Dollhouse Re-watch: "Briar Rose" & "Omega"

[Taake]

Re-watch discussion
episode 11 & 12
"Briar Rose" & "Omega"

​

I've gone and done it again... did not do my homework guys. I was just super busy this week and I really love these episodes so I wanted to give them the proper time that they deserve, this weekend. Now... go ahead and discuss, can't wait to hear your thoughts 🙂

 

[Fuffy Baith]

Tsk tsk, you're slacking. Just kidding. 🙂 Relax this weekend and enjoy the episodes. I'll be busy this weekend, so I made sure to watch it and post it now.

Briar Rose
So I like the idea of actually helping someone, like the little girl, but where did they get her imprint and why does Topher care? Does he just want to show off his skills and what he can do? Is Topher paying for this engagement? This makes me think of how many clients use the Dollhouse at any given time, since their #1 active is free to do this altruistic mission.

Paul Ballard is a dick to Mellie, but this time it's for a reason. So he can use her to find the Dollhouse! What a great guy. That's sarcasm btw. His rant to his co-worker really makes him seemed crazed and obsessed. And he doesn't have a badge so what's he going to do when he does find the Dollhouse? Back to Caroline as his motive. He just wants to get Caroline out but what's he going to do with her? What about the other dolls?

Victor as Mr. Dominic is excellent!

I love Alan Tudyk! He's so spazy. lol. I like when he drinks the coffee then spits it back. Also he looks good in that tight doll shirt. Who knew he had such nice muscles.
I like the Paul vs Boyd fight and Echo punching Paul over the edge and how she trusts Boyd. That was nice.
The reveal of Alpha is good but I think they should have revealed that Kepler was dead first then we could speculate who this other guy is, then be like 'oh it's alpha' Idk just me.

So the whole Briar Rose story from the beginning was just to set up this whole prince saves the girl ending with Paul trying to wake Caroline and save her and Alpha using the chair to 'wake' whoever that is and her saying 'my prince'? I don't know how I feel about all that.
Overall the episode starts slow but finishes strong and makes me want to see more of Alpha.

Omega
Alpha going all crazy switching between personalities was a nice touch. Alan Tudyk is just amazing, I love that guy in everything he does. I liked the imprint Eliza was playing. I thought she did a great job when she's yelling at the girl tied up in the back calling her a bitch. It was nice seeing her play someone kinda ditzy. Also I thought she looked hot in that outfit.

I love the reveal of Dr. Saunder's as Whiskey. There were hint's last episode about it but I remember the first time I saw this I was completely shocked. Amy Acker looks pretty hot too, I also think she's great in everything as well. I like that Whiskey was the number one active, but I want to know how she came to the Dollhouse.

I thought it was funny when Alpha kisses Echo and she just continues what she was saying. All of the flashbacks were great.

Paul Ballard working with the Dollhouse was nice, I think he worked well here, it's good seeing him using his FBI training to figure out Alpha and find him. This is the first episode in a while that I liked him in. And he gets to save Caroline. Or at least her the wedge she's stored on.

So each imprint is stored on it's own wedge? That's what Topher was saying right, that all of Echo's wedge imprints were gone. I get that the original self would be kept on a wedge but all personalities, of every doll? That's a lot of wedges. I got the sense that the imprints were stored on the computer and uploaded to a wedge when needed.

Whiskey 1.1, so she was the first Whiskey, I wonder if Echo is Echo 1.1 or 1.2? And does that mean there's an Alpha 1.2 out there or did they just retire that name?
I love that it's Mellie/November that Paul choses to have released and not Caroline. It shows that he really did care for her. Especially when he wants to know her real name.

 

[Blaze]

Discussion 1

I wasn’t a fan of the beginning of the episode, but it’s also Paul centered so that’s not surprise. The reading of sleeping beauty while Paul gets in the Dollhouse was just so cheesy. They’re really pushing for Paul to be that generic do no wrong hero, but he’s still a huge jerk. Everything he does in this episode is jerkish. From threatening someone with a gun, to not wanting to help Mellie and still having Caroline as his mission, I just don’t like it. The guy doesn’t want to bring down the Dollhouse to do good, maybe he did at first, but now it just turned into this crazy obsession about Caroline.

