One of the highlights of “Instinct” was the return of Miracle Laurie as Madeline. If nothing else, it at least suggests that this season isn’t going to be all Echo all the time. Something that I think could play a part in the mysterious disappearance of another 500,000 viewers. In addition, the Mellie/November/Madeline character still has a lot of story to tell.
I’m totally guessing at what that story might be, but I keep coming back to the fact that she’s still a doll. She’s simply been returned to sleeper-agent status on a mission we’ve yet to be let in on. The explanation that she’s been let out of her contract and is now a free woman just makes no sense. To believe that, we have to believe that the powers that be at Dollhouse HQ are too stupid to remember to breathe.
Let’s establish one thing right off the top. The Dollhouse, and everyone that works for the Dollhouse, are evil at their core. Topher and Adelle can prattle on all they want about the good of humanity or doing great scientific work. Screw that. That all goes right out the window the moment you start pimping unknowing girls to have all manner of things done to them, hiring out assassins, doing corporate espionage, and kidnapping and imprisoning government agents. There’s also that pesky bit of business that some of them may not be there by their own choosing. Something we’ll find out more about in “Belonging.” So … evil, right?
Now, if we take the fact that the Dollhouse is evil at its core as a given, we first have to ask, “Why would anyone ever be let out of their contract?” Fear of a lawsuit? Again, they kidnapped a government agent. The Dollhouse operates completely outside of any laws. To appease Ballard? What kind of bargaining position did he really have? And even if they did want to make that deal, what’s to stop them from transferring her to another branch? Most importantly, if an asset is already bringing in millions of dollars, why would the Dollhouse cut it loose?
Even if you can make that jump that those contracts will be honored (because Adelle really is a caring soul who just happens to be cool with slavery, kidnapping, and rape when they suit her needs), why in the world would anyone let out of their contract leave with full knowledge of the operation? That’s not how a secret underground organization stays secret. Sure, they apparently gave her a boatload of cash, but what’s to guarantee she doesn’t also accept another boatload from an upstart rival? It just makes no sense. That’s the kind of mistake that is just too stupid to be believable.
I’m also wondering about all of those fake identities that Ballard turned up for Mellie. The life those suggested doesn’t really mesh with the life that Madeline seems to be under the impression that she lived. It leaves me believing that Madeline is just the latest persona for November. She’s been given this ‘out of contract’ story as a way to keep jerking Ballard’s chain, but will be operating outside the Dollhouse on whatever her real mission is. Thoughts?
Is Madeline the real deal, or the latest November persona?
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Clacked by Brett Love
on Oct 05, 2009 @ 13:30 EST5EDT
Now where did I read that November was a bounty hunter this season….?
Can’t recall, but it seems sound enough that the Dollhouse never lets anyone go.
Didn’t they establish that she was released as a condition of Ballard joining the Dollhouse? DeWitt had a conversation with him expressing surprise that he didn’t ask that Echo be released from her contract.
*POST AUTHOR*
They did, but I contend that’s no reason for them to actually follow through with it. What bargaining power did Ballard actually have? His giant collection of FBI pals that all think he’s either crazy or a loser? They already have one agent in the attic. What’s one more? I assume they have further plans for Ballard, and the return of Madeline is just furthering her story, in his eyes, so it appears they are on the up and up.
I disagree with your premise that Adele and Topher are evil. I think “Epitaph One” made it clear that Topher has a conscience and a soul, and it isn’t until after his actions have reached their logical conclusions that he becomes aware of the consequences and outcomes of his seeming lack of caring. I also think Adele has proven, a number of times, that she cares for the people at the Dollhouse, very much including the actives, and does not think of herself as perpretrating harm or evil on the world.
You may argue with the outcomes of their choices. But “pure evil” in the context you’re using implies a desire to decieve even your supposed allies, like Ballard. I don’t think either of them fit that description. Especially Topher–Adele may have some additional secret plan she’s executing, but I don’t think it’s the same as the Rossum corporation running the Dollhouse, and I don’t think it’s “evil”.
*POST AUTHOR*
I suppose we can disagree on how we define the word evil. Would horrible people fit better? Scumbags? Rotten to the core? Whatever you want to name it, at the end of the day it means that there is no reason to trust anything they say.
