"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

House 6.12: The Progression to Mensch Continues

A good House 6.12 last night, in which House hires Foreman's big brother Marcus, just out of prison, and House and Wilson are pranked by Cuddy's boyfriend Lucas.

It all serves to show what an increasing mensch House is becoming, more so with almost every show this season.   That therapy must have really helped.   House hires Marcus, it turns out, not to goad Foreman, but because House wants to bring them closer together, or more accurately, back in any kind of meaningful touch.   And Lucas as the prankster rather than House is a refreshing departure from almost all else previous in the series.

I'm wondering how far this will go.  Although House's leg was hurting him a bit more prominently last night, he's been making it pretty well through this season so far without the heavy drugs that kept him going previously.  Is House's attitude towards life improving along with his handing of pain?

If the progress is permanent - and, so many times in the past, it has not been - this could result in a genuine transformation of House, something you rarely if ever see on television.   On the other hand, it was always House's genius, not his neuroses, that I thought were closest to the heart of the series and character - though the misanthropic qualities were a close second - and I think House the character and series could do quite well with a little less of the misanthropy.

It will be fun to see how this all progresses this season.


5-min podcast review of House

See also House Reborn in Season Six? ... 6.2: The Gang is Back and Fractured ... 6.3: The Saving Hitler Quandary ... 6.4: Diagnosis vs. Karma ... 6.5 Getting Better ... 6.6 House Around the Bases ... Four's a Crowd on House 6.7 ... House 6.8 and the Reverse of Flowers for Algernon ... House 6.9: Wilson ... House 6.10: Back in Business ... House 6.11: Making Amends, Mending Fences, and a Psychopath







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3 comments:

Ms. Kathleen said...

I faithfully watch House and would love to see this progression into "good guy" but there must be a slow progression -- 3 steps back, one step forward or else the show will lose it's bite and that bite is what keeps me watching.

Ms. Kathleen said...

Can you imagine Jane Austen visiting House? Now that would be fascinating.

Paul Levinson said...

I saw Big Love and Emma back to back on Sunday night, and was thinking the same thing about Jane Austen and Bill's family. But that's also a great thought about House.

Welcome to Infinite Regress, Kathleen!

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