House, M.D. - Season Five

     Hugh Laurie returns to his Golden Globe-winning and Primetime Emmy Award-nominated role as Dr. Gregory House in House: Season Five! House pushes new boundaries in medicine while dealing with emotional chaos as personal and professional boundaries blur in all 24 episodes from the compelling fifth season. Featuring guest appearances by Primetime Emmy Award winner Zeljko Ivanek (Damages), Mos Def (The Italian Job) and Carl Reiner (Ocean's Thirteen), House is the Primetime Emmy Award-winning series that critics rave is a terrific show with an A-list cast and first-rate writing.

     Dr. House often clashes with his boss, hospital administrator and Dean of Medicine Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), and his diagnostic team, because many of his hypotheses about patients' illnesses are based on subtle or controversial insights. House's only true friend is Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), head of the Department of Oncology. During the first three seasons, House's diagnostic team consists of Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer), Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), and Dr. Eric Foreman (Omar Epps). At the end of the third season, this team disbands. Rejoined by Foreman, House gradually selects three new team members: Dr. Remy "Thirteen" Hadley (Olivia Wilde), Dr. Chris Taub (Peter Jacobson), and Dr. Lawrence Kutner (Kal Penn); the latter was written out of the series toward the end of season 5. Chase and Cameron continue to appear in different roles at the hospital until early in season 6. Cameron then leaves the show, and Chase returns to the diagnostic team.
House is critically acclaimed and has high viewership ratings. It was among the top ten rated shows in the United States from its second through its fourth season; in the 2008–09 season, it fell to nineteenth overall. Distributed to 66 countries, House was the most watched television program in the world in 2008. The show has received several awards, including a People's Choice Award, a Peabody Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Comment:
     House MD season five is not like seasons 1-3. The last two seasons have been different; a new cast has come into the fold, and Cameron and Chase have become guest stars at best. But, the show is called House, and despite what others will say, this is one of the best (if not the best) seasons of House. Sure, it has had a few relationships. But, why wouldn't it? This show is not just starting. It's been on for five seasons. It's been known from the very beginning that House and Cuddy have chemistry, and finally they are seeing where it leads. I say finally because it was inevitable.
Such phrases as "jump the shark" or "a broken House" are floating around, but do not believe them. Adamant fans of the show know that House has always been a show to take chances and hope the viewers come along for the ride. All this show has continued to do is take chances, and hope the viewers come along. Such as "Last Resort" in which the hospital is taken hostage, or "Locked In" where most of the perspective is in a blur and from the patient's point of view, or the latest "Simple Explanation" which may possibly be the best episode House has ever produced. Some say House is broken because it isn't what it used to be. And no, it isn't what it used to be. In many ways it's better.
This season has been about self exploration, and House's drive to change. This season has been about growth in our favorite damaged Doc. I write this review with the season not yet being done. There are still four episodes to go, but I can easily say that this show is still as amazing (if not even more so) than before. Do yourself a favor... buy season five of House... you will not be disappointed.