Episode Discussion 2.02 "Instinct" - Aired 10/2/09 (FOX-US)

Hmm, didn't realize that Echo was so much awake and aware already. That's interesting.

I liked this episode, not mind blowing but a really solid episode that had my interest all the way through.
Missed Boyd, wonder if he will have a much smaller role this year in general or if it was just this episode.

Also nice to see November again.

/SK
 
I liked this episode. And I agree that it's not mind blowing, but it's funnier to watch than Vows, IMO. Echo is so sweet as a mom.
That scene when she said "I'll give Nate time to figure things out himself" and then she went right away to break in his office really cracked me up.
It's good to see Senator Perrin at home and know he's a nice and sweet guy. 🙂
And I really like every scenes that has November in it. I'm glad she has a better life and not being sad. 🙂

Lol, I didn't realize that Boyd didn't appear. I was just "Where, where, where is Victor?"

And lol, I've already seen 2 actors from Tru Calling in Dollhouse. 😀
 
I don't think this episode will be one of my favourites of season 2, but it was a good story. I thought Eliza was great in it too.
 
Can I just say wow at Eliza's chops in acting out the hysterical and maniacal mother when her baby was taken away, some may say that it was a little full on, but I quote "if something's worth doing, it's worth overdoing."

I also wondered where Boyd was this episode, and who else thinks that Topher put something into Madeleine's mind?
 
This was a really interesting episode, I liked the idea of Echo being imprinted as mum that took it too far. I thought some of the scenes were really powerful and quite emotional to watch. Especially in the police station where she was screaming for her baby whilst being dragged away and then at the end begging to be Jack's mum. That was heartbreaking when Nate turned round and said no, and him apologising for putting her through all that.

It was great to see Mellie/November/Madeline again, interesting to see her life after the Dollhouse but I get the feeling shes not gone for good. Maybe she'll be coming back to the Dollhouse again at some point. Shame though we saw no Boyd or Victor, I was hoping to see both of them or at least Victor, hopefully though episode 3 will make up for that.
 
Even if it wasn't a 'mind-blowing' episode I think it had some really interesting qualities.

We're beginning to see how the Dollhouse is developing and how much more they are beginning to 'play' with the minds of the dolls. And interesting to see a client regret their decision and taking the fall for the consequences of it.

I thought Eliza was amazing in this episode too. It was good to see November again but I don't like Madeline so much, she seemed pretty smug to me!

I thought it was quite sweet to see Sierra as Echo's friend in the engaged and I think there were some good bits of comedy slotted in.
 
So Eliza can act...WOW! This episode while not being the most astonishing or whatever I thought was still awesome. The problem with season 1's standalones was that they didn't peak myinterest like I wud have liked but i def think that is episode was interesting at the least.
A good solid well acted episode which further proves how awesome Dollhouse season 2 could be.
 
I can honestly say that was one of the most boring pieces of television I have ever witnessed. I'm sorry but had I not been watching with friends, I probably would have turned it off halfway through. There were definitely some interesting things going on but overall it just seemed to go on and on. It couldn't hold my attention. And I loved the first season so it's not like I'm not invested. Something just seemed incredibly off to me here.
 
I really felt for echo in this one! Eliza can act which sometimes comes as a surprise to me but she really can! And I really liked the concept... the whole instinct being stronger than the mind thing. I can't believe how quickly echo is becoming aware of everything. Seems hard to believe sometimes because she can be docile at times and so awake at others. Overall a good episode for me though!
 
Find myself agreeing with some of the negative comments more than the positives. After all the interesting ideas presented in Vows, another Echo-centric episode is just not my cup of tea, I guess. Love Eliza to death but come on-- I want to know what happened with Dr. Saunders and Topher, and what's going on with Victor and Sierra and how Adelle and Paul and Boyd are going to handle Senator Perrin and where Felicia Day comes in again. Another Echo engagement just seems very wrong after the arcs from Epitaph One and Vows beginning.

To me, the idea was okay, but I would have liked to see more of the other dolls. The most interesting bits of this episode involved Mellie and Adelle, I thought, and the Paul/Echo conversation at the end just had me struggling not to roll my eyes.

How is Echo suddenly so self-aware? And why do we have to hear this same conversation at the end of every episode? We get it, you're lost, you're not gone. We also get it that although you're no longer completely wiped, you still receive new personalities and these are hard on you.

This speech you are giving to Paul is no longer mind-blowing; in fact only 2 episodes in, it's getting old fast.

It's episodes like this I think that turn people off. Vows would have been a good one to show people because it was sexy and interesting and emotional. This one was just Echo, Echo, Echo, in another situation that she needs to find her own way out of. My dad was watching it with me and thought Echo/baby/husband/Sierra-friend-person were the normal cast. He said it seemed like a dull sort of soap opera.

