Is Dollhouse any good?

[Forbin]

Farscape is a fun show, but I wouldn't call it one of the best out there. Definitely worth a watch, but one of the weaker ones of those listed.

I think Babylon 5 was probably the best, though. DS9 was good, but it was like B5-lite. Sure, it had the bigger budget and hence, the better sets, effects, and actors, but Babylon 5 did story and character much better, in my opinion. Not that I hate or dislike DS9, I just think it was the lesser of the two.

IMO B5 dropped the ball allot with many of the characters that showed up in starring roles and ended up never being used. Like Na'Toth & Warren Keffer, while having others over play their parts, like Zathros. Let's not even speak on what a lame character Byron was.

Yes he was although it was nice to see Pat Tallman get more screentime

My sentiments ezzakly. I LOVE pat.

 

[Bishop76]

Ugh... Byron... Yeah, the less said about season 5 the better. Things got a bit rough there - understandable given that they weren't even thinking they were going to get their 5th season. A lot of the supporting cast was rough too - for various reasons - and I actually never saw the point of Keffer...

 

[Aeon]

That is all correct and also JMS lost all of his important story notes concerning the fifth season during some convention trip. I can only imagine how frustrated and pissed off he was at the time.

 

[Hyperspace05]

Geez, this B5 talk is getting just a TAD BIT off topic, isn't it???

 

[Forbin]

A scootch.

 

[Ethros]

Just getting back to the topic of Dollhouse, just wanted to say I finished rewatching it all via DVD the other day, having only watched it once before on TV.

And just wanna say, wow! I LOVE Dollhouse!!

I don't know if it was the fun of watching it back to back or that I'd forgotten a lot of things about it, but yeah I had a blast rewatching it.
Yes, obviously it takes those first few episodes to get going. In fact looking back those first four episodes (I kinda like 5) don't really even feel like "Dollhouse" if you know what I mean. Kinda like a different show.
It's not perfect, there are a few not-so-hot episodes, and hey Season 2 feels like it has about five years worth of plot rammed into it, but my opinion of the show has gone up a lot. Such great characters, Adelle, Topher, Boyd, Mr Dominic, Paul Ballard, Dr. Saunders, Alpha. Victor-as-Topher?
(Not bashing Echo or Sierra, but their characters don't stand out as much in memory when they played so many)
Also I watched it in chronological order too, with Season 1-2, and then Epitaph One and Epitaph Two last, which gave it real nice collective whole feel to it.

I suppose I'd still say it’s the lesser of Buffy, Angel, and Firefly, but then IMO that's no bad thing.

Now I've got all the catchphrases stuck in my head
"Did I fall asleep?"
"Would you like a treatment?"
"I try to be my best"

 

[T.Geiger]

I would qualify Farscape as being a harder "science fiction" than most of the other shows (the emphasis being on the phrase rather than either word). Other people might call it "darker" or "grittier", but I feel it embodies the spirit of the old stories you'd see from the pulp era.

The ensemble cast is fantastic, and most of the stories are pretty good. But to enjoy the show, you have to be able to handle a few things:
. Muppets. It has them. It treats them like real, breathing entities. Two of them are a part of the main cast.
. Low budget quality early on. You're probably not going to be wowed right out of the gate.
. Far out super goofy stuff. The show can really go off the deep end sometimes with this, but its usually still pretty fun. (Personally, the only episode I can't deal with is the one with the clams.)
. Wild mood swings. The pendulum can hit either side pretty quick.
. No happy endings. I think in my last runthrough, I only noticed one episode that ended on an unequivocally happy note. Even if our heroes are 100% triumphant over the problem they face this week, celebrating in their good fortune, there will still usually be some sort of downer right at the end like "They'll be coming back."

Frankly, its my number two series, behind DS9. Its also the first one I picked up on DVD. In fact, I've purchased the entire run of the show three times now. (Its... complicated.)

Finally, for a proper taste of either Farscape or Fringe, you will probably know if you like the show or not by:
. Farscape - mid-season one. No later than the end of season one. Possibly a lot sooner if the characters grow on you quickly.
. Fringe - Episode three or four. Being a modern day, "realistic" setting, and having only a handful of main cast members, there's not quite as much to establish as other shows. If the feel of the show doesn't hook you by this point (they had me in the pilot), it probably never will.

 

[Forbin]

Re the muppets: Watch Pilot. The lipsinc is amazing. It's probably what makes him the most convincing muppet on the show. I'd almost be willing to bet a lip reader could tell what he's saying. Plus, he's a really deep, rich character.

 

[label]

Finally, for a proper taste of either Farscape or Fringe, you will probably know if you like the show or not by:
. Farscape - mid-season one. No later than the end of season one. Possibly a lot sooner if the characters grow on you quickly.

You may like the show by mid-season one, but it really doesn't take shape as a series until the last 3-4 episodes of the Season with Hidden Memory/Nerve. So, I'd definitely give it through Season 1 before you decide you don't like it or not.

Fringe - Episode three or four. Being a modern day, "realistic" setting, and having only a handful of main cast members, there's not quite as much to establish as other shows. If the feel of the show doesn't hook you by this point (they had me in the pilot), it probably never will.

That's not even close to true. Fringe doesn't really starting getting really good until they introduce the series long arc towards the very end of Season 1. Before the end of Season 1 I would have characterized the show as a sort of bland x-Files'ish type of show with one really interesting character. However, it's a vastly improved show in Season 2 and through most of Season 3 and I would consider the show much better than I did through most of Season 1. Again......doesn't mean you won't like it based on the first 3-4 episodes....but it certainly might take some a whole season to really understand what the show is trying to do.

 

[Hyperspace05]

WTH? What is Farscape or Ds9 discussion doing in a Dollhouse thread??? Geez people!!!

 

[T.Geiger]

Stuff

While its true that the respective main story arcs don't get established until the points you mention, I think the overall format and the feel of the characters and setting gets established a lot sooner. I have always felt that these are the things that drive a show, rather than the Bug Eyed Monster or Technobabble of the week/month/season.

But if you're willing to give the shows a little time, then sure, the full first season of both shows would leave no doubt.

What is Farscape or Ds9 discussion doing in a Dollhouse thread?

If you actually read the thread, you'd see that the OP has mentioned all of these shows.