Echo-related stories
Posted Oct 24th 2009 1:14AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse, Joss Whedon
(S02E04) It's somewhat ironic that upon news that
Dollhouse is going on
something of a hiatus and will likely not be back next year that it delivers one of the best episodes of its run. Co-written by Joss' brother Jed (and it wouldn't surprise me if he wrote the music to the episode as well) and Maurissa Tancharoen (both of
Doctor Horrible fame), we got the backstory of Sierra and received a major view of how dark the underbelly of the Dollhouse really is.
In another surprise, they redid the graphics for the opening credits and they're better. Does anybody else make up lyrics while listening to the theme or is it just me? If so, what are your lyrics? Mine begins with "This is the Dollhouse. We're in the Dollhouse. This is the Dollhouse song."
Continue reading Review: Dollhouse - Belonging
Posted Sep 25th 2009 10:00PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse, Joss Whedon
(S02E01) For those who have seen the DVD-and-iTunes-only episode of
Dollhouse (
"Epitaph One") which deals with an apocalyptic future, we're not there yet. Instead, this episode (written and directed by Joss Whedon) deals with Paul Ballard using his connections to the Dollhouse to go after an arms dealer that he couldn't put away as a simple FBI agent.
We see the beginnings of the Boyd Langton/Doctor Saunders relationship hinted at in "Epitaph One," but once again, considering that Amy Acker has a limited appearance this season in order to go to
Happy Town, she was the highlight of this episode. I honestly hope that show fails, so that Amy will be around this one more for next season. Is that wrong?
Continue reading Dollhouse: Vows (season premiere)
Posted Jul 25th 2009 10:02AM by John Scott Lewinski
Filed under: OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free, Comic-Con, Dollhouse
Just a few short months ago, you wouldn't have thought that Joss Whedon's
Dollhouse would have a presence at 2009's
Comic-Con International. The show seemed on the brink of oblivion right up until its renewal for a second season.
Whedon and Dushku appeared at a press conference Friday to discuss the future and recent past of
Dollhouse as it prepares for its new season this September.
The panel for the fans was built around a new, second pilot for the show, "Epitaph One." The story darkens the show and reveals Dushku's character in a new and very special light. (It's too late in the dead of night for spoilers, so more on this later.)
Continue reading Whedon, Dushku talk new season of Dollhouse - Comic-Con Report
Posted May 13th 2009 3:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
Question: is it possible for a show to be renewed for a second season even after the show gets moved to Friday nights, gets increasingly bad ratings, and then a DVD set comes out that includes two unaired episodes, including the finale of the show that the network didn't air?
The unequivocal answer is ... who knows?
FOX still hasn't made an "official" decision on
Dollhouse. The ratings for the season finale (or the 12th episode, which served as the season finale) were some of the worst yet for the show, but until the network says "yeah, it's canceled, stop bothering us Whedon!" we have to say that it's still possible that the show will come back for a second year.
Continue reading Dollhouse DVD set will contain two unaired episodes
Posted May 9th 2009 12:18AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
(S01E12) I'm not sure if I should label this one the series finale, but I live in hope. In any case, it was an excellent episode and gives some sense of closure to the series, yet allows for a continuation of the story should it be picked up. And there is the unaired episode "Epitaph One," which hopefully will be included in the DVD set.
This episode was rife with characterization and philosophical debate, two strengths of Joss and his minions. Echo even brought up the simple fact that many viewers have been saying all along: "you can't sign a contract to be a slave."
Continue reading Dollhouse: Omega (season finale)
Posted May 1st 2009 11:36PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
(S01E11) So apparently, Echo/Caroline is Briar Rose. The big twist is that Ballard didn't end up being the Prince. Alpha did.
So now we know Alpha's face (and with that knowledge, my Ballard-as-Alpha theory gets blown to Hell in a handbasket), but we're still missing a lot. We don't know his motivation or his connection with Alpha. We do know that while masquerading as Stephen Kepler, he acts a lot like Topher (whom he may have used as inspiration for his facade) and when he reverts to character he acts a lot like Heath Ledger's Joker (Alan Tudyk is a brilliant actor).
Many law firms take on pro bono work to help those that can't afford legal help. I can only conclude that the Dollhouse has a similar service (or perhaps Topher does a little on the side), which is why a care center for abused children can afford a Doll that has been programmed to act like a grown-up, therapist version of their most abused patient.
That ability to actually create fictional personas based on postulations on how people will emotionally mature would be an interesting concept to explore if the show gets future seasons.
Continue reading Dollhouse: Briar Rose
Posted Apr 25th 2009 1:05AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
(S01E10) My first thoughts upon watching the beginning of tonight's episode: that teaser segment was quick. It seemed to go right into the opening credits.
This episode focused on a lot of the moral implications of the technology to copy personalities. This is the sort of philosophical story that Joss and company excel at.
I suppose it would be hypocritical of Adelle to not permit Topher to program a "gaming buddy" once a year on his birthday, particularly considering her own personal use of the Actives in previous episodes. It does strike me as odd that Topher wouldn't at least want to have sex with such an obviously compatible female. Perhaps Topher, despite his genius, is emotionally stunted to an age where sex doesn't matter to him.
Continue reading Dollhouse: Haunted
Posted Mar 28th 2009 10:03AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
(S01E07) This was a terrific episode. While it borrowed elements from other science fiction franchises (most notably the episode "The Naked Time" from
Star Trek), it served as a perfect vehicle to explain how Caroline (last name: Farrell. Forgive any misspelling of names) got involved with the Dollhouse.
