My first Dollhouse watch

[Hale Caesar]

So I just finished the first episode of Dollhouse and I decided to make a thread where I post my thoughts on the show.

I liked the first episode, I wasn't entirely sure what was happening all the time, but I got a general idea. I like some of the casting choices like Amy Acker (why is her beautiful face all scarred up?!?!) and Sam Witwer is always fun. However, after watching the first episode i'm not convinced Eliza Dushku can carry a show by herself (especially one as challenging as this one), but i'll keep watching and give her a chance.

One thing that really surprised me was the writing. Where is Joss's witty dialogue? Overall I do love the concept of the show and i'm ready for more!

 

[JCoatsworth]

Cool idea! Looking forward to reading your view on the show.
In my opinion the show gets really good after the first 5 episodes or so, when the story starts coming to life.
Same thing goes for the second season. It starts relatively slow, but after a few episodes it gets really gripping.

I like some of the casting choices like Amy Acker (why is her beautiful face all scarred up?!?!)

You'll learn soon enough 😉

 

[Hale Caesar]

Just finished episode 2, I felt this one was a lot better than the first. I really like how they are teasing a lot of different storylines (Is Alpha alive? Who ordered that guy to hunt Echo in the woods?). I've also really liked the morality of Boyd Langton, and how he must feel having to watch Echo constantly have her mind wiped. And that last scene was great, I assume it means Echo is starting to remember things even after her mind wipe. And I definitely noticed a lot more awesome Whedon dialogue.

I forgot to mention how much I love the theme song! It's so haunting and mysterious. Great stuff.

 

[Hale Caesar]

So I watched episodes 3, 4 and 5 last night. I thought Episode 3 "Stage Fright" and 4 "Gray Hour" were pretty boring, I didn't find them particularly interesting. Episode 5 "True Believer" thought was pretty awesome in my opinion, I really liked the whole religious cult thing and Boyd Langton is an awesome character.

But I think the most interesting character on the show is Paul Ballard, because I respect his desire to find the truth, his bad*ssness, and the fact he is played by the incredibly talented Tahmoh Penikett (who was on BSG!). And I feel so bad for his neighbor Madeline because she tries so hard and is so kind and Paul is so obsessed with his work he doesn't notice her

 

[Washburne]

Great fun to hearing your thoughts. Keep it coming. I'll probably not comment much due to the risk of spoilers but be assured I'll be reading.

I remembering missing the witty dialogue as well.

 

[Hale Caesar]

Just finished "Man on the Street" and aaaaaaaaah that episode was so good! Dollhouse is really turning into a great show. This episode has so much going on and is setting up so many stories

- Who is the person inside Dollhouse helping Paul Ballard?
- What Dollhouse's real purpose?
- Mellie is a Active?!?!? WTF! Who else is an active on this show?
- Paul Ballard got suspended, I wonder how he will continue his investigation
- Mellie has developed real feelings for Paul...but she's not real (Joss you evil genius lol)
- I love the morality of this show, seeing all those people's testimonials on the street really makes you think about what Dollhouse is doing
- Patton Oswalt played such an interesting character, I hope he comes back
- Hearn has been raping Sierra, that is some disturbing stuff
- I got to mention the incredible fight between Eliza Dushku and Tahmoh Penikett, that was awesome. I also want to compliment the stunt men and women (because I can tell they worked really hard on this fight)
- Paul Ballard is my favorite character. That guy is awesome-sauce.

Dollhouse is getting so good. I can't wait to watch more.

 

[Taake]

Hihi, your thoughts of "Man on the street" are pretty much identical to my first time reactions 🙂 This was the episode that hook me.

 

[wickedtiger86]

Oh yeah. Man on the Street was what made me fall for the show. I love it so much, but that was the moment that I was like . . . this is awesome.

It's so cool to see people thinking the same things I did when I watched it. 🙂

 

[Valjavertjinn]

Ooh, yeah! This is great! Please, please, please keep these coming!
Dr. Saunders (Amy Acker's Character) is my favorite, so I can't wait to see more of your reactions to her! And the show in general!

 

[Hale Caesar]

So I finished "Echoes", I thought that episode was a little bit weaker than the last but it still had some good points. I really liked that we got some backstory about Caroline (I like that she was a passionate girl), Victor and and Sierra. I didn't find the episode that funny, probably because it's still very early for an episode like this (and probably because I wanted to see Amy Acker be goofy and she didn't). Overall good stuff.

"Needs", on the other hand was aaaaaawesome!

