Since I was asked to watch an episode of House for class this week, I was thinking I would address some things about this show that draw me in, but also that make me want to run in the other direction.
Now, directly pertaining to this episode, it's a little to dramatic for me. The patients relationship with her brother is heart wrenching, however, the relationship and interactions between Dr. House and her parents is unrealistic and actually disturbing. Throughout the episode he down plays the parents decision making, and is quite frankly flat out rude to them in several different scenes. I found this to be demeaning to House's character and it did not add to the story line, but instead made me less interested in the episode. This is not the only time I have felt this way, the last episode (on Monday) lacked in the category of medical drama, and seemed to revolve greatly around House and Cudi's love life, and more so there opinions on taking their relationship farther. I understand that there is a certain amount of insight that needs to be given about the doctors in order to make the narrative flow, and not simply be choppy from one medical plot to another. However, the appeal of this show has to do with the many doctors it involves, all of their intimate and social lives - not just House. These episodes seem to purely revolve around House as a character, instead of a part of the narrative.
I have watched every season, and I will say that this does not happen often. However, another thing I noticed is that this girl was not only the significant medical plot of the episode... she is the only one I remember. Usually there are several remarkable stories (if the episode is taking the common structure of this genre), but this was different. I think it has to do with the show revolving more around how House is around Cudi now - or how he treats people that are not his patient. This may have been an attempt to alter something about the show, you know what I have to say? Why change it if it works.
I find episodes like this discouraging, I think the majority of this comes from the expectations that carry over from previous seasons. The show itself though I think is very unique still, in that the "compassionate" doctor role doesn't really exist in full force. I say this because House is not compassionate in any way, shape, or form - and he over rules those who he works with. It is a medical drama with a very cynical twist - and I think that this sometimes adds humor, but often draws questions and (as we discussed in class) for the viewer to play a role in figuring out the story... especially with the many different twists and turns the cases always take.
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