Tuesday's 'House' -- Shark-jumpingly bad or mind-blowingly good?

January 31, 11:38 AM

I'm not a big message board reader, but Tuesday (Jan. 30) night's House was provocative enough to send me to several sites trying to get a sense of how fans were responding to the decidedly atypical episode. It turns out that "One Day, One Room" was either the show's best episode since season one's Emmy-winning "Three Stories," or a sign that the beloved series has jumped the shark.

Now I hate the phrase "jump the shark" like I hate few other things in this industry, because morons (some lazy TV critics among them) use it whenever a show has one or two bad episodes, which isn't what it's supposed to mean. Happy Days didn't jump the shark because the writing was weak for a few episodes. It jumped the shark because The Fonz water-skied over a shark. A show doesn't shark-jump as a gradual process, it shark-jumps when something so audaciously bad happens that it can never recover, never go back.

Tuesday's episode did, indeed, have a moment that could be construed as shark-jumping, if you were so inclined to that point of view: Our Dr. House, ever the rationalist, ever the misanthrope, got all sobby and sentimental with the patient-of-the-week, a beautiful rape victim who also happened to have been a comparative religion major at Northwestern. After a lengthy two-person debate on the very essence of the human soul and the very value of human life, House decided to share a very personal secret with a woman he didn't know, a woman who seemed to have been scripted less as a character than as something of a human truth laxative.

"We know House," detractors are saying, "And that's not something that character would ever in a million years do."

In addition, there's some annoyance that the big secret House told, the secret teased for multiple weeks in ads, was something that viewers of the show already knew. It was established that House's father was a strict task master who intimidated his son. Adding the level of abuse wasn't shocking.

Some folks also seem to be unhappy that an episode was given over to a more philosophical or psychological mystery, rather than the intricate medical mysteries the show is revered for. The violation of the character and of the show's basic structure could go under the heading of shark-jumping, if you were unhappy with it.

Then again, there are the people who admire that David Shore, the writer of this episode and "Three Stories," would give an episode over to an actual passionate conversation between two intelligent people talking about pain and, in one moment, finding the right person to listen to.

"That's what life is -- it's a series of rooms and who we get stuck in those rooms with adds up to what our lives are," House's patient (played fabulously by Kathryn Winnick) observes, setting up House's devastating closing line which gives the episode its title.

The scenes between House and the patient played out like a one-act play and displayed a level of intellectual ambition and depth that no other network show would even attempt, or at least that's what the fans are saying.

Ever the pragmatist, I don't fall to either extreme. I could have watched Winnick and Hugh Laurie play off each other for hours and I have endless respect for Shore attempting an episode of this kind, but the execution had major flaws. Couldn't they have done the storyline with a patient who required treatment? As it was, the episode offered no medical reason for House to continue to talk to her, much less for anybody to feel urgency on the subject. And what was up with Dr. Cameron's under-developed arc featuring a dying patient who just wanted to be remembered? And after the six-episode Tritter arc fizzled out, perhaps one or two normal episodes might have helped before playing with the show's formula?

And I didn't think it was a violation of the character because it was made evidence that the conversation wasn't a turning point for House. He didn't have a major break that'll make him happy and friendly for the rest of the series. What he had was one moment in one "room" where the circumstances were right for him to expose himself, briefly, before covering up again. On one hand I wished his secret had been more revelatory to me, but on the other, I don't think I want to know too much about what makes House tick. The shock was that he told the secret, not the secret itself.

This was my long-winded way of saying...

So what did you think, readers? Best episode of the season? Worst episode ever? Or something in-between?

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Comments (21)

Comments

Where were the other characters during this episode? We only saw Foreman and Chase for about 45 seconds. This episode would have been better if there was another case going on in adition to Cameron's patient that wanted to be remembered.

Sarah | Jan 31, 2007 12:03:59 PM | #

Best episode for me. This dimension of House's character has always been there as an obvious flip-side. I would say that the first three seasons have all been leading up to the one moment. And after the Tritter episodes, anything would have been a pleasure.

