*SPOILER ALERT* Topically relevant analysis of the new season’s opening of House follows; however, if you haven’t seen it yet, be aware that the post contains episode revelations!
The quintessential lone wolf, Dr. House on Fox TV, launches the fourth season without a team to contribute to the perplexing medical cases that confound doctors and audiences alike. Although House is quite the contrarian, he needs the prompting of intellectually challenging specialists who inspire collaborative, creative hypothesis, where the answer becomes intuitively obvious within 60 minutes.
In the Season Three finale, the set-in-his-ways House was confronted with a series of major changes to his team. Neurologist DR. ERIC FOREMAN left because he didn’t want to turn into House; House randomly fired DR. ROBERT CHASE, claiming he learned everything he’s going to learn in the past three years, or nothing at all; and immunologist DR. ALLISON CAMERON resigned, knowing House will be completely unaffected by her decision.
As new season opens, House doesn’t think he needs a team; he’d rather go it alone. However, as the show progresses, he supplants his old team with his friend, oncology specialist DR. JAMES WILSON and the Dean of Medicine and hospital administrator, DR. LISA CUDDY to help him think through the various hypotheses. When they refuse to “enable” him, House ends up in the walk-in clinic, just to bounce some ideas off of a ER doc or two.
At the end of the show, House finally understands that he needs the intellectual stimulation of others and is a better doctor with a team around him.
Question: Do you see yourself better as a lone wolf or someone who works better with a team?
