House: Response to a Fancast Critic

Writer Sara Bibel took a stab at critiquing the show House on the website fancast.com and while I respect any viewer's opinion, since, after all, we are just sharing our opinions in this industry, it made me wonder if she is watching the same show I am.

She writes, "House is in serious condition...the obvious explanation is that the audience is disappointed with this season's focus on the romantic relationship between House and Cuddy."

Hmmm.  I know many fans that might disagree with that opinion, however here is where I think Miss Bibel is coming from.  Many people tune into House on USA, Bravo, sometimes on FOX when the new episodes air, but House is a show often out of order, marathon style, and typically without much focus on the main character's evolution.  House is the reason why we all tune in, right?  So why is it a good idea for the show to back track and put him back in the same position he was in during the first season?  Yes, he's a little different right now than he started.  He should be!  This show started in 2004 before we could even look up clips on youtube.  Why?  Because youtube.com was invented in 2005.  A lot has happened to this character in the six years we've been watching him.  You want the same guy you started with?  I'm sure a different complaint would arise: "Man, I wish that House show were still around.  It got canceled after five seasons because everyone was sick of seeing the same thing every single episode with no character development."

So why is it that everytime he smiles, (gasp!), we're sounding the alarm?  Give him a chance.  And if you think the pairing with Cuddy is wrong, I encourage you to rewatch the pilot, where their chemistry begins, the end of season two, where she trusts him to help her with invitro, season three where he follows her on her date, season four where he fantasizes about her stripping, season five, where he hallucinates that they had sex and wants to live with her, and then all the way into season six where he pursues her fully.  This storyline did not come out of nowhere.

Bibel writes, "Each episode focused on a patient with a mysterious ailment, but the show’s chief pleasure came from watching House berate, belittle and mock everyone around him.  He got away with it because he really was the smartest person in the room and because the audience was privy to his inner demons, particularly his drug addiction.  They are what made him one of the most fascinating characters on television.  Unfortunately, they no longer exist."

Imagine a buzzer going off.  Wrong, try again.  In the episode "Selfish," it's safe to say House was just as rude as ever at the end to the patient's parents and I can't imagine that his sparring with Taub will go away, especially since Taub now can't stand his relationship with Cuddy.  Bibel is right in some ways though, this is a far cry from where we started, but it was because of a natural progression, we landed here.  So he's off drugs.  So he's in a relationship.  House is still House.  He's still immature, brilliant, and not used to showing anyone his vulnerable side, so let's wait and watch and see how the writers are going to explore this side of House, his relationship side, which we haven't seen for an extended period of time in the series.

Here's one thing Bibel mentions that I agree with: "The show has also been impacted by a routine TV disease: Changing Supporting Cast Syndrome.  Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) was written off the show.  Thirteen is out for much of the season due to Olivia Wilde landing several film roles.  Kal Penn, who played Kutner, left at the end of Season five to work for the White House.  A revolving door never helps a long-running series."

I still don't understand why Cameron was written off, and I know many House fans didn't like her, but I did.  Not sure why she went away.  As for the other cast changes, yes, they affect the show, but truthfully, as long as Wilson, Cuddy, and House stick around, I won't be going anywhere as a fan.

Here she goes again: "The mysteries on the show used to be surprising and thought-provoking."  Again, are we watching the same show?  And also, give the show a break.  There have been six seasons of crazy patient illnesses, wacky clinic patients, and bizarre symptoms.  This season, I think you'll be excited by next week's patient, an author who wants to off herself before one of her next book's is written.  Amy Irving playing her is just an added bonus.

So while I think this show is a bit different from where it began, I don't think it needs fixing.  I think it needs some breathing room and some faith from its fans.  Go back, rewatch the old ones in order.  You'll understand how we arrived at the place we are, and you'll appreciate the payoff House and Cuddy earned by the end of season six.  It's been a long road of avoidance, dishonesty, and bad timing for both of them.  Why can't we let them have a bit of happiness in season seven?

I think they earned it.

You can find Sara Bibel's article in full here: Diagnosing House: How Can the Show Heal Itself?

And you can follow me on @TVTherapy, where you'll most likely find that I am even more opinionated.