s work is golden.
All that said, House has become a show that doesn’t really showcase its stars to best effect. Having Cuddy coo, “I don’t want you to change… You’re the most incredible man I’ve ever known” — sheesh, Cuddy as she was originally conceived and presented was a lot more thoughtful and articulate than that.
This episode was entitled “Now What?” My title for it? “Now Stop That!”
Agree? Disagree?
Follow: @kentucker
I must say, I have to agree with Ken. I used to be on the floor laughing with some of the things House would say. This episode? Not so much. I mostly spent most of the episode wondering when I left an insightful medical show and fell into a parallel universe where House was suddenly saying things like, “I love you.” I’m not a “hater”. Let me stress that. I’m just a fan of the way House used to be. If perhaps they didn’t emphasize the “Huddy” so much, it wouldn’t be so bad. But an episode that was just non-stop them, and little to no actual medical dialogue was just dull. To me, anyway. I miss the cold, saracastic House. I don’t care if he was unhappier, it made for better television!
Now Stop That! Awesome title, Ken. They should’ve used it for each episode of last season. Wilson rocked the rest was horrific, cheesy dialogue, unfunny team interactions and my nightmare about to come true Chase/13. Ugh. The only think I disagree with Ken about is the fact that 13 will be gone for a chunk of the season. Hopefully things will look up next week.
Last season was meh. This season ended when they decided to go with Huddy last season. And how hilarious that Cuddy remembers she has a kid after going AWOL for a day.
I loved it when House asked Cuddy to turn off her cell phone and she did it knowing that the nanny would have no way of reaching her. Not the best episode but last season was the worst so I didn’t have such high hopes for it anyway. Not enough Wilson for my taste.
Agree: I like all the actors on “House,” but the opener totally met my expectations as the most boring episode of the show ever. I do want House to grow, change, etc., but the mashup with Cuddy is a cruddy idea.
Gotta agree with you. House changing like he has done all through the previous season — cool! Huddy? Seriously not cool. Edelstein is not up to Laurie’s level, when it comes to acting, and it shows in episodes like this. I can’t wait until they break up, as long as it doesn’t send House back into drug-addled, hallucinating addiction again!
well it was bound to change eventually!
Some people (points at Ken) expect a show that’s been on for now going on 7 years will have absolutely no character development. House should just be frozen in time and not move towards anything. I like House when he’s Dr Crankypants with his zingers and sneaky behavior. But I welcome his evolution. If the story were exactly like it was season 1 ep 1, Ken would probably complain that the show isn’t evolving and is the same as ever. You can’t ever win with Ken.
I agree with your comments. I too love crankypants House but a few episodes each season it’s a nice change to see a more human side of his nature.
If every episode this season is like this, then House is in trouble. However, for a season opener to lay the ground work I think it worked well to establish that this is going to be a rocky relationship. We were reminded several times that the euphoric atmosphere was in direct reaction to the tragedies of the previous day, and when that fades it will be interesting to see what House and Cuddy are left with.
I agree with Richard S. I thought it was an insightful season opener, developing the relationship between House and Cuddy – which is something so many fans have been asking for. But I would be very grateful if the lovey-dovey-ness doesn’t go on too long. I also appreciated seeing the team work without the prodding interruption that is House. It made me ready to see House back in the hospital, in his element, harassing nurses and disrespecting patients.
I completely agree with you.
I just don’t understand. i think everyone that has issues with this premier needs to go watch last year’s finale. Seriously. I bought the season and JUST watched it all, followed by this premier the very next day. This episode makes COMPLETE sense in the context of the show and incidentally was extremely insightful. This truly is a character study. If you hate character development then go back and just watch those first couple seasons over and over again. Personally, I DO NOT like Grey’s Anatomy. But this doesn’t at all smell of that ‘medical’ drama. Obviously what occurred in this episode was completely necessary in the further flushing out of the main characters. Everything House has done up to this point left two options. Vicodin or something potentially more important. He had both choices right there in his face. And she GAVE him the choice. Nobody forced him, which shows how much he’s growing. Why does this mean he’s never again going to be a riotous asshole when they get back to work?? Only this time, there are different adaptations to be made. I just don’t understand why one episode can deter people so easily. One more thing before I leave: Why on EARTH do people quit shows for entire seasons, then come back expecting ANYTHING AT ALL. Shows don’t usually feel as right as they should in that situation. Shows change, which is why I play catch up before coming back to a show. When you look at an entire series, it plays out like a series of books with many chapters. Would a person be able to properly enjoy Harry Potter if they read the first novel, didn’t like the beginning of the second book, quit, then later decided to come back and read the last one and for some reason it just didn’t feel right?? That makes no sense. It’s like you’re just short-changing yourself. WOW sorry for this huge post.
