Pilot

I have been watching TV for over 50 years, and when starting a new series, as a viewer it is sensible to allow the writers and actors some time to get into the swing if it. But this episode is outstanding. Acting excellent, storyline epic, cinematography amazing and passion in abundance. Well done to all involved. Only problem moving forward is they have set a high bar. Can they deliver the same.

Being British I have grown up with Hugh Laurie, so I am confident of his abilities, from the beloved Blackadder characters series 3 and 4 to Jeeves and Wooster with National Treasure Stephen Fry.

Can't wait to watch more.

It's not that usual for a television series to be able to successfully establish all of its character dynamics and interactions so accurately in the very first episode, but House, M.D. manages to pull it off. This episode, commonly referred to as "Pilot", also known as "Everybody Lies", was extremely well written by the show's creator, David Shore, and expertly directed by Bryan Singer. It begins by introducing Rebecca Adler, a kindergarten school teacher who becomes the very first patient in the series, as she experiences the early symptoms of her mysterious condition while at work. The case eventually reaches the hands of Dr. Gregory House, the head of the Department of Diagnostic Medicine, who finds it boring and is initially reluctant to take it on, but is ultimately persuaded to do so by his best friend and colleague, Dr. James Wilson. As the storyline progresses, we get to witness House's unorthodox approach to both life and medicine, whether it's through his interactions with the members of his team, which is comprised of Dr. Eric Foreman, Dr. Allison Cameron and Dr. Robert Chase, his boss, Dr. Lisa Cuddy, who is the Dean of Medicine at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey, and his patients, whether they suffer from common or rare medical conditions. Think of Gregory House as Sherlock Holmes with a lab coat even though he hardly ever wears it. He is a doctor who is not interested in treating people, just diagnosing and treating the illness, with very little regard for his patients' fate. This makes him one of the best characters that has ever been written for television, as he is both awesome and flawed and we get to see that during every differential diagnosis, every conversation and every scene in which he is involved in. His swagger is defined by his demeanour and he is truly at his best when he is either being arrogant, dismissive and sarcastic to people or just popping pills and quoting Mick Jagger. One thing is for sure... well, maybe two things: I'm hooked and I'll keep watching.

Filmed much like a theatrical movie, the pilot for HOUSE, M.D. wastes no time in establishing the show's recurring theme: an individual falls ill, and Greg House and his merry crew spend the next 45 minutes or so trying to diagnose the illness before the patient croaks. Few episodes have varied from this pattern, for better or worse. In the pilot, House treats a young teacher (movie actress Robin Tunney) for an aphasia that gets worse by the minute. The symptoms pile up quickly. Eventually, she becomes paralyzed from the waist down and decides she wants to go home to die. House wants to do some more work on her instead. The incredibly intense scene that follows between the ailing teacher and House is what makes the episode. We also have all the basic characters introduced without a lot of wasted time, including the very sharp neurologist (Omar Epps), the emotionally charged immunologist (Jennifer Morrison) and whatever the heck the surfer-looking Aussie is (Jesse Spencer). Dr. Wilson (Robert Leonard) is the staff oncologist and House's closest friend. And Lisa Edelstein is House's incredibly nagging but sympathetic boss, who as time goes on we discover may have had a relationship with House in the past. Only time will tell. HOUSE is the best TV show since LAW & ORDER, hands down.

I had watched many of the House episodes in their original airing and over the years. So much time has passed I wanted to take a look at them in their original sequence. This Pilot offers more than the usual ones. For one thing, we are immediately thrust into a complicated case. A kindergarten teacher has a seizure in front of her little students. As is usually the case with House episodes, the case in incredibly complicated, the diagnosis evasive. House, of course, is irreverent and full of anger. We find out about his addiction right away and that he has issues with authority. What works the best is that he is never lovable. He is harsh and honest, even if it hurts feelings. I will slowly make my way through the series.

Terrible with patients, Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) is excellent in determining what is wrong with them and then curing them.

He gets right to the heart of the matter, whether it is someone that is dying, or someone who is a hypochondriac, or a mother that thinks she knows more than her doctor does.

He doesn't mince words, and believes all people lie.

This episode introduces the characters we will grow to love and introduces the best medical show on television.

Directed by Brian Singer, who gave us X-Men and X2, this is one exciting show.