The good thing is that I didn’t remember about Alpha, and that blew me away. I didn’t even suspect this guy might be Alpha, it did save the episode for me.

Topher and Victor were also really good this episode, I really enjoyed them.

Discussion 2

Twist and turns and twist and turns! Did not see Dr. Saunders being the girl dancing coming. I mean, I knew she was Whiskey, but it's the little details I forget, and this is what makes the rewatch so fun! And dam, I feel bad for Whiskey, first she had to go through everything with Alpha and then she’s imprinted with Dr. Saunders, seems cruel to me. Makes you wonder though, why even hire employees, they could just imprint actives to do all the stuff around the dollhouse.

This is the first episode that I think Eliza is a bit weak in her role, when she's imprinted with every past imprints she's had, she seems a bit bland. Like, she's not really playing anyone, which sort of makes sense now that I think about it.

But on another note I think it’s fair to say that Amy Acker was the star of this episode. I got shivers at the scene where Whiskey gets cut. One thing though, old man Dr Saunders and Whiskey Dr Saunders seemed very different personality wise. I wonder if the hatred for Topher comes from remembering what happened with Alpha. I also wonder why they didn’t tell Dr Saunders that he was transferred to an active instead of imprinting him without the memories of death. Like they did with Adele's friend there. I guess they maybe didn't do it because it's highly unethical and the doctor could have refused to partake in this. Also, the question comes up again, when and how did they retrieve the imprint for Dr. Saunders, and is he an amalgam of people too?

I like how they showed Caroline visiting the Dollhouse, we know that people are at least aware of what they will be going through as an active. Interesting how they used prisoners for the initial project. I don’t know but 5 years or living in that house vs a life sentence, I’d say yes in a heartbeat.

I didn’t like the actress playing Caroline much this episode. That’s one of the problem I have with this show, when you constantly deal with actors playing many roles, and having one role played by many actors, it’s really hard to get proper characterization. I blame Orphan Black for having set my expectations too high.

I liked Caroline owning up to signing the contract…that is until she changed her mind. Maybe I’m crazy for thinking this way, but if you give your word, you keep it. I don’t know if it would be possible to guilt trip someone into thinking their older self abandoned them like Alpha was trying to do with Caroline. After all, the body is just a shell, I don’t think a human being could conceptualize being transferred from body to body.

I love the ending and them freeing November/Madeleine, I can honestly say that it is the first time that I’ve like Paul Ballard. 

ed on.

So each imprint is stored on it's own wedge? That's what Topher was saying right, that all of Echo's wedge imprints were gone. I get that the original self would be kept on a wedge but all personalities, of every doll? That's a lot of wedges. I got the sense that the imprints were stored on the computer and uploaded to a wedge when needed.
.

I thought that Alpha retrieved the imprints from the computer and put them on a single wedge before whipping them. I'd have to rewatch the scene because you're right, it wasn't very clear. It wouldn't make sense to have one wedge for each imprint. And it's even weirder than they don't have more back ups of the original personality. I mean, with technology you can store that stuff anywhere and it's essentially impossible to destroy, why risk putting it on a external drive only.

 

[Fuffy Baith]

Yea I'm really surprised by how much I don't like Paul Ballard this time watching it. The first time I didn't really care or paid enough attention to care about him but now I just see a lot of things that I don't like about him and it bugs me. I do remember being like why does he care so much about saving Caroline, and I still have no idea, which also bugs me. Oh well.

Makes you wonder though, why even hire employees, they could just imprint actives to do all the stuff around the dollhouse.

This is the first episode that I think Eliza is a bit weak in her role, when she's imprinted with every past imprints she's had, she seems a bit bland. Like, she's not really playing anyone, which sort of makes sense now that I think about it.

