Thought when it ends.
Dollhouse: "Briar Rose" (1x11)
- Thread starter tharpdevenport
- Start date
Shit, meet fan. Pretty crazy stuff but I'm a real new, real casual viewer, can't wait to read what others got to say.
Despite the happenings plotwise, there was nothing more than "Average" here, in fact the whole thing was kind of boring and underwhelming for a season finale two-parter.
Nice to see Wash, but Whedon made his character too skittish and talkative -- at times it was so annoying I wanted to mute the TV. Good thing it turned out to be a front, otherwise Whedon would need his butt kicked.
Nice to see Wash, but Whedon made his character too skittish and talkative -- at times it was so annoying I wanted to mute the TV. Good thing it turned out to be a front, otherwise Whedon would need his butt kicked.
I am officially on the edge of my seat. Alan Tudyk was great in this episode, starting off as a funny, cowardly guy and taking a chilling turn as a dangerous psychopath. That and the fight between Boyd and Ballard are among the many things that make this episode top-notch.
As a technical piece of writing, I'm fucking impressed.
I didn't get the need for the Sleeping Beauty story at the beginning. That seemed so random, and typical of everything that's wrong with the series premise (like Echo being hired to be a midwife in one of the first episodes).
And then it all became clear.
Echo is Sleeping Beauty. And there were three princes trying to save her, for entirely different reasons.
Really solid.
I didn't get the need for the Sleeping Beauty story at the beginning. That seemed so random, and typical of everything that's wrong with the series premise (like Echo being hired to be a midwife in one of the first episodes).
And then it all became clear.
Echo is Sleeping Beauty. And there were three princes trying to save her, for entirely different reasons.
Really solid.
I like the business of turning the prince-rescuing-the-captive upside down: it's Alpha who's the prince, at the end. Creepy.
I'm quite involved now in the frustrating logic of the premise and the inside-out ethics of these people - among other aspects of the show. If the series ends I'll be disappointed.
I'm quite involved now in the frustrating logic of the premise and the inside-out ethics of these people - among other aspects of the show. If the series ends I'll be disappointed.
I thought it was a great episode. I knew Alan Tudyk was going to be in the show but I didn't know he was going to be Alpha. He did a good job going from paranoid pothead to smart, calculating killer. The whole Echo was a princess aspect to the story was also great and paid off in a cool way. The show is starting to get good, hopefully it wont be canceled.
Agreed. I liked the opening and the ending, but it was draggy in the middle. Despite those great bookends, I have to give this an Average overall.
I enjoyed the appearance of "frak" and thought that the "grown up version" was a cool concept for childhood counseling. When I saw young Susan "fixing" the book, I was reminded a bit of River and Book's bible.
Dominic's reaction was realistic for someone waking up in another body with all memories intact. I wonder what the Whiskey reference was about (beyond being the phonetic letter/doll name and not the drink).
It was great to see Alan Tudyk again (I've only seen him in Firefly/Serenity and 28 Days). He seems quite adept at becoming whomever he's playing so that one forgets his other roles while watching.
The ending reveals/surprises were naturally welcome, setting up next week for some really interesting stuff.
Yeah, great episode, but it did feel like we were stuck in neutral for a little while after Ballard made his way into the Dollhouse. And I guess Ballard finally lost a fight.
I'm not sure I understand how Alpha operates, but I guess I'll find out next week. The trailer look even more crazy than this episode.
I'm not sure I understand how Alpha operates, but I guess I'll find out next week. The trailer look even more crazy than this episode.
Excellent. Even though I could have practically telegraphed most of this episode, the manner in which it was presented was simply outstanding, as was actor Alan Tudyk. Makes me wish the show were returning for a second season (I still haven't heard one way or another on that), because I'd like to see as much of Alpha as possible.
Considering what scumbags the people at the dollhouse are, is it wrong that the psychopath they created is the one I end up cheering for?
Considering what scumbags the people at the dollhouse are, is it wrong that the psychopath they created is the one I end up cheering for?
is it wrong that the psychopath they created is the one I end up cheering for?
Not at all. Evil Vampire Willow and Faith were my favorites in Buffy (though there were other reasons besides their evilocity
).
Yeah, Faith was a lot of fun, wasn't she?is it wrong that the psychopath they created is the one I end up cheering for?
Not at all. Evil Vampire Willow and Faith were my favorites in Buffy.
That was awesome. I didn't find it draggy at all, though the presentation felt a bit more like an episode of Battlestar Galactica than Firefly (which I guess makes sense given that Jane Espenson wrote it) -- but it's a presentation I'm comfortable with. That is, you're presented with a plot situation, then spend a lot of time with the characters as they take that journey, rather than focusing on the events. In that sense, I'll agree that this episode felt a little different than a lot of the other episodes we've seen this season, but I don't think that's a bad thing.
It was nice to see Ballard interacting with some "new" faces. I particularly enjoyed his chemistry with (Alpha) and with Boyd.
The episode certainly left me on the edge of my seat for next week, and after watching the trailer...
It was nice to see Ballard interacting with some "new" faces. I particularly enjoyed his chemistry with (Alpha) and with Boyd.
The episode certainly left me on the edge of my seat for next week, and after watching the trailer...
That would of made one hell of a season finale, and one killer of a series finale.
And is it possible that Ballard and Alphas conversation in the chair room about "cells and functions" a hint towards that mysterious episode 13?
And is it possible that Ballard and Alphas conversation in the chair room about "cells and functions" a hint towards that mysterious episode 13?
Unfortunately, I don't see where Ballard's story goes from here that doesn't involve him 1) being killed/sent to the Attic by the Dollhouse or 2) hired by the Dollhouse to become a handler, possibly for Echo/Caroline.
And I don't like either of those outcomes, because he's the character I'm rooting for.
I wish I hadn't known ahead of time. It would have made the episode even better. Mind you, even knowing, it was still one hell of a ride.
That really, really bothered me. The guy can deal with mobsters after getting shot, a security team, last the same amount of time with a programmed doll, and a whole whack of other situations, but he can't handle one regular guy? I don't have a hard time believing Boyd is well trained, but every Ballard confrontation up until now says that he should've won that fight long before Echo came into play.
Also,
I recall reading that one of the characters was going to be boxed/put in the Attic by the end of the season. I'm assuming this would be Victor, as who the hell is going to want a rent-a-doll with a cut up face?
As grateful as I am that we're getting all of these plot developments, I'm really wishing it could have been stretched out. I mean, it's a good thing that Joss read the writing on the wall at Fox and decided that he might as well give us this much in a short amount of time. But I can only imagine how good these developments would have been if they had been stretched out over a longer period of time.
I think we're supposed to believe that Boyd is as much of a ninja as Ballard. Just look at how long their fight lasted.
If the payoff next week is as good as the setup was this week, then I'll be pretty happy with these 13 episodes. But I'll be even happier if FOX miraculously doesn't cancel the show--do we have official word yet?
If the payoff next week is as good as the setup was this week, then I'll be pretty happy with these 13 episodes. But I'll be even happier if FOX miraculously doesn't cancel the show--do we have official word yet?
Best episode of the series, thusfar. I never felt bored or thought that it dragged. I was really surprised and happy to see so much payoff in one episode - Ballard finds and get inside the Dollhouse, Alpha is revealed, etc. It's amazing to see how this show has improved from the first episode to this one. I'm totally on board for more, and would be very happy if Fox pulled a miracle and renewed the show.
