6.01/6.02 - Broken

6.01/6.02 - Broken
HOUSE SEEKS PSYCHIATRIC HELP ON THE TWO-HOUR SEASON PREMIERE OF "HOUSE" MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, ON FOX Episode Directed by Executive Producer Katie Jacobs Andre Braugher, Franka Potente and Lin-Manuel Miranda Guest-Star House begins a detox program at Mayfield Psychiatric Hospital to get the vicodin out of his system in an attempt to control his hallucinations. House plans to leave the treatment facility once he is clean, but he is strong-armed into staying by his attending physician, Dr. Darryl Nolan (guest star Andre Braugher). Dr. Nolan agrees to write a recommendation to reinstate House's medical license only if House agrees to further treatment. When House is moved to a new ward in the hospital, he develops a close relationship with his new roommate, Alvie (guest star Lin-Manuel Miranda), and Lydia (guest star Franka Potente), a frequent visitor who helps House bend the rules. House asks Alvie to help him uncover incriminating information about Dr. Nolan that would allow him to blackmail his way out of the treatment center and convinces Lydia to loan him her car to sneak out a delusional patient in an attempt by House to undermine Dr. Nolan's course of treatment. But when devastating events ensue, House is humbled into reluctantly accepting help in "Broken," the special two-hour season premiere episode of HOUSE airing Monday, Sept. 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/ PT) on FOX. (HOU-601/602) (TV-14 D, L, S) Cast: Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House; Robert Sean Leonard as Dr. James Wilson Guest Cast: Andre Braugher as Dr. Darryl Nolan; Franka Potente as Lydia; Megan Dodds as Dr. Beasley; Andrew Leeds as Dr. Medina; Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alvie; Derek Richardson as Freedom Master; Jack Plotnick as Hal; Curtis Armstrong as Richter; Artemis Pebdani as Diane; Angela Bettis as Susan; Ana Lenchantin as Silent Girl; Alex Desert as Jay-Bird; Dale E. Turner as Stomp; Sloan Robinson as Nurse Safer; Meghan K. Bradley as Nurse Valez; Harrison Forsyth as Ben Source: Futon Critic

I don't really have time to go into it much, since I have to head to bed. However, that was good. That was really good. I loved the relationship that developed between House and Alvie. House rapping :lol: I felt for him in regards to Lydia. I loved his scenes with Nolan. It was great how Nolan was always a step ahead of House. That's all I can say right now. Look forward to reading everyone else's opinions later.

Okay, that was amazing. House's relationship with Lydia was beautiful, but I'm also glad that it's over. I think that House should focus on strengthening the relationships he has at PPTH more than forming love affairs with married women. But as I said... it was so beautiful. House rapping... it's right up there with Fry's Noddy Comet. Awkward but awesome. Oh, and the detox at the beginning? If Hugh doesn't get an Emmy after those first five minutes alone, then the Academy doesn't know what good is.

I thought the acting in this was excellent on everyone's part. Beyond that, though, I thought it was all very forced. Switching between overdramatic sappiness ("I'm broken") to cringeworthy silliness (the rapping) didn't do much for me. Also, House's insults to the patients at the beginning were just really lame - I miss the House who would just roll his eyes and maybe make one witty comment - not one who is so desperate to be obnoxious that he sounds like he's on a bad sitcom. I just felt like everywhere they went was really easy and predictable and most of all, fanfictionish.

Alright, I'll break the new season ice with a few thoughts. Wow. Stellar, stunning, beautiful performance by Hugh Laurie. As if we would expect anything else. But that was extra special lovely. Herbert! Did you and Miss DePesto not work out? I am so sorry to hear that. No psychiatric hospital--or any hospital that I know of--would allow patients to smoke. I think this is particularly cruel because the poor people are already suffering--you're going to take their cigs away, too? Wilson wasn't allowed to visit? Wow--so Mayfield lets the patients have smokes, but not friends? The loony bin always finds a way to fuck with you. I'm sure I have a lot more to say, but those are my first thoughts.

