“HOUSE M.D.: SEASON EIGHT”

Blu-ray widescreen, DVD widescreen, 2011-12, not rated

Best extra: A 44-minute documentary “House, M.D. Swan Song” in HD

GREGORY HOUSE, M.D., played exquisitely by British actor Hugh Laurie, remained an enigma to the very end. Even those who didn’t faithfully follow the machinations of “House M.D.” during its eight-year run, the final season is quite a swan song for one of television’s most complicated and difficult-to-read personas of all time.

What’s so good about the 22 high-definition episodes is each has its own impossible-to-solve medical case while, at the same time, a development in what becomes the final arc of the main character and other characters around him. It’s an emotional journey that ends, as always, with a cheeky twist.

Amazingly, for all the awards bestowed on the show, its other actors and creators, Laurie never won an Emmy for this portrayal of the gifted misanthropic doctor. It’s a shame, especially knowing that Laurie is British and kept that American accent going week in and week out, sounding like a man born and raised in the States.

Regardless of the accolades, “House” was a great series ‒ and it looks fantastic on Blu-ray. From Hugh Laurie’s scruffy beard to the realistic scenes where patients are being operated on or suffering in their hospital beds, waiting for House to come up with a miraculous cure. Even the final episode, “Everybody Dies,” cloaked in smoke and semi-darkness, comes across as detailed with black levels remaining even throughout. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 also shines. While “House M.D.” is a dialogue-driven drama, the episodes also contain a fair amount of background noise from the medical devices doing their jobs to underlying sounds of the action du jour.

As for the bonus features on the five-disc set, “House” fans will not be disappointed. These high-def selections enlighten and entertain.

The “House, M.D.: Swan Song” extra is a joy. We see Laurie filming some of the footage himself, although this bonus is too glossy to have been done by him alone. It’s a tremendous look back at everyone who made the show a success, including creator David Shore, and actors Omar Epps (Foreman) and Robert Sean Leonard (Wilson, “Dead Poet Society,” which actually gets a mention in Season 8). But, what makes this lengthy featurette is how other departments and people are showcased, including food services, accounting, grips, lighting, sound, assistant executive producers, makeup, art directors and the carpenters who made the set look like a true hospital. It’s witty, emotional and well worth a watch.

The other two HD bonuses are: “The Doctor Directs: Behind the Scenes with Hugh Laurie” on episode 19, and “The C-Word” about a dying 6-year-old girl. This last is more of a puff piece with everyone giving accolades to Laurie for his directive style, but, it also has heart, pairing Laurie with the little actress who starred in the episode.

In “Everybody Dies: A Postmortem,” cast and crew again wax poetic about how the final episode made sense. It’s also interesting that that script was kept from the actors until a few days before shooting so no one would let leak how the series would end.

A highlight is a one-on-one with Leonard (Wilson) and Laurie as they talk about their relationship, but, not before running around the now dark, silent set with tuxedoes ala James Bond with paint ball guns. It’s hysterical to see them chasing each other around where they spent eight years battling wits, ideals, philosophies and giving an actual face punch in the final season. The pair sits down and reflect, in a humorous and respectful way, on the characters they played and the impact “House” has had on people worldwide. It’s a bittersweet end to an amazing run.

― Toni Guagenti