tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post4635611210972397172..comments2024-03-25T19:18:14.047-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: House, "Broken": Greg flew over the cuckoo's nestAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58504192487251991552022-02-09T21:56:26.436-05:002022-02-09T21:56:26.436-05:00Me reading these comments in 2022 shocked no one m...Me reading these comments in 2022 shocked no one mentioned how amazing and fun Lin Manuel Miranda made these episodes!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15385250876453896357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-81872751982993713492009-10-03T12:17:00.470-04:002009-10-03T12:17:00.470-04:00I have to admit that I cried and cried during the ...I have to admit that I cried and cried during the cello scene of this episode. I LOVED the portrayal of the people on the psych ward as interesting, smart characters as, in my experience, this is true. When Flight Master's guess about the music box turns out to be right and not crazy it made me feel like that intuitive leap and openness to our intuition about people and problems isn't crazy, but real and important. I believe that if we were more open to our intuition amazing things could happen.chmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-20737793091829454012009-09-26T03:12:01.902-04:002009-09-26T03:12:01.902-04:00I was astounded by this episode, and very moved, t...I was astounded by this episode, and very moved, that Laurie could show House believably allowing himself to be loved and be changed by that love. Not only did I not miss the regular cast, this episode made it seem like that they're House's main problem. He's been surrounded by people who are unpleasant and incapable of love, when all he needed were some people a little more normal and aware, and a little less self-important, to give him a hand. I'm sick of every single one of the regular characters other than House himself, or maybe it's that I'm sick of the way they relate to House, since I do like Wilson but not his relationship with House. The suggestion that House join Doctors without Borders is a brilliant one.florentinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-53372280121770728512009-09-25T04:37:52.559-04:002009-09-25T04:37:52.559-04:00I'm surprised to see a couple comments suggest...I'm surprised to see a couple comments suggesting that House's expression on the bus didn't bode well. I thought there was a definite hint of a smile there.Scott J.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-54906113555345891802009-09-23T15:19:22.914-04:002009-09-23T15:19:22.914-04:00Finished watching last night. It really didn't...Finished watching last night. It really didn't need to be two hours. My feelings are in line with everyone else. Hugh Laurie is a pleasure to watch, and he's made House an interesting character. <br /><br />Problem is, I dread going back to Princeton Plainsboro now. <br /><br />Can't House just go on the road, practicing rogue medicine from here on out? Maybe he could join Doctors Without Borders. I would never miss a single backup player on this show - including Wilson - if they did that.LAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04868479477550590056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-57674286799293319862009-09-23T13:37:48.648-04:002009-09-23T13:37:48.648-04:00Man oh man, Mad Men followed by a deep drink of TH...Man oh man, Mad Men followed by a deep drink of THIS House, this is why I enjoy September! <br /><br />I, too, was thinking the flying was too hokey, which is why I loved the harsh rebound of realizing that even House was blinded by his arrogance this time and allowed him to play the hero as just another way to try to feel in control of others, and to be so crushed personally when it failed. He’s still a doctor.<br /><br />What I found most telling about House’s change was visting Andre at the hospital. A clear obvious opening laid out for House to exploit, but he was asked not to, and he didn’t. He was still House, but a more aware House. And oh was Andre so perfect for this!<br /><br />Oh is this the first time we’ve seen House have actual intimate sex? Not delusional or paid for?<br /><br />Ok yeah, music box and cello playing? Whatevs…I’ll allow it. I liked the bus for the callback to Amber, but wouldn’t Wilson have picked him up since he dropped him off? <br /><br />The only time I wondered about the Houselings was when I asked how many people have died because House isn’t there to save them.<br /><br />What a great question- Why do you value your failures than your successes?<br /><br />Mo Ryan Re: 13, NOT FUNNY! :)<br /><br />-EmeraldLizAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-14013254902507012962009-09-23T13:31:36.906-04:002009-09-23T13:31:36.906-04:00Similarly, I share the disappointment of those who...