Episode Discussion 1.01 "Ghost" - Aired 2/13/09 (FOX-US)

[Buffy Summers]

Echo is one of the "Actives" in the elite and illegal Dollhouse. Through different personality downloads, she plays the role of a lovestruck girl on a romantic weekend, and then a ruthlessly efficient kidnapping negotiator.

Meanwhile, FBI Agent Paul Ballard is struggling with his assignment to uncover information on the Dollhouse. The chase has destroyed his marriage and is wrecking his career, and it doesn't seem that he'll stop until he uncovers the truth.

Source: Dollhouse Episode Guide - TV.com

Discuss this episode after it airs here 🙂

 

[Randy]

Dollhouse ZOMG!

Is anyone watching it right now?

What're your thoughts so far.

My first reaction was how similarly shot it is to Angel. Same colouration, lighting, style.

AND I LOVE AMY ACKER with short hair! she's adorable.
: popcorn:

 

[charmingslayer]

Wasn't Amy coming in 1x02?

 

[fly on the wall]

^ She was just in the little intro/outro segments with Eliza.

Ahh, I kind of loved it. 😀 I'm about to leave, but I'll probably be back with a more in-depth opinion.

 

[Willow-Tree]

I really liked it! I don't know if I would go as far as to say I loved it, but it was only the first episode. Can't wait until next Friday!!

 

[Blondie Bear]

I liked it a lot. I've heard people say that they don't think Eliza is a good enough actress to carry a series like this, but I think she did a great job. And I liked seeing her as the vulnerable one instead of the kick-ass one. I do think they maybe came in with the investigation a little too early--I would have set it up for a few episodes first--but it'll probably be fine. And in typical Joss fashion, there seems to be a LOT of character background that only time will show us, even in the more minor characters like Amy Acker's (how did she get those scars?).

I can't wait til next Friday, either.

 

[The Chosen]

Hmm.

I liked it. I dunno if I loved it, but I know I liked it. I thought it was smart that Topher gave Eleanor asthma. Made her seem... more real? And the scene with Paul getting told to back off the Borodin case playing against the boxing match -- genius.

I honestly can't wait for next Friday.

(Did anyone else smile when they saw the Mutant Enemy logo again? "Grr, argh!")

I liked it a lot. I've heard people say that they don't think Eliza is a good enough actress to carry a series like this, but I think she did a great job.

I was one of the people who worried about Eliza's ability to be all these people and I'm glad to see I was worrying for nothing. I also think she did a great job and that you could easily tell the difference between each of Echo's personalities.

 

[Crazy Flakes]

IS IT NEXT FRIDAY YET?! GYAAAAAH! I NEED MOOOORE!

...*ahem* uh, yeah, I'm not disappointed.

 

[Tsquared]

Oh my god, I seriously love this show. And the main intro? It fit very snuggly, but then in the back of my mind - it didn't fit. Although the chime effect at the end really gave it a little something extra, I'm sure it'll eventually grow into my liking. And Echo, a VERY synonymous/likeable character that I see leagues and leagues of potential coming from. Maybe it was her 'wiped' personality being so clueless and an innocent that I took a taking too. The show's premise is very originalish, and did anyone see the preview where the newbie Doll threw the car? I thought that their personalities could be perfected in a sense, so that changes everything in a very good way. I see many plot twists and awesome storylines with that little slap.

Overall, I mean the episode was great to use as the pilot. You had action, suspense, drama, and a very subtle yet firm introduction to the dynamic of the show. And I loved Echo's imprinted personality, even if her memories were of someone else. It felt almost as if she had done justice for that girl who committed suicide... My opinion anyways, and I'm looking forward to next week.

My Eliza, damn she pulled it off. That's my girl. 😀

 

[AndrewCrossett]

That was great. My fears were unfounded.

Did all the harsh critics see a different version of this than we did?

I hope there will be a bit more humor in the future eps... you can't have a Whedon show with no laughs... but this was too full of exposition for much of that.

This ep did a way better job than most pilot episodes of clearly establishing the setting, defining the characters, and setting up the relationships. Very good.

 

[WhiteHat]

The gist: LOVED IT!
Opening theme: 4/10 needs pep, vigour, thumping bassline, more Matrixy techno beatz. 😀
Eliza: 10/10. Meow. 'Nuff said.
Seeing Amy Acker again: Priceless...except for the disturbing scars to mar her surreal beauty.
Dichen Lachman: odd name, very attractive. Let's hope she can act.
Minor gripe: the audio was very wispy in spots. I don't know if that's a problem with Fox's affiliate, the audio levels of the actual show or I'm going deaf.
Hmmm: The main set looks very Wolfram & Hartish.

Congratulations, Joss and Company!
Pop open the champagne and celebrate!

 

[Harm]

This show is SOO good.

 

[white avenger]

It seems pretty good for a first episode. My only question is, will Eliza be able to play enough diverse characters to keep it from getting repetitious, or is it going to be strictly variations on the "action girl" persona?

 

[Electra Woman]

I enjoyed it. It could have been better, but it was the first episode, so it has some growing room. As for the "action girl" persona...I didn't get that vibe at all when she was trying to save the little girl, and I thought she pulled it off pretty well.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

It seems pretty good for a first episode. My only question is, will Eliza be able to play enough diverse characters to keep it from getting repetitious, or is it going to be strictly variations on the "action girl" persona?

