There’s something very charming about Hugh Laurie, whether he is being agreeable or playing a total schmuck as he did for eight long seasons on House (also known as House, MD), which continues to reign supreme, this time on the streaming giant Netflix after nearly two decades since its TV debut.
Surging back into the limelight, the medical drama has claimed the seventh spot on Netflix’s top ten list of series globally, boasting a staggering 36.5million hours viewed in just the past week. It has reached the top ten in series in 67 countries on Netflix, including Canada, France, Australia, and South Africa. But what makes this show, which first aired in 2004, such a sensation in the streaming era?
In a time dominated by binge-watching and viral content, House, MD has found new life on platforms like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels, where clips from the show regularly go viral. The draw of the irascible Dr. Gregory House, as portrayed by Laurie, has only grown stronger over the years.
Laurie himself has confessed his affection for the character, describing his time at House as the most thrilling adventure of his acting career. During an episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Laurie couldn’t help but express his fondness for the misanthropic but brilliant doctor. When Colbert asked Laurie which was his favourite role of his career, he said, “I think it would have to be House.” Laurie went on, “God, this is such a cruel question. I loved them all, and it’s partly your job to love them all, in a way.”
Created by David Shore, House, MD, follows the unconventional diagnostic genius Dr House and his team of specialists as they tackle baffling medical cases at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. With its blend of medical mysteries and sharp dialogues, the series garnered critical acclaim throughout its eight-season run on Fox.
Despite its conclusion in 2012, House, MD remains a cultural touchstone, with its impact extending far beyond the realm of television. Laurie’s portrayal earned him widespread recognition and cemented Dr House as one of the most iconic characters in television history. “I think House was probably, I felt like, the most thrilling adventure that I’d ever been on as an actor,” the All the Light We Cannot See actor said. “I just thought it was an amazing experience. I was so lucky; so lucky.”
You can tune in to watch House, MD on Netflix but be warned, House belonged to an era of television when the tortured male protagonist, being annoyingly difficult, was the epitome of endearing genius and mostly went unscrutinised.
