For what it's worth, I think that some of us who have been enjoying the season keep quiet not because we think we're less intelligent about it than those with strong opinions on the other side, but more because those opinions can be so overwhelming. I read, I shrug, I go on enjoying. Doesn't seem much point in trying to convince those who aren't enjoying it to think otherwise. Of course, if my current post-total didn't absolutely scream LURKER my thoughts on the season might be a bit more convincing... Maybe I should consider actually typing rather than just reading?

The short version: I'll continue to hold my own counsel. If I'm enjoying the show, I'm not going to let someone else's view affect that enjoyment, and I'm certainly not going to let someone else's view affect my self-esteem. It's just TV. You are absolutely correct. And I generally don't let it get to me, but I guess after several weeks of reading such comments over and over I reached a tipping point, and felt the need to vent a bit. Feel much better now, actually. A little purge is good for the soul, I guess. LOL! :wink:

Oh, post. Post. It's good to be reminded of some of the good stuff when we're are picking everything apart. Like I said above, overall, I'm fine with this season. I'd like more Chase. But I really liked 2 out of the 9 episodes so far. I do think the survivor stuff detracted from my overall enjoyment so far. I was fine with it in concept, but in it's execution it went on too long. But mostly the problem was that they started out with too many applicants. It didn't give us a chance to really get interested in any of them. I think it would have worked better if we started with 10 real candidates. The winnowing could have taken place over 5 episodes instead of 8. We would have ended up at the same place, but it would have been crisper, in my opinion.

On a completely O/T note, I have loved the word "winnowing" ever since HL at the Emmys used it with Helen Mirren, so thanks Poeia for using it. Apparently I will never again hear it without repeating it in my head in HL's frenchy voice. Oh, and yes, deeol and any other lurkers, please post! I sometimes find my opinion and/or attitude changed or at least honed by what someone says here. And sometimes not. Or someone will pick out something I totally missed, which I thorughly enjoy. And, mostly, no one bites. Share the love!

I understand. It can also be hard when you've discovered a new show and rush to the fandom part of the Internet to find out what everyone else says, only to hear: "God, this season sucks." I didn't have that happen with House, but pretty much as soon as I discovered Doctor Who I heard: "God, this show is starting to suck." (Of course, it's hard to make those people happy.) I've been both happy and unhappy with the season, but I'm willing to wait a bit before I make a judgement. The Tritter arc was both good and bad, and there were days where I hated it, and days where I loved it, and I left Season Three loving the show as much as I always did-- well, I hated the finale, but I digress. I think it's hard to make a judgement call on Season Four yet, because we've had so little. And it's going to be even harder for the writers to do anything with what we have because they're all on strike. :P Personally, I kind of like the newbies, and other than Chase, I didn't really like the Ducklings before, so I can't really grumble about how little screentime they're getting, which I know is a complaint most people have. God, I babble.

What's so surprising to me about this show is how much I care about it. This has not happened to me before, and it's thrilling for me to find out that there are so many people around the world who care as much as me. The fact that I care about it, to me, has a lot to do with the characters. Ususally I have no strong feelings whatsoever about TV-characters. The fact that I love some of them in House and, maybe even more important, don't like some others is fascinating. To me the show would be much more boring if every line was just deltightful, all characters always acted the way I like them to, and nobody ever wears a vest or ugly ties or ridiculous skirts. I love the fact that Cameron makes me shout at the screen, and even more that sometimes I almost like her. I'm thrilled at how much Foreman irritates me, how ridiculous Wilson looks with his hands on his hips, and then in the next scene or episode I get something to make me smile about them. Season 4 has given me all that, only with different people, and some new things to be upset about or totally excited by. I can't wait to see what will happen with the new team, and what I can find out about all of them.

Would I be viewed as trite if I simply said that I am really enjoying this season? Tuesdays make me happy. "House" makes me happy. Simple as that. I am glad they make other people happy, too. Not at all (and the more you post the easier it gets). I'm actually in the group that is enjoying this season more than season three. Halfway through last season I actually stopped watching the show and came back to the fandom because of HHoW. I actually think that the new blood on the show, even if the writers had to write it so that it would be more of an ensemble show, has helped respark interest in the series. New people, new habits, new stories, new behaviors - it's all something to rediscover, which makes it new and exciting again. It just seems like this is a point in time where the critics' voices are louder than those of the supporters. That's all. Of course, take this with a grain of salt as I actually liked the Tritter arc.

