Episode Discussion 2.09 "Stop Loss" & 2.10 "The Attic" - both aired 18/12/09 (FOX-US)

[MinwaraYana]

I can't wait for someone to make this thread anymore. 😀 So here I go...

Stop Loss is a good episode. I don't like soldiers theme so much. But Victor as a soldier is likable(as well as Riley Finn 😛). I almost couldn't stop myself to hate Adelle. I thought she's completely nuts(Thanks god we got to see the next episode in the same week). And Victor and Sierra, or I should say Anthony and Priar were so sweet together. They're really meant to be together. 😉

The idea of putting every soldiers mind in their brains is new and a little scary. Do you think Victor has Echo's memories now?

Some action scenes with Eliza are always good. And I love how Echo tried to free Tony and Priar. 🙂

The Attic!!!
is the best of season 2 so far. I love this episode more than many things in the world. 😛 The dreams are great. It's like I was watching This Year's Girl because Echo/Faith had to dream till they win or get what they want.

It's good to see Mr. Dominic. I used to hate him in the first half of the first season. But I grew to love him since Echoes and A Spy In the House of Love. He's one of the Champions(hehe, I can't help it). He chose to stay and help people. I really like his cute sarcastic lines "You think?"(to Echo when she said they're in Japan) and "Hey man, this is not real. We're in The Attic and...(Fake Victor faded away)...never mind."

Umm, there's some icky scenes with the body parts and the way they keep the broken dolls in that icky blue water. And was that Mo Tanchareon? 🙂 We got to see good acting from Tamoh. And Echo is getting more and more interesting. I couldn't believe I can love her. I thought she would be a 6-years-old girl forever.

Ok, the last thing I need to say is...I love Adelle. 😀

 

[nerd4hire]

I had strong suspicions Adelle was playing the game to get an edge. Glad they went that way. I didn't want to hate Adelle.

I got all schoolgirl at the end of the second ep - rubbing my hands together, dancing in one spot like I had to pee. This is going to be good. The rag-tag gang of misfits gets together to bring down the ultimate evil. I always love that one. And Echo meets Caroline.

2 things on my wish list before it all ends though. The return of Saunders. The Return of Bennet.

 

[MinwaraYana]

I had strong suspicions Adelle was playing the game to get an edge. Glad they went that way. I didn't want to hate Adelle.

I didn't want to hate Adelle too. But I never thought she was playing game. I really thought Joss and crews decided to make her character be like that like they did with Kate Lockley.

This is going to be good. The rag-tag gang of misfits gets together to bring down the ultimate evil.

Yeah, I felt goosebump when they all sit together in Adelle's office.

2 things on my wish list before it all ends though. The return of Saunders. The Return of Bennet.

Bennett will be back in the next episode for sure. I hope Saunders will be back too, but IMDB still says Vows is her latest episode. I almost positive she'll be back in Epitaph Two : The Return, along with Felicia Day. 😀 But well, as much as I love to see Saunders/Whiskey storyline continue, I don't think they have time for it. 🙁

 

[Giants Rule 04]

Anyone else get an ATS: Not Fade Away vibe at the end of "The Attic" when they were all sitting in Adelle's office?

I have to say that while I liked "Stop Loss" quite a bit, it was nothing compared to "The Attic". I love that Echo, Victor and Sierra are now the team (with the others at the end, of course). We found out a ton of important information in the episode, but somehow, it didn't seem overly rushed, as I suspected that it might. I can't get over how much chemistry Victor and Sierra have on screen. Can someone tell me where Enver came from? That dude has some serious acting chops and virtually no acting resume. Where did Joss & Co. even find him?

At the end of every Friday, 9:00 episode, I find myself yelling profanities at the sky and cursing Fox for cancelling this show.

 

[Emzzie]

The attic was giving me "Restless" vibes. All we needed was a cheeseman 😀 Honestly though, another two amazing episodes. While Stop Loss was fantastic, I prefered the Attic. It was great to see what it actually was! And their freakish places in their minds they were just creepy. I was totally loving Dominic being back and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him. It was very cool to see that that man's fear was epitaph one-ish. Enver is such an amazing actor too. And thank god Adelle planned it, because I was worried she had gone to the dark side. And YAY! Paul's back!!!! Two mind-blowing episodes.

 

[Sweetescape]

Probably a little rambly post but i'm writing it as i'm watching the last ep .


