House: Season One (DVD)
The show centers around Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) as his team of experts take on medical puzzles only they can solve. House's team includes three young bucks in the game, neurologist Dr. Eric Foreman (Omar Epps); immunologist Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison); and intensevist Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer). These three doctors not only have to deal with some of the rarest diseases to come around, they are also forced to deal with Dr. House and his brutally honest demeanor which usually results in brash criticism and very little praise, not to mention the occasional office romance and dirty politics.
Dr. House's attitude problems are a result of his inability to trust anyone, patients most of all, as well as his consistent leg pain due to a serious infarction, which left him with a permanent limp, which nags at him as much as his troubled love life. Oh yeah, and I mustn't forget his trusty walking stick, it is sort of his very own visible catch phrase. Attitude, pain and all, this self-made loner must also deal with the volatile chemistry between him and the hospital administrator, the lovely Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein).
While this may sound like a drab and down trodden show it is quite the opposite as House's sarcasm keeps the humor level at an all time high; then again I am a sucker for sarcasm and brutal honesty. After all, if an unruly patient is nagging and looking for some reassurance what kind of a doctor would House be if he didn't tell them like it is? At the same time, House always lets the human side of him take over, and he realizes helping patients is his passion creating some real drama.
Led by Hugh Laurie, who seems to have been made for his role as Greg House, the cast of this show could not be any better. Along a great guest appearance by Chi McBride the supporting cast backs up Laurie's performance flawlessly. Occasionally they find themselves falling into House's cynicism, but most of the time they supply the opposing voice for the show giving it an "all-to-real" sense of realism.
This season one DVD is a must own for anyone that enjoys either one of those shows I mentioned above. This has the medical drama of "ER" as well as the mystery and crime solving techniques found in both "C.S.I." and "Without a Trace". Each and every case is original and as you will see from the making of featurettes on the DVD there are far more to come.
While there aren't any commentaries the small amount of special features included are quick and to the point, giving just enough insight into the cast, the characters and the creation of the show that they are all watchable in one sitting.
"House M.D." would make a fantastic addition to several DVD collections and if you are at all intrigued by medical dramas or criminal investigative television series this is the show for you.