House and Smith

I wasn't really being sold on House last night as it read a little too much like "A Very Special Episode on Euthanasia." Yes, House got to get in a few good quips, especially the one about telling the coma patient (whom House put into a coma against his wishes) to "not go towards the light. You'll fal off the bed and break something" And the bit with House and the jailbait was...odd. Apparently it's going to be dealt with next episode.

I know House has a messed up views on sex, but I hope there is a little more going on here than just a mid-life crisis. Oh, for that matter, I hope the issue with his leg isn't completely resolved yet.

The main thing that annoyed me, I suspect, was the Cameron was all over the place on whether they should treat him or help him die. People were rightly calling her out on it, but I'm not sure it made sense for her. They've been turning her from more of a softie into someone, well, a little more like House over the past few seasons. Which I find interesting. But she seemed more like a first year med student in this episode, and I'm not sure that made sense.

I will say one thing, the show was saved in the last few minutes. While I am getting a bit tired of the musical montage at the end of each episode, that was an effective song playing over some gripping images. And the scene with House and Cameron in the chapel was moving.

What do you thing? Did House saying he was proud of her make Cameron feel better or worse?

As for Smith, a new caper drama, it's been getting mixed reviews so far. A few have incorrectly compared it to the work of Quentin Tarantino. It is a lot more like Michael Mann's movie Heat. Which I'm fine with because Heat is a classic.

I will agree with the critics on one thing, though. I have no idea how this is going to play out for a whole season without having some serious problems. And I have no idea how it's going to work as a multi-season show.

But hell, any show with Ray Liotta and Virginia Madsen in it, I'm going to give it a try. The premise, that Liotta's character seems like a boring salesman, but in fact is a master criminal who has a crew that works high profile robberies, is a pretty good one. The action sequences are good (really good. So good it makes you wonder, once again, if they can keep this up all year) and there are enough bits of damaged goods in the show as supporting cast (especially Amy Smart) that I'm intrigued.

My favourite thing is what's going on with Madsen's character. Does she know what her husband does, because she clearly knows something is up. Is she in on it? And what's up with the drug test?

Watching this show I wish my friends Seamus and Dups were here. We're all Tarantino fans. We loved Liotta in Goodfellas. And we loved Heat. It's a guy show, make no doubt. And I like it a whole lot. Now here's seeing if they can keep the momentum going...