Episode Discussion Season 1 - Favorite Episode and Why?

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

So, I've been re-watching Season 1, and trying to decide which is my favorite episode. After watching 'Man on the Street" for the second time, I'd decided that was it, until I watched "Epitaph One"....

Oh my god. What a fantastic episode. I love alternate realities. I love exploring the way things "could have been." We're reading Dick's The Man in the High Castle right now in my Senior Synthesis class, which is a book in which the characters are reading a book called The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, depicting a world in which Japan and Germany won WW2. American society is, of course, is completely different under the Japanese rule. Anyway, this book basically was responsible for making "alternate reality" a legit sub-genre of science fiction. This episode totally reminded me of this.

What a terrifying world L.A. is in this episode. People wandering around, without help, unsure of who they are? Gives me goosebumps. Can you imagine what it would be like to not know who you are? Searching around for your body, when your mind in someone elses? I really love what Joss is doing with what constitutes identity with this show. Fascinating concept.

My question is this: How will the Dollhouse, and how will Adelle prevent this from happening in the future? How could she even fathom what could happen? It's been pretty clear that she was little control over her operation. Perhaps the question should be; how will Adelle prevent the technology from being abused? I see this future world as completely and utterly realistic and plausible.

So, my question is; now that maybe you've had the chance to re-watch some select episodes, which is your favorite S1 episode?

 

[JollyApe]

My question is this: How will the Dollhouse, and how will Adelle prevent this from happening in the future? How could she even fathom what could happen? It's been pretty clear that she was little control over her operation. Perhaps the question should be; how will Adelle prevent the technology from being abused? I see this future world as completely and utterly realistic and plausible.

Well this is Whedon, he does have a tendency to make what he implies become utter reality. So I'm not so sure there is any way they are supposed to be able to stop it, or that they will even try to. I think this was just a little teaser for what will come. And you are right, it was beeping gorgeous. On a shallow level I got to squee at Felicia Day and "Papi" being in the same Whedon episode. And on a more layered level it was simply brilliant television and storytelling. It made me yearn to find out how it will all happen and it made me crave to know what happened to all of the actives and employees of the Dollhouse. It was just excellent.

But both Needs and Omega deserves mentioning, cause they were both high up. Complex characters and complex worlds that draw me in and refuse to let me go.

 

[Angelic Slayer]

Omega was a great episode in my opinion, one of the best without a doubt. But I thought it over, and "The Target" actually got my vote.

I didn't see this particular episode until after the DVD came out, and it really filled in the missing pieces to Boyd's relationship with Echo. It was great seeing how they became handler/active, and having Echo protect him was an interesting turn of events. The two of them remind me a little of Giles/Buffy; I'm a huge sucker for Father/Daughter character arcs. This episode, despite the suspense, definitely gave me warm and fuzzies 😀

 

[Frketson]

Briar Rose, we get to see Ballard finally get inside the dollhouse. We see him and boyd duke it out and the amazingly fantastical reveal of Alpha which ranks (for me) as one of the top moments in any Whedon show.

 

[laianna]

Epitaph One.

So many people thought the first season was awful (I disagreed, but anyway) and this episode proved the amazing potential of what Dollhouse could become.

It was happy and sad and funny, but mostly it showed what the show was really about -- finding who you are. And also showing how everything goes to Hell which is always fun to watch. 🙂

Everyone had such amazing acting, especially Whiskey/Dr. Saunders and so many parts of it were just so echantingly chilling. I also love the ending of it, where they're all going to safe haven and Whiskey is still waiting for Boyd in the Dollhouse as she watches all the intruders die.

Just so well put together and exciting. 🙂

 

[alexa]

That's odd.. I didn't like Epitaph One that much. It was interesting.. but mostly it just frustrated me. As a whole I thought Man On the Street, was the best. Sort of guessed that November might be an active, but didn't see it being revealed like that.

 

[MinwaraYana]

Well, I posted in the other thread that I like Briar Rose the most. But I accidentally voted Spy in the House of Love. Now I made up and vote Omega. I grew to love it more than Briar Rose because of the actions. And I love how they put Caroline in that girl. I love the quote "My brain hurts" and "That's my brain!". It's awesome.

About Epitaph One, I love it, but it doesn't get my vote. 😛

Here is the other thread.

Question What's Your Favourite Season 1 Episode? - Buffy-Boards