House - S06E01 - Broken [US] spoilers

Richard Dower · 22-09-2009 5:01am #1

Launched in the US a few hours ago on Fox, two hour season premiere. I have been watching the last few episodes of season 5 on Sky....the show impressed me, especially Laurie.

I've missed alot, well....pretty much all of it, but i might start to watch season 6 now.

Also Starring LeVar Burton · 22-09-2009 5:33am

House already has its own forum...

Basq · 22-09-2009 8:05am

Richard Dower wrote: »

I've missed alot, well....pretty much all of it, but i might start to watch season 6 now.

Why?!

There would absolutely be no point, plus you'd be hugely confused!

Begin with the logical starting point.. i.e season 1.

Dravokivich · 22-09-2009 11:20am

basquille wrote: »

Begin with the logical starting point.. i.e season 1.

I did about 3 weeks ago... up to speed now... except for the first couple of eps of season 5.

why cant they just make up thier mind which of the 2 theme tunes they wanna use?

Does season 6 start with the Piano or the guitar tune?

That's what I really wana find out!!!!

:rolleyes:

- Drav!

Basq · 22-09-2009 11:26am

Dravokivich wrote: »

why cant they just make up thier mind which of the 2 theme tunes they wanna use?

Does season 6 start with the Piano or the guitar tune?

The US airings have only had the one theme tune AFAIK - Massive Attack 'Teardrop' - but the UK ones vary.

Never actually found why they never use 'Teardrop' on this side of the Atlantic.

EDIT: Aha

The opening theme is "Teardrop" by Massive Attack. "Teardrop" itself does have lyrics, sung by guest vocalist Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins; however, the version used in the opening credits uses only the beginning and ending sections, which are solely instrumental. Due to rights and licensing issues this music is not used for the show in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland (German version), Austria (German version), Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, Denmark, Australia, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Hungary, Latin America, Greece, Hong Kong and Turkey. In those countries, a piece of music named "House" (ending theme), composed by Scott Donaldson and Richard Nolan, is used, which was written specifically for the show. With the second season, this was replaced with a similar, but modified, track. This theme tune, however, is only used in the televised broadcast.

Dravokivich · 22-09-2009 11:37am

basquille wrote: »

The US airings have only had the one theme tune AFAIK - Massive Attack 'Teardrop' - but the UK ones vary.

Never actually found why they never use 'Teardrop' on this side of the Atlantic.

Could be Publishing rights in defferent teritories.

- Drav!

Edit:

Seems you got it before i had a chance to reply... Dam work getting in the way of my procastination...

Also Starring LeVar Burton · 22-09-2009 11:58am

I was really happy that the first episode of the new season was feature lenght and glad I'd been given the heads up beforehand that only House and Wilson appeared in the first episode or I may have been a bit pissed off about the lack of other characters.
The whole psychiatric hospital storyline was great though and the characters House intereacted with in there were very enjoyable.
In one sense I'm glad they decided to wrap up the whole psych hospital storyline in one episode, because it means House is back with the rest of the clan next week and solving medical mysteries, which is the whole basis of the show afterall.

BlitzKrieg · 22-09-2009 3:12pm

only 15 minutes in and the scene on the basketball court is already one of the highlights of the whole series for me.

Also Starring LeVar Burton · 22-09-2009 3:46pm

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

only 15 minutes in and the scene on the basketball court is already one of the highlights of the whole series for me.

yes, great scene altogether

:Keith: · 22-09-2009 4:10pm

Really enjoyed the episode. Glad it was twice the length of a normal episode so they could get it all wrapped up in one. Looking forward to seeing how this changes House in the rest of the season..

#Daniel · 22-09-2009 4:16pm

I thought it was a fantastic episode from start to finish. Got a bit scared at the end when House got on the bus, I thought Amber was gonna pop up beside him!

BlitzKrieg · 22-09-2009 5:19pm

good episode, thought they wrapped it up far too cleanly at the end, but thats to be expected with the series. There is a sort of irony that his unstoppable urge to fix things causes him to be hurt in the end.

