on liking the unlikeable

[hermionesviolin]

TVGuide (April 17-22) has House ("The man you love to hate") on the cover -- "People think they want House to change, but they don't. They watch him because he's a jerk." [The same quote -- from creator and exec producer David Shore -- in the inside article, says "bastard" rather than "jerk."] My immediate reaction, of course, was: "A lot of

Comments

[musesfool]

Well, he is based on Sherlock Holmes, who was an arrogant, abrasive know-it-all, too...

I think a lot of people like House for the reason they tell me they like Snape - he says a lot of the things we're thinking but would never say, and he gets away with it. It's certainly one reason I like House. And also because I find him hilarious most of the time. There have been occasions where he's crossed a line and ceased being funny and I wanted to beat him with his cane, and I do wish he were wrong once in a while, but I enjoy the show for the high level of snark, mostly, and because I enjoy the supporting characters, as well.

[hermionesviolin]

Mmm, I'd forgotten about the Sherlock Holmes thing (and haven't read the stories since I was a kid, so I don't actually remember anything about his personality

[immortalavalamp]

1. You're not supposed to see his vulnerability. He's even more impermeable than Grissom, in that sense...people who are generally asses to everyone often do so as a way of protection, or a "I'll be horrible to you before you do the same thing to me." The only time he wasn't so much like that? Lisa. I think House is somewhat self-aware, as shown when he had dinner with Cameron, yet he's constantly unable to really connect with people. She was willing to give him a chance (even came to his home...), and he was completely unable to respond to her. Just because we don't see it doesn't mean it isn't there, and it's waiting to find out what it is that makes him (at least partially) so interesting. Then again, I'm a psych major

[immortalavalamp]

6. We will get sick of him. But I think that House is pushing himself further and further, and that he's headed for some sort of a break down. What form that will take, I don't know. I think we've had a hint that House is at least reflecting on who he is, etc., as when Wilson said something to the extent of, "You don't have to make yourself miserable to be good at what you do. Making yourself miserable just makes you miserable

[hermionesviolin]

Wow, you win. Thank you so much for a thoughtful, detailed response.

1. I was definitely thinking of the Grissom comparison. Grissom I feel more like just doesn't get people, and finds it easier to not engage (I, of course, sympathize) whereas House seems more actively choosing to not have people skills (something that struck me particularly in "Safe" with his conversation with Wilson wherein he got to be insightful like whoa) and I have little patience with that

[immortalavalamp]

1. I actually think House is incredibly insightful, but chooses not to put his observations in a format that is generally recognized as helpful, gentle, or "insightful," if that makes sense. Once, he went so far as to tell Cameron that she wanted to be with him because she needed to fix something...harsh, but very possibly true. I see Grissom as passively pushing people away (as in, he just keeps away from people enough that he never actually gets to the point where he has to push people away, if that makes sense), whereas House constantly pushes people away at every possibility of an opportunity. I think he COULD have people skills (and even does on occasion), but really doesn't feel it's needed. Why tell people something gently when he can be abrasive about the same information and ensure keeping them at arm's length?

I don't care to find out what he's like on the inside, just want him to quit being such an abrasive ass.

I think this is why I adore him, and others can seriously hate him. I sit there asking, "But who is he

House can drive me batty

[theatre_pixie]

But I find that the main reason I watch him is to watch the way he relates to other people. It interests me when he interacts with one patient/family but not another. Lately Cameron has been a git and he's pretty much done with her and her bleeding-heart, woe-is-me attitude

Re: House can drive me batty

[immortalavalamp]

Gotta say, that was a GREAT moment. Oh, the cane...

Re: House can drive me batty

[hermionesviolin]

I saw RSL in Dead Poets Society, so I recognized his name when the show started getting hyped, but I don't have any particular attachment to that actor.

Yeah, the cane scene was in "Safe" (2.16) -- one of the few episodes I've seen. And it is a great scene. The whole frat prank back-and-forth bugged me, though. On the one hand I was pleased that Wilson started "fighting back" so to speak, rather than just lying down and taking all this crap from House, but on the other hand I don't wanna see people playing that game at all.

Re: House can drive me batty

[theatre_pixie]

As you've already discussed at length with immortalavalamp, House is an enormously dysfunctional character when it comes to his relationships. The fact that most of the people he works with or has to deal with in each episode are ALSO dysfunctional relationally ('cause, really, they are) could seriously drag down the show. A drama cannot be drama all of the time, there must be moments of joy intermingled or else no one will ever care. I see House's relationship with Wilson to be the source of a great many of those bright moments.

If you really think about it, House has to be a curmudgeon in order to make the show function. Why? Because almost every character is brilliant and broken and busy and has relational issues. Apparently these are pre-requisites for becoming doctors. Wilson's marriage broke up. Cutty struggles to keep her staff (read: House) in check while still keeping up relations between the doctors and the business affairs folk (patients, too), plus carrying her own patient load. Cameron has an over-developed overly idyllic

[wisdomeagle]

I love House because he makes me laugh. He makes me uncomfortable, because he says things that are funny but deeply mean and un-PC -- but he *is* funny (at least to me) and also very intelligent.

And I am fascinated with characters who are intelligent but emotionally stunted in some way, and while I think House has more emotional intelligence than, say, Holmes, he continues to self-destruct and refuse to analyze his own motives, etc, all the things named above.

I think I love him most of all for his consistency. Sure, he's an irredeemable asshole. But he *always* is. This is how he reacts to everyone around him, and there's no moment at which he actually relents and starts being a decent person. And while I totally see why that can be unappealing, it is one of the things I like about the character.

[hermionesviolin]

It's funny that you say "consistency" since that is one of my Huge Issues, but I guess I see "there's no moment at which he actually relents and starts being a decent person" and think "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

Thank you for commenting.

Also? "And I am fascinated with characters who are intelligent but emotionally stunted in some way" *subliminal message to watch CSI 'cause omg Gil Grissom*

[wisdomeagle]

Snerk. Conversation with girlfriend last night:

Ari: blah blah Gil Grissom. I don't really know anything about him.
Gvambat: Well, very much on the order of very smart, no social skills.
Ari: I've heard that. I've also heard I'd like him a lot.
Gvambat: You really would.

[hermionesviolin]

And girlfriend clearly knows your tastes way better than I do, so if she says it it must be true.