Suggestions for 2nd viewing-- which eps can I skip??

[joansummers11]

I'm thinking of a re-watching of Dollhouse, just for kicks, since I remember really enjoying it when it first came out. However, I also remember that Season 1 could be a bit shoddy in places, and since I've already seen the show I'm not interested in watching unnecessary episodes again. Does anyone have any suggestions? Which episodes can be skipped without missing integral parts of the overall theme? Should I just start halfway through season 1? 3/4 of the way through? Or are there any earlier episodes that are important? Thanks for any input!

 

[Blaze]

NONE!!! I did a full rewatch this last year with some members of this board and I fell in love with the show all over again. Sure, some episodes are weaker, but in my opinion you really can't miss any of them, because the overall arc is at least present to some degree in each ep. You'll probably notice some clues that you didn't see before, and Echo's path towards consciousness is something that needs to be seen in it's entirety.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Let me axe you this question, as I have been thinking about it. I really hated Dollhouse, especially the first season. I didn't hate the second season as much, but I dont know if I liked it. But I have been thinking about consumption lately, and wondering if you mass consume the episodes in a marathon format if they would play better. As they aired there were times you would go two or three weeks between episodes, and I think that, coupled with the general waiting (since many of the episode were, more or less standalone and didnt do much to advance the plot) between episodes made the series maybe less appealing. There were not many "I must tune in next week" episodes, but that wouldnt have as much as an effect on a binge. I had a point somewhere but I lost it.. I think you get my query.

As it stands now, to answer the original question.. I would skip 3/4's of the first season.

 

[joansummers11]

Let me axe you this question, as I have been thinking about it. I really hated Dollhouse, especially the first season. I didn't hate the second season as much, but I dont know if I liked it. But I have been thinking about consumption lately, and wondering if you mass consume the episodes in a marathon format if they would play better.

Mr. Pole, it's very possible. There is a flow of narration you can achieve through DVD/streaming marathons that you just don't get when a show is originally aired. And I think this can work to a show's advantage, and actually encourage more investment and interest from the viewer who doesn't have to tune out for a week or more between episodes--sometimes to the point of giving up on the show entirely.

Dollhouse definitely has its faults, but I think that was more to do with the lack of studio support. If Joss Whedon had more back-up in this area, this could have been a stellar show. The premise is fantastic, unique, relevant, and symbolic, and had a lot of things going for it. We were just beginning to scratch the surface of some very interesting characters-- Dr. Saunders, for one.-- and get into a really nice groove of backstory and character development. This is my opinion, anyway. It'll be interesting to see if this changes at all during a 2nd viewing.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Dollhouse definitely has its faults, but I think that was more to do with the lack of studio support.

See, thats what I disagree with. I think he (Joss) paced it wrong. It's the same pitfall that Agents of Shield had/has and it's ratings havent really recovered. In my opinion he started Dollhouse too soon in the story. There was nothing to really grab and hold onto your attention. I think if the second season has the first, the show would have lasted much longer.

I think you needed to come out swinging to avoid some of the comparisons to other shows which were similar.

 

[joansummers11]

I think you needed to come out swinging to avoid some of the comparisons to other shows which were similar.

Were there other shows that were similar? So, you think the pacing had to do with Whedon and not hesitancy or alterations made by the studio? I don't really remember how season 2 played out, but I believe that's when we start to learn what led Echo to the Dollhouse in the first place, right? It's possible the show could have benefited from a more linear structure, starting with Echo's activism as a civilian and then her contract with the Dollhouse. Though I kind of love that you're dropped into this bizarre situation and have no idea how those people got there. That grabs the attention in and of itself. I do think, though, that there could have been less stand-alone episodes, and more episodes in the 1st season dedicated to the overall story arch.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Were there other shows that were similar?

At first glance shows were similar.. you could say Alias, The Pretender, Journeyman, John Doe, you could even compare it to Quantum Leap. What set Dollhouse apart you really did not get into until the later part of the first season and the second. If you 'go in blind' to the first few episodes there really isnt anything that grabs you, or impresses you as being different. It certainly did not feel like the serial show it would later become.

No!! the nonlinear story was one of the FEW bright spots in the first season.. but then again, you had Lost using a nonlinear story so again, Dollhouse felt similar to that.

 

[Fuffy Baith]

I agree with Blaze I don't like skipping episodes when rewatching shows but I think if you really want to skip some you could probably skip 1,3,5 and still be ok, and I wouldn't skip any in s2.

I think that Fox studios didn't like the original direction Joss and Eliza wanted to go in with the show not sure what the original plan was, but Fox is the one that wanted the standalone episodes.

 

[joansummers11]

Wish we could know what that original plan was! I know this show had more potential than uber-conservative Fox could see.