I wonder if the hatred for Topher comes from remembering what happened with Alpha.

Also, the question comes up again, when and how did they retrieve the imprint for Dr. Saunders, and is he an amalgam of people too?

I thought that Alpha retrieved the imprints from the computer and put them on a single wedge before whipping them. I'd have to rewatch the scene because you're right, it wasn't very clear. It wouldn't make sense to have one wedge for each imprint. And it's even weirder than they don't have more back ups of the original personality. I mean, with technology you can store that stuff anywhere and it's essentially impossible to destroy, why risk putting it on a external drive only.

Good questions. It would save them money to just imprint the dolls to be employees but that comes back to my question of how much do the regular employee know and what their life is outside of the dollhouse. Idk.

I agree that Eliza didn't do a great job portraying the fact that she had all these personalities in her head, especially when Alan Tudyk is killing it. But I also think that is a part of why everyone is so interested in Echo because her brain is different and even with multiple personalities she's not schizo like Alpha. For some reason her brain adapts and can recall the personalities. I think it gets explored more in S2.

I was also curious as to why Topher would make Dr. Saunders hate him. I think there's a vague explanation in the next episode.

As to how they got Dr. Saunders imprint, I assume that all employee or at least the important ones, like the Doctor, Head of Security and probably handlers are required to have their brains scanned, maybe annually to keep them updated. Cuz we saw that Mr. Dominic didn't know that Whiskey had become Dr. Saunders.

I think your right about Alpha deleting the imprints off the computer but it was kind of not explained well. Topher says that her primary and secondary imprints are gone those must be from the computer but does he know that Alpha put them on a wedge first and took them? Then Topher is going through all these wedge imprint to figure out who Alpha imprinted Echo with, so why does it matter if the ones from the computer are gone then if you have them on wedges anyways. And yes they should probably keep the original imprints in like a secured vault or something. Especially after the first Alpha incident.

 

[Blaze]

Yea I'm really surprised by how much I don't like Paul Ballard this time watching it. The first time I didn't really care or paid enough attention to care about him but now I just see a lot of things that I don't like about him and it bugs me. I do remember being like why does he care so much about saving Caroline, and I still have no idea, which also bugs me. Oh well.

That seems to be a trend with all of us doing a re-watch. It's pretty interesting because it was the same for me, on my first watch I liked him fine, or at least did not dislike him to this point. Now I can't really stand the guy. Although I love the idea of him working for the Dollhouse, I think it's a good storyline to tell for him. It does make things more interesting and makes his character a bit more dimensional.

Good questions. It would save them money to just imprint the dolls to be employees but that comes back to my question of how much do the regular employee know and what their life is outside of the dollhouse. Idk.

It's an interesting question. Hard to tell because we mostly see the handlers, which I think are fully aware of the Dollhouse and all of it's implications. But do they live there, that's a good question? As for the people taking care of the massages and everything else, I have no clue. I also wonder for those dolls that are imprinted long term, how often do they require treatment, how does Dr. Saunders/Whiskey not remember getting up from the chair. Since she's fully aware of the Dollhouse, wouldn't she react a la Mr Dominic when she wakes up from a treatment.

This series is a bit challenging because it has a lot of plot elements that aren't necessarily plotholes, but also aren't explained. It does give room for lots of discussion though. I'm fairly sure there's more to discuss about this show than about any other Whedon show. But again, in a good way, and not just in a "the writers sucked" kind of way.

I agree that Eliza didn't do a great job portraying the fact that she had all these personalities in her head, especially when Alan Tudyk is killing it. But I also think that is a part of why everyone is so interested in Echo because her brain is different and even with multiple personalities she's not schizo like Alpha. For some reason her brain adapts and can recall the personalities. I think it gets explored more in S2.

Alan Tudyk rocks! 😀 But yes, agreed about Echo.