<i>Similarly, I share the disappointment of those who found the resolutions too pat. What an unusual breath of fresh air it might have been if the point about House's need to fix people as a way of avoiding his own pain hadn't been undermined by the miracle fixes at the end.</i><br /><br />OK wait -- wasnt that the point here, that it wasnt House that healed either of them, or himself either? Quite the opposite, he broke Freedom Master into a half dozen large pieces. House healed the way a body heals, once the worst impediments are removed: because it needs to, and irregards of the person inside.. which is the central irony of the practice of medicine, and one that 'House' hasnt touched since season one. Healing is a damned miracle, and one that doctors generally have very, very little to do with. <br /><br />Yes, his observation of prior events tied something together for Music Girl, but for whatever reason it was Freedom Master who had randomly twigged to the music box as the one external thing she would focus on (for some reason they didnt bother to explain) .. and Alvy wasnt cured by House either, but in spite of him, in the sense that House chose to turn a corner very much in spite of himself, out of desperation.. and Alvy's expression watching him leave said he could identify with that. <br /> <br /><br />I thought one of the strongest visual moments was the space they left around Alvy in the darkened, echoing doorway as House walked away the first time, saying <br />"..(pause) .. I hate you." As an image of House's first (ass-backwards but) genuine contact with humanity I thought it was terrific: clean, minmalist, touching.<br /><br /><br />(And Im sorry but the rap scene with Alvy was a scream :D, even as it was cornball as hell.)<br /><br /><br />Also, am I the only one who thought they had put Braugher in a fat suit? Didnt look at all real to me. *That* much weight gain and it only shows from the jawbone south? Please.Zachnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13093498105947865012009-09-23T12:28:41.096-04:002009-09-23T12:28:41.096-04:00Great acting by Laurie, Braugher and Potente, real...Great acting by Laurie, Braugher and Potente, really fantastic. I just wish it wasn't for the season premiere of House, since it basically told me that Hugh Laurie is trapped in a show called House, where the premise of that show and the supporting cast are completely disposable. <br /><br />And you know what? As much as it felt like an "Emmy bait" episode, almost guaranteeing Laurie's award next year (well, until we finish up on Mad Man and seeing Breaking Bad season 3), I really liked this episode. The stories aren't new, some even quite cliched, but somehow it all works, and it's been a long while since I enjoyed this much an episode of House. <br /><br />And herein lies the problem, because House will return to status quo, and I'm not sure if I could stomach seeing Thirteen or them rehashing the whole 'Huddy' thing again, after having seen how House outside of the Princeton hospital could be so invigorating. I guess that's what the writers were going for, 'invigorating', so we could forget the last season existed. Who knows - it might just work.belindanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1742831458989773882009-09-23T10:22:38.791-04:002009-09-23T10:22:38.791-04:00I have only seen perhaps three or four episodes of...I have only seen perhaps three or four episodes of the show, but it's impossible not to see that Jim Parsons is on another level. His comedic timing and delivery ar impeccable. As TV viewers, we are lucky to be able to see such great comedic actors such as Steve Carrell, Jim Parsons, and Alec Baldwin on a weekly basis.<br /><br />Some punchlines are purely due to great writing but with these three, they take great writing and run like Usain Bolt with it.Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-74686286810870077542009-09-23T00:40:44.688-04:002009-09-23T00:40:44.688-04:00Maybe next time the cello player could just ask th...<i>Maybe next time the cello player could just ask the nurse/doctor for the music box on day one instead of remaining mute for 10 years until someone guesses what she wants.</i><br /><br />Or maybe ONE person could follow her eyes and see what she's looking at. You're telling me Hal or Booger couldn't have figured that out? IN TEN YEARS?