House Season 8

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, House Season 8 is available on and right now. A compact run that never overstays its welcome. A 9/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Hugh Laurie sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, House Season 8 earns its spot. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — House Season 8 earns every emotional beat it goes for. Last season, House and Cuddy finally decided to take their relationship to the next level, but struggled to find a balance between their professional and personal lives, and ultimately, Cuddy made the very emotional decision to end their relationship. As each of them dealt with the aftermath of the break-up, House got married to an immigrant in need of a Green Card. In the series' milestone 150th episode, Thirteen was released from prison after euthanizing her brother who was suffering from the late stages of Huntington's Disease, the same disease with which she is afflicted. Hugh Laurie and Robert Sean Leonard lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2011. The performances in House Season 8 do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. This is the rare one where the reputation undersells the reality.

House Season 8 is what you recommend to people who say they do not really watch much. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Hugh Laurie carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.