I loved these eps as well, Stop Loss was a good ep just to find out a bit about Victor/Anthony's past and the Topher didn't get rid of Priya's day! which was kind of sweet of him since she would be able to remember Victor then. I didn't really get the whole group mind thing but still a good ep.
Adelle's really getting to be bad ass! i'm not sure what her reasons are, to look good for Rossum or her bosses?.

The Attic was my favourite of the 2. All the creepy nightmares! the dude eating his own legs :S and Priya's was awful!. It was interesting that Echo's wasn't one particular nightmare like Anthony's or Priya's. And it was nice to see that Anthony and Priya still have a bond even though The Attic . Dominic was great to see! I liked the comedy moments, arguing about whose mind they were in . Oh and Anthony and Priya talking about there nightmares Priya-"in mine I was having sex with you, then you turned in to the corpse of the rapist I murdered" Anthony-"oh" *bemused look on his face* that made me chuckle at Joss humour!.

Seeing that guys Arcane's/Clyde (sp?)? future and what his loop/nightmare thing was, was interesting! and OMG Caroline was there? she saw the Attic?! i'm slightly confused as to why! that bit went over my head a little, so if someone can explain!.
and Ballards back! yeah! I wonder what they took from him? And YEAH Adelle was good in the end! now i'm excited to see what Caroline knew about the Dollhouse and how to take it down.


Also wondering what Boyds home problems are, maybe he's had contact with Saunders? (crazy theory i just want to see her back!) and were has November vanished to? I wish season 1 had,had more episodes like the last few we've had 🙁 maybe it would have had more of a chance.

 

[Kean]

I have to say the last 3 minutes of The Attic was a real highlight for me. Adelle's switcheroo really didn't feel right. I'm very happy she isn't completely evil.

Did anyone else feel that these two eps were a bit of an homage to Whedon's other work? The Hyperion being the hotel in Stop Loss but mostly The Attic which I think felt very Angel-esque (with a bit of Restless thrown in for good measure). It was almost a mix-mash of Orpheus (The Alley scene with Arcane was very like the Angel vs Angelus showdown) and Power Play (DeWitt acting like she had been corrupted by the dark side and assembling a suicide mission much as Angel did).

 

[sk]

I'm just happy to finally get the answer regarding Adelle.
Ever since her sudden change I've been wondering which way they would go with it. Was hoping for this.

The ending of The Attic was great.
They are starting to be a real team now. I love that. 🙂

Otherwise I think Dominic was the highlight, some really great moments.

/SK

 

[MinwaraYana]

Wow, most of us mentioned BtVS and Angel episodes(This Year's Girl, Restless, Power Play, Orpheus, Not Fade Away). I love that. 🙂 I, too, thought about the last scene of Not Fade Away when they were in the alley. I almost expected to see those demons and dragon when all of Dollhouse cast turn their heads to look at something.

 

[Washburne]

I think that if you consider yourself a Whedonfan and don't see any similarities you need to seriously upgrade your fandom. 😉

I think I'll be the same about The attic as I was with Restless. Liking it more and more after a while. Not that I thought it was bad but not loving it as much as some seem to do. Loved the ending though. Only 3 episodes left. Can you say sad? 🙁

 

[Flannen]

Every single week Dollhouse is blowing my mind. I'm still so sad about the cancellation but it is going out with one hell of a bang which reminds me that it was always a show worth watching.

Anyhoo, this week's episodes.

Stop Loss was pretty awesome. The whole solider thing was very creepy but I liked how it was all related to Rossum and all these little organisations are all going back to that.

I got a smile out of Anthony having the suite in the Hyperion and how he went to sleep in his shower. I think the whole sequence in the hotel when Anthony first went back was awesome. It was done so well; really capturing the desolation and loss that they must experience. Sure they're supposed to be able to to slip back into their lives but five years hasn't felt like five seconds for their friends and families.

I was literally fuming at Adele during this episode. If it hadn't have been for the episode after this post would have one long rant about how disgusted I was.

And on to The Attic. It was perfect. It really was. It was so much better than I had imagined it to be but at the same time it was something close to what I had pictured. I loved that Echo's fear was still not being able to save the others. It wasn't ever really about herself so much, but the rest, mainly Anthony and Priya.

I think I'm a little bit in love with the first scene between Dominic and Echo in front of the snowy tree. The intertextuality of Alice Through the Looking Glass was awesome; the whole 'who's mind is this?' and arguing over who was in who's brain like Alice with the King and who's dreaming who. Very nice touch.

