Taking it to the House

I resisted watching "House" for years.  I'm not sure why... it's on Fox?  I really don't know.  I poo pooed other's enthusiasm for it, writing it off as just another medical drama.  I've watched 8 episodes or so now, it's not just another medical drama.  I dismissed it as this jerk who was mean to everyone.  He's not just a jerk.  In fact, as I watch each show I'm surprised I was engaged and enjoyed myself and look forward to the next episode.  It is so far outside my usual tastes when you look at the show on the surface.

The thing is... I think I like House.  Just like all the characters on the show, I respect him because he is a genius.  His staff brings him a bunch of pieces to a puzzle, lay them on the table, he looks at them and says, "it's a cat by a vase of flowers" and walks away.  They put the pieces together, sure enough, it's a cat by a vase of flowers.  Ok, that doesn't happen, but you understand, right?

Medical mysteries he excels at, but he struggles with his social skills.  He's in a tremendous amount of pain, therefor a jerk.  Also, he's highly analytical and everything becomes a puzzle to him.  With puzzles, his mind is off his pain.  Everything is a chance to test and prove theories, a chance to push and pull people for his own amusement.  I find this incredibly interesting.  Not so much the actual things that happen in the show, though they usually are, but the idea of this happening in real life.  I like the idea of predicting how people will react if you do this or say that.  We already do this, action and consequence, but we don't actively test other people just to find out what the consequence is.  Children do.  I guess I do to an extent.  Maybe we all do, we just don't take it to the extreme House does because we value having friends.  House, however, is exceedingly good at it.  Imagine how refreshing it would be to have House as your shrink.  Well, to some, it would be a nightmare, but I think I'd like brutal honesty.  I'd like to taste it anyway.

Mostly though, I like "House" because I find myself thinking the entire episode.  I identify with House.  I can't predict what's wrong with the patient, it's not the mystery of it.  That's why I like to watch some shows, the who-done-it factor.  Not this show.  No, this show is more about House pushing and pulling me.  When he is asking questions, I'm thinking of my answer.  When he gives the answer, I try to figure out if he's right or not.  

House loves to figure out everyone else's puzzles, but ignores his own.  I think I'm like House in that way, but I also wonder what it would be like to have a friend figure out all your puzzles for you.  Would it matter if they did?

This is how you know you're watching a good show.  This is why "Heroes" is often good, it questioned meaning of life, religion, morality.  This is why "Life" is good.  He also is on a quest of self discovery and discipline.  If a show can make you think after the credits roll, it's more than a show, it's art.

Watch "House" on Hulu.