My best friend called me and I missed most of the last 20 minutes. No, I won't disown her. LOL But I thought it was a really good episode. I'll take House alone over the new team any day. I loved the supporting characters, especially Alvie and Freedom Master. I also like that House's typical House-style tactics were not rewarded and he had to change somewhat to get out. Who knows if any changes will last, but I like that he wasn't able to House his way out of the hospital. I wonder if Wilson has changed too and if this will be the start of his not enabling House like he used to.

That was beautiful and moving on so many levels. Fantastic performances all around.

I just felt like everywhere they went was really easy and predictable and most of all, fanfictionish. Just out of curiosity, where do you think they should have gone that wasn't easy and predictable? I personally found it interesting that House and Nolan, at least onscreen, did not go more into specific troubling times we've watched House experience in the past, save for the S4/5 deaths. Not that I think that any of that would have really turned out to be anything other than re-tread, I am curious as to what House would have said. This was our golden opportunity to his real thoughts about his PPTH family, and I would have enjoyed hearing that. I guess there's always fanfiction, though.

This must be said. Good God, House don't ever, ever, ever rap again. I was cringing so hard. Oh, that was awkward. Having said that, I loved Alvie. You know how PI tried to be cute and likeable? Well, Alvie actually did it. I liked Nolan up until he called in House for a consult. What was the point of that? That seemed to be crossing the doctor/patient line. Lydia was cool. I enjoyed seeing their relationship. I felt for House in the end, but it was nice while it lasted. I guess that was kind of the point. Finally, DEREK RICHARDSON :P I was so happy to see him. He's such a cutie. Too bad House almost got him killed. :(

This is one of those episodes that leaves me just wanting to sit quietly and reflect, like great music in a wonderfully acoustic chamber hall where the notes swirl and echo all around you and you just sit and soak it all up. The music box thing was hokey, to me, but I think the real point -- beyond House's own improvements -- isn't the simplistic "curing" through the music box, but rather House's own quiet reflection on Alvie. Much as in a "normal" episodes, the real impact of House isn't in the big overt attention-getting statements, but those moments when we see him alone, and see the real him. In this case, it's the real House that makes Alvie want to finally get better. Not the House that Alvie hero worshipped for flaunting the rules, but the House who admitted he needed help and wanted to get better.

Wow, just wow. Vunerable House......i fell deeper in love tonight! I will add more later as its gone 3am here and i really need sleep, but i adored this episode so much i needed to post something. I loved the rollercoaster....sad, awkward, funny, passionate,heartbreaking. As i said...Wow!

Gee, I'd love to stay and chat about the episode but I have to be at work in 12 hours which means I barely have time to watch it 6 more times before then. HL was extraordinary. I think every moment of his performance range true (except the face in the cake moment). Right now my favorite was when he took off his jacket and stayed with Andre Braugher in his father's hospital room. Andre Braugher was beyond perfect. What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? There really aren't a lot of actors who would be convincing as the immovable object meeting House. He was. Having a patient going from 10 years of catatonia to playing the cello so well was absurd but that's okay -- I'll accept it as TV shorthand. I wish Wilson had come to pick him up. But maybe he didn't want that yet.

Hard to some up my thoughts after a two hour haven of House. Overall, loved it, unbelievably well done. Just a few critiquing comments: Not trying to take away from the episode, because it really was phenomenal, but I do agree that some of the antics were a bit... eh... silly? That's not a good word, maybe OOC? House taking Freedom Master to an amusement park? I don't know, that was the only strange thing for me. Everything else was spectacular. Also, I was under the impression from some of the early spoilers and from some Hugh comments that we were going to get a piano palooza as well as the cello playing, etc. Misinterpretation, or just cut you think?

Having a patient going from 10 years of catatonia to playing the cello so well was absurd but that's okay -- I'll accept it as TV shorthand. I agree, but I guess since the episode overall takes place over the span of a few months, perhaps it wasn't as split-second as we were made to believe. Though it was probably still faster than usual. I wish Wilson had come to pick him up. Same here! I saw that car driving up as House was walking out and thought, "Yes! The Volvo of Angst has arrived!" Oh well. The bus provided us with an awesome t-shirt shot. :)

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