- I never thought about how or why each Active got to the Dollhouse foundation, this really made me curious
- What did Caroline do?? Why did she want to become an Active!?!?
- Sierra's story was difficult to hear. She was forced to become an active because she wouldn't have sex with some scientist, and then the scientist uses Dollhouse to get her, what a creep.
- Victor and Sierra are a great couple, it was so sad to see them exchange words before they passed out (Victor is just in love!)
- Caroline just wanted to free everyone, it really makes me like the character (who we don't know much about)
- Topher is such an interesting character that I haven't talked about. I think at this point in the show he is a villain, he doesn't hesitate when doing these morally questionable things. He is a funny guy but hides what he does with humor, and is very loyal to Dollhouse and Dewitt (who, as we all have seen, do some very questionable things). We haven't got any background on who he is or why he does what he does, I definitely hope we can learn more about him

Dollhouse has been setting up some incredible plots, I just hope they can deliver. I might sound crazy (tell me what you guys think) but i'm not that interested in Echo, mainly because the most interesting parts of her character come from her past. They hinted that Echo is remembering things after her wipes but so far it isn't enough to make me invested in the character, I just feel that she isn't moving towards anything. I think Paul Ballard is much more interesting, I almost want the show to focus more on him. I really like this show makes me think about morals and consequences, and this is a compliment I can say of all Whedon shows

 

[Hale Caesar]

Watched "Spy in the House of Love", another great episode

- My jaw dropped when Paul Ballard found out Mellie isn't real
-WHAT IS THE DOLLHOUSE'S PURPOSE?!?! I love the whole conspiracy thing
- Echo is evolving and protecting herself, very interesting
- Dominic was the spy (a little obvious lol), i'm a little confused was he the one helping Paul Ballard? From my understanding he wasn't
- Boyd got promoted and Echo gets a new handler (I will miss seeing them together, they had good chemistry)

 

[Washburne]

I might sound crazy (tell me what you guys think) but i'm not that interested in Echo, mainly because the most interesting parts of her character come from her past. They hinted that Echo is remembering things after her wipes but so far it isn't enough to make me invested in the character, I just feel that she isn't moving towards anything. I think Paul Ballard is much more interesting

I'd say that one of Whedons main strenghts are a good supporting cast/characters. So good in fact that not one of the main characters in any of his tv shows have been my favourite, Not to say I dislike the main characters but for me it gets better when he involve the rest.

 

[Taake]

- Sierra's story was difficult to hear. She was forced to become an active because she wouldn't have sex with some scientist, and then the scientist uses Dollhouse to get her, what a creep.

That story is so rough. I mean I love the episode but it's hard to watch.

- Topher is such an interesting character that I haven't talked about. I think at this point in the show he is a villain, he doesn't hesitate when doing these morally questionable things. He is a funny guy but hides what he does with humor, and is very loyal to Dollhouse and Dewitt (who, as we all have seen, do some very questionable things). We haven't got any background on who he is or why he does what he does, I definitely hope we can learn more about him

:heart: :heart:

I might sound crazy (tell me what you guys think) but i'm not that interested in Echo, mainly because the most interesting parts of her character come from her past. They hinted that Echo is remembering things after her wipes but so far it isn't enough to make me invested in the character, I just feel that she isn't moving towards anything. I think Paul Ballard is much more interesting, I almost want the show to focus more on him. I really like this show makes me think about morals and consequences, and this is a compliment I can say of all Whedon shows

You know, I think Echo gets more interesting each time I re-watch the show but I certainly agree with you. First time around I felt that the characters around her were often more interesting and deserved more plot-time than she did... e.g. Paul or Viktor/Sierra, Topher... etc etc. Echo just kind of appears to be slow moving (even if I guess she isn't really) but with a host of talent around them I wish they would have put less focus on Echo. 🙂

 

[Hale Caesar]

Just finished "Haunted", another good episode, I didn't care about the murder mystery, what I found really great was the character moments and themes of the episode


- The idea of life after death is interesting, I didn't think Dollhouse had the capabilities to do something like that. I wonder if this will play a bigger role later in the show?
- As i said before, I thought the whole murder mystery where the lady took Echo's body was "meh"
- Dollhouse covering up November's identity was cool. I'm glad Paul's police friend finally believes him!
- What's going on Paul? What was up with the rough sex? Is he starting to not care about Mellie (although in a weird way I can understand because she's not real)
- Topher was the highlight for me, they're finally starting to show us more of his personality. He is just lonely and makes a friend for himself on his birthday, that is one of the saddest things I've ever heard...i'm finally starting to see him as a human lol

 

[Hale Caesar]

Just watched "Briar Rose". Incredible episode!

- OOOHHHH SNAP. Paul Ballard found out where the Dollhouse is (a little easy for such a secret organization, but i'll roll with it)
- Tophers idea to make Echo the "best possible future" of the little girl was genius!
- It's Alan Tudyk! And he's an environmentally conscious stoner. I love it XD
- Paul inside the Dollhouse was so tense
- Paul vs. Boyd Langton was epic!
- WHAAAAT Alan Tudyk is Alpha? And holy crap he's frickin scary, I didn't think he could be a menacing villain, but he is!
- I'm confused though. The real Stephen Kepler was killed in the dumpster. But when Paul Ballard looked up Dollhouse's "environmental specialist" a picture of Alpha came up (Alan Tudyk).
- Who did Echo get imprinted as?
- I love Paul Ballard (he should be the main character of this show) and how determined he is to help the people in the Dollhouse and I got the impression that Boyd knows he's right and almost respects him
- I checked and Jane Espenson wrote this episode. That explains why it is so amazing XD

 

[Taake]

- It's Alan Tudyk! And he's an environmentally conscious stoner. I love it XD

Agreed! So awesome

- WHAAAAT Alan Tudyk is Alpha? And holy crap he's frickin scary, I didn't think he could be a menacing villain, but he is!

