House: An Advance Look
My editor, Arieanna Schwebber, got to screen the first two episodes of House season 5. She’s been sworn to secrecy on the specifics of the plots, but she does offer us this insight into the new season’s dynamics. You can read Arieanna’s blog at Gilmore Girls News.
House returns for its 5th season on Tuesday, September 16th at 8pm on FOX. I’ve had a chance to preview the screener for the first two episodes of the season, "Dying Changes Everything" and "Not Cancer", and have to say that we’re primed for the best season of House yet!
It’s evident right away that the dynamic of the characters has changed dramatically - there is a deeper emotional context to all the storylines. In "Dying Changes Everything," 8 weeks have passed since Amber’s death and Wilson is still in mourning. His relationship with House, his friendship (if you can call it that), has been shattered. Needing to make a change in his life, Wilson resigns from his position at Princeton-Plainsboro and, more importantly, resigns from House. Wilson tells House that he’s a "destructive influence" in his life and is no longer welcome.
This episode brings up a lot of questions. Does Wilson blame House for Amber’s death? Does House blame himself? What is friendship, and was House ever Wilson’s friend? Can a person change his or her outlook on friendship and life, and is it too late for Wilson & House?
Through all of this, there’s as much medical mystery as ever. The team has to solve a shocking medical condition that has afflicted a high-profile executive assistant with a strong Type A personality - this patient strikes a chord with Thirteen. The storyline for Thirteen is really gaining complexity and depth this season as she struggles to be a good doctor without her own medical condition clouding her judgment.
In the second episode of the season, "Not Cancer", a number of people have died very suddenly after receiving transplants from the same organ donor. There are two surviving patients - one dying and one still healthy - and the team must rush to save them. There is one patient here who has something important to teach House about his perception of the world.
Meanwhile, House has hired a private investigator (Lucas, guest star Michael Weston) to spy on his team and on Wilson - oh, and to help with the case too ;) The PI is a great character, very spunky, but he plays an interesting role with House. What the PI does is show House his own faults and desires - what House hasn’t been ready to hear. So the PI is kind of like his really blunt psychotherapist.
I think this season of House offers up a lot of opportunities for the characters to learn more about themselves, and maybe to change on fundamental levels. Is House capable of change? Of self-reflection? What makes House who he is - what determines his outlook on life? Can House find a solution to his own sadness?
The medical mysteries serve to fuel the emotional context of the episodes - they challenge all the characters to face their own demons, I’d say. Like Thirteen facing her own death and deciding how to live and what she wants to accomplish. Does it cloud her judgment or drive her to be a better doctor? I think it’s actually the latter, so knowing may be a blessing in disguise for her. It’s made her a better person and a better doctor.
A lot of the interviews with cast members talk about guilt and blame, but my read on the episodes was more about friendship and trust and change. A deeper context than just the Amber issue - Amber was the catalyst that exposed a lot of buried issues. It will be interesting to see how they play out through the rest of the season.
[Photo: © 2008 FOX Broadcasting]
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POSTED IN: House Thoughts, Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard, Show Info, Thoughts
18 opinions for House: An Advance Look
Lieke
Aug 28, 2008 at 3:25 am
omg I want to see it now! ugh I hate the waiting…
it sounds perfect :)
Lindy
Aug 28, 2008 at 11:31 am
:D I’ve been waiting to see the Hilson relationship tested like this, and I can’t wait to see what’ll happen. From this, it sounds like we’re in for a wild (and verrrrrry depressing) ride.
Jo
Aug 28, 2008 at 11:50 pm
ARgh more Thirteen?! Are you serious?! I don’t care about her character and her struggle. I just want to see more of the original team and House.
Alexander
Aug 29, 2008 at 12:25 am
“You think I should risk my life to save Amber’s?”
That was the quote of the season for me. House should’ve realized that their friendship would never be the same, starting from that moment.
I can’t wait to see how the House/Wilson dynamic plays out!
Grace
Aug 29, 2008 at 1:21 am
Sounds GREAT except for the 13 part.
bertas
Aug 29, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Hm is it just me or does this PI thing smell of Sherlock Holmes? :)
I kind of agree on 13, I’m not too excited about her she seemed a bit bland in previous season.
I think (and I might be wrong) it will be Wilson-House all the way this season.
Jennifer Morrison Fan - Your Online Source for Jennifer Morrison » Blog Archive » House: What expect from the new Season?
Aug 30, 2008 at 4:33 pm
[…] Read the Rest Here. I didn’t put the whole article here because there are a lot of people that don’t […]
mabe
Aug 31, 2008 at 11:01 pm
WORD on everyone’s comments on 13
Niello
Sep 1, 2008 at 3:08 am
13’s character was only just developing last season….I think she will grow on you all by the end of this season. I like the old crew a lot (especially Cameron! :D). In a way I hope this is the last season, unless it’s a season of seismic changes character-wise….somehow though I think if the show changes too much, it’ll lose a lot, and they’ll destroy it with a 6th. Will be interesting to see what happens. Hopefully the show screens on free to air in the UK, as I’m leaving Oz in October?…..
Exploring the House and Wilson Friendship on House M.D. | Sofa Chip
Sep 4, 2008 at 7:41 pm
[…] Can we blame him for not realizing that Wilson and House are BFF? I thought it was interesting on HouseisRight.com that Lynn mentions the friendship House had with Wilson and then says ‘if you can call it […]
Matchew
Sep 6, 2008 at 5:32 am
I love 13. I think here character is shrouded in mystery. Heck, we’re not even sure what her real name is! I loved how she kept everyone on their toes as they spent their time trying to figure her out, all the while not paying much attention to the “games.” I look forward to getting to know her better. Plus, she is smokin’ hot!
Niello
Sep 6, 2008 at 5:40 am
Yeah, I kinda think House kept her because a) the number 13 is meant to be unlucky, so she’d be unlucky for a lot of people, thus making House’s job easier (which she actually was a few times during the cull!) and b) Because she’s good looking. I’d still prefer to take J.M to dinner in preference O.W though!.
Tash
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I honestly don’t see any need for 13. She’s a very bland character with absolutelly no change in expression or tone to make me remotely interested in what she’s saying. That comes from the writing of her character but also Olivia Wilde’s acting. It’s just so dry and boring. The whole ‘mystery’ thing and not knowing her name got old after an episode or two. And plus we know her name is Remy Hadley, and I’m pretty sure other characters are already calling her Hadley. No mystery anymore, and she’s still just as boring.
Grace
Sep 7, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Do you think that House would ask Wilson to risk his life for someone that House loved?
I’m not sure he would.
And if Wilson thinks he was justified in asking House to risk his life for Amber, maybe he ought to think about all those times he was House’s enabler.
Saying that, I do think the “Buy a plant.” was a bit insensitive on House’s part.
Grace
Sep 7, 2008 at 11:48 pm
LOTS of photos on that Jennifer Morrison site mentioned a little bit ago…….
If you’re a Jen/Cam fan I’ suggest taking a look!
lobby
Sep 14, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Good article. It sounds like Lynn has a good understanding of what makes House such a good show. I hope she’s right about the Season 5 outlook. Season 4 really drifted away from the core of the show.
lobby
Sep 14, 2008 at 4:35 pm
or Arieanna, whoever wrote this piece.
Daniel
Sep 15, 2008 at 5:27 pm
only one more day.. lately i have been watching the house seasons 1-4 to get ready for the new season cant wait…!!!!!
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