House: Season Five (DVD, 2009, 5-Disc Set)

Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), an unconventional medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton‑Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Dr. House often clashes with his boss, hospital administrator and Dean of Medicine Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), House's only true friend is Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), House's diagnostic team consists of Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer), Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), and Dr. Eric Foreman (Omar Epps). Dr. Remy "Thirteen" Hadley (Olivia Wilde), Dr. Chris Taub (Peter Jacobson), and Dr. Lawrence Kutner (Kal Penn). I give this DVD 2 thumbs way up.

House's fifth season took somewhat of a dark turn when compared to the previous seasons. Two cast members died, though I suppose you could say that Amber (Anne Dudek) really died in the fourth season finale, but it really only hit home in the fifth season opener, "Dying Changes Everything". The loss of Amber really hit Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) hard, so much so, that he resigned from Princeton-Plainsboro.

Coming into this season, one of the things that seemed to be missing was Dr. House's investigations into his employees. We've come to know quite a bit about the doctors over these years, but there were still some lingering secrets that hadn't been uncovered. This gave House the excuse to hire a private investigator (Michael Weston). Not only did Weston's character look into the lives of House's employees, but he followed Wilson around. House was not only concerned for his (former) best friend, but he was also just a little nosy. Some things never change -- right?

It didn't take long for Wilson and House to talk about Amber's death. Before long, they were friends again and were on their way to pay their respects to House's recently deceased father. We only saw his father, John (R. Lee Ermey) once on the series. I can't help but feel disappointed by this fact. R. Lee Ermey is one hell of an actor. House may not have liked his father, but surely something could have been written for the character.

House and his father may not have had the best relationship, but there were a few who did have a good relationship. Foreman (Omar Epps) and Thirteen (Olivia Wilde) got together while Chase (Jesse Spencer) and Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) continued with their relationship. Neither of these relationships really moved me. In fact, both of them were more frustrating than anything positive.

Take the Foreman/Thirteen relationship for example. Diagnosed with Huntington's disease in the fourth season finale, Thirteen was reluctant to get into a relationship with anyone. Foreman was completely the opposite. This reminded me of the relationship Cameron must have had with her husband before he died. After a matter of weeks, Foreman lost his damn mind and decided to risk his career by not only getting involved in the drug trials that Thirteen was involved with, but he even switched her medication when he learned that she was on the placebo.

ITS HOUSE! House begins its fifth season on a somber note. With his girlfriend, Amber, dead, Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) finds his friendship with the cantankerous Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) to be more strained than ever and temporarily leaves the hospital where they work. He eventually returns, which is a good thing, because Wilson is the closest thing House has to a moral compass. The writers of this drama do an admirable job of inserting elements of well-placed comedy into the often-intense vignettes. Otherwise, House wouldn't be such a likable character. In fact, without the humor, he can often be downright despicable, especially to those he supposedly likes the most. Viewers learn that his lack of bedside manner (in and out of the hospital) probably was passed down from his father (R. Lee Ermey, who makes a brief appearance).

All 24 episodes--which originally aired during the 2008-2009 television season--are included in this five-disc boxed set. A few of the episodes are tainted by a soap opera vibe, particularly the ones concentrating on the romance between Dr. Eric Foreman (Omar Epps) and Dr. Remy ""Thirteen"&quo​t; Hadley (Olivia Wilde). Based on the first four seasons, Foreman's behavior seems way off. While love can change a man, it doesn't seem likely that Foreman would change this much--not even for someone as compelling as Thirteen. But House's boss, Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), has a juicy story line involving her quest to have a family. The struggles she goes through to adopt a baby depict how challenging it can be for women--even those who excel at everything else--to have it all. But her story line also shows that she is more resilient than she gives herself credit for. For all its medical jargon and scenes set in the operating room, House really is about relationships more than anything else. That's why when another character tragically dies this season, viewers take the loss to heart. --Jae-Ha Kim

This is a great season. Excellent finale, great intro episode. This season gets a lot more in depth in the characters lives and side stories which makes it even more interesting.

My father hates hospital based shows, and even he was laughing at the sarcastic humor from House in this season. Anybody can enjoy it, and since its a five disc set, it's worth buying for the hours of entertainment you get out of it.

My boyfriend got me into this series. I was a person that didnt know much about series, I've always liked movies but series not that much......When he showed me House i felt in love with that arrogant doctor right away! I have to say that this is the best series EVAH!!!!!!!!!! and Hugh Laurie is the best actor PERIOD!!!! This is awesome! I writting a lot of S***H because this S***H doesnt let me write a few things it has to be more that 100 -_- it sux