Actually it wasnt that it just ended clearnly, it started far too cleanly aswell, a two minute montage seems too clynical to explain away the amount of sh*t that happened at the end of season 5

hopefully they wont completely drop elements from this in the next episode.

Also rumour control

the private eye returns soon

Kirby · 22-09-2009 9:29pm

Brilliant in oh-so-many ways. Television at it's finest to be honest.

ixoy · 22-09-2009 9:32pm

That was very enjoyable. Given a number of us voiced dis-satisfaction with how formulaic the show felt last year, this episode was a breath of fresh air as it completely broke the mould.

Interesting characters and it was good to see House make a diagnosis based on personality and people rather than his medical knowledge. The fact it was double-length made it seem less contrived that he was healed by the end (apparently). Hugh Laurie already should be suiting up for an Emmy for his performance here and it will be interesting to see if this House 2.0 is carried over or dropped quickly.

It was also great to see Andre Braugher as an equal to House, against whom he didn't even try to fight - seeing an equal. I had just watched Braugher this morning in "Homicide: Life on the Street" and it's nice to see he's still got it (and a few more pounds..) 14.5 years on from that episode.

Only thing I did want though was more Wilson but maybe we'll have the next episode based around Wilson convinced House is being insincere. Good start.

Basq · 22-09-2009 9:34pm

That.. was.. superb!

Might be the only one to think this but I thought that was actually better than about 90% of the episodes in Season 5.

I think it was the mixture of the new (and very different) surroundings, some stellar supporting performances (particularly from Andre Braugher - Dr Nolan - and Lin-Manuel Miranda - who played Alvie) and some very witty and fresh writing. House diddling "Herr Franka Potente" felt a bit too latched on.. and the rap was a bit silly but minor criticisms aside.

This episode was the kick in the arse this show needed after season 5.. because outside of the closing few episodes (especially Kutner's death), season 5 really didn't impress me largely. This episode was sheer entertainment from beginning to end.. and unlike most of season 5, it didn't feel like a chore to finish.

I thought Hugh Laurie was fantastic in this.. and if he's recognised by the Emmys next year (which he will I'd say), this will probably be the episode in which it'll be largely for.

This took an amazing character like House (who was let's be fair starting to feel a big stagnant at times).. brought him into unfamiliar territory, away from tired characters like Cameron and Chase.. and let him loose. Yes, the first half was probably more entertaining than the second half, but scenes like the basketball court (as already mentioned) and the opening to Radiohead's 'No Suprises' will be remembered as personal highlights of the show when it does reach it's end.

No, I didn't miss the hospital. I didn't miss Cutty, Cameron, Chase, Foreman or Thirteen. Wilson is the best character in the show besides 'House' (so was happy to see him), while I would have liked to see Taub. I just really hope the show doesn't suffer the same fate as season 5 with House back in the hospital from next week.

I have a feeling this episode will be one of my, if not THE, best episode(s) of a show in 2009.

Speaking of which.. it kicked arse in the ratings last night in the US with 17 million viewers!

Welcome back House..!

F-Stop · 22-09-2009 9:40pm

Just finished watching it. That was some superb writing to get so much in, even with the double length. A nice kick start to the series, who knows where things will go from here...

Basq · 22-09-2009 9:40pm

Oh, and some superb music choices in the episode with Radiohead opening the episode, and The Frames closing the episode.

PS - really hoping to see Alvie again!

Fremen · 22-09-2009 9:50pm

I thought the end was a bit too sickly sweet (Frames, Blargh!).
It would have been nice if they had the mute patient accept the music box and left it at that. Having her play the cello was a bit heavy-handed.

I'm a little worried that Fox will try to boost the popularity of the show by appealing to the lowest common denominator and removing some of the edginess.

Overall, it was a very good episode and added some depth to House's character. It'll be interesting to see where they take it from here though.