I agree completely. Definitely not the show it used to be, and I’m not sure I like where it’s going. Still one of the better things on TV so I’ll stick it out.
Kinda lost touch after last season. The show was actually at its best the first few seasons. Not real fond of Huddy.
Agree. Even with it’s crappy season last year it was still one of the better shows on TV. Now, I am going to watch something else. Taps to House.
Right. It’s too soon to judge based on only one episode. I’m willing to see where this goes, and how long House can stand to be happy!
I do miss the old House. In the beginning, I never missed an episode. Last few years it’s been hit or miss with me and last nights episode felt off. It’s definitely not the show I fell in love with anymore.
Heroes — whoops, I meant “House” is done. They have officially jumped the scalpel. I don’t want a touchy-feely House. Where’s the House who observed that Cameron was interested in him because he was broken and she thought she could fix him?
House looked old, tired and overweight; Cuddy looked old and tired. Wilson looked old and overweight. Time to say good-bye. This show has run its course.
What, may I ask, is wrong with looking older? Younger fans say the cast looks “old.” We who are closer to them in age think they look pretty darn good. And it looks like Wilson lost 20 pounds in one night.
Nothing bad at all about looking old. Perhaps “old” was a bad choice of words.
The cast looks tired and worn out as if the fun of being House and being on House is gone. This is to be expected, I guess: the show has been on for a long time. Perhaps I am being too harsh… I just want the original House back, not the domesticated version I saw last night.
Hugh Laurie is 51, Robert Sean Leonard is 41. Both of them have suitable bodies for men of their age (especially when you take into account Laurie is about 6’5). I hope my husband looks the “fat” when he’s in his early 40′s and 50′s.
That first show was simply horrible. The Huddy parts were excruciating. The non-Huddy parts were a welcome relief but nowhere near the quality of previous seasons. Even the promo at the end seemed boring. Three words — jumped the shark.
Totally agree. Total disappointment.
Dr. House, meet Mr. Shark. You just jumped him.
I am breaking up with House. Already deleted from DVR.
I have to disagree. I gave up on watching this show after the inconsistencies of the last few seasons but tuned back in tonight purely to see how Huddy was going to go. I thought this episode was lovely. It was clear, the way it was structured and that moment at the end, that House and Cuddy’s day together was just the honeymoon period. I’m glad we got to see them both so content and happy, the calm before the storm. House deserves some happiness in his life. I’m intrigued to see where the writers go from here…I hope we get a fair, honest portrayal of House and Cuddy’s relationship. Laurie and Edelstein have the talent and chemistry to pull it off, it’s just a matter of the writers keeping pace with what they did tonight throughout the season. I see some serious potential here and I can’t wait to watch!
I agree with you, Mary. I thought the episode was true to the character’s growth over the last seasons and I enjoyed seeing House enjoy himself. The laughter at the broken champagne bottle seemed genuine to me.
Yes, I, too, thought that the laughter seemed genuine. It is possible that Hugh Laurie did not expect the bottle to break the way it did (he most likely thought that he could neatly cut off the top of the bottle and did not expect it to shatter) and the writers/director decided to leave the scene in because of its real warmth.
While I can say that the episode was far from perfect…it felt a bit choppy, and yeah, Cuddy didn’t remember her kid until the end of the eppy, but seeing the characters evolve to the point where they can actually talk what is going on between them was wonderful.