I know! Eeh, I was so shocked and I was surprised that he's so awesome as Alpha, way scarier than I thought he could be!

- I'm confused though. The real Stephen Kepler was killed in the dumpster. But when Paul Ballard looked up Dollhouse's "environmental specialist" a picture of Alpha came up (Alan Tudyk).

Alpha did a really good job? He seemed to be tracking Paul and seem to be using him as much as Paul thought he was using Stephen Kepler. So he planted the photo?

- I love Paul Ballard (he should be the main character of this show) and how determined he is to help the people in the Dollhouse

I love his fight scenes, he's so bad ass, if ever I was gonna have a body guard I would totally hire him 😉

- I checked and Jane Espenson wrote this episode. That explains why it is so amazing XD

I didn't know that but that's probably true, it's a great ep!

 

[Valjavertjinn]

OOOOH! Briar Rose is probably my favorite Dollhouse episode! Dr. Saunders is my favorite, and I love how sinister Alpha is when he's holding her captive in her room.
Your rewiews are wonderful - I can't wait to see the next one!
Are you enjoying it overall so far?

 

[Astral]

I'm on my first Dollhouse watch as well. I'm not as far as you (only up to "Needs") but I'm enjoying your reviews so far of the episodes I have watched. So far "True Believer" "Echoes" and "Needs" are my favorites.

 

[Hale Caesar]

Watching Omega. This was another great episode

- I predicted Amy Ackers character was an active (the line "did you always want to be a doctor" and Topher's response was what gave it away lol)
- The idea of putting humans on hard drives and in different bodies shows that humans are willing to play God when given the power. I love when shows explore such ambitious themes. Goos job Whedon.
- AAAH Why did Caroline volunteer to become an Active (this is driving me crazy lol)
- Boyd supporting Paul Ballard? Hell yea.
- So Alpha is crazy because he absorbed multiple minds (48 IIRC), and then he destroyed his original self.
- Omega Echo was pretty bad*ss. She kind of reminds me of Buffy in the second last episode of season 4.
- Paul Ballard is working for the Dollhouse?!?!? WHAAAAAT that is awesome
- November is leaving. I'm going to miss her she was really nice
- My only real complaint about this episode was that is got confusing at some points and a little silly (I couldn't help but laugh when Alpha was holding the hard drive hostage lol)

"Epitaph One" is the last episode this season (I bought the Blu-Ray). I read this episode never aired on TV, does anyone know why?




Finished "Epitaph One". Words can not describe how much I enjoyed this episode and how excited I am to watch season 2.

- The idea of doing everything in flashbacks is genius, because it sets up storylines for future seasons of Dollhouse
- There is literally 6-7 seasons worth of material in this episode
- At some point in the future the technology Dollhouse has produced will cause an apocalyptic future. That means the show would have changed from science fiction. That sounds amazing.
- There will be a war between Actuals and the people affected by "imprinting"
- Topher was responsible for advancing the Dollhouse tech when he first joined them
- Echo is now fully able to keep her personality (but she gets headaches), and Paul is still her handler
- Why was Boyd leaving? Does he have feelings for Dr.Saunders/Whiskey? And did anyone notice he calls her Claire? OMG!
- What is Safe Haven?
- Rossum was literally allowing people to buy immortality. I love the moral and emotional themes this show deals with
- How did Dominic get out of the attic?
- Why didn't we see any flashbacks of November?
- Victor and Sierra get their original personalities back and have hidden backups
- Topher. His "waves" started the apocalypse, and now he's gone crazy, and DeWitt is one of his closest friends. Don't pick up the phone.

This episode makes so disappointed Dollhouse got cancelled. Joss clearly put a lot of time and effort into this story, this was going to be an epic science-fiction show. I loved the post-apocalyptic future and what really interests me is the transition from where the show started to this horrible future.

 

[Hale Caesar]

So I watched the first episode of season 2 "Vows". Overall I liked it, this one felt like a setup episode for this season.

- I see a little tension between Boyd and Paul Ballard, perhaps it's because Boyd is very protective of Echo and doesn't completely trust him yet
- It's Apollo from Battlestar! Awesome! And he fights Tahmoh (its like a mini reunion lol)
- DeWitt still seems to care for Victor
- Boyd and Saunders relationship? Sounds good.
- Echo is remembering more and more, I hope this story develops quicker (I was bored with Echo in season 1)
- Dr.Saunders/Whiskey was the highlight of this episode. The emotional damage of finding out she's a doll, that her whole life has been programmed and watching her deal with it was such great TV
- Where Dr. Saunders going at the end of the episode?
- Paul Ballard is Echo's handler, I just hope he continues to be awesome.
- OMG! It's WESLEY. WYNDAM. PRYCE! Alexis Denisof being added to the show is great, I hope he gets a large role because he's so talented