Gregory House runs the diagnostic department, a department created specifically for him because he is that good at figuring out what other doctors can’t. Once upon a time he had a team of three who assisted him, two men, one woman, but they all went their separate ways in a surprising shakeup. House found himself a new team, then lost his sanity when he attempted to kick his drug habit. Now, one of his original team members is heading up his unit, but the new team has again dissolved, and he no longer has his medical license, although he kicked his pain pill addiction, and his sanity is still a little questionable. Now, you are all caught up.

But, why should you tune in to this medical show when there are so many others on tv? Because this one isn’t a dramatic soap opera or a series of love triangles that keep expanding into larger and larger polygons. Yes, there are emotional entanglements, and yes, there are story arcs that continue over multiple episodes, but at its heart, this series is a mystery. Each week, the doctors try to figure out just what crazy and rare disease the patient has, and just how to save them before time runs out. It’s fascinating and a completely different take on the medical drama.

Now you are thinking, great, so he solves the mystery every week, how boring is that? The great thing is that even though House is a great diagnostician, he gets things wrong often enough to really make you wonder just how the story is going to end. Not all of the patients can be saved. Sometimes, he isn’t the one with the brilliant diagnosis; sometimes it’s a team member, and sometimes the correct diagnosis comes too late. It adds an element of realism to the show. Not every mystery is solved.

Also, the dialogue is smart and snappy. Remember, House is the sarcastic and sniping doctor on television. He isn’t the typical specialist. He doesn’t actually like helping people so much as he likes puzzles. He avoids patient contact whenever possible, pulls pranks on other doctors, and constantly lies to the people he cares most about. All of this makes him sound completely unlikable, but the truth is, you can’t help but be intrigued by him. There is just something about the good doctor, and Hugh Laurie’s portrayal of him, that makes you want to watch.