Foreman: “Isn’t treating patients why we became doctors?”
House: “No, treating illnesses is why we became doctors. Treating patients is what makes most doctors miserable.”
It took me about 10 minutes of one episode to be hooked to this guy. I am saying guy- the show House revolves around a doctor named Gregory House- who approaches to medical cases scientifically. The creators never hide the fact that they were inspired by Sherlock Holmes . Add a little CSI factor as he sends his medical team to the patient’s homes to investigate. Oh, that’s right. Because he doesn’t trust his patients. And he is right. Almost always they lie to save their asses from getting into trouble – even though it means risking their lives. House does not tolerate stupidity or insincerity. He tells whatever he thinks and is not concerned about faking anything. He is brilliant and although thought to be arrogant, I just think he is blunt. Now let’s see why I think this has been the most interesting show on TV. Yes, there have been brilliant comedies (Friends, Married with Children) and some kick-ass action series (first seasons of Alias, 24), but House rises above. Because the thing is, it does not waste its time on creating romance so that the audience will come back. Oh there is some romance going on between the staff alright. But how House reacts to them is hilarious. Oh, and it is so exciting without any action scenes. It is more captivating than the action series and it manages this in a hospital setting. And no, again it is not about the drama caused by the patients or their relatives. It is House’s race against time in trying to save the patient. His team is so concerned about labeling him as apathetic and/or as an asshole, since he always seems to care more about solving the case, rather than saving a life. Of course what the idiots are not considering is that without the solution, the patient will already be dead. So why should House’s intentions and lack of bedside manners matter?
Let’s take a brief look at characters.
Lisa Cuddy
Lisa is the dean of medicine at the hospital House works in. She is long-lost in administrative business and clashes with House all the time. Sure there are some chemistry issues and sexual innuendos underneath but it doesn’t help Cuddy that House is the least politically correct person to walk the earth. He doesn’t care about pleasing anyone or ethics or hospital rules. The fact that he defies norms all the time has helped a lot of patients lived, but then Cuddy has a career and hospital to protect. Of course the show never ever wastes time about them trying to date. House’s lines are just brilliant. Cuddy never ceases to be shocked and/or outraged by House’s next insane idea.
She has to bear with him because he is an amazing doctor who only takes seemingly impossible cases. But he hates clinic duty, watches TV in coma patients’ room and so forth. The guy is a riot to watch and a nightmare to work with.
*****
one of my favorite dialogs; from Season 1, Episode 3
House: Hello, sick people and their loved ones! In the interest of saving time and avoiding a lot of boring chitchat later, I’m Doctor Gregory House; you can call me “Greg”. I’m one of three doctors staffing this clinic this morning.
Cuddy: Short, sweet, grab a file.
House: This ray of sunshine is Doctor Lisa Cuddy. Doctor Cuddy runs this whole hospital, so unfortunately she’s much too busy to deal with you. I am a board … certified diagnostician with a double specialty of infectious disease and nephrology. I am also the only doctor currently employed at this hospital who is forced to be here against his will.
That is true, isn’t it? But not to worry, because for most of you, this job could be done by a monkey with a bottle of Motrin. Speaking of which, if you’re particularly annoying, you may see me reach for this: this is Vicodin. It’s mine! You can’t have any! And no, I do not have a pain management problem, I have a pain problem … but who knows? Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’m too stoned to tell. So, who wants me?
*****
The Team: Dr. Foreman, Dr. Chase and Dr. Cameron.
These three had leading parts in the first three seasons. Seasons 4 and 5 had Chase and Cameron’s roles cut and a new team joining under Foreman. However, these three provide the substructure.
FOREMAN
Foreman has had a troubled childhood and House always refers to his “shady” past. Foreman always looks for an opportunity to prove House is wrong and he just can’t.
And of course House loves to get on Foreman’s nerves. Because House is the wittiest one, people.
Foreman: “Why are you riding me?”
House: “It’s what I do…has it gotten worse lately?”
Foreman: “Yeah. Seems to me.”
House: “Really. Well, that rules out the race thing. ‘Cause you were just as black last week.”
CHASE
Chase is an Australian doctor played by real life Australian actor Jesse Spencer. I must admit, when I first saw him, I thought he was really good-looking. However it is not the cute face of someone but it the attitude and the brains and the wit that win you over. 10 minutes into the show, I couldn’t care less about Chase. I wanted Hugh Laurie’s House on screen, every minute.
House calls him British and Chase says :
“I’m Australian.”
House: “You put the queen on your money. You are British.”
CAMERON
Cameron has had the hots for house for a while. House thinks she is pretty and smart and everything. But please don’t tell me you are expecting a relationship, a whirlwind romance after everything I told you. Towards the end of season 1, Cameron quits her job and forces House to have a date with her; this is her condition to come back. House reluctantly agrees. The thing is House things, if she wants him, she is nuts. He says so at their date. He is older than her, his leg is injured, he is addicted to pain medication, he is not a nice guy and he is not good-looking. Wow, this is so not how she pictured their date would go…
WILSON
House’s best friend. As opposite as they seem, they seem to complete each other. Just like House was loosely based on Sherlock, Wilson is loosely based on Watson. They quarrel and disagree on almost everything. Yet somehow, they have fun together.
Wilson: “She’s hot, so she’s a hooker? What kind of pathetic logic is that?”
House: “The envious, jealous, I-never-got-any-in-high-school kind of logic, hello! “
The great thing about House is that although you know he is going to do something unpredictable and fun to watch, you just can’t guess his next step. Just see a couple of episodes and you will know what I mean. And it is funny how he got rid off Cameron at their date by stating all the negative things about himself and all the while I was thinking how sexy he was. No, it is not about girls being attracted to assholes as a friend (also attracted to Hugh Laurie’s wonderful portrayal of House) suggested. The thing is, I don’t think House is an asshole. He is smart and blunt. He is not into any kind of politics. Oh, and there is the fun aspect: He has amazing blue eyes, rugged good – looks and an awfully charismatic voice- a very real American accent. Hugh is English in real life. Oh and he is not a bastard when he cares about the people who deserve to be cared about. An ex-girlfriend/the love of his life ( Stacey, played by Sela Ward) comes to the show and you see how he is when he is in love.
End note: One philosophy of House is that “Everybody lies”. Yet once in a while he believes that a patient of his is telling the truth. One of the team members asks:
“What happened to “everybody lies”? House replies: “I lied.”
quote source:
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