<br /><br />Deeply aggravating ending, almost completely redeemed by Laurie and Braugher's acting...but once we're back in 13 territory, I don't know how long I'll be able to continue.Sarah D Buntinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10218852480789623737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-89221073521152433422009-09-22T15:14:31.058-04:002009-09-22T15:14:31.058-04:00A few thoughts, some in response to other comments...A few thoughts, some in response to other comments:<br />- I'm glad someone else saw the resemblance between Amber and Dr. Beasley <br />- Al V's reference to himself as the manic hispanic was laugh-out-loud funny<br />- The music box 'cure' was no more unrealistic than some of House's PPTH cures, but that's what makes us watch House instead of hanging out at real hospitals - how many times has House found that the simplest, most overlooked explanation is the one that works?<br />-The story arc with Franka Potente worked, in my opinion, because it was believable. Cuddy has never been a believable (or even remotely likeable)character to me. I thought that it was great that House let down his guard and allowed himself to feel. Things can happen when you least expect them to, and that's what made it work for me.<br />-I was really hoping we'd get a few weeks in the mental hospital before returning to PPTH<br />- To the commenter that was surprised at House's being at a state institution, I think that that goes back to Wilson's comment at the end of last season - he knew of a place, did his residency with the director, or something along those lines.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31207199794120368182009-09-22T14:10:27.618-04:002009-09-22T14:10:27.618-04:00If this episode were released in theaters, I think...If this episode were released in theaters, I think it would have stood up very well as a feature film.<br /><br />The quality of the acting, the music, the direction, the look and feel of it were all feature quality.<br /><br />Maybe there could have been a few tweaks to the dialogue, but that's really just a nitpick.<br /><br />I love the Graystone set. In NJ, you learned as a kid that that is where crazy people go!<br /><br />I think this is the most satisfying episode of House I've seen. I think it's fantastic TV and I want to own it and re-watch it. It's the kind of work that people will refer back to when those "best episodes" lists are created in the future.<br /><br />Whether it represents the actual series "House" is another question.<br /><br />Hopefully they don't punt this progress and end up where they were last season, but either way, at least they made this. Special stuff.ghotihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17285176297822242753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-41499838262582056652009-09-22T13:16:49.388-04:002009-09-22T13:16:49.388-04:00As a psychologist, I had to suspend disbelief to a...<i>As a psychologist, I had to suspend disbelief to a certain degree because it appeared Mayfield was a state run facility. A doctor would have been sent to a facility or unit that dealt specifically with addiction/emotional issues for health professionals. It's not like House has Medicaid and could not afford to be treated at such an institution as stated above.</i><br /><br />To be fair, House committed himSELF to that place, and may have chosen it for some particular reason. Also, it has been shown throughout the series that House has awful financial skills and has no money despite what one would assume is a very high-paying gig.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, I echo most of the comments here, positive and negative - fantastic 90 minutes for me, and then the last half hour got a little silly (even if I admit to getting douche chills even when I know the resolution is stupid).<br /><br />My one fear that thankfully was not realized was that Franka Potente would be a hallucination. I figured once he stole her car that it was pretty sure she wasn't, but MAN would that have been an emotional let-down (much like, as someone mentioned, it would have been if we had seen Amber on the bus at the end).Bobmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604050338240551711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-12812659763598868672009-09-22T12:53:01.393-04:002009-09-22T12:53:01.393-04:00Am I the only one who thought, "if I didn'...Am I the only one who thought, "if I didn't know otherwise, I'd think this was a backdoor pilot"?marsman57https://www.blogger.com/profile/11599110941743021799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-83339258460139131712009-09-22T12:39:02.533-04:002009-09-22T12:39:02.533-04:00Great episode. But the fact they're going bac...Great episode. But the fact they're going back to the hospital with 13, Taub, and Foreman has me depressed. The more I think about last season, the more I hate it. Cuddy and Wilson are great, Dr. House is one of the top 5 characters on television, but the rest of them are often shining lights of mediocrity. I wish they would have taken the asylum storyline a little farther, made it a six episode arc instead of just two hours. I felt like this should have been the series finale to House; I can't see him going back to the "real world" willing to hug anyone. Changing House in that way should be the end of the show.Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-53527967750599697642009-09-22T12:36:33.052-04:002009-09-22T12:36:33.052-04:00Radiohead, Iron and Wine and The Frames! This epi...Radiohead, Iron and Wine and The Frames! This episode would have won me over just for the brilliant music choices but Braugher and Laurie were absolutely fantastic. A great showcase for what those two can do and I would love to see Braugher back on the show in a recurring fashion of some sort.<br /><br />Great start! Unfortunately, I have no trust that they won't immediately fall back to formula (and bring back annoying levels of foreteen) again.Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-37591852566149254232009-09-22T12:32:45.102-04:002009-09-22T12:32:45.102-04:00You know what I REALLY liked? The lighting in this...You know what I REALLY liked? The lighting in this episode. Actually, how it was shot just generally was pretty trippy and just generally fit the mood of a very surreal episode which functioned as a nice showcase for Laurie. I'm shocked they actually HAD super boy nearly off himself; House has never really had a comeupance like that, has he? Given his state it makes sense that something like that might get him to finally really REACT. <br /><br />That said, the first hour was just miles better than the second. <br /><br />While by its nature House always requires a fair amount of suspension of disbelief, things just got ridiculous. I don't even see the end as particularly optimistic (the look on his face while he was on the bus suggests anything but)...it was just too tidy and unnecessary. The strange music box scenario was a reach, but so are all of House's diagnosises. But why did everything seem to get better? Was that a call back to the blonde doctor's suggestion that he could do some good? If so, its just particularly, well, lame. And its shame to have such a lame ending to what started out as a great episode. <br /><br />Another thing that bugged me is I don't even think a lot of what House SAID was, well, wrong. He fixes things. He hates himself if he doesn't. That kind of stubborn perfectionism makes him brilliant; do we really want to CHANGE that about House? In fact, that very concept has been visited by the show last season and he didn't like the results. Why rehash it? Where are they going to go next? I think there is some potential with him trying to exercise some restraint, but if they go to far with it...well...since this episode proves that the rest of the cast doesn't really provide that much support, I'm kind of scared.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-85196894392951829942009-09-22T12:04:46.302-04:002009-09-22T12:04:46.302-04:00It's weird how House became girl interrupted, ...It's weird how House became girl interrupted, although I liked it. I loved Andre Braugher's performance, I too hope he becomes a recurring character. Also that we've seen the last of the vicodin dependency.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-62206158306937129072009-09-22T11:43:07.446-04:002009-09-22T11:43:07.446-04:00As much as I love In Treatment, I think that more ...As much as I love <i>In Treatment</i>, I think that more than anything, an episode of <i>House</i> in that style would result in unintentional comedy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-48104522689593351032009-09-22T09:38:19.286-04:002009-09-22T09:38:19.286-04:00Did anyone else recognize Artemis from Always Sunn...Did anyone else recognize Artemis from Always Sunny? She was the mental patient with the frizzy hair and big glasses. I didn't notice it was her until she spoke.Sane Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11600133896398188870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-30406899016686875102009-09-22T09:37:33.861-04:002009-09-22T09:37:33.861-04:00Oh, and I forgot to mention, Megan Dodds has alway...Oh, and I forgot to mention, Megan Dodds has always reminded me a bit of Anne Dudek, so even if Amber wasn't there, she kind of was. I wonder if that was deliberate casting?filmcrickethttp://filmcricket.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-21689394305364172012009-09-22T09:35:38.360-04:002009-09-22T09:35:38.360-04:00Loved Braugher as well. It was nice to find a char...Loved Braugher as well. It was nice to find a character "smarter than" House, but not trying to "take him down. And the thing with his fater was good too.<br />Alas for this show, he's <a href="http://www.tnt.tv/title/display/?oid=51993" rel="nofollow">busy with his own</a> and can't be back for a while.<br />I'm looking forward to his show though. Maybe more, now. I have seen him work before, but only on The Practice, and I really don't rememer (and didn't see the Gideon's Crossing side of the crossover).