This show turned out to be a pleasant surprise last year during it's first season of existence. I wasn't sure that we needed another medical drama, but there was something that drew me to want to give it a shot. That drawing factor was it's star Hugh Laurie.
As it turns out, I am really glad I took the time to watch it. The show is an intriguing mix of medical science, Sherlock Holmes style detecting, and an amazingly dry and sarcastic wit. It's that sarcasm that initially made the show for me. It is amazing how entertaining it is to see a doctor constantly belittle his patients and staff, not to mention his way of handling his superiors.
Watching this show again on DVD, and in such a rapid fire succession, something else dawned on me. The writing is fantastic! The characters grow and change over the course of the year, none of them turn into cardboard cutouts filling the role of plot device.
The early episodes, while entertaining, seemed to be heading along a path of sickness of the week. Much the same way episodes of The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer felt like they were slipping into monster of the week. As the season goes on, though, you start to notice little things about the characters. They start to grow and have emerging personalities as they begin to take shape. By the end of the season the episodes begin to take shape and form arcs, creating more history for us to be sucked into.
Hugh Laurie stands tall at the center of the cast. He stars as Dr. Gregory House, a hobbled, pill popping, sarcastic as all get out genius doctor. A fascinating character who uses his sarcastic put downs to cover up a lonely personal life. He is a man who pushes everyone away, yet yearns for relationships with people. Hugh owns this role, his mannerisms and way of speaking are perfect. Combine him with his staff of three, who he treats like children, and you have the perfect team.
House even won it's first Emmy award this year, for Writing in a Drama Series. It one for the episode "Three Stories," which stood out to me as a great piece of writing, and a good example of the quality of the show. It showcases Hugh's acting, the writer's ability to weave a complex tale filled with smoke and mirrors. It displays humor and drama while remaining grounded in an event that has a lasting impact on one of our characters.
I can't recommend this show enough. It is completely engrossing, well acted and well written. It could emerge as a long running drama with many awards in its future.
Video. It is presented in it's original ratio of 1.78:1 and looks great. Though there is one thing that is slightly irksome, particularly to those who have widescreen televisions, it is not anamorphically enhanced. It seems that in their rush to expedite the DVD release, they did not have time to enhance the image. In this day of the widescreen TV, and virtual requirement of the enhancement, this is a big letdown. They should have taken the time to do it right. Still, the image looks great, if a touch on the dark side. The colors are still good and the black levels are nice and deep. Except for the lack of anamorphic enhancement, the video is very good.
Audio. Sound is also very good. It is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. It is clear and sharp, no hissing or distortions to be found here. My ears were happy.
Extras. This is probably the area where this set fails the most. There isn't much here. I would have loved an in depth documentary on the making of the show, or better yet, commentaries with cast and crew, and particularly Hugh Laurie. What we do get are a couple of brief featurettes. We have a tour of the set with Jennifer Morrison (Dr. Allison Cameron). There is a casting session with Hugh. A brief on the cases that the writers uncover to use on the show. And a brief collection of clips featuring some of House's abrasive comments. Entertaining, but all too brief.
Bottomline. This is a great series in a slightly underwhelming package. I would still have a hard time not recommending this series. It is a great show which deserves to be seen. So, buy it, rent it, do whatever you need to do to see this.
Recommended.
0 comments:
Post a Comment