And yet I loved the final sequence when the patient overcame his fears and walked out of the building and House couldn’t.

Well, I might go to a special hell for saying this but my love affair with Dr. Gregory House is finally over. How could he stoop so low? I forgave him (and writers) for parting ways with Cameron and sweet Dr. Chase. I turned a blind eye to his new crew of losers and even to 13. I put up with two cases of leprosy on one show. And I actually liked Amber because Amber was the only person with guts in several seasons. And they killed her off.

I twisted my mind so that I wouldn’t look at the progress bar of video player window because the succession of events is always the same:

1. Some person(s): perfectly normal.
2. Some person(s): almost dying.
3. Opening credits.
4. House: trying to avoid the case.
5. House: hearing smth interesting and picking up the case.
6. Wrong diagnosis. Patient(s) go(es) worse.
7. Wrong diagnosis: apply/rinse/repeat. Patient(s) go(es) worse.
8. The last wrong diagnosis before the final revelation. Patient(s): dying.
9. The ‘lastest’ wrong diagnosis before the final revelation. Patient(s): dying.
10. Patient(s): being treated to death for the ‘lastest’ diagnosis because the diagnosis is, well, wrong.
11. House: talking to somebody devoid of any charisma and significance (everybody is that way on the show these days).
12. House: finally having a revelation. Patient(s): dead almost dead.
13. House: saving the day.

Progress bar can tell me what is going on without looking at the show itself. Why is everything so effing straightforward and linear?

House, are you tired of House too?

It’s not about the leg anymore, it’s not about Vicodin abuse… Then, what is it about?

Seasons 1-3 had a general feeling about them of going somewhere. Despite almost the same pattern as described above there was moral struggle, romance, fighting and compromises. The great multi-episode arc with House’s ex-wife, another one about miraculous cure for leg trauma; all those clinic episodes, they were so funny, sometimes they seemed to be a show in a show. The offended cop story was particularly full of perspective.

Even Amber episodes in the end of season 4 were much, much better because there was life where there is none.

House, what are we left with?

Cuddy is no answer, I’m afraid. I don’t have respect for this Cuddy v.5. She looks slutty slightly desperate all the time, she lets House do whatever he wants and she only refuses to cooperate when the refusal would do the most damage.

Wilson opted for change. And they dragged him back and made him understand and become almost apologetic for trying.

The major problem is the lack of conflict, I suppose. I do not watch the show because of patients for they are rarely more than little amusing, a canvas to the painting that House is. It seems that this ecosystem is balanced now. Nobody’s dying except for 13 and she’s doing it mostly in her head. Nobody’s taking over the hospital. Nobody’s forbidding House anything. Nobody’s provoking him into being on top of his game.

So, will the real Dr. House please stand up?