<br /><br />House without that ...I don't even know what you call it... is it the same show? or can character growth without reset button actually happen here?<br /><br />Maybe I'm a sap, but when Captain Whoever was about to get ready to jump, I could see the rest, and yet, that was fine with me.<br /><br />And Wilson was strong.<br /><br />I was in trainwreck TV mode last night (thank you CBS for moving Big Bang Theory) and had forgotten to watch Mad Men till Mo mentioned how many comments your article/post got. I almost put House off till another day, but Omar Epps was there on Twitter plugging (get the popcorn, i think) and so I watched, remembered it was two hours, watched a Chuck in the middle (John Larroquette) and then went back and finished with Big Bang and HIMYM (in that order).<br /><br />I have to get to the review and the Mad Men post, meantime Glee has been picked up (and my best friend is now watching *two* network shows)<br /><br />Really, though, if both House and Meredith grey get "whole and healed" (the conversations seemed quite similar) will the shows still be interesting? (and that goes double for House, which was rarely interesting last year)Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-36883247321446853692009-09-22T09:35:04.643-04:002009-09-22T09:35:04.643-04:00My God, Andre Braugher is just an amazing actor. I...My God, Andre Braugher is just an amazing actor. I agree with everyone who said they could handle two hours of him and Hugh Laurie in a room talking.<br /><br />Aside from the two men's talents, what made those parts so compelling, which you alluded to in your review, Alan, is that Nolan was a believable foil for House. <br /><br />There's a lot of armchair psychoanalysis on this show: House does it to patients, which is an indication of his genius, but a lot of people, including Chi McBride and David Morse, did it to House, too, and it was never believable. You can sort of see it coming from Wilson and Cuddy because they've known him so long, but the writers have used "other characters telling House about himself" as a crutch for a loooong time, and for once it made sense, since he was dealing with an actual shrink.<br /> <br />I loved all the music in the episode except for the cello (I adore that piece but it will always be a part of "Noel" from <i>TWW</i> for me, plus it was ridiculous that she'd be able to play that well) and I wished they'd let Laurie play the piano for more than three seconds.filmcrickethttp://filmcricket.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-86978497345023373212009-09-22T09:16:29.526-04:002009-09-22T09:16:29.526-04:00Maybe next time the cello player could just ask th...Maybe next time the cello player could just ask the nurse/doctor for the music box on day one instead of remaining mute for 10 years until someone guesses what she wants.ThreeSheetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10873393698899480308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-55813955598381621542009-09-22T09:10:10.690-04:002009-09-22T09:10:10.690-04:00I thought it was a good episode. Braugher was a w...I thought it was a good episode. Braugher was a welcome addition to the small screen last night. I was hoping to delve into House's deeper issues though. <br /><br />As a psychologist, I had to suspend disbelief to a certain degree because it appeared Mayfield was a state run facility. A doctor would have been sent to a facility or unit that dealt specifically with addiction/emotional issues for health professionals. It's not like House has Medicaid and could not afford to be treated at such an institution as stated above.<br /><br />The relationship between Lydia and House was believable. It's not uncommon for patients to form a strong bond with someone else (typically it's another patient though). I think it was healthy that House made a connection with a woman (who isn't Cuddy) or some random women (which has been shown in bits throughout the entire series). However, it would never have been permitted on a psychiatric unit in the way it was portrayed. <br /><br />It was also mentioned that each person was tagged theatrically with some illness-bipolar/suicidal tendencies/loss, etc. It was a bit over the top but I think it was meant to show, not how a true psychiatric unit is portrayed, but rather the highlights of certain illnesses. I did not expect anything else (like was mentioned In Treatment), this show expounds and yells loudly as to different conditions. <br /><br />Anon 10:27-you hit the nail on the head regarding how different this episode basically illuminated the fact that the basic format of the show drags itself down. It was refreshing to see House in a stand alone episode without his crew. <br /><br />The ending did wrap a bit too neatly. Heaven forbid, it left open strings.JanieJonesnoreply@blogger.com