I think your right about Alpha deleting the imprints off the computer but it was kind of not explained well. Topher says that her primary and secondary imprints are gone those must be from the computer but does he know that Alpha put them on a wedge first and took them? Then Topher is going through all these wedge imprint to figure out who Alpha imprinted Echo with, so why does it matter if the ones from the computer are gone then if you have them on wedges anyways. And yes they should probably keep the original imprints in like a secured vault or something. Especially after the first Alpha incident.

This is all so confusing haha I wish it was explained better. I agree that the whole thing doesn't seem to make much sense. Seriously, since Dollhouse has the most advance technology in the world, how is it not able to store their imprints better.[/quote]

 

[Fuffy Baith]

This series is a bit challenging because it has a lot of plot elements that aren't necessarily plotholes, but also aren't explained. It does give room for lots of discussion though. I'm fairly sure there's more to discuss about this show than about any other Whedon show. But again, in a good way, and not just in a "the writers sucked" kind of way.

 

This series is a bit challenging because it has a lot of plot elements that aren't necessarily plotholes, but also aren't explained. It does give room for lots of discussion though. I'm fairly sure there's more to discuss about this show than about any other Whedon show. But again, in a good way, and not just in a "the writers sucked" kind of way.

Yea, it's not plot holes, there is just a lot of stuff that can be explored and explained more. Maybe if they had more seasons to explore things it would have been better. It does give us a lot of things to discuss and that's one reason why I like the show, cause it gives a lot to think about.

 

[sk]

Another two good episodes.

"Briar Rose"

Having a kid help herself with an older version of herself is such a freaky thing to do.
Good to see that they use the technology for other things than sex fantasies though. 🙂

But I never understood how they got hold of an imprint of the kid either.

Having the kid read Briar Rose while Ballard was entering the Dollhouse was a bit too much on the nose.
Think we got have got that reference anyway. At least it had been more fun to make the connection yourself instead of being blatantly told.

Also agree that Ballard is a strange "hero".
He's quite hard to like. His motives is questionable and his methods isn't the nicest.
In a way I kinda like that though.

"Omega"

Must say that Alan Tudyk does the switch from crazy funny guy to crazy scary guy really well.
His look when cutting Victor and Whiskey was disturbing. lol

The reveal of Whiskey was not much of an surprise. Quite nicely done though.
Not sure how much I had figured out that she was a doll the first I watched Dollhouse and how I reacted that time.
Now it didn't give me much anyway. But I can admit that I liked seeing Amy Acker without the scars. 🙂

Regarding using dolls instead of paid employees. I think that in the end it's a bit of a trust issue.
Seems like the dolls are very useful in create personal with certain skills. But it do seems like they want to have a "real" person to look after them.
So somewhere there is an issue of not really trusting the dolls 100%.

Think that having Whiskey as Dr. Saunders more permanently is a step to that direction though.
An experiment if you will.

Would like to say something about the plot in Omega. about Alpha's and Echo's different imprints.
But I think I need to re-watch the episode again and pay more attention this time.
Must admit that I didn't really follow all the twists.

/SK

 

[thetopher]

Ep 11 'Briar Rose'

Another good episode, really moves the plot forward and its a real kick to finally see Ballard inside the Dollhouse towards the end. 🙂

Didn't like the opening though. I understand what Ballard was trying to do but he could've done it in a kinder way. The end effect would've still been the same. I remember not really liking Ballard in S1 and I guess this is partly the reason. It becomes obvious in this episode where his priorities lie- with Caroline. Everything else is a distant second, and it kind of undermines his righteous indignation later on.
Also I kind of got a kick of of Boyd beating him up. Shallow I know. 😀

The engagement with Echo and the girl was good though, kind of philanthropic of Topher/the Dollhouse in general, even if they are just testing out a theory.
How did they get the girl's brain scan though? Maybe from the hospital, like a catscan? Not sure, anyway the use of the parable/fairytale to illustrate not only 'victimhood' in general and the concept of saving yourself, but also the overall plot was good. Alpha turning out to be the 'Prince' 'rescuing' Echo was a wicked twist. 🙂

Other little bits I liked:

-Alan Tudyk. Just in general. Why the hell this guy doesn't get more work I don't know. I only guessed he was Alpha (the first time) when he was well into the Dollhouse, going on about 'cells' in the body. I thought 'this guy is crazy, and he's a Whedonverse actor- he's Alpha!' 😱

- Victor as Dominic was pitch perfect, also him calling Dr. Sauders Whiskey was a nice bit of foreshadowing.

