Episode Discussion 1.04 "Grey Hour" - Aired 3/6/09 (FOX-USA)

[AndrewCrossett]

One more question, the Asian girl that had Tophers shopping list stuff, is she from Dexter season 3? My sister thought she was from NCIS (guest star as the baddy) but I couldn't be sure on either as I don't know her name.

You're both right. Liza Lapira plays Ivy, Topher's cute assistant. She played Yuki Amado on "Dexter" and Michelle Lee on NCIS. She was also on "Law & Order: SVU". She was in Drew Goddard's movie "Cloverfield" too, which I assume is how she snuck into the Jossverse.

 

[Silum]

I havn't been following this thread but I really enjoyed this episode. I thought it was the strongest one yet.

I loved how everything played out much more fludily. The first 3 episodes had moments in them where the action or suspense just dropped and suddenly i felt like i was watching TV...as opposed to being lost in the episode. Does that make sense?

Still, I really felt like ive seen enough of these standalones. Yea we're starting to understand the characters a tiny bit more each week but clearly the show is losing viewers, not gaining them. Nows the time to show us the twists, unfortunately we have to wait another 3 weeks of dropping numbers for that.

 

[Harm]

That's really all you got from this episode? Lack of "action"?

* Buffy is concerned about the youth of America. *

We saw so much going on with Echo's mental state, and the injured thief's dialogue with her.

Well they didn't do anything. To me it looked like they were trying really hard to like get deeper into the mystery and I just ended up watching because I felt like I had to. It was so boring. The beginning was exciting, but I was so bored throughout the rest. I did like how Sierra was brought in as the same person but of course all that she did was talk on the phone, didn't even blast in all sexy and stuff like in the first one.

The Echo character herself is rather bland and boring so it was no fun trying to see what a, well, basically retarded to the point of annoyingness person would do in the situation if she just forgets anything after. If the next one didn't look so good I'd be so turned off to this show. She's only good if she has a personality. And Echo just goes "please don't hurt me".

Everyone wonders why this show is losing viewers. The only reason I'm watching is because I know how Joss Whedon is like amazing, but people who don't know him must be like what is wrong with this show?

 

[AndrewCrossett]

If I'd watched these first 4 episodes of Dollhouse without knowing anything about it, I'd never guess it was a Joss Whedon show. His trademark style has been almost completely absent IMO.

But I like it anyway. The premise is original and interesting, the characters are multi-dimensional and (mostly) engaging, and it should already be obvious to everyone that the notion of "Echo plays a role every week and then gets wiped" is not going to last very long.

And yet other, much stupider genre shows are thriving in the ratings.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Im not surprised that it is slowly losing some viewers. Fridays is a tough night espically since new movies come out every friday. And this friday saw the opening of Watchmen.

 

[Tsquared]

I'm seriously becoming paranoid about the ratings! I've even been advertising through text messages! Hehehe. Rawr. 🙂

Okie dokie, for me, this was and is the best episode thus far. I loved the decrease of implemented characters and more Echo time. Sierra being trusted and not simply a disposable Doll was great too, I think. Of course does this mean more dangerous and high-risk missions? Possibly, or it couldn't. She will be able to fit more snuggly into the main plot now, I'm just gonna sit my butt down and watch her story unfold further. I'm mean, we need some Sierra backstory by now.

Also, Adelle isn't as hard as I originally thought she was. She obviously has taken a liking to Echo, and I like that.. maybe it's a remembrance of Caroline. I just smell a connection, she's breaking some of her walls down and booyah! Alpha is totally alive, but come on guys we knew it! Ugh-Ugh, did anyone get pissed off when that one A&F-model-wannabe guy slapped Echo? I mean, it's like she is a child in that state! Of course, of course he had no idea about the whole process.. but still. ".. but aren't we the bad guys?.. " Haha, she's so adorable. Like my puppy! And who else loved the other robber dude, that was caring and somewhat nice to Echo? I'm curious to what happened, or what is going to happen with him. I know Boyd isn't heartless, then again it's not always his decision. AND, let me point out the deeping of Boyd and Echo's relationship. EXCITING!

I won't ramble on, but I'm definitely eager to see more flocking of Echo/Sierra/Victor, and more Alpha badness! :cheering:

 

[Aly Fan]

That one was really good....Dollhouse is just getting stronger and stronger...missed Amy though 🙁

One thing bugged me however...why aren't they more concerned about it happening again...like the next time Echo's out. I mean if who ever did this posseses the technology and know how to wipe Echo why aren't they more concerned?? What makes this time special?? I think i missed something...anyone care to explain 😀

 

[Tsquared]

One thing bugged me however...why aren't they more concerned about it happening again...like the next time Echo's out. I mean if who ever did this posseses the technology and know how to wipe Echo why aren't they more concerned?? What makes this time special?? I think i missed something...anyone care to explain 😀

I think they are concerned, but we have to remember that Adelle and the higher staffers are trying to keep Alpha and his status on the down-low. So, I don't think they're going to ring a code red; prevent any panic.

 

[fly on the wall]

It was really good. I loved Echo interacting with the techie. And her thinking about some of the paintings. It really added to her character. And I knew they were gonna wipe her, but i was holding onto some hope that they wouldn't. Cause now, she's just gonna be a blank slate again. But I do think this is going to set off some memories for her. And it's all part of Alpha's plan, whatever that may be.

