House 08x05 ‐ ‘The Confession’ I have to say that I am thoroughly enjoying this season of House. It’s so far dropped all of the relationship misery of last season, and is less obsessed with exploring whether House can change. It’s been eight seasons, and he’s arguably more of a dick than ever, so I’m glad the writers aren’t treating us as idiots by carrying on down that path. Admittedly, some of my favourite episodes of this show focused on House being the loner, incapable of real connection, alone in his apartment, with only Wilson as a real friend. Back a few seasons ago, these episodes worked, because there was still some sort of mystery to House as a character; some kind of hidden layers that were yet to be revealed. Now, however, that mystery is largely gone, and if this season heads down that path again, I’m not convinced that it will stick. In this week’s episode, Chase and Taub make a welcome return. Chase gave up medicine/surfed a lot (because that’s what Australians do) during the intervening period, while Taub had his two children to two different women. I’m a big fan of how this new old team is shaping up, and there’s some nice chemistry between Park and Taub especially, with both characters mutually disgusted by the other. The PotW is nothing to get excited over. Familiar ground is covered, with a man who can’t stop himself from confessing to things he didn’t do due to an aneurysm in his brain (although he did cheat on his wife; that was a real confession which he then took back). House has had a lot of these cases involving cheating spouses, it seems, so there was nothing too interesting. But I did enjoy the way in which the show has become self‐referential, as communicated by Chase and Taub’s perfunctory recital of several of House’s mantras over the course of the episode. It’s as if the writers have acknowledged that we don’t need an earnest exploration of some of the moral dilemmas that the characters are presented with, because it’s happened all before, so instead they give us the shorthand version and save us the melodrama. Which is cool with me. There’s not much point in me recapping too much more of the storyline, because I doubt that it’s necessary. But I must emphasise that this season is a lot of fun so far, and it’s enjoyable to see the show not taking itself so seriously in order to manufacture drama. I would actually urge any Australian readers to catch this episode next week when it’ll be on TV (I think), because I think some would be pleasantly surprised. The final reveal of House’s secret construction scheme, with his office now opening up to that of Wilson’s (somehow), and Wilson’s completely unimpressed shake of the head, and ‘no’ was a great way to cap it all off. House was weirdly passive in this episode, at least as a doctor. It was Chase that essentially solved the mystery. Bit unusual.

House 08x05 ‐ ‘The Confession’

I have to say that I am thoroughly enjoying this season of House. It’s so far dropped all of the relationship misery of last season, and is less obsessed with exploring whether House can change. It’s been eight seasons, and he’s arguably more of a dick than ever, so I’m glad the writers aren’t treating us as idiots by carrying on down that path. Admittedly, some of my favourite episodes of this show focused on House being the loner, incapable of real connection, alone in his apartment, with only Wilson as a real friend. Back a few seasons ago, these episodes worked, because there was still some sort of mystery to House as a character; some kind of hidden layers that were yet to be revealed. Now, however, that mystery is largely gone, and if this season heads down that path again, I’m not convinced that it will stick.

In this week’s episode, Chase and Taub make a welcome return. Chase gave up medicine/surfed a lot (because that’s what Australians do) during the intervening period, while Taub had his two children to two different women. I’m a big fan of how this new old team is shaping up, and there’s some nice chemistry between Park and Taub especially, with both characters mutually disgusted by the other. The PotW is nothing to get excited over. Familiar ground is covered, with a man who can’t stop himself from confessing to things he didn’t do due to an aneurysm in his brain (although he did cheat on his wife; that was a real confession which he then took back). House has had a lot of these cases involving cheating spouses, it seems, so there was nothing too interesting. But I did enjoy the way in which the show has become self‐referential, as communicated by Chase and Taub’s perfunctory recital of several of House’s mantras over the course of the episode. It’s as if the writers have acknowledged that we don’t need an earnest exploration of some of the moral dilemmas that the characters are presented with, because it’s happened all before, so instead they give us the shorthand version and save us the melodrama. Which is cool with me.

There’s not much point in me recapping too much more of the storyline, because I doubt that it’s necessary. But I must emphasise that this season is a lot of fun so far, and it’s enjoyable to see the show not taking itself so seriously in order to manufacture drama. I would actually urge any Australian readers to catch this episode next week when it’ll be on TV (I think), because I think some would be pleasantly surprised.

  • The final reveal of House’s secret construction scheme, with his office now opening up to that of Wilson’s (somehow), and Wilson’s completely unimpressed shake of the head, and ‘no’ was a great way to cap it all off.
  • House was weirdly passive in this episode, at least as a doctor. It was Chase that essentially solved the mystery. Bit unusual.

Notes

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