Dollhouse Rewatch: "The Attic" (2.10)

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Echo, Priya and Anthony are placed in The Attic, suspended in a permanent dream-state where they must continuously relive their worst nightmares. Echo overcomes hers "“ an inability to save those she loves "“ but is promptly attacked by a shadow-killer named Arcane, and then saved by Laurence Dominic (Season 1 regular Reed Diamond), who has also gained control of himself within the Attic. Arcane is killing off Attic residents, and they jump into different minds to stop him: Anthony is back in the War in Afghanistan fighting himself in insurgent guise (played by Gjokaj's twin brother Demir), while Priya trysts with an Anthony who transforms into an undead Nolan Kinnard. Together, they trap Arcane, revealing his true identity: Clyde Randolph (Adam Godley), co-founder of Rossum, whose partner turned on him and placed him in the Attic in 1993. He explains that the Attic networks its victims' brains into a super-computer, each kept in a perpetually adrenaline-drenched state for peak efficiency; Arcane's killing spree has served the dual purpose of sparing Attic prisoners and reducing Rossum's processing power. Clyde has also been able to conquer his worst fear "” the desolate, blasted future of "Epitaph One" "” but has realized that, if Rossum continues on its present course, there is a 97% chance that it will become reality. Echo, Priya and Anthony escape the Attic, while Dominic and Clyde voluntarily remain behind. Meanwhile, Topher, Boyd and Ivy, working against DeWitt's seemingly tyrannical reign, embark on a radical plan to save Paul Ballard. It is then revealed that DeWitt sent Echo to the Attic in order to retrieve information on how to stop Rossum, and that Caroline Farrell knows who Clyde's partner, the only remaining founder of Rossum, is. DeWitt, Ballard, Echo, Priya, Boyd, Topher, Ivy and Anthony join forces to defeat Rossum, but Echo declares that they need one last person on their team: Caroline.
Source

Trivia:
In Victor (Enver Gjokaj)'s nightmare, he is fighting "himself". The doppelgänger is played by Enver Gjokaj's identical twin brother, Demir Gjokaj.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535690/trivia
The episode opens with the usual pre-credit teaser, but the normal opening credits are omitted except for the "Credited by Joss Whedon" card. Instead, the star credits are billed after that across the screen while the story proceeds.
http://www.tv.com/shows/dollhouse/the-attic-1304152/

I'll be back with my own thoughts. This is one of my favorite episodes of the series! 🙂

---------- Post added at 09:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:00 PM ----------

The Dollhouse Wiki has a neat summary about continuity between what we know at this point & Epitaph One, the Rossum Corporation, & the evolution of Caroline: http://dollhouse.wikia.com/wiki/The_Attic
 
I just wanted to drop in and say that this is my absolute favorite episode of Dollhouse, and one of my favorite episodes of all television. Everything about this episode was perfect in my eyes. 🙂
 
I just wanted to drop in and say that this is my absolute favorite episode of Dollhouse, and one of my favorite episodes of all television. Everything about this episode was perfect in my eyes. 🙂

I so agree!! They did a bang-up job of portraying the Attic in exactly the horrifying manner it was alluded to in earlier episodes.

My thoughts:
-Echo's worst nightmare- not being able to save the others
-I love that tree, such beautiful imagery.
-"Topher's world", ROFL!
-Young Echo/Caroline- I love that!
-"C'mon Echo, be your frickin' best!"
-Dominic is back!
-Highlander vibe lol
-Do you think Arcane is based on the DC villian by the same name?
-Clyde- "the shape of things to come"
-This was all Adelle's plan. Time to meet Caroline.
 
So I just watched this today actually, cause I'm just now getting around to watching Dollhouse Season 2 (yes, I live in the stone age and it takes me this long to catch up to things). I think I need to see it about 12 more times for it to make sense in my brain and for me to really follow it. But I really loved it.

It reminded me a lot of Restless in Buffy Season 4, with the baddie following people through their dreams and killing them; yet it had such a different vibe at the same time. I really loved the twist at the end too where we find out that Adelle isn't just slipping and going to let Rossum run over her, and instead is working to fight against them. I'd write more eloquent things that actually contribute here, but my brain is too sleepy right now. I'll have to watch it again so I can comment more.

Really really great episode though.
 
"Welcome to the attic. We're glad to have you." An updated mix of the Btvs episodes Nightmares and Restless. Like Restless I can imagine some people thinking the episode is just odd (although not as odd) but I think it's amazing.

Short intro. Good call.

Dominic is back. Of course, we're in the attic after all. Arguing who's mind they're in. 🙂

Enjoy yourself just got a new meaning.

"This is the shape of things to come." It does look a lot like the world in Epitaph one.

Arcane/Clyde are doing mercy killings. Kind of.

Paul is a doll. But still himself. Does that make any difference?

Once again we're shown that you need a whole conversation to know the truth. Quite a gamble on Adelles part if you ask me. Not that she's risking herself. "Just" Echo, Anthony and Priya.

Love the last scene. The gang is finally together.
 
The scene "repeating"... Creepy, but a nice beginning 🙂

Wait, Adelle wants Paul to become the new Victor?

Football talk, me likey! And followed by a Star Wars analogy!!!

I agree with you guys, it's a bit like Restless. But Echo is a lot faster realizing it's all happening in her mind.

The kitchen of the chinese restaurant is absolutely disgusting.

From all the "personnal hell" they see, I think Priya's the worst... The guy you killed trying to rape/kill you.

The look in Topher's eyes when he says "that woman is gonna drag us straight to Hell"... He looks desperate.

So Topher is not the only genius making something and being remorseful afterward because his invention is used to destroy people/the world.

Adelle's not a b*tch after all! The end scene was amazing.

I really like this episode! Not my favorite, but in my top 3!
 
Wow you guys I hadn't made theAttic/Restless connection. But it makes sense that I like this episode so much since Restless is a fav of mine.

I love that scene at the end- you definitely get an Angel "let's go to work" vibe.

---------- Post added at 08:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:06 PM ----------

And yay [MENTION=6115]randiann[/MENTION] is here! 🙂

I can't believe we only have 3 episodes left!
 
What did they take from Paul?? Was it his love for Caroline/Echo!?!?

This episode had everything. There was horror, mystery and romance. I was very freaked out by Sierra's nightmare. I loved that there was more mythology given to Rossum and how it all started. The Sierra/Victor moments were sweet as well. I'm glad Dominic was in this episode, he's such a complex character. He chose to stay in the Attic to help the Actives sent there. I'm glad Adelle is one of the good guys, but she plays being a b***h too well.

I'm glad Paul's back, even if he is an imprint. I dont get why that's a bad thing though. They imprint Tony and Madaline back into their original bodies. Sure, they agreed to be dolls in the first place, but still. I really cant wait to find out what Topher and Boyd were talking about when they said Paul would be really angry when he finds out what they took from him.

I cant wait for the next episode.
 
R
randiann
Yup :( They took his brain connections that were where his love feelings were stored and rerouted his brain functions through those or something all scientific and tragic sounding.
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