At the end of last season's "House," the quickly deteriorating (not to mention hallucinating) Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) could no longer deny the severity of his drug addiction, so he committed himself to a mental institution to kick that nasty Vicodin habit and get a handle on his demons.
Tonight's season 6 premiere picks up exactly where that finale left off: House is a newly admitted patient and going through the painful withdrawals on his way to getting clean. But in fact, the "cleaning" of House actually takes up very little time in the 2-hour debut.
The good stuff is what happens next, and it's difficult to overstate just how extraordinary this episode is.
After his ugly detox, a surly but confident House goes to his attending physician, played so perfectly by Andre Braugher, and demands to be released. Though he's voluntarily committed, House needs Nolan's recommendation to regain his license to practice medicine, and that's not about to happen just yet. Nolan explains that the drugs were only part of his problem.
To say House resents staying at Mayfield is an understatement. Instead of participating in his recovery, he devotes all of his time to beating Nolan at what House openly treats as a game, and he's not above using the other sick people on the ward to win. The manipulation and relentless conniving are classic House, but Braugher is a worthy opponent. And in the end, House's biggest obstacle is once again, himself.
The magic of this episode, apart from extraordinary acting from Laurie, is the unbelievable supporting cast. Braugher is fantastic, but so is Lin-Manuel Miranda (above), who plays House's bipolar roomate Alvie. The entire cast is great. So great that I prefer them to the cast waiting back at Princeton (Wilson and Cuddy excepted -- and apart from a brief scene featuring Wilson, none of them appear tonight).
The entire 2-hour episode deals with House's attempt at recovery, but I couldn't help but wish at the end that it had taken a little longer. I would have loved watching the whole season (or at least half) set there.
"House" airs on Monday nights at 8pm on FOX.
Brooke Cain isn't always proud of the number of hours she logs in front of the TV, but her loss of brain cells can be your gain. From reality shows to sitcoms to the more serious stuff, Brooke keeps her DVR smoking so that she can help keep you in the know. Brooke also tweets for Happiness is a Warm TV (you can follow
Comments
'House' Good But Not Without Controversy
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 10:31 — Cicero02Apologies to Brooke Cain. She knows what she's talking about. House is an entertaining program. However, everyone may not know some of the controversies surrounding this program. My post wasn't meant to suggest Brooke Cain is ignorant, but that she had ignorance of some these controversies. For most TV watchers, just sit back and enjoy the program she recommends. There are few TV programs without some dissension.
controversy
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 15:33 — brookecain (author)I read about a lot of controversies surrounding TV shows, but have never heard anything widespread about "House." Even if I had, I doubt it would be part of my review, in the same way I do not get into controversies surrounding gay marriage or Christian Scientists or stem cells or whatever, when writing about plots on other TV shows.
But I like your advice that readers should "sit back and enjoy" my TV recommendations. If only the networks would listen to you too!
Cain's Ignorance Shows
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 12:40 — Cicero02The National Alliance on Mental Illness endorsed "House" could not further be from the premise of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Neither is Hugh Laurie's rip-off of MindFreedom, Inc's concept in the "Normality Overrated" logo line--a merchandising out-growth of the House series. [NAMI had to reverse its core principles in order to align their funding with this logo concept.] Cain is walking on sensitive territory in talking about this topic. She needs to research more. For example, the anti-drug psychiatric patient organization, MindFreedom International, Inc., though it is popular has not endorsed House.
No offense, but...
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 12:55 — brookecain (author)Parts of tonight's episode of "House" do remind one very much of the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's" nest. I'm making no commentary on mental illness, just comparing this episode of "House" to the Jack Nicholson movie.
No offence taken
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 13:35 — Cicero02Just a reminder, House episodes have extolled the virtues of lobotomy, forced medications, and electro-shock Thus, similarity with "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" is limited. The originator of the "Mad Pride" movement is MindFreedom International. This organization sees House as entertaining but highly contrived. MFI has chosen not to contest the obvious rip-offs by House producers for profit of its ideas (i.e. Normality's Overrated.) It simply declines to endorse the program.
Ignorance
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 13:45 — brookecain (author)Well, it's always fun to be called ignorant.