Comments on: Limping over the shark http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/ Christopher Bird writes about things. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:55:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dan Coyle http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12432 Dan Coyle Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:02:40 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12432 I think the message of season four was No Woman Comes Between House and Wilson. <I>Nip/Tuck</I> has nothing on the Slashy McSlashalot of those two. Still, a House/Cuddy romance would be fun, because it gets Lisa Edelstein to wear tight clothing. I think the message of season four was No Woman Comes Between House and Wilson.

Nip/Tuck has nothing on the Slashy McSlashalot of those two.

Still, a House/Cuddy romance would be fun, because it gets Lisa Edelstein to wear tight clothing.

]]> By: Will Entrekin http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12353 Will Entrekin Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:14:27 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12353 @Marionette: ooh, sorry, good call. Yeah, I watch them all at a shot (I think I watched three seasons in a week at one point), so the seasons blurred. Which is why I only vaguely remember the cop in question but the hospital-survivor sticks out. Thanks for pointing that out. @Marionette: ooh, sorry, good call. Yeah, I watch them all at a shot (I think I watched three seasons in a week at one point), so the seasons blurred. Which is why I only vaguely remember the cop in question but the hospital-survivor sticks out. Thanks for pointing that out.

]]> By: Marionette http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12342 Marionette Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:27:56 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12342 I was a little confused that you refer to season four as season three repeatedly here. Personally I thought the low spot came in season three with the subplot about the cop persecuting House. He appeared to have no superiors to have to justify his actions to, and unlimited powers to harass people without any evidence of wrongdoing (what with them not having done anything illegal and all). All building up to a massive anticlimax, where nobody got any comeuppance. By contrast, I thought season four took an entertaining change of direction, and ended with a strong finale. I was a little confused that you refer to season four as season three repeatedly here.

Personally I thought the low spot came in season three with the subplot about the cop persecuting House. He appeared to have no superiors to have to justify his actions to, and unlimited powers to harass people without any evidence of wrongdoing (what with them not having done anything illegal and all). All building up to a massive anticlimax, where nobody got any comeuppance.

By contrast, I thought season four took an entertaining change of direction, and ended with a strong finale.

]]> By: meatwhichdreams http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12337 meatwhichdreams Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:12:36 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12337 Though I agree that the show has been getting a little over-the-top lately, I think the worst offending gimmicks are mostly a result of the writer's strike...trying to keep the audience's attention and all that. All in all, I think they've managed to strike a good balance especially throughout the Amber arc which I found surprisingly moving. As for the knife-thing...I believe the writers lampshaded the whole "House, you've killed yourself before and had, what, two near-death experiences already?" thing in that episode by having Wilson give this exact argument at House when the guy finally woke up after the shock. Also, if memory serves, I think the main reason House shocked himself was NOT to have a near-death experience (that would just be a perk) - it was to persuade the crazed, paranoid suicidal patient that he could trust House. Which is completely insane itself of course, but such is House MD. While it may have been gimmicky, I think it may be less so than you may think. Course now I have to go back and watch that episode again and make sure I'm not just totally talking out of my ass. I can't seem to find this episode in particular yet but this site is quite helpful for episode summaries and quotes: http://www.housemd-guide.com/episodes.php And can someone PLEASE call Stephen Fry STAT and get him on this - I'm going into heart palpitations just thinking about the possibilities! Though I agree that the show has been getting a little over-the-top lately, I think the worst offending gimmicks are mostly a result of the writer’s strike…trying to keep the audience’s attention and all that. All in all, I think they’ve managed to strike a good balance especially throughout the Amber arc which I found surprisingly moving.

As for the knife-thing…I believe the writers lampshaded the whole “House, you’ve killed yourself before and had, what, two near-death experiences already?” thing in that episode by having Wilson give this exact argument at House when the guy finally woke up after the shock. Also, if memory serves, I think the main reason House shocked himself was NOT to have a near-death experience (that would just be a perk) – it was to persuade the crazed, paranoid suicidal patient that he could trust House. Which is completely insane itself of course, but such is House MD. While it may have been gimmicky, I think it may be less so than you may think.

Course now I have to go back and watch that episode again and make sure I’m not just totally talking out of my ass. I can’t seem to find this episode in particular yet but this site is quite helpful for episode summaries and quotes: http://www.housemd-guide.com/episodes.php

And can someone PLEASE call Stephen Fry STAT and get him on this – I’m going into heart palpitations just thinking about the possibilities!

]]> By: michael http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12332 michael Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:20:51 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12332 <i> BTW - I would dearly love to watch an episode of House with an American who had no idea who Hugh Laurie was, and then pop on an episode of Blackadder the Third or Blackadder Goes Forth. Heads, methinks, would explode in a suitably hillarious manner. </i> I've actually done this. With a canadian, not an american, but I'd expect the result to be roughly the same. It was actually a fortuitous coincidence. My housemate was watching TV, I was flicking through the channels after an episode of house had finished, and Dish and Dishonesty was just starting. My housemate watched for over 2 minutes before realizing that it wasn't just someone who looked kind of like hugh laurie. The expression on their face pretty much defined cognitive dissonance. BTW – I would dearly love to watch an episode of House with an American who had no idea who Hugh Laurie was, and then pop on an episode of Blackadder the Third or Blackadder Goes Forth. Heads, methinks, would explode in a suitably hillarious manner.

I’ve actually done this. With a canadian, not an american, but I’d expect the result to be roughly the same.

It was actually a fortuitous coincidence. My housemate was watching TV, I was flicking through the channels after an episode of house had finished, and Dish and Dishonesty was just starting. My housemate watched for over 2 minutes before realizing that it wasn’t just someone who looked kind of like hugh laurie. The expression on their face pretty much defined cognitive dissonance.

