I know it is rather late to write about this; after all, House MD has been showing already for years wheras I have only just learnt about this show last Dec! Nevertheless, I want to write what I love about this show.

Well but before that casting Hugh Laurie as the main character certainly reinforces the stereotype that everybody loves: that of a good looking charming renegade man who can get away with breaking the rules AND be exceptional with what he does. Sounds very much like GTO actually. And then, just to make this man look better, you have the typical bureaucratic women who act like...yeah, what people expect and dread about women: bureaucratic, moralistic, straitlaced, unimaginative, rule binding, and generally there to keep the man/men in check. Cameron, Masters and Cuddy embody that stereotype, only to be 'redeemed' by being sexy or sex partners in the show. You don't see any of the man being like this. In fact, Chase changed. Well, 13 is different: portrayed as playing by the 'guys' rules' at rule-breaking, but she is then again a bisexual, as if a woman can only be different and atypical if she is gay or bisexual.

Whoa, sounds very much like I don't like the show. But I am resigned to the fact that it seems like most, if not all dynamic shows have male protagonists and only females as the foil. Women still do not have that kind of stimulating charm that captures society's imagination, save for sexy ass-kicking. Something like being serious, intellectual and witty-that I have not yet seen of a woman on TV or movies. Then again, I have not watched much TV...

But hey, the show works. Hugh Laurie is th main reason why I watched the show at all at first: he's gorgeous, sexy and his character is interesting: mysterious screwed up genius with nice stubble. The cane works for him as well. Heck, he can even launch a perfume after this =) I admit I enjoy the stereotypes played out on the show. The medical story lines are kind of a by-product; most of the time, I don't even understand or remember what exactly is going on, save for the human interests issues that underlie these cases, like the recent one I have just watched on Masters making a decision to be a rule-binding upright doctor or a rule-breaking one. I don't understand why the show has to make such a big deal of making these 2 elements seem mutually exclusive. Can you both be effective and capable while abiding by the rules? Well, ok, maybe in real life, this does not work for exceptional or unique cases, only for the general majority ones. Then again, of course nobody wants to watch a TV series showing doctors obeying the rules. People want to consume entertainment exemplifying that which fails to happen in real life.

Ok back to the series: I love the dialogue. They seem really smart, digging into high context conversations, and getting into the real intentions of the characters. They are also direct, focused and not just witty banter typical of comedy sitcoms. I love the characters and the relationships they have: Taub and Foreman, House and Wilson, 13 and Foreman, Cuddy and Lucas and House, Chase and..everybody else, if not his relationshp with Cameron: I like the way their relationships unfold and show how these people change or do not change in the course of their relationships. And I love the teamwork dynamics portrayed in the show: the different propensities and inclinations of the team members; I thought it somehow reflects how teams really do work out in real life: backbiting, supportive, presumptuous, and in the end, just plain comfortable with one another. Well of course I can go into the dissection of each of their characters and relationships but that I would just rather indulge by reading off the net.

Of course I will be sad that the series is ending soon. Arghs!! I am finishing season 7 and I know that season 8 will be the last one, and even then, without Wilson. I wonder what they will do to his character. Make him die of cancer? Move away? hmmm.

I am also sad that the whole House and Cuddy relationship ended. I know many fans hate their relationship, saying how it thwarts his renegade and reckless behavoir that they so love, but hey, I believe in redemption and romance and still staying sexy at the same time!!