Is there a Doctor in the 'House'? (House)

Member Name: Martin52

Product:	House
Date:	13/06/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Different, well-made, television drama with a brilliant Hugh Laurie

Disadvantages: Some episodes can be a bit repetitive

I'm a fairly late arrival to this highly acclaimed television series and I've only just watched the first series of this medical detective drama. I had heard many good things said about 'House' and, particularly as it stars the great Hugh Laurie as the main character, I decided to give it a go.

Dr House (Laurie) is a genius with absolutely no interest in anyone else. He is rude, sarcastic and extremely unpleasant. However, he is also an amazingly brilliant doctor who thrives on taking on those medical cases that other doctors have been unable to solve. What's more, he seems determined to prove that only he can solve the case and will regularly rubbish other diagnosis, seemingly for no other reason than someone else has suggested it.

The similarities with Sherlock Holmes, both with the main character and, in fact, with many other elements of the series including the name, are apparently deliberate. Dr House and his staff, whom he often seems to be working against rather than with, meticulously search for and analysis the smallest clues for evidence of the cause of the patient's illness or disease.

Although I enjoyed watching the first series, strangely, I feel no strong urge to see any of the later series. I think this is because many of the episodes, although definitely not all, have a bit of a repetitive feel to them. Excellent, but repetitive. In fact, there are two episodes that are virtually identical.

In addition, although Dr House is a bit of an anti-hero, you obviously start off rooting for him and wanting him to see off his more money-focused employers. However, as the series went on, I realised that I genuinely didn't like the man and I found it harder and harder to have any empathy for him. He is a very unpleasant man, brilliantly portrayed by Hugh Laurie.

This series is a little bit different from the usual hospital dramas and if you like either medical or detective dramas then you are sure to like this. Just pray that you never have a doctor like House!

Summary: 'Sherlock Holmes' as a doctor in a hospital