I'm thinking that after the first few episodes, Echo's "bleed-through" memories will start to become an issue and we'll begin to deal more with her as an individual character, and not just as a series of assumed roles. There needs to be a consistent character there for the viewer to grab onto and identify with. By the end of the season, I think the show will have become about Echo the person and not her various roles.

 

[grrarg]

When I saw the Angel intro for the first time, I was disappointed (it didn't conjure the vigorous "air-drumming" that the Buffy theme did and always will do), but eventually it really grew on me. I hope the same for this theme. My cousin brought up a great point: the intro is ALL Echo. Is the show really to be that devoid of its costars?

I've read a lot of comments on whedonesque.com about the network-injected opening scenes (dancing at the club, motorcycle chase cut to cheesy music, etc.) and I agree, but still feel it's probably Joss' best.

For those critics who said Eliza couldn't hack the intense role diversity of the show. EFF you. If she could make as subtle a character change as Echo/First active role/Ms. Penn so convincing, I know she'll wow us all. It's obvious she's putting a lot into this, it's evident in each character's mannerisms and expressions.

Did anyone else come to the conclusion that the mystery man at the end was the "broken active" from the next episode, in Echo's original family's home? I can't wait to see how this unfolds!

Just think back to the Buffy pilot, the Angel pilot... Joss says he has a 5 season plan for how each character will evolve. God help us all!

GRRR ARRRG! AHHH!

I'll probably have a lot more to share tomorrow morning!

 

[silentxautumn]

GRR ARGH! I burst into a fit of giggles when it came up. I don't know why.

Anyway, the critics who gave this show bad reviews already were clearly on something or were quite possibly paid to give a bad review. The beginning of the episode seemed slow for me, but of course there has to be an introduction, which is something I'm never fond of so that's just me. As it progressed, I knew I would become anxious for the next episode and then some.

Eliza did an amazing job at switching from character to character - I was just...well, let's just say it made me squee a little on the inside. Her portrayal of Ms. Penn was something I can't really put into words, but I'll try. I loved how the character was made to be so real, as if she had owned that role her entire life. The asthma, the near-sightedness and inadvertently the memories from this woman's past - it all played out so well.

I'll definitely be tuned in for next week!

 

[goldenboy]

I missed it on TV, but it's already all on youtube. I did enjoy it. There's something slightly old-fashioned, traditional about Joss' directing style (compared to the hyper slick styles of some other FOX shows). I don't mean that as a criticism.

I was thinking Max from Dark Angel when she was cruising around on the bike at the beginning.

Eliza was very good. I still don't think she's one of those chameleon-like actors who can practically physically transform themselves through voice and mannerisms. But, the effect you get is...this is what Caroline/Echo's brain spits out when it's reprogrammed. It works.

I was impressed with Enver and Dichen in the little bits we did see of them. They're gonna be great on this show. And Amy Acker—I'll watch her in anything.

It's weird/interesting that the programmed dolls have some conscious part of themselves that knows their handler, that they have to go back to the dollhouse for "procedures"—in addition to the personalities of these real people.

It's gonna be cool to see other "genres" play out in future eps. And, definitely wanna know more about "Alpha".

 

[Buffy Summers]

(Did anyone else smile when they saw the Mutant Enemy logo again? "Grr, argh!")

I totally said "nice to see the Mutant Enemy logo on tv again" lol

I really liked the show - I kind of expected a let down actually, but I thought it actually emotionally invested you in the episode and with the characters. I think they made a really good choice of first active.

So the actives when they aren't engaged have no personality - that's why Echo was kind of child like when she was in that state?

I'm glad they didn't shove the FBI thing down our throats in the first episode, that that sort of took a back seat in the ep.

 

[nerd4hire]

Ha! I knew those critics were going to turn out to be full of crap. I call it the Joss Whedon critic effect. There seems to be this need in a media critic's make-up to have Joss Whedon fail. I've seen it before in pretty much everything he does. There's always harsh critique out of the gate. I don't understand it, but I do recognize it.

As usual though, they were spectacularly wrong. This show rocks. Whether it succeeds rating-wise, or not, I don't care. It's still great. Tons of potential, infinite places to go.

I don't think Dushku as a TV actress should be expected to have the time to do the actor's studio, Meryl Streep immersion in every character, and exploration of each nuance of every character the active becomes. Really, what did people expect? Name an actress who could do better than what Eliza did there? She caught, Caroline, the First Active, and Echo dead-on. A little light on Ms. Penn perhaps, but so what. She's not going to get them all perfect, but who in a TV environment could? I didn't have any problem believing Ms. Penn was Ms. Penn. That's good enough for me.

Speaking of Ms. Penn did anybody else make the connection between Ms. Penn and Rebecca Locke on Tim Minear's The Inside? (Actually has anybody else even seen The Inside? 😉)

I freaked when I saw Sierra burst through the door. I jumped up pointed at the television, and exclaimed, "It's that other one! The one in the chair who was getting activated".

I like all those little series buzz words, like "active", or how they can break an active from the assignment by talking "treatment".

Lots of fun, minor, mysteries to be explored. What's Alpha going to be all about? What's the Amy Acker character's mysterious past with the scars, and all? Where do they find the people they get the personalities from? Ms Penn was dead. Are they all? Is Adelle DeWitt connected to Caroline's history, or does she just know it?

This show may not connect with the wider audience, but it connected with me just fine, and I've got it on tape now so screw them. They can kill the show, but they can't have this one back. It's on my Firefly shelf now, with Wonderfalls, and The Inside.