Finally had time to recover after last night's two-hour season 6 premier of House, M.D.!
Summary
***Spoiler Alert***
Last night's episode started where last season's finale left off. Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) just checked himself into a mental hospital after realizing that his liaison with Dr. Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) was really a Vicodin-induced hallucination. The episode opens with him experiencing the agonizing effects of drug withdrawal. He survives the detox and is about to check himself out of the hospital when he finds out that, in order to get his medical license back, he must get a letter of recommendation from the hospital director, Dr. Nolan. Nolan, played to perfection by Andre Braugher, refuses to write the letter because he is convinced that House's problems run deeper than drug addiction. Thus, House has to stay at the hospital until he gets Nolan to write his letter. House's first tactic is to disrupt the ward and to stir up as much trouble as possible so that Nolan will write the letter just to get rid of him. Think Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
When House realizes that Nolan is just as stubborn as he is and that his plan isn't working, he decides to change his strategy. House then pretends to cooperate. He makes it look like he's taking his medication and getting along with the other patients. He even escapes the hospital with a fellow patient Steve who thought he was a superhero until a sadistic doctor told him he was delusional. House takes Steve to a fair and they both "fly" on a wind machine. The whole scene is quite touching until Steve jumps off a two-story parking garage, thinking that he can fly.
Steve survives the fall with a few major injuries, and House finally realizes that his actions affect other people. It is only then that House asks Nolan for help. Real help. House admits just how lonely he is and that all he wants is "to be happy." Nolan counsels him privately and encourages him to trust people enough to make a connection.
One of the people House eventually "connects" with is Lydia (Franka Potente), the devoted sister-in-law of a fellow patient who hasn't spoken in 10 years. House and Lydia get closer and closer until they end up hooking up passionately in a dark and empty room.
Steve (the superhero) miraculously helps Lydia's sister-in-law speak again. Apparently speaking once in ten years and playing al little bit of the cello means someone's all better because Nolan discharges her to a rehab facility in Arizona. This means that Lydia and her husband are moving their family west, leaving House broken-hearted.
He is so devastated when she doesn't say goodbye to him that he visits her home and begs her to stay. Of course, she refuses to leave her family to be with him and he skulks back to the psychiatric hospital to speak with Nolan. House admits that he feels "lost." Nolan then tells House that he is finally getting better. His heartbreak over losing Lydia indicates that he made a connection deep enough to feel the loss of her. House gets his letter and boards a bus home wearing a faded smiley face t-shirt.
The Verdict
I love Hugh Laurie. The man is amazing and it becomes even more apparent without his usual castmates. As much as I love the cast of House, it was great to have him to myself for two solid hours. His sarcastic wit and impeccable timing show why he's the best. He could have a one man show and I would still watch it. Better yet, he should re-team up with Stephen Fry (I can dream, can't I?).
It was also great to see how vulnerable House can be. House is usually known for his gruff, sarcastic immaturity. It's rare that we get to see the sensitivity that lies beneath the curmudgeonly exterior. We got to glimpse this vulnerability last night in his relationship with Lydia. It's clear he really cared for her and it was heartbreaking to see how devastated he was when it ended.
I was a bit upset that he was able to sleep with this woman in the same episode that he met her. I mean, it took him 5 seasons just to kiss Cuddy! Last night, I kept thinking that Lydia was just the rebound girl. It didn't mean anything. Of course, I was proven wrong by House's reaction to their breakup. I just hope that this means he's open to a real relationship with Cuddy this season. I'll cross my fingers.
One thing I didn't like about this episode is how neatly everything was resolved. House detoxes from Vicodin completely in the first ten mintues and he abandons his plans of mischief and destruction soon after. It's so unlike him. Steve the superhero "cures" the mute by handing her a simple music box. House learns to care for a woman in a real grownup way, gets his heart broken and matures enough to earn his license back.