It doesn’t matter how many times Adelle has proven she cares for certain people, or that Topher one day realizes just how horrible he’s been. The fact is that both of them are completely aware of everything they are sending the actives out to do. The stank of every underhanded, illegal, corrupt, engagement is all over them. How do you reconcile what they did to Dominic, and still mark them as anything but the lowest of the low? Is there a hearts and flowers side to kidnapping and imprisoning government agents?
I agree Scott. I would never classify Topher or Adele as pure evil. Topher sees things only from a scientific viewpoint. He’s only concerned with what he can accomplish without ever taking time to ponder the ramifications. Adele is a complicated lady with a lot of backstory that I hope we get to see…but you really get an idea of how not “pure evil” she is from watching Epitaph One. She’s horrified at the turn things have taken and how quickly everything is out of her control.
And please, it’s not like Dominic was there out of the goodness of his heart to save the poor “dolls”. How many times did he try to murder Echo knowing full well that she was a human being that was being taken advantage of?
Topher only seeing things from a scientific point of view and not seeing the people underneath is fairly sociopathic. Seeing people as something you can manipulate is not normal and is evil. He doesn’t even have the excuse that he doesn’t think the dolls are real people, he is just indulging his scientific curiosity.
As for Adele, yes she has indicated that she occasionally feels something for her actives, but not enough to not send them into dangerous situations or to let them be free.
I do see both Topher and Adele as basically evil, they are not even just letting it happen, they are actively participating in the dehumanization of human beings, no amount of compassion can excuse that.
Exactly, Caroline, about Dominic. Deciding that Adele is evil based on her treatment of Dominic? Who tried to kill her, Echo, and others? Who was the most uncaring, amoral character the show has served up so far? Sorry, boxing him (oops, putting him in the attic) doesn’t count as evil to me–just defensive, and he was fairly deserving of it.
Obviously, Brett, the show has brought out some very strong emotions in you and many viewers. I concede that it’s possible to view the activity of the Dollhouse as repugnant. But I am not convinced that it necessarily follows that the woman who administers it (who works for higher authorities, doing a job designed by others) and the computer geek/genius responsible for its technology are incapable of telling the truth or honoring an agreement.
*POST AUTHOR*
Scott, I find it fascinating that we can watch the same show and have such wildly differing interpretations. It makes TV fun, right? To the argument about Dominic though, it’s not just that episode that colors my perception of Adelle. It’s everything she does as head of the Dollhouse.
If you take it out of the show’s context, I think it boils down like this. The Dollhouse is essentially an organized crime family. Pimping girls, high-end crime, possibly human trafficking, etc; the definition isn’t a stretch. And I have a hard time with the argument that just being middle management for organized crime somehow makes it ok.
Adelle and Topher both know exactly what the missions are, and by continuing to work for the Dollhouse, they are giving their approval of those actions. For the science, or because the bigger boss said so, doesn’t wash that away. Just as whether or not Dominic was a good agent deep undercover, or a bad agent deep undercover, doesn’t change what Adelle ordered done to him. Good people don’t generally have government agents stashed in their attic.
I would also add that Epitaph One is not a good argument for either Topher or Adelle. While they both may feel remorse for their actions after the fact, it doesn’t change the reality that they had a hand in bringing about the end of civilization. Destroying the world is a long ways from good people. Perhaps as far as my definition of evil.
I think it would be very interesting to see how this all would have played out if the perspective had been changed. Imagine we were following the team that was trying to take down the Dollhouse, and only getting glimpses inside at what Adelle and her team were up to. Even if they were doing the exact same things they are doing now, I doubt it would take much to paint everyone involved with a much darker brush.
Brett, I’m not sure, if I felt the way you do about Adelle (I stand corrected) and Topher, that I could continue to watch the series. What do you think about Boyd? Is he just as evil? I get the impression he’s a man of integrity. But he’s gone with Echo on those missions, and he is part of the team that runs the Dollhouse, both before as a handler, and now as head of security. Do you consider him as evil as the others? If not, why not?
It is fascinating that we could watch the show for over a season and essentially be rooting for opposite sides. Not that I approve of the Dollhouse and some of its missions–but I haven’t reached your conclusion that the people who staff it are evil.