Biggins · 22-09-2009 10:23pm

For those that have watched the 1 hour 30 minute special just broadcast (USA), do you think he's going to be a different man now?

Its going to be funny when he goes back to the hospital where he works LOL
They won't know at first (if he is a changed man!) if he is still playing them or what he might be up to! LOL

Can't wait for part three.

P.S. I though the first two parts (joined into a special) were great stuff.
Great acting all around.
You could see one of the inevitable conclusion in one case but I didn't expect the side effect of that case on him!
Sob, sob...

O' well, roll on part three.

Basq · 22-09-2009 10:25pm

Since I've added my love of this episode to the discussion thread ongoing in the House forum.. I'm gonna merge it with that.

Biggins · 22-09-2009 10:27pm

Cheers, didn't even know there was a House forum already. Thanks.
Forgive my blindness.

AdMMM · 22-09-2009 10:55pm

Absolutely amazing!

I know that "House" is the title of the show but I always thought that the supporting cast were also vital to ensuring the high quality of the show as they appeared to have a unique chemistry between them. This episode hammered home the fact that "House" is all about Hugh Laurie. It just seems that no matter what actor/actress you couple with Hugh, you always see some fantastic performances. I didn't miss any of the regular cast in this episode!

Yes, some scenes were a bit clichéd but this was exactly what the series needed. The romantic interest may be open to criticism but I felt that it worked well and served its purpose to show that House could grow attached to someone. His rap may have been cheesy but I got a great "Happy Feel Good" chuckle out of it.

This episode also opened a Pandora's Box of story arcs for the rest of the series as his relationships with all the other characters will have fundamentally changed. Never have I seen a show reinvent itself so effectively. That is assuming that they'll go down the route of keeping House off the pills and emotionally active. Personally I was growing tired of the pill-popping gimmick and I really look forward to future episodes.

Wow.

Tom65 · 23-09-2009 12:00am

I agree with what's been said already. I like that it wasn't a quick fix (at least, not quick in television terms), and they really paced the episode nicely. I think the aftermath of Amber and Kutner's deaths were papered over a bit quickly, so it was nice that they took their time with this one.
It was also interesting to see House in a different surrounding with entirely new people.

The rap was a bit weird (maybe too big a leap for the character in an hour and a half

) but I can accept one flaw in the episode.

Weird to hear Radiohead opening the episode and The Frames close it.

Necronomicon · 23-09-2009 12:12am

The episode was superb, right up there with my favourites. But I do have one reservation - something that is said quite a bit about the show, and that is the often abrupt ending of arcs. Now obviously the psychiatric hospital wasn't going to be long-term, but I didn't think it would end so soon. As I was watching scenes like the aforementioned basketball game, scheming with Alvie, or his sessions with Dr. Nolan, I was thinking to myself that these were characters I could really get into. What made the episode so great was its break from the norm, I'm just a little disappointed that it's (seemingly) going to be business as usual again from next week.

Still, judging the episode on its own merits, just about flawless.

seraphimvc · 23-09-2009 12:20am

totally awesome episode.what can i say more??5 stars straight ahead!

doonothing · 23-09-2009 1:45am

Really was excellent, so many places to go from here, was considering letting my interest in House peter off depending on the episode (a lot of season 5 was a chore, as you know!) but that has cemented my viewership for a long time to come.

Hugh Laurie is incredible!

Richard Dower · 23-09-2009 3:30am

I'll add my voice to this, it felt like watching a fully fleshed out movie!...extremely well written and acted, great humour at the start. You can't deny Laurie can act and reach new depths to the House character.

I also feel he deserves some award for this episode alone.

Basq · 23-09-2009 7:12am

Necronomicon wrote: »

As I was watching scenes like the aforementioned basketball game, scheming with Alvie, or his sessions with Dr. Nolan, I was thinking to myself that these were characters I could really get into. What made the episode so great was its break from the norm, I'm just a little disappointed that it's (seemingly) going to be business as usual again from next week.

Summarizes my thoughts up exactly.

