MovieChat Forums > House M.D. (2004) Discussion > Does it get any better? on Season 1 righ...

Does it get any better? on Season 1 right now

posted 4 years ago by Mister Babadook (2623)
15 replies | jump to latest

I'm like 4 or 5 episodes in and its really not hooking me in, the formula is already getting old where at the start someone gets hurt/sick, they spend the whole episode figuring out whats wrong with the patient cause its always a huge mystery they can't figure out. Which i think is a little absurd they have that many patients coming in daily with so many mysterious illnesses. Then they come up with 2 or 3 different solutions that always turns out wrong.

House sits around acting annoyed that anyone else on the planet exists but him, he comes up with a few theory's that always turns out wrong even though appearing right at first, then they figure out the problem at the tail end of the episode and save the patient.

I just need more out of this to keep me watching, i can't continue watching if every episode follows that same formula. So does the show kinda go away from that formula at some point and get really good?

[–] Truthtalker (1870) 4 years ago

Nope, all episodes are like that, also he is a huge douche bag

[–] captainbucky (15252) 4 years ago

That’s what I like

[–] Mister Babadook (2623) 4 years ago

Seriously all episodes are like that for 8 seasons straight? woof, how the hell did this show go 8 seasons with that tired formula? as i said i'm just 4 or 5 episodes in and already tired of it.

At least on other medical shows like The Good Doctor you had patients with issues that wasn't a huge mystery every episode, one episode we just had a young teenager coming in with cancer in his eye and was gonna be blind if he had it removed, there was no saving his sight it was about him coming to terms with having the surgery. And most importantly we got to delve into the personal lives of the doctors, we didn't just stay at the hospital doing research and solving mysteries the entire hour, that gets a little old.

And yeah he's pretty much a dick to everyone he comes in contact with, his fellow doctors/staff, patients etc, i don't see how anyone can like this guy, and you gotta follow him for 8 seasons? Dexter was a serial killer and was way more likable.

[–] huwdj (4562) 4 years ago

As I remember House was great from the start and for most of the way through to the end. I suspect if it's not working for you after five episodes then this ain't the series for you.

[–] TandyMan (10363) 4 years ago

That's the formula for the whole show, except for a few specials now and then for finales and premieres. The hook of the show is the slow burn character development of the cast, but you only get that about five to ten minutes at a time each episode. Over the years, it builds a surprisingly complex and compelling drama. In particular as the characters deal with moral and ethical quandaries. It's largely about relationships of one sort or another. Co-workers, romance, and of course, the greatest bro-mance in the history of television.

[–] dajband (112) 3 years ago

You are so right.

I love the show. I love the formula. I like that house is a douche. I like how the team along with House solve problems. I have re-watched the seasons too many times to count. I like the show so much it is hard to watch new shows. I am lame.

[–] brodee (467) 3 years ago

It isn't about liking House, it's about recognizing you idiots keep doing things that jeopardize your life. House would have given that kid a gun and said "go ahead, shoot yourself if you want to die so badly, at least it won't be nearly as painful as what you have coming"

Get some bloody perspective, show about an idiot kid who is too stupid to instantly choose to have a resection and get rid of a cancer before it metastasizes to the brain, or a show about a brilliant doctor who solves medical mysteries. There's lots of soap opera between the doctors (Chase + Cameron especially)... but anyone who wants to listen to patients whine and complain about how they're too stupid to take the medication that will save their lives is probably just as stupid.

[–] snepts (11123) 3 years ago

I enjoyed the show a lot, but I often found the actual patients to be my least favorite part. Not always, but for me, I usually come to enjoy the ensemble cast and their interactions more than the guest stars in all series I follow(ed).

[–] beavis (3249) 4 years ago

It changes up season 4,house gets more reckless all the way to the end but new characters in season 4 and one season he is in an insane assylum

I think season two at the end of the season has the epidemic, a 2 episode arch.

[–] ItalianBuju (793) 3 years ago

Did you keep watching it? I just started it last week, am 7 episodes in and also wondering if I am going to stick with it.

I don't mind the formula so much, I am used to it from L&O lol, but I find House unlikeable and find the far fetched way he knows things a bit much. Like he knew a guy's wife was cheating because he was orange and she didnt notice. Or the woman that was clearly being fired cuz she came in randomly for a check up? That annoys me some.

Anyway wondering if you kept watching and how you are feeling about it now.

I love the Good Doctor also.

[–] aavfreak (2861) 3 years ago

I'm wondering if some of what new viewers are experiencing with this show is that it isn't the type of show you'd binge watch. I'm thinking back at the early seasons and I really see no compelling reason to binge. Along with that, I can see how the formulaic nature of the show would become tiresome if I just watched several back to back episodes together.

In my opinion, watching multiple episodes of older shows goes better with shows that have an overall story to tell, like Breaking Bad. House was great for the once a week entertainment and absurd shock factor moments, but that would get old quick when taken all at once, I think.

[–] Reeveman (178) 3 years ago

"... I find House unlikeable and find the far fetched way he knows things a bit much. Like he knew a guy's wife was cheating because he was orange and she didnt notice. Or the woman that was clearly being fired cuz she came in randomly for a check up? That annoys me some."

I certainly understand your feelings on this but to me House was never supposed to be a likeable person...ever. Part of the show's dynamic was the tradeoff of him being a jerk with being able to solve the most complex medical issues and save lives. His colleagues didn't like him but they knew they could learn from him.
The character House was modeled after Sherlock Holmes which is why he has the same uncanny deductive reasoning you see in the show. For example, Holmes was able to predict who was about to knock on his door based just on how the person walked down the hallway along with several other clues no one else could detect. For me it's just part of the fun of watching the show.

[–] elcamino (15540) 3 years ago

Olivia Wilde comes in season 4. It gets looney season 6 and doesn't fixes itself after that.

[–] Reeveman (178) 3 years ago

'Olivia Wilde comes in season 4. It gets looney season 6 and doesn't fixes itself after that."

That pretty much sums it up. Olivia was the best thing about S4 although they did have some great episodes that season. She just lights up the room for me. S5 and beyond is where it got way too silly for me to continue watching, even to this day. I think my official "last episode" when I gave up on the show during its original run was when House slammed his car into Cuddy's house. The show was already going off the rails before then but that was the final straw.

[–] melissah1982 (883) 3 years ago

I felt the same way about episodes 4-5 as well. I just started re-watching the show on Peacock. Binging is probably NOT the best way to watch this show as I did start to see the routine immediately. that said, I felt it started to get better as the characters started to become more the focus. As much as I hated the chairman of the board storyline, it broke up the monotony and added some good tension. I am enjoying season 2 as well.