Episode Discussion 1.02 "The Target" - Aired 2/20/09 (FOX-US)

[Lou]

Echo becomes the target of an expert outdoorsman's hunt after she's imprinted with a persona to match his. Agent Ballard's investigation, meanwhile, is boosted by information concerning Echo's true identity. Richard O'Connell: Matt Keeslar.

Dollhouse Episodes


And, WOW.
I'm still reeling. I think I will go rewatch and discuss later. I think I may be in shock and in need of chips and dip.

 

[TabulaRasa]

This episode was awesome. I loved every minute of it. Well, I could have done without them in bed together cause it brings me back to the...they make her a wh*** and that just isn't right to me. Not that any of it is right, but you know...sore spot.

And holy hell Eliza in that mini skirt in the next episode. Yowsa!

But I really loved the end. The way Echo looked at that jerk when he was talking bad about her. I loved how she was clicking.

I have a question tho...Do you think that when Echo is imprinted and she sleeps with the guys she does... that she has a choice in that at all? Or that the imprint sort of makes her? Like when they imprint her, do they do it to make sure she will satisfy the 'customer' ??? I'm just curious if you think the imprint they put in her really has a choice or not. Make sense?

 

[silentxautumn]

Words. I need words. I haven't any words for this.

Except for one which seems to be amongst the popular vote thusfar: WOW.

For some reason, I have this yearning to watch it again and again, it was that good.

And once again with the "WOW!"

I'm sitting here trying to think of something more constructive to say but simply thinking about it makes my mind rush.

I'm so glad we finally got a slight glimpse at what exactly happened to Dr. Saunders.
Topher - always such a breath of fresh air, isn't he?
I found the scene between Ballard and Mellie heartbreaking, especially the last line she had said. I just "aww'ed" at that.

Everything else is classified under the "wow-mind-reeling-still-can't-get-a-grip" action.

About the imprint - I think that the dolls really don't have much of a choice. They are programmed to be exactly what the buyer wants them to be, even if it's a sexbot of some sort. After all, it's their money.

But as we've been shown so far, Echo is becoming somewhat of a free thinker, remembering things about the personalities she's been imprinted and even her own life. I wouldn't be surprised if she begins to pull away at some point.

 

[TabulaRasa]

So do they, at dollhouse, make sure the client knows they can't promise them that pleasure? I just wonder why they'd pay so much for these girls if there is no guarantee of intimacy. I mean, granted, they are getting a totally different kind of girl. They get what they want whether it's a girl who knows how to ride, or one who can climb. But what, they don't want sex with them? I find it hard to believe they'd pay this much money and not be guaranteed sex. And if that's the case, in a way, they don't have a choice.
I'm just not sure which way to look at this. Hopefully someone can come by and explain it better.

I'd think that ok, so Caroline has no choice. We know that. That choice was wiped away long ago. But Echo, or whomever they imprint her as has a choice? Or do they imprint her with someone they know is going to 'go the distance?'

All very confusing to me.

 

[WhiteHat]

I'll see your WOW and raise you a Schpadoinkle!
Much stronger entry than the 1st ep, IMHO.

TARGET

Eliza: Sexy, innocent, frightened, empowered. What a range for any actor...and in a single ep!!!

Olivia: I could just get lost in those hypnotic eyes of hers! And her voice gives me many goose-like bumps. 😉

The blonde dude at the end as he's talking to Echo: douche. Yeah. I'm talking 'bout you, buddy.

More Amy Acker: ...with gory wounds! Why can't that poor girl have a more pleasant morning in the make-up trailer?!?!

A much more action-packed ep than the 1st...and bloody!

It's one of those (great) shows where I'm gonna have to watch it a 2nd and possibly 3rd time to let it all sink in.

 

[Harm]

God that was so amazing. Once I finished it I just played it again on my DVR. Course I did the same with the first one, but watching it over feels JUST as exciting. I love love loved it! 😀

Did I mention that I loved it?

 

[silentxautumn]

It seems that the imprints they use seem to be a sort of "expert" on certain things, such as, you know, the hostage negotiator in the first episode or the adventurous, fun-loving girlfriend in this episode. However, they are still their own people. They are given other people's lives and personalities with all of their quirks and such and will live out the clients needs as was paid for - the client just needs to lead. I'm guessing if they're imprinted to be the perfect lover, they will please like no other. If they weren't imprinted as such, well, they may not approve. It isn't clear how these personalities are put together - whether all of a former person's life gets imprinted or only a certain aspect of that life with a few extras added to complete the package. I guess we'll find out sooner or later or maybe I've just missed some essential detail.

 

[Lou]

Tabby-
Just popped in to address your question, not to discuss yet. But, the first thing that occurred to me was that if you can fashion a "date" to be exactly what you want and to like you, they'd naturally WANT to sleep with you. So, it might not be "forcing" or even programming them to do it, but more of a "natural" progression of sorts.

 

[TabulaRasa]

I for one thought shoulder to the wheel was kind of lame. Anyone else?

Did anyone go back to Kate at the dept (Angel) when we saw Ballard being teased by his co-workers? Kate used to get teased by her squad all the time about what she believed and all the strange things she saw and went out looking for, etc. And here are Ballards co-workers doing the same thing to him.

Very interesting!