Lorne | Jan 31, 2007 1:59:45 PM | #

In addition, there's some annoyance that the big secret House told, the secret teased for multiple weeks in ads, was something that viewers of the show already knew.

There is a simple solution to this. Don't watch the teasers.

Promos for a show always carry some level of spoiler for the upcoming show, so if you know you're going to watch anyway, just avoid them.

tacitus | Jan 31, 2007 3:45:45 PM | #

I didb't know wether to hate it or love the episode. In the nd I disliked it. The show was at best awkward. The acting kept in flowing. The story could not be believed. I think the writers are having trouble. Look for a major character shift.

Dave G | Jan 31, 2007 5:44:03 PM | #

I really liked it. I hadn't known about the episode "Three Stories" winning an Emmy, but that is one of my absolute favorites, and I think last night's was my favorite of this season. Kudos to David Shore.
I was relieved to sit through very little of Cameron/Foreman/Chase. I did appreciate when Cuddy mentioned that Cameron was "stuck with another dying patient," because that seems very true. I also liked the scenes that went through the 3 of them giving advice on what to say to the woman one right after the next. I feel like those 3 are incredibly one dimensional, and their advice basically summed each of them up: Cameron=Tell her everything's good; Foreman=Tell her everything sucks; Chase= Let her sleep.

Sarah | Jan 31, 2007 8:17:22 PM | #

I liked the episode..i thought it was nice to have a break from a big case, just a nice change of pace..not forever, but for one episode it was nice. and best of all TRIITER IS FINALLY GONE!!!! wooohooo!!! that alone made it the best episode of the season!

Laura | Jan 31, 2007 10:53:52 PM | #

While watching the episode, I wasn't sure if I was liking it, or hating it. All I knew was that it was... uncomfortable. Having given it some thought, I have decided uncomfortable is good.
The secret wasn't a big deal, we always knew House had daddy issues, but it was the fact that he said it out loud to anyone. I wonder if Wilson knows. He said to tell her the truth, implying there was something there to tell. I liked the part where House sedated the patient and went around asking everyone's opinions of what he should tell her. All their responses managed to encompass not only their personalities, but also their opinion of House and his life.
I think that while House will not change from this episode's events, Cameron might. Her constant romanticing of ill patients could take a turn, now that she has been confronted with their pain. At least, I think that is where this episode was going for her character.
All in all, not the best, but not the worst.

Mandy | Feb 1, 2007 8:33:54 AM | #

I think that the show runners took a chance on a different story format because of the halo effect of "American Idol". I liked it because it showed House's personality comes more from his upbringing than his pain or his disability.

Ron | Feb 1, 2007 11:40:30 AM | #

I must have liked it because I shed a tear at the end.....something I very seldom ever do.
I didn't mind not seeing Chase or Foreman because we've never been told too much about them and I don't feel as if I know them at all. I thought Cuddy was great. I think House owes Cuddy more than just what she did for him in court.
Didn't like the Cameron story at all. Always love Wilson. Always love House.
To tell you the truth, it's the only show I watch on tv.

Grace | Feb 1, 2007 5:33:06 PM | #

I gotta tell ya, Dan, Katheryn Winnick gave what is maybe the worst performance I've seen on television lo these many years (and yes, BEFORE YOU START, I'm including Jeri Ryan on The O.C.)

Jordan | Feb 2, 2007 9:34:48 AM | #

I love House. The formula episodes are wonderful and I'm looking forward to seeing some of them after the ambitious but flawed Tritter arc. However, on reflection, I think One Day One Room is an excellent episode both for its mostly successful attempt to deal with issues of abuse in an untrivialized way and for its change from the usual format. It was, as a previous poster noted, uncomfortable. House is being pushed into expressing and eliciting emotional and psychological responses in areas where he really doesn't want to go. But he does it, and in the end, is unconvinced that the pain of this journey, for him and for his patient, accomplished anything. Asking a question, exploring intelligent options and admitting you still don't know the answer rather than giving a pat, expected solution is pretty brave, especially on network tv. Kudos to the writers and to Hugh Laurie, brilliant, subtle and honest, as always.