Only a real fan could have sat through this I think, and that's why I did. To be quite honest, it is my least favourite episode to date, and I really hope we can pull the ratings up so that the show will survive to show the better ones that I'm sure are coming.

On brighter note, the cast was awesome as usual, and I think the idea of instict over mind is a very interesting concept. Was this instinct only present in Echo because her "child" was a baby? Because we know that November/Madeline also had a child but she didn't feel that pull towards her daughter until Needs when she was briefly given back her old personality. I wonder if any of the other actives had family members and/or children like that... And what would they think if their mother/father/relative suddenly went missing like that for years to work for the Dollhouse? Adelle says they need consent, so it's not like the dolls are just scooped off the street and forced into a mindwipe (as far as we know).

Also, that part with Echo in the car... I think she said something like "Go... please?"
Soo funny. Made me smile. 🙂
 
My GOD, what a stellar episode. All I have to say is; WOW.

I was completely engaged this whole episode. The suspense was great. The writing was top-notch, everything was awesome. As usual, Eliza completely blew me away. I really believed her when her baby was taken away and she was screaming and yelling. It gave me goosebumps. She did a great job in this episode.

Some thoughts:

I'm so excited that the Senator (Denisof) is on to the Dollhouse! This should be interesting. And what was that illusion to his mother, something about believing in the Dollhouse because of something that happened to her?

Nice to see Madeline back. I really like her. I think she's the prettiest girl in the show. 🙂

Topher seemed funnier than usual in this episode, for some reason. I admit he is growing on me.

I wish we'd get another mission with Victor....

Some questions:

- What was Sierra/Kelly imprinted for? Simply to be Emily/Echo's friend? That seems strange to me. What, to amp up the believability factor of Emily's life? Why would Nate pay for two Dolls, when he was so adamant about how much money he spent on Echo?

- What's the deal with Madeline? Nice place she's got there. And why isn't she working? Is Adelle paying for her place? Wasn't sure about that whole thing. Do you think Madeline is faking being so happy? It seemed forced when she was talking to Paul.

I agree with the complaints about this being a Echo-centric episode. I would like liked to see more interactions between the other characters. It also would have been nice to see what Saunders is up too. I know the show is "about" Echo (although I'm argue that) but...eh, nevermind.
 
I haven't seen it yet, but to those of you complaining about it being too Echo-centric, you have to remember that Eliza is both the star and producer of the show. She won't be dying anytime soon. 😉
 
Willow-Tree said:
I haven't seen it yet, but to those of you complaining about it being too Echo-centric, you have to remember that Eliza is both the star and producer of the show. She won't be dying anytime soon. 😉
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lol, I was just saying the same sort of thing to someone else. She's our protagonist, she's the star of the show. No one else even gets a look in in the titles! 😛

I just assumed most other people would be as invested in Echo as I am. I like the other characters but the show is about her and its her I wanna see! 😀 In fact, my one problem with Epitaph One was the distinct lack of Echo, as opposed to the other characters.
 
Flannen said:
lol, I was just saying the same sort of thing to someone else. She's our protagonist, she's the star of the show. No one else even gets a look in in the titles! 😛

I just assumed most other people would be as invested in Echo as I am. I like the other characters but the show is about her and its her I wanna see! 😀 In fact, my one problem with Epitaph One was the distinct lack of Echo, as opposed to the other characters.
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Agreed! My favorite character is Claire/Whiskey, but after that it's definitely Echo!
 
Willow-Tree said:
I haven't seen it yet, but to those of you complaining about it being too Echo-centric, you have to remember that Eliza is both the star and producer of the show.
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I do remember, and I think perhaps what it comes down to is that's the main reason I can't get as excited about this show as some people are. Every once inawhile there will be a great episode, but then it falters again a week later. I think it just comes down to the fact that I'm not interested in Echo at all and that's a huge problem since she's the main character.

This episode was almost entirely forgettable. In fact, I watched it and a few hours later I had to look up a plot synopsis to remember what happened. The only real positive is Alexis Denisof getting more involved. Maybe next week it will focus on one of the interesting characters like Topher or Adelle or Dr. Saunders.
 
Willow-Tree said:
I haven't seen it yet, but to those of you complaining about it being too Echo-centric, you have to remember that Eliza is both the star and producer of the show. She won't be dying anytime soon. 😉
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But a show about one person just doesn't work. I know she's both the main character and the producer but that still doesn't mean it's okay to make everything about Echo. We have been introduced to other characters and are invested in those characters now, so I'd like to see more about them.

I also feel incredibly bad for the other actors and actresses on the show who don't get a single shot in the credits. I'd be so pissed if I starred on a show where I didn't get to 'star'.
 
I would definitely like to see more of the other characters as well. I really enjoy watching and learning more about Echo, but like skooks said, I got invested in the other characters last season and I would really like to see more of them and learn more about their pasts that they are running from.
 
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