It is hard to believe that Hugh Laurie, the acting talent behind the bumbling Prince George in Blackadder, would go on to take the role of television’s grouchiest and most brilliant medic and win a Golden Globe for his efforts. In an industry that churns out one formulaic drama series after another, it might also seem strange that House M.D., another part of a very crowded ‘medical drama’ genre, could garner so much acclaim; it is after all fundamentally formulaic. The misanthropic hero and his team of talented specialists take on a seemingly insoluble case, which is followed by a slew of potential diagnoses, a patient’s life hangs in the balance then there’s the eventual resolution; it is a polished and modern blend of Quincy and Sherlock Holmes that takes a ‘case of the week’ approach. Within this structure though there is what could possibly be the smartest and most engrossing televised drama of recent years.
Laurie and his team of elite doctors, played by Omar Epps, Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer with superb supporting performances from Lisa Edelstein and Robert Sean Leonard, make for a unique on-screen chemistry which is in no small part aided by creator David Shore’s razor-sharp script. Dr. House is one of the most memorable but also one of the most tactless, cynical and startling personalities to grace our screens; his no-nonsense manner hides a fascinating and deep-seated psyche of a brilliant but troubled individual. The dialogue is bristling with dry and witty wisecracks that flows effortlessly like poetry - poetry riddled with medical jargon, hidden emotions and a heavy dose of sarcasm.
House is a typical flawed hero. Forced to walk with a cane and self-administering painkillers due to chronic pain in his right leg, he views his work with considerable lack of faith in human nature and the philosophy being that “everyone lies.” He avoids human contact and interaction wherever possible, preferring to study the symptoms and view patients analytically. He despises clinic duty, being as it is a daily exposure to the trivialities of everyday human existence, with the irony that these trivial cases often provide the crucial inspiration he needs to solve the major case of each episode. He is arrogant, antisocial, disrespectful to colleagues, rude to patients and addicted to prescription drugs; the list of reasons to dislike the guy is seemingly endless but his outstanding ability at problem-solving and his unswaying moral stance gets the job done and saves lives without the otherwise essential gift of bedside manner - ironically, you can’t help but like him.
While each episode examines a baffling and occasionally far-fetched illness, the ongoing office politics and relationships between the eponymous star and his co-workers provides humour and heart to a production that would otherwise be difficult to enjoy in the eyes of those who lack a scientific background. The one-liners and unspoken feelings that fly between them could falter and fail on-screen if it weren’t for the talent of Laurie and his co-stars; we see the stubborn medic run up against a multi-millionaire who takes hold of the hospital’s finances and takes a (perhaps understandable) dislike to his unorthodox methods, one of his team threatens to leave, another is almost fired from his post and House’s own ex-wife shows up with a plea to help treat her new husband. As time goes on we begin to see deeper into the minds of these people and a man who lives for his work but tries to turn his back on his own humanity.
In addition to a myriad of personal problems, House addresses a number of moral issues such as organ transplantation, the financial motives that dictate the policies of medical establishments and pharmaceutical corporations, patient rights and the question of how doctors should approach their work in regards to patient care. Although our hero has a cavalier attitude to the rules his profession has set in place, saving lives is his primary goal above all else: above personal gain, above the reputations of others and even what the patient thinks is in his or her best interests. Being right most of the time invariably helps when he is being so uncompromising but what earns the respect, if not the affection, of the viewer is that House has a very logical and simple approach; if he were to make his personal feelings more obvious and based his decisions on them, I doubt he would be as good at his job. It wouldn’t be as much fun to watch, either.
In Summary
If you look past the tried-and-tested formula of brilliant minds taking on difficult challenges, you will see that House is well-written, flawlessly performed and thought-provoking television. The scientific reasoning that underpins every episode is remarkably convincing but the characters, especially its abrasive star, are the crucial factor that ensures that it is medical drama of the highest calibre. Remember people, it’s never lupus.
Entries (RSS)
September 21st, 2007 at 2:01 am
Percy was played by Tim McInnery. Hugh Laurie played George, Ludwig, and I think a drunken Lord.
September 21st, 2007 at 6:39 pm
@Dianah: oops, my bad. Fixed.