Why do you continue watching? Do you believe that they will get what’s coming to them? Before Epitaph One, were you just waiting to make sure they get stopped/caught/prosecuted? And now, knowing how things turn out, are you happy to know their fates, at least as much as we know?
I agree with you–I’ve got to give Whedon credit for developing characters over 15 episodes that can inspire such differences of opinion.
*POST AUTHOR*
Yes, saving some kind of future revelation that Boyd was some kind of secret agent working undercover, he’s evil too. In my line of thinking, you don’t get to work for murderers and pimps and come out of it as the good guy. To knowingly conspire in what the Dollhouse is dealing colors all of them.
As to why I keep watching. Quite simply, I like the show. I don’t have to like all of these characters, or find some redeeming quality in them, to enjoy the story. Megacorp conspiracy, secret agent missions, crazy brain wiping tech, the strange pondering of Caroline and Echo and which one is “real” – those are all interesting tales to be told. And I wasn’t rooting for them to succeed or be caught before the end was revealed in Epitaph One. I was just waiting to see what happened. Good guys win? Bad guys destroy the world? Both outcomes are equally as good.
I think some of it might have been lost in translation. It seems some people took my proclamation that Adelle, Topher, and the rest of the Dollhouse crew are evil as me taking a shot at the show. It’s not that at all. I like that they are an evil megacorp. Evil megacorps destroying the world is the basis of a great story. It just seems that I see all of those characters through an oddly different light than a lot of other people.
And yeah, you never said, think Madeline is still a doll? :D
Scott: I actually think that the characters, or specifically the characterization and development of the characters, is why I’m having such a problem with the show.
I actually think Boyd represents someone who is trying to bring good into the Dollhouse, but is already corrupted. He might be less further a long than Topher, and even more so than Adelle, but he’s already on the path.
And Brett: November still being a doll is an interesting twist. But again, I point to the most interesting things going on this show in my eyes, are with recurring characters and not regular ones, which is a big problem.
All the Dollhouses are just experiments. Everyone in the dollhouse is a doll. Even those who run it. Anyone interacting with the dollhouse in any way, other than as a client, is most probably a doll. Leaving the issue of who controls it all, the only mystery in this show.
Ultimate evil or not, am I the only one who thinks Miracle Laurie is just the worst actress?
Fray, I agree completely. I audibly groan everytime she comes on screen and was really hoping we had seen the last of her when she left the Dollhouse last season. Then I was just hoping it was Mellie that I didn’t like, but the acting didn’t improve any with Madeline. In addition so her being the worst actress ever, she is never even close to attractive looking in the outfits they give her. It seems like everything they dress her in is just colored Hefty bags they way the clothes hang on her.
I really hope they don’t try to make up for a lack of Amy Ackers by using more Miracle Laurie. Amy Ackers is a fabulous actress and I would be content if Whiskey/Dr Saunders became one of the main focuses of the show. Guess it all depends on how Happy Town does when it premieres.
As far as Madeline/November goes, no, I didn’t think she was still under Dollhouse control, or still had a sleeper program implanted in her. I thought she was operating out of her own free will with her original personality restored, although happy instead of grieving. I thought the point of her re-appearance, besides making Ballard uncomfortable, was to actually show the viewers that there CAN be an end to the process, that the Dollhouse CAN fulfill its contracts responsibly (although early in her case due to Ballard). Haven’t we seen some other active reach the end of the contract and leave before? It sounds familiar.
But I guess my thinking Madeline was whole again comes from my willingness to trust Adelle to do the right thing. If I had Brett’s feelings about the characters, I’m sure I wouldn’t be trusting anything. (On the other hand, as an original viewer of all seasons of “Buffy” & “Angel”, I should know better than to trust JOSS, who’s really the one making this call).
Maybe she’s still a doll, maybe not. Topher DID make a point of having her repeat those three words (which I can’t remember)…trigger words? I wouldn’t put it past the House to trick someone into thinking they were free and clear of the contract.
Alexis Denisof should never be allowed to use his real speaking voice, btw.
I agree! I really miss his accent! He sounds so plain without it.
She suspect for sure. Her daughter is dead, and she does not feel sad anymore…? A piece of her feels like staying close to home….?
It would seem at the very least she has latent programming.