I actually really didn't see Adele's plan coming. Not at all. After she's out of the Attic I was thinking who is Echo talking to and voila...Adele. What was Harding saying to her a few episodes ago about not having a very good poker face? 😉

I felt so bad for Paul when he woke up. I'm dreading what they've taken from him! I don't want it to be what I think it is but I'm keeping all that in my ickle head! 😛

And finally, GO TEAM! I'm so happy that Anthony and Priya are on board with them now as well as Topher and Ivy (although still a bit confused about what that 'don't talk to me' thing was all about).

I'm too excited about what the next episodes will bring! 😀

 

[MinwaraYana]

Aww Flannen, you post made me think about something. The "Who's mind is this?" is also in Faith and Buffy' dream in Graduation Day Part II. And your "poker face" word made me remember to ask, was that Lady Gaga's song when Victor went to the club?

 

[Mumrik]

OMG. Pretty much all I can say right now, I just finished watching "The Attic" and my mind is blown. I really want to say something but I think it would come out as gibberish because I haven't sorted through all of my thoughts yet. I think I have to come back at a later time to comment on everything, I'm flailing around like a muppet.

Oh, I have one very clear thought: Eff you, FOX, for cancelling this brilliant show.

 

[Revolver]

I'll probably get smacked for saying this, but cancellation suits this show. It's gotten so much better and more focused since they picked up the pace to finish things out.

 

[Willow-Tree]

"Stop Loss" was alright, but "The Attic" was so visually appealing and the episode advanced the plot even further! I'm glad Adelle is on the good side of the fight, and DR. SAUNDERS IS BACK IN THREE WEEKS!

 

[Bluebird]

The show is getting better and better, I don't want it to end. The Attic was just amazing, and some of the imagery was just creepy. I loved it. I'm watching it again right now, it seems like one of those episodes that needs a second viewing to pick up on everything. In season 1 whenever they talked about The Attic they made it sound like such a scary place, so I thought if they ever showed it onscreen it would be a letdown. It soooo wasn't a letdown though. The idea of Rossum using them as processors was kinda Matrix-y, and then the ending was a lot like the last scene of Power Play. But there's really nothing bad to say about this one, definitely my favourite Dollhouse ep.

It's weird to think how much the show has changed since the single assignments and Echo being wiped each week in season 1. It's like a completely different format now, although that's to be expected since they have to round up all the loose ends. Need to pick up the pace for the finale. I just wish the rest of the show had been this good.

 

[Willow-Tree]

Sweetescape agrees: How do you know Dr Saunders is back?

She was shown in the preview for the next episode.

 

[Kanazaka]

Of the two most recent episodes, I also liked "The Attic" the best. It was neat how Arcane was so quick and shadowy that you only got enough of an image of him to form an impression--more or less, a big, muscular ninja. The tree was very cool, as was the concept that flatlining in the Attic brings you out of your nightmare (you need to die in your nightmare in order to live in the real world). Rossum's human computer network is rather innovative, and also Matrix-y was the Attic prisoners' state of suspended animation--especially the tube down the throat. It's now more clear than ever that Rossum wants to take over the world, and a part of me wants to see them succeed, just to find out what that world would be like. I assume that "Epitaph One" was one theory, but I haven't seen it yet (I will eventually, though). But whether the company wins or loses, it's facing a big battle with the L.A. Dollhouse, as is evident in clips from the last three episodes.

Regarding "Stop Loss", the soldiers' hive mind was very confusing at times, but I suppose that was the point. It probably makes more sense if you're synched up with the mind, rather than if you are just an outside observer. And even though it later turned out that she had good intentions, it sucked that Adele had Echo, Victor and Sierra remote-wiped just as the latter two were about to escape. Then again, Adele is in charge of the Dollhouse, so Echo has to follow her orders (despite what Echo wishes).

 

[Kean]

Flannen mentioned the allusions to Alice in Wonderland in The Attic and I just noticed the homage to death scene in Romeo and Juliet with Victor killing Sierra with a dagger and then going to his own death. After reading Enver's interview with TVGuide I think it could be foreshadowing and I don't expect the both (or maybe either) of them to survive the finale.

🙁

 

[Flannen]

Flannen mentioned the allusions to Alice in Wonderland in The Attic and I just noticed the homage to death scene in Romeo and Juliet with Victor killing Sierra with a dagger and then going to his own death. After reading Enver's interview with TVGuide I think it could be foreshadowing and I don't expect the both (or maybe either) of them to survive the finale.

🙁

Nice observation! I missed that one 😉 and I think you could have a point about the foreshadowing there 🙁 It'd be very Whedon like for it to go that way!