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

Friendly Lurker said:
I guess it's safe to assume that it was Alpha. Or am I the only one who thought so?
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That didn't cross my mind, like EmptyColours I thought that it was perhaps somone connected to her before she became Echo. From her pre Echo scenes I got the impression that something happened that she was trying to run from and thats why she ended up there. So my mind automatically went to that.

But it being Alpha is an interesting thought, are you thinking that perhaps for some reason he had flaws and is no longer 'active'? The impression I got was that the company would kill them to ensure they would not come back to haunt them rather than run the risk of them being exposed. Then again you just never know.
 
It's a little disheartening to see the ratings for Dollhouse, but I'm hoping that if FOX sticks to their word and airs all thirteen episodes that the ratings will tick up enough for them to renew it. At least it beat Flashpoint in the demos...hopefully the demo can go up to a 2.5 at least.
 
Well, it got my attention.

I liked it, alot. I can see alot of Buffy and Angel in this show. Physically the set is very similar to the revamped W&H. As far as elements of the show go I see the handler/agent relationship between Echo and Langton to be similar to the Watcher/Slayer relationship...maybe even Buffy/Giles by the little bit that we saw in this ep.

I agree that Amy Acker played her part almost Illyria like, that's the first thing that popped into my mind. Also I have suspicions that she may have been a Doll herself once apon a time, hence the scars and nervous, erractic behaviour.

Loved how even though we just have these characters for a few moments we still are able to get invested in them. My favourite part of the whole episode is when that gangster punches the glasses right of Eli Penn's face and she snaps back with a triumphant smirk on her face and repeats her mantra "You can't hurt a ghost". THAT, my friends is a Whedon hallmark (not to mention narrative genuis) and it made me squee with geeker joy😀

Also did any One Tree Hill fans notice tha Tim was that Matt guy? It was cool🙂

Dollhouse has the Kean seal of approval🙂
 
Blaze
Blaze
I knew that I saw that guy before. Tim look so much better as that Matt guy:)
I also was thinking that Amy Acker's character was probably a doll. Hopefully we'll get to see more of her in the near future, though.
 
Faith said:
That didn't cross my mind, like EmptyColours I thought that it was perhaps somone connected to her before she became Echo. From her pre Echo scenes I got the impression that something happened that she was trying to run from and thats why she ended up there. So my mind automatically went to that.
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That sounds very plausible too, probably more plausible than Alpha. The reason I thought about him/her/it was that just seconds before the scene, Adelle asks someone "How are we going to contain this?" and hands him the Alpha file.

But it being Alpha is an interesting thought, are you thinking that perhaps for some reason he had flaws and is no longer 'active'? The impression I got was that the company would kill them to ensure they would not come back to haunt them rather than run the risk of them being exposed. Then again you just never know.
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I think Alpha was the first active and has somehow gained self-awareness (and perhaps kept some/all of the skills he has been imprinted with in the past? - that's just pure guesswork on my part though). I'd imagine that the company wants to kill him but it seemed like he was on the run.

PS. I love the theory about Amy having been a Doll. 🙂
 
I just watched it with Cangel (that is to say, an hour or so ago) and so far I liked it. I don't yet love it, because there are some things that could have been better. Some already mentioned the FBI thing, which was completely random for a first episodes. It would have been better if that had been gradually introduced during the first couple of episodes. Now the scenes with whatshisname were unneccesay breaks in the story. Same with the Echo regaining her personality. Although, that being introduced in the first episode already, makes a little more sense, what with the Alpha thing. I think the speculation about what's up with that file, and why the boss-lady is concerned about it, is more fun and possibly more relevant with the knowledge that dolls can get their memory back a bit.
The overall writing was good, it was gripping enough for a first episode. At first I was a bit sceptical about the stand alone character of the first couple of episode, but I think Joss handles it well. And there was enough suggestion going on in the direction of an arc-thingy.

About the performances of, especially, Eliza; I think she did a great job. I don't know her as anyone else than Faith, but apart form the looks and the way she walks and things like that, nothing reminded me of Faith, apart form maybe her attitude in the intro bit. That made me worry a bit, but as soon as the episode really kicked off, my worries were gone. I am sure she'll manage.
I never really liked Fred, or Amy for that matter, and so far I can't really form an opinion about how she's doing.

All in all, I liked it and I'm really looking forward to the next episodes. There are enough riddles to keep me interested (the Alpha thing, the behaviour of some of the personnel of the Dollhouse (Topher, Echo's watcher (or whatever the term was)) and the characters in general are well thought out. Yeah, I think I'm going to enjoy this show.
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I just thought of something, Amy could still be a doll, you know? Maybe the previous therapist became too involved, or curious or whatever, and they gave her a bit of the old therapists personality, or is that too far fetched?
 
R
Revolver
No hating Amy!
itsxpaperdoll said:
I just thought of something, Amy could still be a doll, you know? Maybe the previous therapist became too involved, or curious or whatever, and they gave her a bit of the old therapists personality, or is that too far fetched?
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Not at all.