]]> By: Will Entrekin http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12330 Will Entrekin Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:33:56 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12330 @Andrew: Oh! Geez, really? Sorry. Honestly, I fought with that sentence when I wrote it because I worried it was spoiler-y for anyone who hadn't seen it. I probably should have avoided it altogether, but then again I thought those last two episodes of season 4 were incredibly weak ("What's my necklace made of?" "Resin." ??), and left a bad taste in my mouth, which was a bit of what set in motion my real worrying about the show. But anyway, yeah. Ouch. I mean, it might be worth noting that one of the reasons I went back to school to become a writing major was that I kinda sucked at it and, well, old habits etc. @Andrew: Oh! Geez, really? Sorry. Honestly, I fought with that sentence when I wrote it because I worried it was spoiler-y for anyone who hadn’t seen it. I probably should have avoided it altogether, but then again I thought those last two episodes of season 4 were incredibly weak (“What’s my necklace made of?” “Resin.” ??), and left a bad taste in my mouth, which was a bit of what set in motion my real worrying about the show.

But anyway, yeah. Ouch. I mean, it might be worth noting that one of the reasons I went back to school to become a writing major was that I kinda sucked at it and, well, old habits etc.

]]> By: Andrew http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12326 Andrew Sun, 10 Aug 2008 02:42:21 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12326 The way you phrased it, though, does sound terribly pretentious and I think that's what John's really getting at. The way you phrased it, though, does sound terribly pretentious and I think that’s what John’s really getting at.

]]> By: Will Entrekin http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12325 Will Entrekin Sun, 10 Aug 2008 01:29:55 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12325 @Jonathan: sure, that's one term for it. I tend not to think that way, though; one of the things I most learned in the writing study you mentioned is that one should never treat any character as supporting--all have their own specific motivations and desires. Also, in terms of supporting, I think of the original team, Cuddy, and Wilson; the new team has, so far, seemed more of a gimmick to sustain the show through the writers' strike than much else. On other notes, I <i>love</i> these ideas of getting Fry into the show. Particularly itbox's. @Jonathan: sure, that’s one term for it. I tend not to think that way, though; one of the things I most learned in the writing study you mentioned is that one should never treat any character as supporting–all have their own specific motivations and desires. Also, in terms of supporting, I think of the original team, Cuddy, and Wilson; the new team has, so far, seemed more of a gimmick to sustain the show through the writers’ strike than much else.

On other notes, I love these ideas of getting Fry into the show. Particularly itbox’s.

]]> By: Jonathan Nolan http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12324 Jonathan Nolan Sun, 10 Aug 2008 01:04:55 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12324 "a character too prevalent and well developed, over the season, to really be called minor but not really exactly major, either." Dear -=writing major=-, do you mean a... "supporting character"? I think you probably do. “a character too prevalent and well developed, over the season, to really be called minor but not really exactly major, either.”

Dear -=writing major=-, do you mean a… “supporting character”? I think you probably do.

]]> By: LurkerWithout http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12319 LurkerWithout Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:35:35 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12319 Adding Fry, even as House's brother, would probably be less about making Holmes nod then just a shout-out to the two's old show. Though I like itbox's idea of reversing their original roles... Adding Fry, even as House’s brother, would probably be less about making Holmes nod then just a shout-out to the two’s old show. Though I like itbox’s idea of reversing their original roles…

]]> By: itbox http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12318 itbox Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:06:21 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12318 I stopped watching House around about the time he was having a feud with some policeman, but if Stephen Fry turned up playing an upper class twit that House could talk down to I think I'd probably be obliged to tune in. I stopped watching House around about the time he was having a feud with some policeman, but if Stephen Fry turned up playing an upper class twit that House could talk down to I think I’d probably be obliged to tune in.

]]> By: Kev http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12317 Kev Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:03:04 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12317 I'm still hoping that Fry gets a guest spot as House's elder brother, continuing the Sherlock Holmes theme I’m still hoping that Fry gets a guest spot as House’s elder brother, continuing the Sherlock Holmes theme

]]> By: Bianca http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12316 Bianca Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:55:25 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12316 Funny, I am hoping to see even LESS of Jennifer Morrison, because Cameron is SO GODDAMN ANNOYING. Although, I am not a male and also not a lesbian... so, I admit that what factors into my dislike may be entirely irrelevant to you. Funny, I am hoping to see even LESS of Jennifer Morrison, because Cameron is SO GODDAMN ANNOYING.

Although, I am not a male and also not a lesbian… so, I admit that what factors into my dislike may be entirely irrelevant to you.

]]> By: Aardy R. DeVarque http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12315 Aardy R. DeVarque Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:12:41 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12315 Taub <i>is</i> Plastic Surgeon Guy. (Kutner and 13 being the other two new Cottages.) Taub is Plastic Surgeon Guy. (Kutner and 13 being the other two new Cottages.)

]]> By: Bethany http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/comment-page-1/#comment-12308 Bethany Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:12:53 +0000 http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/08/08/limping-over-the-shark/#comment-12308 Haven't you noticed? Taub had the right diagnosis, or was going in the right direction, in practially every one of the episodes after the strike. It got a little eerie. So Taub is there to keep things (and by things I mean The Medical Mystery) progressing while House goes Completely Off the Deep End. Personally, I don't see the point of Plastic Surgeon Guy. Haven’t you noticed? Taub had the right diagnosis, or was going in the right direction, in practially every one of the episodes after the strike. It got a little eerie.

So Taub is there to keep things (and by things I mean The Medical Mystery) progressing while House goes Completely Off the Deep End.

Personally, I don’t see the point of Plastic Surgeon Guy.

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