Like American Idol, I never planned to watch House. Rather, like 24, it was one of those shows that I actually avoided because I knew I'd get hooked, and I really dislike coming home and thinking, I better watch that show I taped so I don't get the spoiler (and yes, I mean taped ... I'm a geek but still live in the TV dark ages). However, one day a few years back, after watching American Idol with my wife, the TV wasn't turned off right away, House came on, and the Fox Network's plan worked perfectly, I was hooked.
What I didn't expect when I began watching House was the ongoing theme of the metaphysical. From a kid who heals people with his herpes to wrestling with the sanctity of life and issues of what comes next, God is a regular subplot on the show.
At first, I had the standard impulsive Christian reaction that assumed the show's producers had an anti-God agenda and wondered if I should stop watching it. However, my love of the problem solving and House's sarcasm kept me watching during this time and I began to wonder if the show was really anti-God.
Some could argue that, because House always triumphs in the end, that the goal of the show is to demonstrate that pure science answers all the questions. However, as we've discussed a number of times on the site, science is bound to the natural world so it really doesn't prove helpful when exploring the metaphysical. Rather, House is just a master at working within the bounds of the natural world.
But beyond this, there is a question that House seems incapable of answering, "Why?" It's that ongoing debate over the purpose and meaning of life, and while House regularly tosses out his nihilist opinions, the rest of the cast resists him and even House never seems satisfied with them.
Could the show's producers simply be challenging us to ask?
Tempted
I have to say that I, too, have been tempted by House. My sister-in-law loves it. Yet, I am fearful of adding another TV show to my viewing schedule. So, I may just have to look in on House. Sounds good.