8/1/2008
Life Is a "House" Episode
Ever watch the hot new TV series House M.D.? What a fabulous show; my wife and I love it. From a writing standpoint, House is fascinating, perhaps even unique. The main plot is exactly the same, week in and week out.
- A random person develops serious, inexplicable symptoms.
- The person becomes a patient of Gregory House, the brilliant but wittily abrasive diagnostician.
- House and his team run the patient through all sorts of tests, often making the condition worse.
- Patient comes closer and closer to death.
- With five minutes left in the show, while House is in the midst of some random conversation, he suddenly sees the solution. Viola! Patient is cured — usually. Even if not, the diagnosis is nailed down.
Now what makes House so interesting is this. It’s the subplots and the subtext that make the show. As House and his team discover and interpret medical clues, the interplay among the characters explores issues and problems of life that have nothing to do with the case at hand. Insecurities, character flaws, relationship strains, damaged psyches, gross misunderstandings are all revealed. Onions are unpeeled. The essence of what the characters are becomes visible,often painfully so, and seldom are their problems neatly resolved. The medical case is merely an excuse for characters to explore who and what they are. I can’t recall another TV show like it.
Why House Is Like Life
Conversation leads to conversion. Many of the characters on House, especially House himself, are isolated, living lives of quiet desperation. Ironically, it is House who is such a magnificent catalyst, the man who is ready, willing, and able to make the unwelcome observations and ask the tough questions. He forces people to think, to talk it out, to figure it out. When we start thinking, we start talking. When we start talking, we start changing. Change can’t occur in isolation. Even House has made some progress during the run of the series.
The things we think are important, aren’t. For instance we may think of our careers as the main plot of our lives, or accumulating wealth, or even seeing our children become doctors or lawyers. But are those things truly where life is lived? I don’t think so, and neither does House. It’s the relationships we build along the way and the things we discover about ourselves that matter more as time goes on. By the end of the episode …
It’s not whether we live or die, it’s the journey. On House, the patient’s physical survival becomes becomes a secondary issue. The more important issue is whether the patient (or some other character), will be healed psychologically and spiritually — whether the character will live a better life, embrace life, confront his fears or his failings, repair a broken relationship, come to grips with a seemingly impossible situation. But even then, it’s not the resolution of a life problem that matters. Some problems take a lifetime to solve. Others may not be solvable at all. But we keep trying, we keep moving forward. Every bit of discovery about ourselves and those we care for adds richness and completeness to our lives. And like a House episode, even the tiniest bit of progress can be immensely satisfying!
What are the subplots in your life? Are you giving them the attention they deserve?
Thanks to Robert Hruzek for giving me a chance to explore this topic as part of his Group Project for August, Life Is a __________. A very cool topic it is! If you’ve got time, I sure hope you’ll make a contribution.
(Hugh Laurie, by Eleventh Earl of Mar on Flickr)
25 Responses to Life Is a "House" Episode
Brad, this is a fascinating post. I think I probably – like most other people – pay too much attention to the main plot, or what appears to be the main plot… overlooking the richness that might lie in the subplots. You’ve definitely given me something to think about here.
I’ve never heard of the TV show but I’ll look out for it if it makes it this side of the Atlantic.
Joanna, happy thinking! Hope you can catch House. Would love to get your take on it.
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Hi Brad! What a great entry! I fear that I also am guilty of often focusing on the main plot. The times I have broadened my focus, the subplots have been far more interesting! This is a great reminder to enjoy the nuances and richness of our total experience. Thank you Brad!
Joanna, House can be seen on the BBC. I have a friend in the UK who is a huge fan and Hugh Laurie (star of show) is a Brit. He commutes to America for the show.
Karen, Joanna, When I hear Hugh Laurie speak in his normal voice, I just can’t process it. I’ve heard Brits say his American accent is horrid, but I was shocked to learn he was British! Would love to get a “professional” opinion on his accent from Joanna, Yvonne, Cath, et al.
Hmm, I’m feeling very TV ignorant now – I’ve never even heard of this and I do normally skim the schedules even if I don’t watch much. I’ll keep my eyes peeled and report back!
Brad, I was shocked to discover he was not American. His accent convinced me. Another Brit shocked me too, Marianne Jean Baptist from Without A Trace is a Brit. I thought she was from the South! Now on the other hand I can name Americans with bad British accents!
Brad,
Never watch House, myself, because I simply can’t get past his persona, which I find quite irritating! Seems as if I may be missing the show’s more subtle, underlying value, though; so perhaps I’ll have to reassess. I tend not to enjoy shows where the characters are too silly and/or “off-the-wall,” though; so I’m not at all sure it would help! Besides that, my TV viewing is done at my mom’s house (since I don’t have cable), and she feels the same way I do about the show–and perhaps even more so)!
Fascinating post!
Jeanne
Ooops! Did it again, Brad! Would you mind deleting the second posting of my name? There is, after all, only one of me!
Thanks!
Karen, Marianne is British? Had me fooled! Jeanne, Yes, I share your dim view of House, but the fact the show challenges his perspective won me over.
Gee, I dunno Brad; seems pretty important to me whether I live or die!
You make a good point, though; the journey IS the thing. Great food for thought!
Robert, not that living or dying is unimportant, but if you dwell on it, you may miss out on life. That’s probably more what I meant to say.
Brad,
Interesting factor to consider! I’d be willing to reassess; but, unfortunately, I don’t think my mom would be too keen on the idea!
Jeanne
P.S. Thanks for removing my “alter ego” from my first comment!
I agree wholeheartedly! It’d be a shame to make it to the finish, only to find you’ve missed so many good things.
I’m with Robert’s original comment. I’m glad to hear about the journey and egos of medical personnel, but if I’m ever in an operating theatre, I hope that me living or dying is the top priority in the minds of the medical patients.
I must say also say that if I would never want to be treated by somebody like house. His ego, abraisive style and his tendency to jump very quickly to conclusions without really thinking things through would not exactly inspire confidence if your life is at risk!
I’d rather be treated by John Becker than House.
Cheers
Andrew
Andrew, Would you really pick a doctor based on personality with no regard for results? If I were being treated for the flu, I wouldn’t want to get within 100 miles of House. If my life were on the line, I’d take him personality and all. House is definitely a mixed bag, which I think is a plus from a purely dramatic point of view. So many film and TV characters are one dimensional or no dimensional and could never inspire a discussion like this one.
Brad, I’m a hard core House fan
I loved each episode of each series and I can’t wait for the new one! Yet you are right, it it weren’t for the subplots, the subtext, House MD would be the most boring series ever, as everything is so predictable!
And that’s most of the times true for our lives: we live in a nicely organized routine and it’s the things that happen besides the routine that make life so beautiful!
Hi, You hit the nail on the head! And thanks for stopping by – it’s nice to hear from a fellow House fan.
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Now you’ve got me curious and I’ll have to check out an episode.
I have a problem with Hugh Laurie as House as I remember him most as a dimwitted toff in a comedy series called Blackadder some years back. I realise that he is a very good actor but his character really annoys me. Get some help, man. Or take the help that is offered. The character is surrounded by people who will put up with his – not insignifant – foibles because they admire his genius. That happens in real life too!
Great post. Brad.
Karen, Please let us know what you think about “House”!
Jackie, I suppose one of the attractions of the show is how controversial his character is. He annoys me to no end, but his point of view is always being challenged, and his challengers often get the better of him. I think that also is much like real life. In any event, I don’t think you could even have a discussion like this about 95% of what’s on TV.
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house you the best in the show
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