 

[definition of insane]

So that pretty much blows most of my wild speculations out of the water....which is fine...I am to think of new ones but I think I'm gonna have to rewatch before I do.

But......WOW. Just finished watching and I was like edge of my seat for like the whole thing. Great to see what really went down when Alpha played slaughterhouse....it does lead to the questions of why he did leave Echo there, also that she has been an active for some time.

Richard?!? At first I was like WTF, and then was like ARGH! And then all cheering when she was beating him up. The freak! It does seem that he was sent by Alpha doesn't it? I'll have to think about the who's and whys later.

Oh....loved seeing how Boyd "cares" if that makes sense and that he sorta comes full circle too when she asks him if he trusts her....it was so "awwwww". The other guy was a douche....LOVED that last bit where she's got that little bit of oomph left.

I'll be back...I need to think and stuff.

 

[Friendly Lurker]

Good episode and Alpha having hired them was quite a twist! I think I was right about him retaining some/all of the skills he had been imprinted with. 😛 He definitely seems to have some kind of a relationship with Echo. Maybe they knew eachother in real life?

I felt sorry for poor Amy and her pretty face too! I wish she had a bigger role. Oh and Ballard's neighbour is a bit creepy!

 

[November]

Hehe I just finished it LOVED IT! Very exciting, like a little mini movie. I giggled at the Tabula Rasa line, was it an obvious shout out to Buffy fans? Also one of the other FBI agents that was teasing Paul Ballard, was he Badger from Firefly? Or am I seeing things? The quality wasn't great on mine.
Again I thought Eliza did a great job 🙂 I was cheering for her when she stopped running and decided to hunt the hunter. Is it purely survival instincts or was a long lost part of her imprint coming into play? When she cut his neck, was that one of the same wounds that Alpha had given to his victims? I have no idea why he singled her out but he is going to alot of trouble. I wonder if he is trying to force Echo to remember everything and follow the same path he is.
I definitely cant wait for it all to unfold! So far so good 😀

 

[sk]

Yeah, that was an excellent second episode.
I am already getting more attached to the show. Really curious on the whole Alpha - Echo thing.

The Dollhouse seems to be a bit in denial though. They should know that their wiping procedure isn't perfect by now.
But apparently they still keeps going as nothing has happend and everything is ok. Guess there is lots of money on stake, but still...

And thanks Aussie for the Badger comment, I was so sure I had seen him somewhere but I couldn't figure out when. 🙂
But it was absolutely Badger from Firefly.

/SK

 

[Friendly Lurker]

And thanks Aussie for the Badger comment, I was so sure I had seen him somewhere but I couldn't figure out when. 🙂
But it was absolutely Badger from Firefly./SK

He's also in Battlestar Galactica!

Another thing I remembered: the mean security guy says he'd put Echo in the attic. What do you guys think that means?

 

[Blondie Bear]

I got here right after the ep was over, but there wasn't a thread yet and I was tired, so I went to bed. 🙁 But I'm here now! And I second . . . or third . . . or eighth . . . whichever . . . the WOW! That was amazing! I loved every single part of that episode.

Except for the very end when she did the shoulder-smacking thing, cause frankly, I was expecting the "I'm not nobody" line, and the "shoulder to the wheel" seemed a bit militant and out of place as a reaction to that jerk. BUT it showed us that things are leaking through even when she's Echo, so I understand why they used it.

 

[anyatara]

I've just watched it 🙂 At the beggining I had one of my 'Huh?' moments. I was kinda thinking 'What the hell? Dead people...men with guns...Where is this going?' but as it started, I was really into it. Seriously, I freakin' love this show. I loved this episode, even more than the first one. I think this is the first show I've watched lately where I can't look away from the screen. I really hope they don't axe this show, it's amazing. And suspenseful, ack, I was so confused and on the edge of my seat when he told her to start running. I really loved it, can't wait for next weeks episode. When that dude was examining the body, I was really reminded of Bones. Huh. But it rocked. 😀

 

[Sweetescape]

I've just finished watching it and i LOVED it!!!! 😀 it got me hooked right from the beginning and i loved the "shoulder to the wheel". I also loved the relationship that's building between Echo and Boyd i think its so cute and great 🙂.
Things are getting might interesting! 😀 Can't wait till the next episode.

 

[Tsquared]

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode, and I love me some 'Grrr Arrrhh'! I like how they're showing further weaknesses behind the Dollhouse, besides just the self-awareness and Alpha. Although, it seems like they're looking at Alpha with little or no worry, or they're just lying to their employees .. such as the obviously false death account they had given to Dr. Saunders. But, yeah, the episode was pretty much high on adrenaline and awesomeness.. I got jealous though, the darn scene with Eliza and the General Zaroff wannabe.. 9th grade literature, anyone? The Most Dangerous Game?

I agree about the potential here. It's everywhere! I must know more, but I'll avoid spoilers (promos, naturally, do not count) for obvious reasons.

 

[Bluebird]

Just finished watching it, although I'm so ill right now that I guess some things went over my head. Lurker helped me out there though. 😉

Anyways, I loved it. A lot more in depth about how the Dollhouse operates, and the whole chase scene with Echo was so good. Like a mini movie. 🙂

 

[JCC]

Yeah, I enjoyed that episode.