Heh, when they wiped her I was like, "Wait, shouldn't that cause problems?" A double-wipe (wiping a Doll who's already in a wiped state) totally seems like it would cause brain damage or something.

 

[Cohen]

Heh, when they wiped her I was like, "Wait, shouldn't that cause problems?" A double-wipe (wiping a Doll who's already in a wiped state) totally seems like it would cause brain damage or something.

OR the cause of her memories coming back. That's my theory!

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I'm worried about what might happen to Echo - consitering every engagement she's sent on something almost always goes wrong. What will they do to her? I know she is their "most requested doll" but isn't she jepordizing the operation with her, er, malfunctions? Or...would these be consitered Tophers fault, because he programs her?

I liked what was said about art in this episode. How art is what you see and who you are, and all that. Very cool.

And it's interesting to me that not everyone is interested in Paul Ballard. I think his character is one of the most interesting on the show. I'm curious why he's so fixated on exposing the Dollhouse. And what's up with his stalker neighbor? She seems very nice, like she cares about him a lot. (And very pretty I thought!)

 

[Revolver]

Hate to do it, but I guess I'm going to have to be the naysayer tonight. This episode didn't really do anything for me. I'm not sure why. In theory, all the elements were in place. But I was never drawn in. Could have something to do with the lack of sleep. Or maybe I'm just ready for a more substantial development after four standalone episodes. Either way, not my favorite episode at this point.

 

[definition of insane]

Heh, when they wiped her I was like, "Wait, shouldn't that cause problems?" A double-wipe (wiping a Doll who's already in a wiped state) totally seems like it would cause brain damage or something.

My thoughts on this is that they would actually have done this quite a lot. Especially after the Alpha incident. Remembering in The Target that there were a lot of dolls not involved but being sent to bed, and their fear at the unfamiliar. If they are so against inactive dolls not evolving they would have wiped the dolls again so as they wouldn't remember the incident.

 

[TabulaRasa]

I liked this episode very much. I don't really have much to say on it, mostly because I'm lazy. But I am def not looking forward to the next one. Sorry, I can't help it. The third one was terrible and next weeks looks like it will be too. People, understand, this is my opinion alone.

I can see why numbers are dropping for this show. I'll never stop watching it. But in 5 episodes that will air looks like 2 are not so great. That's not very good.

Again, this is how I feel! Please don't get mad at me.

I'm sticking around forever though. It's Joss, how could I not.

 

[Enuf3]

I liked this episode very much. I don't really have much to say on it, mostly because I'm lazy. But I am def not looking forward to the next one. Sorry, I can't help it. The third one was terrible and next weeks looks like it will be too. People, understand, this is my opinion alone.

I can see why numbers are dropping for this show. I'll never stop watching it. But in 5 episodes that will air looks like 2 are not so great. That's not very good.

Again, this is how I feel! Please don't get mad at me.

I'm sticking around forever though. It's Joss, how could I not.

Why did you think the third episode was terrible? It was the better episode until Gray Hour came along... imo.

 

[Revolver]

As I said, I personally didn't care as much for the fourth one. Regardless, it's her opinion. I can understand her not liking one of the episodes, but I don't understand how she's declaring 2 of the 5 episodes bad when one of the two "bad" episodes hasn't aired yet. Previews are almost always a little misleading, and even if they aren't in this case, you certainly aren't getting the whole picture of the episode. Watch it before you declare it crap.

 

[Enuf3]

Watch it before you declare it crap.

Well see, now you're just making too much sense.

..Stop it.

 

[TabulaRasa]

As I said, I personally didn't care as much for the fourth one. Regardless, it's her opinion. I can understand her not liking one of the episodes, but I don't understand how she's declaring 2 of the 5 episodes bad when one of the two "bad" episodes hasn't aired yet. Previews are almost always a little misleading, and even if they aren't in this case, you certainly aren't getting the whole picture of the episode. Watch it before you declare it crap.

I saw the previews for episode 5. To me, it's just not going to do it for me. I know you'll think, how can I know from a clip alone. But I'm pretty good at knowing what I will like and what I wont. So, that's how I came to that conclusion.

ED is awesome, I'll watch everything till the end. 🙂

 

[Cohen]

GrrrRruff agrees: thus far it has been odds are good (2&4) and evens lackluster (1&3) so you may be right that 5 is sub-par one.

You got that backwards. Odds are 1&3. Evens are 2&4.

 

[Kean]

I watched it last night and I did enjoy it. There were a couple of one liners that really made me LOL, like "Does that mean she'll be a lesbian?" :lmao: although I do wonder why that scene was even included? (Forgive me if this has been spoken about before in the thread) The only significance for me was Echo's comment while the delivering the child that all the pain was worth it once the baby was born and that you won't even remember it...much like the wipes, as Topher says. Although it is very questionable about how "worth it" it is for Echo.

I love Victor...seriously love him! He is so fun as his imprint, Sierra also gets major kudos from me too. For some reason I seem to be more impressed by Dichen Lachman as an Active than ED. Maybe I still see Faith everytime I look at her or being told so much that we are supposed to see how versatile she has made me too aware of her acting? I don't know but I enjoy the other actives more than Echo, which is kinda strange. I expect that will change once Joss's episodes kick into full swing in two weeks.

I'm liking it but I'm ready for the pilots to be over now...I like my tv with big, swooping, season long arcs...this restarting every week is old to me, despite the little bits of new information we are given every week.