Dying would be a great adventure
There are so many tremendous new things happening since I last blogged. I am afraid that I will be given over to hysterics the moment I start talking about all that is neat and new and be branded a histrionic (a label I already desperately need to stay away from). But, c’mon! There is a new Radiohead album out today. In Rainbows! I’m going to write a review for that and some other things this week. At the moment though, I don’t feel comfortable talking about it as I’ve only listened to it one and a quarter times.
So here’s what I’m going to do instead: I’m going to talk about last night’s episode of House.
Before I jump into that, let me note that I haven’t seen the first two episodes of the season due to scheduling conflicts. So kindly get off my back if I say something that sounds ill-informed. 
First of all, is this doctor elimination game working for me? Absolutely. How about the new doctors…are they gelling? I think so. They’re both radically different from House’s previous tenants yet they remarkably overlap with a few of their key qualities. Was that done on purpose? This is me, smiling. Still, there are enough shades in these guys to bring out new sides to House. How about the ambitious blond girl? I can’t remember her name, and yes, that’s part of the joke…but I liked her scheming efforts. This is like the most sordid parts of elimination reality shows…but fictionalized, so we’re okay to enjoy it. Right? And in a way, last night’s episode vaguely commented on the price of such games. I.E.: their efforts to get into House’s permanent roster ended up killing a patient.
I really liked that. It worked on two levels for me. One: it showed us how silly this competition is and how ambitious these morons are…and, two: really made House seem petty. Sure, he reversed course towards the end of the episode, realizing it was time to cut the crap and try to save this guy before it was too late. But, this just adds another level of moral darkness to his character. He was always a bastard with some heart…but now? He’s just questionable. While I enjoy the writers showing us how tentative life is on this show, House has to save someone soon. Cause that’s probably the only thing about his character that gives him a permit to do the things he does.
Speaking of which, how about that Joshua moment? What I’m getting at is House electrocuting himself to see God. That was both shocking (if I make light of the pun, does that make it any less clever?) and a little out of hand. I know this show is well beyond reality, but would they seriously let him keep working after having shocked himself like that? I guess after all the crap he has done, that’s sort of a moot point. It would have smoothed the whole thing over though if he hadn’t been okay later on in the episode. Give him a week to recover…last time I checked a week was standard procedure for gunshots, overdoses and accidents.
I like Kal Penn’s immature ten-year-old-boy quality in this show. He’s generally annoying as hell, but herein, he’s annoying in a kind of funny way. I especially like him annoying House.
The new doctors seeking advice from House’s old crew is cool, but enough with the Foreman crap. He’s about as enjoyable this season as a sharp stick to the eye. And this better not become a pattern. The new group is shaking things up plenty, but from here on out, if they want advice, they should go to Wilson. This cast is getting too big for its britches.
And yes, I am a spoiler monger…so I already know which three he picks.
5 comments:
I've just listened to "In Rainbows." I too will need more listens before commenting.
I always appreciate a House post. I have caught up on the episodes so far, and I am happy to report that each episode have given me quite a few moments of pure glee. I'm not sure where it's going or why it's necessary to keep the old team so close at hand, but what it has lacked in direction it has made up from in entertainment value.
The show has always been well-directed, but has been even better so far this season as far as visual interest goes. The closing scene of the season premiere, with it's macro emamination or house and his guitar was great visual payoff to go with the humorous premise.
This week's shriek of laughter and subsequent pause of the Tivo to recover (I laughed for a solid minute before resuming the show) was when House works his way past Cuddy to Wilson's door and screams out "Hey, I'm gonna go cut some guy's eye out, are you in?" Wilson opens the door and deadpans "Good times." Then, moments later, both House and Wilson take a long glance at Cuddy's rear end as she walks away. A really long glance. Wilson has been over-the-top this season, not the wry straight-up straight man of season's past.
All of this reminds me of my old favorite laughter-inducing moment, when House is temporarily healed and pain free, and power slides into an examining room Risky Business-style (only with clothes).
PS - As for the Radiohead album, kudos for going independent, but I'm old school and I love holding a product in my hands. Is there a way to physically "own" this album without dropping major pounds for the box set?
January 08, or around that time, you'll be able to actually have a hard copy of the album. Until then, you can get the album from either Gabe or myself...or if you want, you can go on their website and pay nothing to download it.
I neglected to comment on my own history with electrocution. Let's start with this: I have a history with electrocution. I love it, always have. We used to build electric shock devices at home, then we took a summer class and learned how to do it more effectively. Later, I made a pastime of cracking open disposable cameras and using the inetrnal workings to achieve my ends. When I was very young, I used to stick keys and other objects in electrical sockets, but don't have much of a memory of it. I do vividly remember doing this once again while I was dating Angie. I took two keys between my fingers, and put them both in the plug. What they failed to show on House by cutting away was the load popping sounds and overwhelming flashes of white light that engulf you. Or maybe these are what you experience, but a bystander wouldn't see them. I'm not sure. It was fun. I think they overdid the damage it can do to you on the show. Either that or I got off too easy.
Frankly speaking, I think you got off tremendously easy in your experiences.
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