I thought Laurie’s voice was a bit weird thru some of the scenes…..he must not be used to saying such things unsarcastically in an American accent, but I think the show and the characters are far richer for this episode than without.
Thank you, Mary, for being correct. I don’t get what everyone is griping about. The show was great as far as laying the groundwork for a tumultuous, and sure-to-be-hilarious relationship that they’re about to try and embark on. I can’t wait for the rest of the season?
I’m with you. I found the possibility of House and Cuddy interesting in the first few years of the show, but the twisting to the character of Cuddy and House doing more and more outrageous things ruined all possibility of a believable relationship for me so I was worried when they stuck them together in the finale. The premiere didn’t feel like House but I hope it’ll turn around soon.
Are you f****** kidding me with this review?
THIS.
totally agree
DISAGREE! nuff said!
DISAGREE.
i think you missed the point.
the show is about a man’s life, and now his life is focused, finally, on his love life. that’s all. he’s still a doctor, you’ll see medical cases in the next episodes, but this is a special one.
Huddy fans waited for so long for it!!
A man’s life is not made of work too, we saw House change, do choices, bad ones, we needed to see this part of his life too. If you’re not interested, that’s another story.
Many people are.
I agree with you. They needed to address the issue, and it’s important for them to focus on HOUSE. It is one of those “out-of-the” formula moments for HOUSE.
This was perfect for me, save for some, errrr pornish moments
The world of House is a world of unreality. A doctor like House would not be practicing in the real world; House would have been fired from any position he ever had as a doctor; the hospital he worked for would have been owned a long time ago by some former, cut-up and experimented-on patient.
What made the show interesting was a brilliant, drug-addicted doctor gifted with wit and sarcasm coupled with brain power. That is now gone. House has now been neutered and is now a love struck man.
Everyone should find happiness but when a show revolves about the quirks of its hero, you cannot change that. Imagine if Adrian Monk had been cured of his OCD. Would anyone have watched the show?
Hugh Laurie is still brilliant, though. I saw him on some show other night and he does a fantastic British accent
Hugh Laurie “does” a British accent? You do know that he is, in fact, British, don’t you?
Sorry, I was teasing a bit. Yes, I do know that Huge Laurie is British.
I think it is cool that he can do and maintain an American accent. I wonder how much effort is required to hold the accent while filming? Does he hear himself doing the accent? I have never heard any talk show host ask him to do the “House accent”. I wonder why?
Couldn’t agree more!
Thank you. People always get angry with change, but it’s necessary. I thought it was a great episode, but I am eager to see a new case:)
Are you serious? You do realize that most critics did love this one, right?
Personally, I was madly in love with this one. I wouldn’t call myself a ‘Huddy’ fan, I could personally live without it, but HL and LE are fantastic together and they — along with the writing staff, sold me this relationship in one episode. I can’t not love it.
Also? RSL is pure GOLD.
Looking forward to next week.
since it just aired, i don’t know how “most critics” have already weighed in on this episode. please provide links we can read to back this up. and since you said “most critics,” please provide a couple dozen.
You DO realize critics watch screeners DAYS before the episode actually airs, right? There are reviews from TV Guide (Matt Roush actually said this episode was better than last year’s premiere and said it’s Emmy worthy for Hugh), USA Today (Robert Bianco), Chicago Tribune, LA Times, all out there. All positive reviews. Google it.
Oh, well since “most critics” loved it, he should immediately change his mind, since that’s totally how opinions work.
You do realize that professional criticism in journalism aren’t just opinions, right?
do you realize that Ken Tucker is a professional with an opinion of his own? give him a little respect or better yet if you don’t like what he says don’t read it
@Paula, I don’t really respect Ken. I find him to be polar opposite than me on most issues, and he seems rather snobbish. I only continue to read him in the freak instant I agree with him.
he may sound snobbish to you but you sound powerfully pretentious to me. Your turn.
You do realize that “most critics” can say what thye like but apparently you are one of the lemmings who base their opinion on the critics. I am not. It stunk.
You do realize that even if you post 100 times that you hate House now, that still only counts as one person hating house? Hate to break it to you, but you are not your post count.
