Last week I noted that the second episode of Dollhouse was better than the first. Did you decide to stick with the show and give it another try? Are you going to keep sticking with it? Joss Whedon has said that there’s a turning point at episode six, so, for me, I’ll give it through at least then to decide if I’ll continue.
What I’m finding so utterly uninteresting so far are the episodic plots, the little “episodes” Echo participates in. I realize this is only week two, but even the previews for next week look blah. I have that episode on DVD, and I haven’t jumped to throw it in to watch yet. There have been many shows that I’ve gone on marathon sessions through screeners for, sometimes watching three episodes a night or the very day I receive them. If I’m not feeling that with Dollhouse, that says something.
There is some good from this episode, though. There’s the evolving mystery of the Alpha model (are they called models?) and more insight into how the Dollhouse works and how the models are treated and regarded. Every time they show a shadow of or the back of the Alpha model, I can’t help but think it looks an awful lot like we’re supposed to consider whether or not it’s Ballard. Could that even be possible? Could it be that Alpha is so malfunctioned that he has an imprint as Ballard, then occasionally snaps out of it into a ninja-skilled psycho?
I think we got a much better look at Alpha’s face in the first episode, so I doubt it’s Ballard. But to have a revelation like that would be what this show needs — something that makes people say “woah!” and has them talking with friends the next day. Do you feel that way about Dollhouse now? In fact, are you reading this post because it’s a place to rave about it or to voice your disappointment?
I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan, and like many other Jossholes, I feel a strange obligation to watch and read everything this man has a hand in. More than anything, this is why I’m disappointed with Dollhouse. What will fix it? For me, the show has to get a lot better, fast, or — when it gets canceled or not renewed — Joss comes out in an interview and takes a giant public dump on FOX for tearing apart what was originally a kick ass idea. So far I’m rooting for the former, but the latter would be a lot of fun.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Feb 21, 2009 @ 12:03 EST5EDT
I like the show, but I have a problem with the prostitution/sex slave stories. I would much prefer it if she was just activated for other purposes.
I will still watch, but I hope the imprints become more interesting.
CJ – I agree the sex slave aspect, or any other kind of slave aspect is grosteque. Hopefully that’s why we want to see her free. This is just the start, maybe we will see her assert some free will soon.
Episode 6 Keith? O.K, I can be patient.
I posted this on Alan Sepinwall’s blog. I think that people are missing a lot of the subtext of the show. And I don’t mean just in the search for identity and aren’t we all just imprinted by life’s trials and toil. Don’t people want to know the origins of the Dollhouse. Why are Reed Diamond and Topher openly derisive of the actives. Even if they were in it for the money I think they would be nicer. Diamond’s character and Boyd’s both seem to be military/police – are they in trouble and how were they recruited to work. Boyd seems to be a good guy – why is there and not reporting this – is he blacklisted? Is there a bigger picture behind the Dollhouse? Who is controlling Alpha – or does he represent freedom from control? How does Ballard know about the Dollhouse and who is feeding him information?
Sepinwall post: I think there is a much larger point to this story that is missing from this discussion. Did Alpha create or hire Matt Kesslar to purposely start the integration of Caroline/Echo with her imprints. I think this was implied by the way the ranger sent to kill Boyd was killed. It was also implied by the deep back story on Kesslar and knowing how Echo’s backup worked – out of range location, Kesslar’s mention of Echo.
Obviously, Alpha saved Echo for a purpose – is it good or is it bad. Obviously there is a lot of moral ambiguity here. Is someone killing at the Dollhouse bad – especially if it includes killing doll-stage actives. Or are they good in trying to get Echo to come alive and maybe mercy killing the others. Does Alpha have imprint technology?
So the bigger picture – how did the creation and purpose of the Dollhouse come about. Reed Diamond certainly is only derisive of Echo and the actives, he looks to have military training – was he brought in like Boyd? How did Ballard get the trail of the Dollhouse – is Alpha leading him on? (and yes I think lasagna girl is a plant). Does Alpha remember Caroline or Echo or both. Is he looking to save Echo or set up a rival organization with Echo to bring down the Dollhouse. Will each mission always be question of whether she is being hired by a civilian or being exposed to more re-integration by Alpha – this adds layers to each episode.
I am hooked by the complexity of the interplay of Ballard, Alpha and the Dollhouse and I find Boyd to the human connection that I need right now – he provides the continuity that I need.
This episode just lead me to wonder WHY they didn’t leave well enough alone and make this the first episode. They even had some of the exact same scenes in this that were in the new first. That has to be one of the poorest choices in television history. Do you know for sure that they created last week’s out of think air? If so, and it was Fox’s choice, then Fox must learn to stick with reality, as putting their fingers into the scripted pie just mucks it up.
Topher is a horrible character. I get the feeling they are trying to make him funny and quirky, but instead he’s quirky and creepy. He says things to the actives and it seems like he’s thinking very bad things. I don’t like him at all.
It hit me last night that this is a 2009 version of Fantasy Island, without the island. This same story was even done on the first season, a man who wanted to hunt a woman and she ran for her life in her perty khaki hunting outfit. They even sell it the same – as your ultimate fantasy.
I liked this one better, but was so damned angry the whole time that it was traded places for first with last weeks ep I wanted to scream. That said, Keith – if you want to send me your DVD, I’ll be happy to watch a bit further ahead. :-)
One of the poorest choices in television history? I mean, seriously when has Fox making Joss Whedon rewrite a pilot because they thought it would play better with the fans ever gone wrong for them?
Wait… Firefly? Oh, yeah.
:)
I wasn’t really into it until the last little scene. Whathisname-militaryguy being an ass to Echo and her remembering the “shoulder to the wheel” or whatever made me interested in the next episode. I thought it was kind of odd that there wasn’t any real explanation for why the hunting guy wanted to hunt Echo. They made it seem as if he had done it before, so, ok, maybe just pure psychopath. But then it was clear that someone hired him to do it…but to what end? There has to be an easier way to get Echo to take some mind-altering drug, and clearly her life has been in danger before so there’s no reason that aspect should really trigger anything. I’d like to think that its all supposed to be mysterious and we’ll find out in the future, but it didn’t feel that way. It felt like at least some of it was just sloppiness.
Last night I didn’t overanalyze the show, I just _watched_ it. And you know what? It was actually pretty good. I enjoyed the twist as the customer changed from outdoorsman to creepy human hunter dude. I like the focus on the handler’s story, and his engagement trying to keep Echo safe.
I also found myself wanting to know more about Alpha, and really enjoyed the moment where “blank slate” Echo had a recall moment from her engagement.
The only story I didn’t care about is Paul Ballard. I would also like to see some of the other characters fleshed out over time.
I changed the channel around 9:30.
This episode and the last feel both like pilots, however I think it worked out better this way because they added in the little Fed moments from last week’s episode. Poorest choice in the history of TV? Come out, can you please join the rest of us in the real world. Talk about being a drama queen.
Alpha reminds me on the Count of Monte Christo. It is clear he wants to possess Echo, although it is not yet clear if the Dollhouse is their only connection or just a plain megalomaniac who tries to convert Echo into a female Alpha.
On the cinematographic level, I don’t like the notion of using “Tru Calling flashes” always awaiting someone to say “Help me” and the day starts all over again.
I think it’s sad, that a person like Eliza Dushku with so interesting social issues to discuss could only find shelter with FOX which is prone to cancel even successful series