- Adelle and Boyd talking/interacting with Ballard was great to see and made me really eager to roll on with Season 2. 🙂

- Liked Echo helping out Boyd during the fight, memory flashes meaning she gets wrong imressions about who not to trust.

- The ending is killer. Just great. 🙂
Super busy this weekend so I'm watching Omega tomorrow night- its an episode to savour!

 

[Fuffy Baith]

-Alan Tudyk. Just in general. Why the hell this guy doesn't get more work I don't know. I only guessed he was Alpha (the first time) when he was well into the Dollhouse, going on about 'cells' in the body. I thought 'this guy is crazy, and he's a Whedonverse actor- he's Alpha!' 😱

There are a lot of Whedonverse actors that are great who don't get a lot of big roles. I know the fanboys love Nathan Fillion, but I prefer Alan Tudyk, and Amcy Acker. Every time they pop up in something I get all giddy inside. lol

I knew Alan Tudyk was Alpha before I watched the show but I didn't know how it all unfolded and that's what surprised me.

 

[Taake]

Ep 11 'Briar Rose'

Another good episode, really moves the plot forward and its a real kick to finally see Ballard inside the Dollhouse towards the end. 🙂

Didn't like the opening though. I understand what Ballard was trying to do but he could've done it in a kinder way. The end effect would've still been the same. I remember not really liking Ballard in S1 and I guess this is partly the reason. It becomes obvious in this episode where his priorities lie- with Caroline. Everything else is a distant second, and it kind of undermines his righteous indignation later on.
Also I kind of got a kick of of Boyd beating him up. Shallow I know. 😀

The engagement with Echo and the girl was good though, kind of philanthropic of Topher/the Dollhouse in general, even if they are just testing out a theory.
How did they get the girl's brain scan though? Maybe from the hospital, like a catscan?

You know, at first I was like - finally Paul is doing the right thing and I felt better about him. Then I remembered/realized he was pretty much just breaking Mellie's heart in order to follow her to the Dollhouse (which by the way it took him like two eps to figure out that he could do...) so basically, he's just using her for his own ends, which again made me feel a bit sour. Because I agree, he is all about Caroline, which is also why I resented when they overlapped the pictures of the Dollhouse building and the Briar Rose castle in the storybook.

Here is where I feel like they have really failed with Paul because I agree with you, I also got a kick out of Boyd beating him up. I also liked Echo being on Boyd's side in the fight. So basically, what they have managed to do for me as a veiwer here is root for the Dollhouse over Paul, and that's really disturbing (a bit like watching 'The devil's rejects) because the Dollhouse isn't good and technically they have gotten Caroline to sign away her life to be a slave. You shouldn't root for them, one should be rooting for Paul here... just technically speaking. (It doesn't help that I was creeped out by the look on Paul's face when he opened Echo's pod)

Also I don't think they got the brain scan of the girl. Topher said that she was 'basically' the same, just differences in dates and names etc, so I think that he had the background file for the girl and created a brain/personality based off of that rather than an actual scan.


Now, for more thoughts on "Briar Rose"
Seriously. Enver. He is just brilliant at mimicking the facial expressions and voices of other actors. His Mr. Dominic is perfection. (Can I add - oh the horror of waking up in someone elses body like that? Felt bad for Mr. Dominic)

Hahaha, I love Stephen Kepler. "Medicinal carrots!" I seriously kind of want a buddy cop movie with him and Paul. 😀 And I entirely agree with his stance on stairs that don't have risers. I don't like them and I hate walking on them.