Maybe "who's a Doll" will become this show's version of "who's a Cylon?"

Or maybe not. But the idea of Amy's character secretly being a long-term Active is interesting. I don't think there was any time limit mentioned for how long an Active could stay within one personality? Maybe after a certain amount of time they can no longer "wipe" that personality and it becomes permanent? And maybe that causes other nasty side effects, which they'll eventually explore with her character?
 
Kean said:
Well, it got my attention.



I agree that Amy Acker played her part almost Illyria like, that's the first thing that popped into my mind. Also I have suspicions that she may have been a Doll herself once apon a time, hence the scars and nervous, erratic behavior.
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I love that theory! whether its true or not it will be interesting to see her back story! 🙂
 
Friendly Lurker said:
I guess it's safe to assume that it was Alpha. Or am I the only one who thought so?
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I'm thinking yes. He's sitting there nude, in the lotus position like a psychopath, surrounded by the dead bodies of Caroline's parents...or whoever's home that was. And that envelope he was stuffing was labeled for Paul Ballard. He's feeding him information. Why he's being so roundabout and cryptic with this stuff I don't quite get. Hard to know for sure what the ultimate intentions of a psycho are.

I was assuming Caroline's original troubles that were unrelated to psycho killer guy, but maybe not.
 
AndrewCrossett said:
Not at all.

Maybe "who's a Doll" will become this show's version of "who's a Cylon?"

Or maybe not. But the idea of Amy's character secretly being a long-term Active is interesting. I don't think there was any time limit mentioned for how long an Active could stay within one personality? Maybe after a certain amount of time they can no longer "wipe" that personality and it becomes permanent? And maybe that causes other nasty side effects, which they'll eventually explore with her character?
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Oh god, you got me all paranoid now. 😛 Maybe they're all Dolls! Maybe everyone is a Doll! *Runs around in panic*
 
Kean
Kean
Maybe you're a doll...
I
itsxpaperdoll
Maybe we are all doll's and out to get you... Now I'm also getting paranoid :s
H
Harm
I'm a doll! Your a doll! Who isn't a doll...DOLLS EVERYHWERE.
R
Revolver
I'm not a doll. I just don't see anyone paying to activate a doll to sit at a computer and Buffy Board.
I have a link to the promo of next weeks dollhouse episode if anyone wants to see it who hasn't yet....it's looking good i must say 😀
 
^^next week does look good

Dollhouse actually reminds me of Tru Calling (in a very good way) I heard that Eliza had a poor acting in the show but I thought she was great. Of course it's gonna be easier to play the bad a** chick that was Faith but pulling of a character that changes personnality every five minutes must be really hard. Anyway, loved it, can't wait to see what is in store.

-Blaze-
 
Hmm. Well, I've let it all sink in and have desided to finally comment on the pilot.

First off, I liked it. Simple statement, I know, but it will suffice. I can see the similaries to Angel in the style and the directing, for sure. I saw a few Jossverse regulars in the credits (such as Steven S. DeKnight, to name one) which comforted me. Joss' collaberative team works best together.

The theme song? I don't know. I'm not digging it. Maybe it will grow on me?

I'm liking the concept but yes, I am concerned about the longevity issue. If the main conflict is Echo remembering her past "missions" and questioning her identity - and this has already started to happen in the very first episode- how long can they keep this fresh? Sure, she could do a new action-thing every episode and be all be stand-alone and yeah, that would be entertaining - but Joss is better than that.

The men in the show definitely intrigue me the most. What's up with this detective guy? He seems pretty cool. And he's cute (a bonus lol). And Topher seems pretty interesting, too. How'd/Why'd he get that job?! And the British lady...forget her name...And Echo's "handler"?...interesting word choice. What's the deal with him?

And Amy Acker! What a surprise. I didn't think she'd be in the pilot as she's not a part of the main cast. What's the deal with the scars?

I'll definitely be tuning in next week.

Seattle's entertainment and arts weekly newspaper has a little article about Dollhouse in the I Love Television column. Here's a link if you want to check it out: I Love Television - Columns - I Love Television - The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper
It's pretty funny.
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Friendly Lurker said:
I guess it's safe to assume that it was Alpha. Or am I the only one who thought so?
Click to expand...

I got the feeling that she had been in some trouble before she signed on to be an Active. Maybe that guy is an ex from college? A bit of a loose cannon? Maybe he's trying to find her and where she went.
 
PS any of those who want HQ 1280x720 screencaps just message me and ill reply with a link because its some random i found searching dollhouse cap and i think forum linking is againt the rules in BB.
 
Am I the only one who thought that the key word GHOST was a nod to the ethical/moral ramifications elaborated on in the movie and series Ghost in the Shell?
 
It was honestly the best pilot that I've ever seen. It was really awkward until the theme song started, and then everything began to get better. When Amy Acker came on I squeed, she was amazing in the few minutes that they put her in. This pilot was much, much better than the Buffy pilot, and it was quite obvious, and it beat the Angel one as well. It came close to the Firefly pilot but in the end I think this is going to be my favorite show by Joss. 🙂
 
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