Time Magazine Review

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goldenboy

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Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 10:05 am

I Have Seen Dollhouse

Posted by James Poniewozik

My TiVo may be on life support, but the DVD player still works, and midseason TV is starting to come in fast and furious. Among the screeners I've received is a little show by some guy who did something about vampires once. You don't want to hear anything about it yet, do you? I didn't think so. Ignore me as I write more after the jump.

OK, a little preface. I've watched the Dollhouse episode (given the history of remakes on this show, I don't know whether I can properly call it the "pilot") once, casually, without taking notes. I reserve the right to change my mind after I've watched it and marinated on it more. And I wasn't crazy about Firefly when it first debuted, in retrospect one of the worse calls of my career.

It was both better and worse than I expected, in different ways. One of my concerns about it was that—given Joss Whedon's talent for making absorbing serials—the case-of-the-week nature of the show would make it harder to grow attached to. (I'm assuming that anyone who cares at this point knows the premise already, but in case I'm wrong: Eliza Dushku plays Echo, an "Active," which is a person who has agreed to let a secretive organization erase his or her original memories and personality and implant new ones in them for "assignments" involving rich clients.)

Yes, this is certainly Joss Whedon trying to do What People Think Works on Broadcast TV Today—the legendary serial-procedural hybrid. But the first episode—in which Echo is imprinted with a kidnapping-negotiator's personality to secure the return of a rich man's abducted daughter—is well enough written to be absorbing. Writing a crime hour doesn't seem like Whedon's thing, but the episode is tight, suspenseful, with intriguing psychological twists and flashes of Whedonesque humor.

And the more serial elements of the show seem promising, at least. At the same time, an investigator (Tahmoh Penikett, BSG's Helo) is looking into the rumored existence of the illegal "Dollhouse" where the Actives are housed. A scene with a skeptical colleague addresses head-on a basic implausibility of the premise: why the hell does a billionaire need to turn to some kind of bizarre sci-fi brianwashing whorehouse to get the perfect date, or the perfect crime investigator, or the perfect whatever, when they can perfectly easily go out and hire one who hasn't had their personality wiped? His response: when you have everything, you want something more—more exotic, more perfect, more specific. Not so persuasive on the surface, but if the show is well enough done, hopefully we won't care.

Now the minus. Dollhouse as conceived (a heroine plays a different "person" every week) is less a series concept than an actress' showcase, a sort of extreme version of an Alias undercover premise. (In fact, the reports of how the show was conceived have said that Dushku essentially broached the idea as a showcase.) And the actress being showcased is Eliza Dushku. Now, I have nothing against Dushku. I thought she was fine on Buffy. But she's not exactly Toni Collette (who's playing a multiple-personality case on Showtime's The United States of Tara, which I have not seen). Watching her inhabit her imprinted "personality"—a tough negotiator with secret vulnerabilities—I did not see her becoming another person. I thought: Oh, look! There's Eliza Dushku with glasses and her hair in a bun!

If it weren't for Whedon's pedigree, I'm not sure I'd be dying to see a second episode. But for me, the main draw now is not seeing Dushku become a different person every week, but getting to see Joss Whedon become a different writer every week.
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"Oh, look! There's Eliza Dushku with glasses and her hair in a bun" that could be my fear as well.
 
Yeah, she's not a true "thespian", IMO. Not a chameleon that can really become a wide range of characters. She's more like a Classic Hollywood starlet that brings her own presence and style to what she does.

But like the Time guy was suggesting, the writing is probably gonna be so interesting and all over the place, it'll still be highly entertaining (we hope).
 
It sounds to me like the revieweridn't care much for it but instead is doing what alot of people do and hoping because its Joss it will get better, but honesty I am not sure of Joss on that front.

I don't know the details but who else (writers, producers) are connected with this show?
 