Whedon and company go to an anti-corporate message. It turns out the Dollhouse is a product of the Rossum Corporation, the biggest drug company in America (if not the world), and Caroline was doing some animal activist activities to earn their ire. Those activities even cost the life of her then-boyfriend Leo.
We also know that Caroline used to be a student at Freema University and had Professor Janik as a teacher (once again, forgive any spelling errors). We knew she was a college student (or probably graduate when she was recruited). Now we know where. Which college campus did they use for filming, I wonder.
Whatever was in that teapot when Adelle was saying "nothing is as it seems", it wasn't tea.
Continue reading Dollhouse: Echoes
Posted Mar 21st 2009 12:57AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
(S01E06) So this is the biggie. The episode that changes everything. Did it have to be on the same night as the series finale of
Battlestar Galactica?
It looks like the
rumors aren't true. At least, not this week. Somewhat disappointing, but they could prove true before season's end.
Tonight's episode wasn't so much about Echo as it was about the Dollhouse itself and how the world perceives it. It also discussed (via documentary) the moral and philosophical implications of such a place, the sort of questions that Joss Whedon excels at exploring (good thing he wrote the episode).
Continue reading Dollhouse: Man on the Street
Posted Mar 19th 2009 10:32AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Casting, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
Joss himself has promised that Friday's episode of
Dollhouse is a game-changer. It's a pity that the episode is competing with the series finale of
Battlestar Galactica. What follows is a major spoiler for Friday that I'm leaving until after the jump.
Those of you who do not fear spoilers, click away...
Continue reading Major Dollhouse spoiler ahoy!
Posted Mar 16th 2009 12:35PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Reality-Free, Dollhouse
Well, what else would you expect him to say?
Dollhouse had a lot of buzz when it was announced, and then some of the buzz faded when FOX announced that it was putting the show on Friday nights, a graveyard for a lot of TV shows (though not as much of a graveyard as Saturday nights, I guess). Then the show premiered to mixed reviews and so-so ratings. The ratings still aren't that blockbuster. And now, creator
Joss Whedon promises that the next couple of episodes are going to show more of the vision that he has had for the show from the start (before FOX got involved and told him how they wanted the opening episodes to be).
Continue reading Joss Whedon promises that Dollhouse is about to get better
Posted Mar 14th 2009 12:20AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
(S01E05) Among other things we've learned from tonight's episode of
Dollhouse is that those who live in a cult can sing in perfect harmony. Mostly likely due to brainwashing.
We've also learned that certain members of the U.S. Senate are well aware of the Dollhouse's existence, making it even less likely that Agent Ballard will succeed in his mission of bringing the place down.
Continue reading Dollhouse: True Believer
Posted Mar 7th 2009 12:50AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
(S01E04) Why hire an Active to be a midwife for a baby delivery? Surely a real midwife must be a lot cheaper. Unless you need a midwife that is also a champion skier that reads Sanskrit.
In the beginning, I wondered if Echo was going to be victimized by a man (or group of men) every week until she turned all master criminal on us. For some reason, I was under the impression that the Actives were only for romantic or altruistic purposes (despite the illegal nature of the business). Obviously, I was mistaken.
I can actually understand the logic of going to the Dollhouse for a master safecracker or any sort of high tech criminal activity. People who can perform those activities are legitimately rare and expensive. With the Dollhouse, you get a one-stop-shop for all your illegal needs.
With Taffy, "blue skies" is the new "five by five". It was kind of neat to see two different actresses play the same character. I found it funny how Sierra, when imprinted with Taffy's personality, knew exactly where she put the safecracking tools on her body.
Continue reading Dollhouse: Gray Hour
Posted Feb 28th 2009 1:50AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
(S01E03) At first, I wondered if the songs written for this episode were from external sources. Then I realized that tonight's episode was written by Jed Whedon, brother of Joss, and Jed's fiancée Maurissa Tancharoen. Jed is a music composer and among his other projects is the Internet sensation
Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, thus answering my question.
Ironically, the episode even revolved around the music industry and its performers, with Rayna Russell obviously being the love child of Beyoncé Knowles and Britney Spears. Was Tancharoen among the musical extras in this episode? I didn't see her if she was, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Continue reading Dollhouse: Stage Fright
Posted Feb 21st 2009 10:02AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
(S01E02) In what was seriously a step up in show quality,
Dollhouse gave us its version of the short story "The Most Dangerous Game". In effect, humans hunting humans with lethal weapons. I'm surprised the concept isn't a Fox reality show yet.
Episodes that fill back story always enrich a series (and remain one of Whedon's strengths). A good example of this sort of story is "Out of Gas" from Whedon's previous television show
Firefly. I've also seen the concept in
Torchwood and
The Sarah Connor Chronicles. In this case, we learn about Boyd Langton's introduction to the Dollhouse and the nature of his relationship with Echo.
Now we have a potential Moriarty to Echo's Sherlock Holmes in the form of Alfa (which is spelled that way and not "Alpha" in the NATO phonetic alphabet). It's uncertain as to whether Richard himself was Alfa, but if he was, it would have been likely that Adelle DeWitt would have recognized him in his initial interview (unless plastic surgery was involved). Thus, that seems unlikely. Had he been, it would have added a level of complexity to his name since hunting is such an alpha-male sport (much as how Echo lives up to her name by containing traces of memories).
Continue reading Dollhouse: Target
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