Some favorite Alpha/Kepler lines:
"I was nurturing a tender throbbing hope that you'd give up, yes!"
"Are you kidding? The apples were monitored!"

Paul: "My whole life is a lie."
Kepler: "It's a small world right, I went to grade school with Jenna Elfman."

I love how they make the reveal that he is Alpha. Obviously this time I knew but the first time I remember being flabbergasted, I suppose rather shallowly I didn't think of him as a typical Doll... they showed me right there. I ache for Viktor but I love the end where Alpha walks out with Echo... dum dum dum... whatever shall happen now? 🙂 

But on another note I think it’s fair to say that Amy Acker was the star of this episode. I got shivers at the scene where Whiskey gets cut. One thing though, old man Dr Saunders and Whiskey Dr Saunders seemed very different personality wise. I wonder if the hatred for Topher comes from remembering what happened with Alpha. I also wonder why they didn’t tell Dr Saunders that he was transferred to an active instead of imprinting him without the memories of death. Like they did with Adele's friend there. I guess they maybe didn't do it because it's highly unethical and the doctor could have refused to partake in this. Also, the question comes up again, when and how did they retrieve the imprint for Dr. Saunders, and is he an amalgam of people too?

Lol, wow, it seems I never gave enough thoughts on Dr. Saunders. Agree that Acker shone in this episode!
As for Saunders not knowing he'd been trasnferred to an active I think is in part because they did a gender swap and because, as Whisky is now Saunders, they could not allow Saunders to have a life outside of the Dollhouse. I.e. Whisky can never truly be who Dr. Saunders really was - probably a man with at least some family and friends or even a home outside of the Dollhouse - she has to be confined to the premises because they can't risk having her run around in the world where someone might recognize her. So she's a compromised imprint of a person, perfectly fitted for the house purposes.

But speaking of Whisky/Saunders - how aware is she exactly? I mean before Alpha talks to her and she checks her file... because I kind of feel like she's had some kind of awareness all through the show.


So. "Omega"
One of my favorite episodes for sure. I love how twistingly disturbing the Alpha obsession with Echo is and how she, as Omega, is not at all who he thought she'd be and stands against him.

Seriously though for me the star of this episode is Alan Tudyk. He is fantastic as Alpha the multiple personality psycho. Kudos for fantastic acting. I think he outshone them all. Especially considering the difference between Alpha and Kepler from just the episode before.

I think the whole Alpha plotline and the composite event is really very interesting, fascinating! I love getting to see it like this.

As for Caroline - wow, the horror of looking at somebody else inside of your body. Now that's the stuff nightmares are made off...

 

[sk]

You know, at first I was like - finally Paul is doing the right thing and I felt better about him. Then I remembered/realized he was pretty much just breaking Mellie's heart in order to follow her to the Dollhouse (which by the way it took him like two eps to figure out that he could do...) so basically, he's just using her for his own ends, which again made me feel a bit sour.

Even though I agree that Ballard isn't very likeable in general... I must admit that I never really thought that much about how bad he treated Mellie here.
Was more - finally is he doing something smart and use his knowledge about Mellie to something useful.

I actually felt more sorry for Kepler (ignoring that I knew he would turned out to be Alpha)

Coming here reading how everyone else felt about it made me feel a bit bad about that... 😳

/SK

 

[Taake]

Even though I agree that Ballard isn't very likeable in general... I must admit that I never really thought that much about how bad he treated Mellie here.
Was more - finally is he doing something smart and use his knowledge about Mellie to something useful.

I actually felt more sorry for Kepler (ignoring that I knew he would turned out to be Alpha)

Coming here reading how everyone else felt about it made me feel a bit bad about that... 😳

/SK

During my first couple of watches I would totally have agreed with you so no reason to feel bad. I'm not sure why I've taken such a dislike to Paul this re-watch honestly, I suppose it's I who have changed.