B
Blondie Bear
[No message]
^ I agree with you about that. I've never really been a sycophantic Jossphile (I didn't like Angel enough for that to happen), and then when he pulled his classic let's-make-them-miserable ending on Dr. Horrible, I pretty much decided that he's not nearly as talented as people keep thinking he is, and not everything he does is god-touched. I plan to watch Dollhouse and give it a shot, anyway, but I'm also worried that it might fall apart. Or Joss might start spreading himself too thin again, lose interest, and wander off, letting the show fall down around its own ears.
 
While Eliza Dushku was great in the Faith role, she definitely isn't a very versatile actress and I think it'll be hard for her to carry an entire series on her shoulders. But I'm watching more because I have some faith in Whedon, rather than for her. Although it is just the pilot episode...she could certainly improve as the show goes on like SMG did in Buffy.
 
"Faith" was good in The New Guy, and "Faith" was pretty good in Wrong Turn. I am sure "Faith" will be fine in this series also..
 
I'm wondering how much of an ensemble piece this is gonna be, as opposed to just a star vehicle for Eliza. One thing I love about Whedon shows is the chemistry and interaction of the whole group. Looking forward to Amy Acker, Olivia Williams. Curious about the others.
 
Wow, I am so impressed. Someone in this thread had the chutzpah to do what I hadn't dared do earlier. That is to bring up the possibility that Joss Whedon may not be the messiah that so many people make him out to be.

Do we want this show to be a success or to bomb? I personally have a lot of respect for Eliza and loved Tru Calling. I was bummed when it got the can. Can she do this "different personality thing week after week?" Who knows?

The premise for this show doesn't really move me. I have see The Pretender, liked it, ready to move on.

So if Twilight is a hit, which another thread says may influence the Buffyverse future - if Dollhouse bombs, does that raise or lower the chances that a Buffy or Angel movie, or the Ripper show, or the Animated series might happen?

At this point I'd give Andrew his own show - I'm bloody desperate for MORE.

Uncle Rory
 
If Dollhouse bombs that will have been two in a row; which I think means Joss has to go back to being a script doctor.
 
I have never thought Joss was that great of a person. I actually think I'd hate to be around him in person. But I do like his writing style. The Buffy movie had an ok script. Buffy the show was unique and original...flawed, but great. Angel was his best project, IMO, that show is just epic awesomeness. Firefly is good. Serenity is an awesome movie, definitely better than the series. The Buffy and Angel comics were good enough to get me reading other comics, something I've never been into.

Personally I think Dollhouse looks like an amazing show...probably his best one yet. I could be wrong, but we'll see. But I'm not worried about yet. Quality-wise, anyway.
 
Let's not forget, that even more of an extent then film is; television is a collaborative effort. It took quite a few writers, directors, producers, actors...etc to make Buffy and Angel so brilliant. Sure, Joss created it, but it took much more than that to be a cult classic. Don't get me wrong, I pretty much love all of Joss' created works - but not all the genius rests on his shoulders 🙂
 
R
Randy Giles
[No message]
I'm hopefull. I've liked everything I've saw of Joss so far, especially concerning written personalities and friendships. Buffy being my favorite and Toy Story (yeah I know it was just his 'screen play') a close second.

I like what Joss and his crew did with vampires and chips and souls, that whole multiple personality thing, as well a psychological changes and character growth. I liked the dueling roles of an early Buffy...protector of the world and high schools student. This show i hope will contain a lot of things I liked about Buffy.

I've been watching the soon to be cancelled "My own worst Enemy" and loving it. I think Dollhouse might have strike a similiar chord for me. My fear is that it will be hard to follow. I actually like the variety of characters but i'm afraid i'll pick a favorite imprint and not care that much about echo! With worst enemy, i definately have a favorite side, but I'm gauranteed to see that role a little every episode. Who's to say thats the case with the imprints?

I'll watch and I hope I'll like echo. I'm afraid she might be too 'blank slate'. compared to the imprints which will very from show to show.
 
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