HOUSE: SEASON SIX
(not rated)
MOVIE: ****1/2 (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5)
BY KEVIN CARR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
It’s the best season of “House” yet, taking the characters to brand new places. Taking a diversion from previous seasons, we start the season with Gregory House in rehab and the doctors back at Princeton-Plainsboro trying to run the differential diagnoses themselves. Once House gets clean from his addictions, he works to re-integrate into his daily life and learn to deal with his colleagues again.
WHAT I LIKED
I started watching “House” on my own because my wife and I were looking for a new show to enjoy. We fell in love with the series, mainly for its sarcastic nature and excellent writing. Hugh Laurie is so brilliant in this series that he overshadows almost every one of his co-stars. Robert Sean Leonard is equally brilliant as his side-kick Wilson, and their interplay is the core of the series… so much so that even good acting by the other characters pale in comparison.
What’s great about this season is that we actually get to see House grow as a person. We aren’t going down the same paths we went down in the first five seasons. House is seriously looking at himself and trying to make some changes. Likewise, the closest characters around him – from Cuddy to Wilson – are changing along with him.
House’s staff of doctors also are given their own stories, which is nice to see, but they don’t draw the focus away from the star of the show.
All of this works against the disease-of-the-week medical mystery, but even then the series sets the show on its ear. It takes some chances, like giving Cuddy the focus in the “5 to 9” episode, where we only see the outside of House’s insane but often accurate differential diagnoses.
And finally, the season finale is as brilliant as the season opener, putting House in a new position that leaves the viewer eager to watch season six, currently on the air.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
There will always be an emotional burden that comes with “House.” It’s such a well-done show, but it cynicism takes its toll. Fortunately, this season dials that back a bit with House actually trying to grow as a person, but still, the darkness of the story and set-up can weigh on your mind. I love the show, but I can’t watch more than a few episodes in a short amount of time… or I feel like I want to kill myself.
Not really, but the cynical nature of the show can get in you head a little too much. I have to balance that out with something a little more cheerful.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The season six Blu-ray includes an original short film, which serves as a prequel to the season premiere “Broken.” This uses unscripted scenes over a music track to show the life of Gregory House as he deals with being in rehab.
Other features include a spotlight on Hugh Laurie directing an episode, a look at the set design and construction of the rehab environment, profiles on the new characters and commentary on select episodes. The U-Control feature also provides notes throughout the episodes that describe the diagnoses being given throughout the story.
Additional pocketBLU and BD-Live features are also available for remote watching and online bonus content.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Anyone who likes a well-written but extremely cynical medical drama.