OpenTube

How to Write (& Not Write) A Lovable Jerk

Merb

1,807,382 views

#writingadvice #housemd
The Lovable Jerk , probably my most favorite archetype since they're usually the most entertaining out of the bunch. And yes, I did steal this video idea from Squampopulous BUT I DID NOT WATCH HIS VID BEFORE MAKING MINE. It was more of an excuse for me to talk about Gregory House because I just adore the character. Velma was more of something I can compare him off of so it's quite depressing that I needed to watch a season of Velma just to make the video.

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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - intro
0:40 - Pillar 1: Humor
5:58 - Pillar 2: Value
14:33 - Pillar 3: Misery
19:00 - Why do we love them?

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♬ SONGS USED:
Under Night In-Birth - Gathers Under Night
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - 5 PM
Super Mario Odyssey - Steam Gardens
Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Yoshi Star Galaxy
Undertale - It's Raining Somewhere Else

20 Comments

@MerbTheWriter Creator 6 months ago (edited) Pinned

Thumbnail and sprites by the talented artist: @icyshallot (Instagram)

Also join the discord! https://discord.gg/PRFxQjdYyu

@meatbyproducts 6 months ago (edited)

You also forget that Velma was a beloved not asshole character for 40 plus years in media before that show came around and just pissed all over everyone's memory of her.

@Dr.GregHouse 6 months ago

heard you were callin me a jerk

@nickbutler9831 6 months ago

House doesn't "care" but he cares. He values human life, but not human stupidity. He will call you an absolute fucking dumbass and then do EVERYTHING to save you. How can you hate a man who will break into your home to cure your multi decad long mind numbing chronic pain knowing he could be arrested?

@elvinmacospag6989 6 months ago

House is tolerated. He's good at his job, but people often have to make sure nothing ends up on fire because of his attitude.
It's seen as what it is: a flaw that holds him back.

Mindy Kaling's self-insert, on the other hand, is lauded for her attitude.

@GhostsStoryGaming 6 months ago

6:57 the age old quote of "You can be pretty and mean, pretty and nice, or ugly and nice, but you cant be ugly and mean."

@Merkantoine 6 months ago (edited)

House was always written like this

Velma was a pre established character for decades before her show did a complete 180

@cameroncaws8506 6 months ago

You're wrong about House always punching up. But I think what makes House likeable is the narrative doesn't side with him. He's right about the case, sure. But nobody likes House, his behaviour isn't rewarded, and he is often hit back. His jokes are also never directed at the audience. He may say something that offends the audience, but he's never directing them at the audience. Velma's problem is not only does she mock the audience directly, but the show also wants us to side with her and see her as correct.

@archeraardvark 6 months ago

I appreciate how "she's punching 6ft underground" is a better joke than velmas.

@dm121984 3 months ago

20:19 And we get to see House pay for his literal crime of driving a car into Cuddy's front room - he goes to prison for it. Another point that I think is important is the show rarely if ever presents House's pov as objectively true - he has a world view and forms often maligned or controversial opinions based on that, but he's normally challenged by other characters with other PoV's - often Wilson but also his team members and Cuddy, with Cuddy normally representing the legal PoV, Wilson the caring, empathic PoV, and his team having vying PoVs.

@Thebignef 6 months ago

17:25 House did not chose the pain. he chose to either have a leg or die. After going through a heart attack that put him in a coma, Cuddy ask his then girlfriend Stacey to make a medical decision for him as she had medical authority over him. if house had been awake he would have said no to the experimental surgery. Cuddy suggested it to Stacey and Stacey said do it, which ultimately led to House breaking up with Stacey.

@ShuberFuber 6 months ago

Another key factor I see is that House is only asshole when there's no stakes.

The moment someone's life is genuinely in imminent danger, all the asshole went away, at most only snark remained.

@deputyrook6232 6 months ago

one thing i've noticed about making jokes at the expense of others is that others are usually much more willing to take the jokes if you're also able to make jokes at your own expense, or otherwise laugh at jokes that are made at your expense.

House often calls everyone stupid, but when someone calls out his mistake, he takes it on the chin and changes his opinion.

Velma calls everyone else, including the audience, stupid, and gets offended when someone calls her BS out.

@austinhuber3131 6 months ago

House doesn't performatively pretend to care about things he doesn't. He isn't a narcissist, he's actually selfless. He'll make massive sacrifices and take stupid risks to do the right thing. He's just a jerk that has no actual compassion and doesn't care about people's sensibilities or feelings. And later he completely melts down and tries to kill himself and Cuddy. However, all in all, net benefit for the world around him.

@vision4860 1 month ago

5:15 I'd also add to this point that they maintain balance while letting House retain the crown of the wittiest character, by essentially making him a raid boss of comedy. He may be wittier than any of the others individually, but when you add everybody else together they even out the scales. So it still doesn't feel unfair.

@Crazypotato09453 6 months ago (edited)

4:42 I’d say House does definitely punch down sometimes. The difference is that whenever he does though, the show treats him as the asshole that he is, and it usually ties in narratively in a way that feels deeper than a simple joke or cruel moment.

It rarely treats his punching-downs as a good or humorous thing. The writers may have him reflect, or admit that he was incorrect (which is a very hard thing for House of all people to do).

In Velma, whenever she punches down she is either still being forced down your throat to try and make you like her, or there was absolutely no reason (narratively) why she was such a jerk. Either not enough self-awareness, or way too much self-awareness.

@Tastehunter777 6 months ago

House would do all he can to save your life. If he fails, he will remember you to save the next person thats just like you.

This velma would leave you to die or mock your death.

I dont remember house mocking dead people much.

@bajaitwory6713 6 months ago

Hause is called out on his unprofessional to awful behavior any time it happens so even if he is jerk he is treated like jerk as well
But also he in the end is competent as his job

@lets_go_gamingRL 6 months ago

mystery incorporated is the TRUE adult Scooby Doo show, Velma is just an edgy version of a Nickelodeon show

@bagelly6957 6 months ago

Another thing I like about House
He is kind
He has the capability to be kind
But only toward those who genuinely doesn’t or can’t know better, mostly children
Every patient that is a child, he never insults them, he isn’t mean to them, he’s mean to their parents for not coming in sooner or letting their child have access to what makes them sick
“Velma” hated everyone and insulted everyone equally which is shit