Hi newbie here. Count me as another loving S4. To me it looks like the writers have a new lease on life with the new characters. Yes its more comedic and over the top but I can rationalise that as something of a necessity because the survivor arc is so unrealistic and the humour is needed to distract the audience from that. Thats just my opinion anyway.

I'm not sure what to think of the season so far. I find it uneven, episodes I liked and episodes I didn't like. The didn't like feelings, as with most things you don't like, outweigh the like for me, because the didn't like eps are near the top of my worst episodes ever list and the like eps are not even close to my best episodes ever list. The likes: My biggest like is that I love House and Wilson's friendship this season. Such a relief to see this after last season. Wilson seems so much happier than last season, more relaxed and I hope he is indeed happier and not trying to seem happy. I like Taub and Kutner and am happy that they are staying. I loved CTB and Scooter and am sad(especially about Amber) that they are gone. Foreman. He's off my shitlist and back being my favorite duckie. I really enjoyed Foreman once he got over his 'whaaa don't wanna be like House' fase and seems to be accepting that that's the way it is. Dislikes Thirteen. I just don't like her. I might even dislike her more than Cameron. Cuddy. What happened to the old Cuddy, I don't like what they are doing to her character at all. She's uneven(backbone, no backbone) and I haven't forgiven her for 'making' House hire Thirteen. Also don't like that her ass seems to be getting more screen time than the administrator Cuddy ;) Chase and Cameron, I feel that the writers have no idea what to do with them and it shows in the way they are used in episodes. It feels forced.

Thanks, Lagniappe, for stating so eloquently what I have been thinking for several weeks. I have viewed this season as a largely successful effort thus far. I have enjoyed the strong and careful writing, the introduction of intriguing new characters, the unfolding of new aspects of my favorite supporting characters Cuddy and Wilson. Most of all, I have relished the opportunity to once more learn new things about House that make me reexamine my assumptions from past seasons. This show has made me think broadly, feel deeply, and it entertains me hugely. Call me crass or shallow, but I like this season.

Well, paint me a crass, unintelligent, idiotic, dullard, because I really don’t see such a downslide in quality this season. There have been high points and low point, just like every previous season, in my opinion. And frankly, all one need do is read a few posts from any season to find the very same sorts of whining and moaning and predictions of falling ratings and premature death - from Stacy, to Vogler to Tritter, I have been reading about the apparent downfall of House MD. I don’t mind people having an opinion that differs than mine. I even agree with many of the points that have been made, but the suggestion by some that those of us who just do not *see* the oh, SO obvious downward spiral of show quality (which is presented as FACT) are either blind or simple is beginning to wear on me. Everybody is entitled to their opinion, be it positive or negative, and I would seriously take issue with anyone who suggested that I-or anyone else- was somehow stupid, or simple for enjoying something that I did. That would seriously piss me off, too. Please keep in mind, however, that most (there are always exceptions, I'm sure) people who find the season "crass and shallow" are making a comment on the show- by no means the individuals who enjoy it. Also, some might feel a little vigilant about stating their reasons for their dislike, because they've felt accused of having shallow reasons for their discontent (not necessarily here, but your rant seemed to indicate that you were pissed about things said across multiple boards.) Have nothing more to say about S4 that I haven't said already. Now that Survivor is over, it will be interesting to see what how people will react to the rest of the season (or at least the little bit of it that's left if the strike continues).

Very well stated, as usual, melly. And here I thought those of us who commented on missing a favorite character this season were labeled the blind, simple ones for not comprehending the deeper pearls of wisdom the show was providing us. Seriously, everyone has their own reason or reasons for watching the show. TPTB have developed several characters, albeit to a greater or lesser extent, and have used different techniques to tell their stories. Hopefully all of us of can still relate positively to someone or something on the screen. I understand that negativity here or elsewhere can dampen one's enjoyment of the show and the fandom... I'm struggling with this myself currently, and sometimes need to step away for a bit...but I don't think anyone means to impune anyone else's intelligence by their complaints about what they like and don't like about current season. And everyone should be entitled to their little rant every once in awhile without being made to feel like an idiot.