I loved the episode … and anyone who doesn’t has the personality of House.
Or an actual working brain of their OWN. Not everyone drinks the Huddy Kool-Aid, Jill.
Nope, some people are bitchy, and only are happy in seeing other people miserable, and need their favorite TV show personalities to be miserable in order to justify their own miserable existance, rather than going out and grabbing life by the horns and finding true happiness out there. In short, get over it Elaine, its a TV show.
And YOU need to get over the fact that people disagree with you, Joe.
Except the show I fell in love with was about a cranky, drug addicted, brillian doctor, who every once in a while, showed something of a good man trapped inside. Now that the “good man” is loose, the show feels…over. House’s journey feels complete for me. However, I love RSL since Swing Kids, can’t get enough of him.
I adore Hugh Laurie as an actor, and what he has done with this character. I am always amazed by how much he can convey about his character with just his eyes, or a small change in how he holds himself. I am a fan, but I am not a fan of Huddy, and I hope the relationship between the two of them doesn’t spoil the show altogether. I’m not sure why having an opinion different from that of the reviewer or yourself makes me brainless, but if you say so, it must be true, just like if the reviewer likes the episode, it must be good.
Can’t agree with you there pal, I mean, other than you saying Laurie, Edelstein and Leonard are fantastic. I think you missed the whole point of this episode.
House is a character study. He is in a relationship for the first time in 6 years. That relationship just so happens to be with Cuddy, the show’s leading lady and the person who’s known House the longest.
Again, I ask: what did you expect?
I thought it lived up to my expectations quite nicely. They were fun, sexy and actually had mature adult conversations.
My God, what a contrast to Robert Bianco’s and Matt Roush’s reviews.
Thank you! I am glad I am not the only one who realizes the show is called “House,” not “Hospital” or “Patient of the Week.” I watch it for House, and he was just as interesting to watch as he always is.
amen.
actually, Wilson has known House the longest, 20 some odd years. House and Cuddy knew each other in college, had sex then did’t meet again again until she hired him. at ppth
depending on which episode you believe, that’s not necessarily true. cuddy remembered what wilson was like when he divorced sam (“Knight Fall”) in ’90, ’91 (“Birthmarks”), so she was around when house and wilson met. which means she – at least – knew house for years after they slept together.
I agree with you, besides, we shouldn’t judge all these Huddy and jumping-the-shark things based on just one episode. Maybe this episode just wants to tell us where House and Cuddy gonna go, or the impacts of their relationship to both of them. Hopefully we all get a nice (or maybe better) episode next week. I would love to see the banter between House and Cuddy, that would be real funny and fun to watch
Thank goodness for the intelligent portion of the thread. Thank goodness this cast is capable of handling the emotional typhoon that is House’s life. This is territory we haven’t travelled, and we’ve been through drug addiction, irrational bitterness, father-rage, a stint in the mental ward, punching Spencer, sleeping with Cameron, playing with Taub like a cat toy, all of these things make up House. Now, he’s in a relationship with the person he’s basically sexually harassed for years. Who is he in this situation? He doesn’t know. We don’t know. That’s what makes it a show. I’m feeling pity for the people who can’t grasp that, including Ken Tucker.
Totally disagree.It was the best episode we have had in a long time.
dude, I think you stole House’s drugs. Normally I wouldn’t bother to comment but had to because you don’t have a clue.
Is this a joke? If anything, this episode actually brought me back to this show, because I quit watching last season.
Yes, it was an unusual episode, but I got its purpose and thought it was amazing. I could have done without a few lines, but I honestly can’t remember being THAT entertained by a House episode… in years.
I think you should give this one a rewatch or swallow your bitter pill.
If you quit watching then how could you havbe seen it.
She said she quit watching “last season.”
I agree with Barbra. I had been looking forward to the direction they were taking the show and it did not disappoint me at all. AFter all, people don’t remain static and there is only so much Dr. Crankypants anyone can buy and still believe. I say give the season a chance and FOR ONCE, can’t House be allowed to display some feelings. Scheesh!