 

[Fuffy Baith]

I think a part of what has changed my mind on things this time around is that I already know what is going to happen and how everything unfolds, so I catch a lot more stuff now. The first couple times I just caught the main beats of the show, and now I can focus more on the details. And it's the details that are making me not like Paul Ballard and really love Adele.
I agree with Taake, if the writers wanted us to root for Paul then they really failed, cause I just don't care about him saving Caroline. And I don't see how him 'rescuing' Echo, who is not her original personality at the time and taking her away helps her. Besides like Adele said he was never going to get away with it. Maybe if he wasn't so crazed, obsessed and desperate about saving Caroline he would have thought through his plan better inside of just busting in.

 

[thetopher]

Omega

This is a really strong finish to the season...and yet it doesn't really feel like the climax to the season, which is weird. Even though we get revelations about characters, find out the whole deal with Alpha and his motives (and how he came to be) and get to see Echo 'ascend' it still doesn't have the 'punch' I associate with a closing episode.
However, that niggle aside ot really was one of the most enjoyable episodes of the season.

Can't say I was expecting the white- trash Bonnie and Clyde opening, after the end of the last episode I expected something more...more, y'know.

Annnd the Dollhouse is in a panic again. I actually think, aside from the secrecy aspect, the security to this place really sucks. Or maybe its because Mr. Dominic isn't around anymore. Where are the heavies?

And I have to say that Alpha did a lot in a short amount of time.
He reprogrammed the computer so Topher can't figure out exactly what he did, took Caroline's wedge, smashed her backup, grabbed all the personalities that Echo had ever been uploaded with, removed her biochip and then uploaded his 'girlfriend' so they could go on the lam?
That's some real good time management right there. Maybe its the speciality of one of Alpha's imprints. 😉

-Oh, poor, broken Victor. Not to mention poor, broken Whiskey. 🙁

-Topher and his 'soul in a glass jar' quip cracked me up. Nice call-back to Angel.

-Eliza wears white trash very well, but we knew this from Buffy. 😀

Man, Alan Tudyk does blank and creepy doll really well. I look at him in this episode and I can't even remember Wash. Plus, its fun seeing nutty, multiple-personality Alpha chewing the scenery.

I really love pretty much all the Topher/Ballard interplay, they both get some good lines here. In fact all the scenes at the Dollhouse/ with Ballard/Boyd click really well. It's great to see Ballard finally play off these other characters we've been seeing all season. Almost like a crossover.

- 'He's like Soylent Green. He's people.' 😀

- I also think the scene between Alpha and Ascended Echo is brilliant. Are they more or less than a 'real' human?
Honestly I think they both have a point, they are different than normal humans, but I think as Echo becomes more self-aware (next season) she begins to see herself as more than just a 'porchlight' for when Caroline comes home

The chase at the end is a little anti-climactic. Echo chases Alpha around some factory until he tosses Caroline over the edge and gets away. Why didn't he do that sooner?
Anyway, at least Ballard finally got to 'rescue' Caroline by catching her.

I do like the ending though. Ballard joining the Dollhouse in return for releasing November/Madeline from her contract was a rare moment that I genuinely liked him. He was putting somebody else before his own needs/obsession.
It felt like a real sacrifice from him, but it was also something he could feel good about. He got to save the girl.

Ouch. Dr. Saunders finds out the truth, and is surprisingly okay with it. That won't last. 🙁

How much does Echo still remember?

 

[Fuffy Baith]

I do like the ending though. Ballard joining the Dollhouse in return for releasing November/Madeline from her contract was a rare moment that I genuinely liked him. He was putting somebody else before his own needs/obsession.
It felt like a real sacrifice from him, but it was also something he could feel good about.

Also I don't think that he could have worked at the Dollhouse with her around as a constant reminder of Mellie. But it was a great move on his part that made me feel bad for him and also told me that he really did have feelings for Mellie.

 

[Taake]

The best/most heartbreaking moment of that scene is his; "I'm nobody", that just gets to me.