The other thing I disliked was how it skirted around the issue of House's hallucinations. Is it possible that he suffered from hallucinations for half a season and became completely cured in one episode? How did that happen?
Oh well. As long as Hugh Laurie is in it, I'll watch it. Can't wait for the next episode!
***Spoiler Alert***
Last night's episode started where last season's finale left off. Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) just checked himself into a mental hospital after realizing that his liaison with Dr. Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) was really a Vicodin-induced hallucination. The episode opens with him experiencing the agonizing effects of drug withdrawal. He survives the detox and is about to check himself out of the hospital when he finds out that, in order to get his medical license back, he must get a letter of recommendation from the hospital director, Dr. Nolan. Nolan, played to perfection by Andre Braugher, refuses to write the letter because he is convinced that House's problems run deeper than drug addiction. Thus, House has to stay at the hospital until he gets Nolan to write his letter. House's first tactic is to disrupt the ward and to stir up as much trouble as possible so that Nolan will write the letter just to get rid of him. Think Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
When House realizes that Nolan is just as stubborn as he is and that his plan isn't working, he decides to change his strategy. House then pretends to cooperate. He makes it look like he's taking his medication and getting along with the other patients. He even escapes the hospital with a fellow patient Steve who thought he was a superhero until a sadistic doctor told him he was delusional. House takes Steve to a fair and they both "fly" on a wind machine. The whole scene is quite touching until Steve jumps off a two-story parking garage, thinking that he can fly.
Steve survives the fall with a few major injuries, and House finally realizes that his actions affect other people. It is only then that House asks Nolan for help. Real help. House admits just how lonely he is and that all he wants is "to be happy." Nolan counsels him privately and encourages him to trust people enough to make a connection.
One of the people House eventually "connects" with is Lydia (Franka Potente), the devoted sister-in-law of a fellow patient who hasn't spoken in 10 years. House and Lydia get closer and closer until they end up hooking up passionately in a dark and empty room.
Steve (the superhero) miraculously helps Lydia's sister-in-law speak again. Apparently speaking once in ten years and playing al little bit of the cello means someone's all better because Nolan discharges her to a rehab facility in Arizona. This means that Lydia and her husband are moving their family west, leaving House broken-hearted.
He is so devastated when she doesn't say goodbye to him that he visits her home and begs her to stay. Of course, she refuses to leave her family to be with him and he skulks back to the psychiatric hospital to speak with Nolan. House admits that he feels "lost." Nolan then tells House that he is finally getting better. His heartbreak over losing Lydia indicates that he made a connection deep enough to feel the loss of her. House gets his letter and boards a bus home wearing a faded smiley face t-shirt.
The Verdict
It was also great to see how vulnerable House can be. House is usually known for his gruff, sarcastic immaturity. It's rare that we get to see the sensitivity that lies beneath the curmudgeonly exterior. We got to glimpse this vulnerability last night in his relationship with Lydia. It's clear he really cared for her and it was heartbreaking to see how devastated he was when it ended.
I was a bit upset that he was able to sleep with this woman in the same episode that he met her. I mean, it took him 5 seasons just to kiss Cuddy! Last night, I kept thinking that Lydia was just the rebound girl. It didn't mean anything. Of course, I was proven wrong by House's reaction to their breakup. I just hope that this means he's open to a real relationship with Cuddy this season. I'll cross my fingers.
One thing I didn't like about this episode is how neatly everything was resolved. House detoxes from Vicodin completely in the first ten mintues and he abandons his plans of mischief and destruction soon after. It's so unlike him. Steve the superhero "cures" the mute by handing her a simple music box. House learns to care for a woman in a real grownup way, gets his heart broken and matures enough to earn his license back.
The other thing I disliked was how it skirted around the issue of House's hallucinations. Is it possible that he suffered from hallucinations for half a season and became completely cured in one episode? How did that happen?
Oh well. As long as Hugh Laurie is in it, I'll watch it. Can't wait for the next episode!