Marie | Feb 2, 2007 10:15:53 PM | #

I like the episode (esp. the philosophical dialogue between House and the rape victim and the humor in the beginning). I don't think it's too out of character for him, but I wish the writers didn't feel like they had to explain (or even hint at) why House is such a misanthrope now. Not to diminish the impact of abuse, but it's such a stock explanation that somehow it made House more ordinary to me now.

Eric | Feb 3, 2007 8:27:20 AM | #

Now that Triter is finally GONE, House is open for business again. Loved the latest episode, and bring back all the gang.

rickie | Feb 4, 2007 12:41:00 PM | #

Is it just me or were the writers trying to do a parody of "Grey's Anatomy"?The way everyone talked and the actress who just happened to look like a young Ellen Pompeo was so obvious.Let's hope this was just an one-time thing,I want Hugh Laurie to be Dr. McGrumpy,not Dr. Mcdreamy!!

Charles Perry | Feb 5, 2007 9:23:23 PM | #

I loved the episode mainly because Kathryn Winnick played such a compelling character. Of course, I have loved House from the very first episode and Hugh Laurie from the BBC series "Bertie and Wooster." All House fans need to take a look at that series to see Hugh Laurie play the polar opposite of Gregory House.
Cheers!

David | Feb 9, 2007 9:12:24 PM | #

Here in the UK, it aired 7th June. I finally got to watch it on the 10th. On the 11th, on the repeats, they showed "Three Stories" (which I hadn't seen before) I could see the connection and I thought both were among the best episodes. Flashes into character not the whole Disney reveal are what make this show worth watching.
With you on the whole Tritter thing, EXCEPT the initial consult which was perfect,wish they'd just left it there!

Hamish | Jun 12, 2007 2:47:05 AM | #

Jordan, you and I must have been watching two different shows. The one I watched blew me away. I saved it on the dvr just so I could watch it again. She totally nailed that part. So often we want to keep these shows in a box and when they dare to color outside the lines, we want to slap them on the wrist. I dare say, when I finally get around to writing a script, she will be on the top of the list.
Sure, just a tv show, but, from where I'm sittin', a slice of life. No matter how ugly.
My .02.
Joe

joe | Aug 6, 2007 8:20:44 PM | #

thought it was amazing! Kathryn was a terrific complement to House. I thought it was the perfect episode to get away from the standard diagnosis style episode. If I wanted a show out of a can I would watch a sitcom or one of the million detective shows on tv. I was somewhat disappointed with House's story when it finally came out - a little too standard. Otherwise one of my favorites.

Kevin | Sep 8, 2007 10:24:51 PM | #

I wind up here every time Kaathryn Winnick is on andd Iwant to find out more about her. Her great work in this episode should hve ledto much more work for her. If Is remember, she chose to play the role as character work and not as glam, and, sadly, that may have been less than compelling in the glam industry. Admittedly, her combination of beauty and character is what appeals to me - see Scarlet Johansen, for example.

Shark jumping comes when a series has run out of spark and tries something outrageous just to get another episode in the can. My understanding is that it is a situation, an event, and the negative effect of that event.

The problem with the Jumping the Shark idea is that it supposed there was something there to ruin. I never liked the Fonzie character or the portrayal or even the show very much, so it's hard to ruin it for me.

paul sanford | Jan 5, 2008 1:55:05 PM | #

I totally agree with joe, kathryn is amazing loved her in this episode on house and another movie called Tipping point on lifetime, i get irrited with so many of the cookie cutter suspence type movies where the crazed, stalking predator goes aroung killing everyone except whom they are really after. But i believed tipping point to be not so typical and enjoyed her performance. Couldn't remember where i had seen her before, so i am still searching.

janelle abbott | Jan 6, 2008 11:29:35 AM | #

House is amazing; the showis amazing, Hue Laure is amazing and thats all. One awkward episode doesnt throw off the dozens of awesome ones. It was a little odd though, I would have liked to see House be more arrogant and less emotional. The episode was only too focused on one person. There's usually more to the people that House treats but she was just a rape victim. Nothing much to that.

Steph | Apr 16, 2008 6:23:48 PM | #