Jon22: The Website of Jonathan Dobres

This post started as a haiku:

How does one describe
The doctor with the flame cane?
Loveable Ass-hat.

In yesterday’s House review I was trying to write broadly about the show’s merits. In so doing, I skipped one of the things that has made House one of the best shows on television.

Dr. Gregory House represents the best portrayal of a disabled character on television, ever.

Television portrayals of the disabled tend to fall into one of two categories: tragic fixation or triumphant denial. Sometimes the disability is the defining feature of the character, the Godless tragedy around which this person’s every thought and action revolves. Other times, the character is disabled in some way, but in name only. The disability doesn’t affect the person’s day to day life in any appreciable way, its non-importance taken as a sign of strength on the part of the character.

House manages to strike the incredibly difficult balance between these oversimplified extremes. Dr. House’s disability is an important part of his life. He regularly grapples with his dependence on pain killers, both makes jokes and endures jokes about his leg, and occasionally can be seen wishing, or actively searching, for ways to undo the damage. At the same time, his disability is only one facet of a complex character. House was a misanthropic, brilliant loner long before he had a cane, and it shows.

It’s worth noting that Gregory House is, if I’m not mistaken, the first disabled lead character on television. The writing, as well as Hugh Laurie’s flawless portrayal, make Dr. House a truly compelling character. There is no show without him. It’s the reason I tune in every week.

Thanks to The Tall One and Damian for reminding me about that.