These characters were likeable and left an solid impression, and were a welcome change from the same 4 - 5 regulars faces for 5 seasons.

It was a shame that they're here and gone in the course of 90 minutes!

ixoy · 23-09-2009 10:45pm

So all agreed we've got a clear leader for best season opener this year! I'd echo those who would have liked to have seen more of the other patients - how refreshing they'd be when put up against more of the tedious couple that is Foreteen.

EdgarAllenPoo · 24-09-2009 11:20am

Thought it was a great episode but I can't really see how the rest of the season will play out now. I thought they could have extended the whole love interest thing over a few episodes and I was dissapointed to see it over and done in the first show. They could have used that as a crutch to show how House has changed since he's left the nuthouse.

The guy · 24-09-2009 4:08pm

Does anyone else think it was too much too soon, I mean it took house six seasons to actually get any character change, now he's an almost completely different person who changed over the course of one episode. It just seems like they could have slowed everything down to show him change slower.

That said, it was brilliant to see something new actually happening on House for change.

Ghost Train · 24-09-2009 8:19pm

Really liked the episode. Thought the characters were all very good considering its like a full new cast for one episode. Do think there was a bit too much squeezed into it... how long was he actually there. Thought they could have shown more of the transition from house loosing his mind to normal house (5 minutes into it wanting to be released), that could have been a whole episode if they had been creative

ixoy · 24-09-2009 8:35pm

The guy wrote: »

Does anyone else think it was too much too soon, I mean it took house six seasons to actually get any character change, now he's an almost completely different person who changed over the course of one episode. It just seems like they could have slowed everything down to show him change slower.

The thing was House actively resisted all previous attempts to change him - when his leg healed, he hurt it again. He wouldn't take the medication for fear of losing his edge. Finally he was forced to embrace change and he comes out happier.

lostexpectation · 24-09-2009 11:31pm

fantastic ep, very one flew over the couckoos nest-esque

so this women was withdrawing before she went ot hte looney house but getting her music box back suddenly made her better?

they all got over house indulging a guy into throwing himself off a building very quickly...

Christoph · 25-09-2009 2:38pm

I've read somewhere that Laurie is tired of playing a crippled. So it is possible, taht this season is the last one. After 1st episode of season no. 6 we all can say that House

has changed

. So the question is how much

of House left in House?

Necronomicon · 28-09-2009 1:49pm

Christoph wrote: »

I've read somewhere that Laurie is tired of playing a crippled. So it is possible, taht this season is the last one. After 1st episode of season no. 6 we all can say that House
has changed
. So the question is how much
of House left in House?

I'm sure he recently signed a contract until 2012. Also, House is probably Fox's biggest ratings puller right now so there's no chance this will be the last season.

Basq · 28-09-2009 1:52pm

Necronomicon wrote: »

I'm sure he recently signed a contract until 2012. Also, House is probably Fox's biggest ratings puller right now so there's no chance this will be the last season.

Yep.. as I said earlier in the thread, the premiere got 17 million viewers.

Fox will be apprehensive to let it go, unless it's viewers take a serious nosedive.

Necronomicon · 28-09-2009 2:09pm

basquille wrote: »

Fox will be apprehensive to let it go, unless it's viewers take a serious nosedive.

Nah, sure Fox always remain loyal to their programming when ratings drop. Just ask Dark Angel, Titus, Undeclared, Action, That 80's Show, Wonderfalls, Fastlane, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Skin, Girl's Club, Cracking Up, The Pitts, Firefly, Get Real, Freaky Links, Wanda at Large, Costello, The Lone Gunmen, A Minute with Stan Hooper, Normal, Ohio, Pasadena, Harsh Realm, Keen Eddie, The Street, American Embassy, Cedric the Entertainer, The Tick, Luis, Greg the Bunny*, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Arrested Development, Tru Calling...

:pac:

*list may have been yanked from Family Guy

House - S06E01 - Broken [US] **spoilers**

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House - S06E01 - Broken [US] spoilers