House - 5 to 9, 6.13

Last night's 5 to 9 - or by its alternate title, Lisa Cuddy's Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day - was refreshing, though not the strongest 42 minutes the show's ever given us. I preferred it to Wilson's own Zeppo-style episode a few weeks back, judging solely by the fact that I can't remember much of it at all, so it must not have been terribly memorable.

I don't like where House is headed. It's a series based on standalone episodes, which is is a factor that contributes to its immense popularity. I get that, and I do enjoy procedural TV when it's done well, but this season's boring story lines don't help its likability. I never really cared about Foreman, let alone Foreman plus the even more dull Thirteen. I like Taub, I like(d) Cameron and Chase, and I liked the original team's dynamics. The show hit its stride with season one's Three Stories, and reached what is possibly its peak with House's Head/Wilson's Heart season four finale. Introducing a new team was not a horrible idea, and its execution was fun, with House terrorizing a lecture-room full of motley hopefuls. After that, though, viewers were left with Taub's marriage issues, House and Cuddy's UST, and the uninteresting and never-ending turbulent chronicles of Foreman and Thirteen's relationship. Yawn...

I'll keep watching in hopes we'll get more showcases like Broken for Hugh Laurie, and more House/Wilson-apartment-escapades. I couldn't care less about Lucas and Cuddy because I never cared about her relationship with House in the first place.

• 5 to 9 depressed me. What an awful, stressful life. I suppose her tribulations "paid off" in the end as she lay in bed with Rachel and Lucas, but I'm not convinced.
• I wonder if we'll get more of these types of episodes; they're a welcome break from the typical, predictable stuff we get every other week.
• When did the I lose emotional connection with these characters? I have no idea. I used to love these people. I'll be sure to document if and when I start liking them again.