Dollhouse ep by ep; rewatch and reviews

[I am not Spock]

Well, BTVS Season one had a lower budget, and wasn't 'excellent' yet, but it was still a bit of silly entertainment, and had snappy dialogue. I like episodes like Nightmares and the Puppet Show. It was markedly different from the years that followed, though. It took until mid season two to really find its voice, and become a brilliant show, yes.

Dollhouse gelled within the first few episodes, you're right. Shame that Firefly and Dollhouse were so short lived, we never got to see if they would become serious rivals for BTVS and Angel.

 

[saturn5]

Well, BTVS Season one had a lower budget, and wasn't 'excellent' yet, but it was still a bit of silly entertainment, and had snappy dialogue. I like episodes like Nightmares and the Puppet Show. It was markedly different from the years that followed, though. It took until mid season two to really find its voice, and become a brilliant show, yes.

Dollhouse gelled within the first few episodes, you're right. Shame that Firefly and Dollhouse were so short lived, we never got to see if they would become serious rivals for BTVS and Angel.

Well even if you count Serenity as 3 Firefly eps Dollhouse still exceeds it by some margin. Firefly fans are amazingly loyal for so short a series

STAGE FRIGHT
The good;
Not much. Ballard is one tough nut to take on the Russian mobsters. If you never watched the ep 'Echo' then Victor's true identity is a heck of shock
The bad;
Such a weak story, you wonder if Joss had to take a week off sick? Must also have been hugely expensive?
Best line;
Rayna (of Echo); "Did they grow you in a lab?"
and
Echo; "Bitch, you can fire me but don't ever think you can take me!"
Packing heat;
Echo takes the villain's Walther PPK
Kinky dinky;
Rock chick ED and scantily clad Rayna is stunning. Rayna's manager apparently uses twins (male or female?) from the Dollhouse to relieve tension (better than valium?). Topher likes the idea of Rayna and Echo getting romantic
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost;
Echo; 2
How'd they get away with that?
The diva is so blatantly Beyonce it's a wonder she didn't sue?
This weeks fantasy;
Bodyguard and backing singer for Echo, No1 fan for Sierra.
Total number personalitites; 1 each for Echo and Sierra
Echo; 9
Sierra; 3
Victor; 1
Total dolls;3
Echo, Sierra and Victor
Addy is a bit British;
Faced with another British actor her accent goes into overdrive
Topher is a bit geeky;
Keen to know the inside scoop on the gorgeous music superstar
Subverting the Hollywood cliche
The successful Hollywood diva is actually suicidal
Bondage;
Sierra tied up; 1
Knocked out
Kills;
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
Dolls injured;
Sierra roughed up
Capt subtext
Happy hookers
Know the face? Jim Piddock who plays Rayna's manager was memorable as the Valet in The Trial episode of Angel (also a screenwriter now).
5th Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock
Guantanamo;
Rayna's manager slaps her but possibly she deserves it? Echo then knocks her senseless with a chair and uses her as bait to trap the assassin.
Fanfic;
Plenty where Rayna and Echo do get romantic.
Missing scenes
Reminds me off;
The assassin's crutches scene reminiscent of Day of the Jackal. No1 fan is how Mark Chapman described himself to Stephen King at a booksigning before later shooting John Lennon, a story which inspired Misery
Questions and observations;
Does ED do her own singing? If she does it's a pity she missed Once More with Feeling on Buffy. In lots of little ways Echo seems to be breaking her programming and her kinship with Sierra becomes apparent. Why does the Dollhouse seem to use Victor to set Ballard up yet has Mellie trying to get the inside scoop on him?

Marks out of 10; 5/10, actually enjoyed this more when rewatching than I thought I would

 

[Jimmy Bob]

Umm... you posted your old review.

 

[saturn5]

Umm... you posted your old review.

Yes I did, ooopppps!

GRAY HOUR
The good;
Lovely scene where wiped Echo gazes around in wonder at all the beautiful works of art. Interesting to see Sierra and Echo play the same character 'Taffy' in the same ep.
The bad;
The scenes from the ep 'Echo' are repeated. However this means that Sierra has the scar from that ep on her forehead without any explanation and it later disappears. We never get a proper explanation of how Echo and her friend get out of the vault, even with smoke grenades and the other goon distracting the guards with his shooting.
Best line;
Goon 1 (of a suddenly infantile Echo) "What's wrong with her?"
Goon 2 "I don't know, hysterical woman syndrome?" (un-PC but FUNNY!)
Packing heat;
Boyd shoots the Professor in the kneecap. Echo with a pistol again
Kinky dinky;
Hooker Echo, mini-skirted and black PVC thigh booted in true Pretty Woman style. She considers her own breasts 'spectacular'. The Sierra version of Taffy says that after nearly getting killed on her first job she learned how to lapdance.
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost;
Echo; 2
How'd they get away with that?
Accomplice slapping Echo is nasty
This weeks fantasy;
Midwife Echo and safecracker Echo/Sierra (the two skills not dissimilar, just one normally involves a lot more noise)
Total number personalitites;
Echo; 11
Sierra; 4
Victor; 1
Total dolls;3
Echo, Sierra and Victor
Addy is a bit British;
She's at the tea again.
Topher is a bit geeky;
He seems to eat nothing but junk food to judge by his shopping list. Also worries about a rival programmer from Tokyo
Subverting the Hollywood cliche
Bondage;
Sierra tied up; 1
Knocked out
Kills;
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
Dolls injured;

Capt subtext;
The baby girl Echo delivers has 'linebackers shoulders' which her father takes to be a sign that she'll be a lesbian.
Happy hookers
The hotel security guard is used to dealing with distraught hookers and offers Echo hush money
Know the face?
5 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock
Guantanamo;
Topher, at the heart of the conspiracy freaks out about the much larger conspiracy now attacking the Dollhouse

Fanfic;
Missing scenes
Reminds me off;
Echo's alias is Taffy, one of the teen Angels from Captain Caveman. Dollhouse does heist movie just like Buffy in Choices and Angel in Ground State.
Questions and observations;
Good ep, the scene between Addy and Topher at the end where she takes him into her confidence and they both look scared as hell at the idea of Alpha raises it to a better level. Adele seems to drink Tequila, Vodka and Johnny Walker whiskey to judge by her drinks cabinet.

Marks out of 10; 8/10

 

[Jimmy Bob]

This was the first episode I really loved. There was just something in it that completely sold the show to me. Especially this moment.

Echo: "This one is broken."
Wounded Thief-Guy: "Look who's talking."
*Echo starts to touch her face*
Wounded Thief-Guy: "On the inside. So you like art?"
Echo: "It doesn't look right."
Wounded Thief-Guy: "It's not about looking right, art's about feeling right. And you... I have no idea what I'm talking about."
Echo: "She makes me feel... funny."
Wounded Thief-Guy: "Cause these other guys painted what they saw, but this guy painted what is. That's what art is for. Shows us who we are. And this one is saying how we start out as a whole and somewhere along the line, pieces start to slide... we are broken.“
Echo: "That's sad."

Moment's like this... I just can't describe it. Eliza was just so beautiful and poetic here.

Speaking of "broken". Echo made a very important decision today. When they're escaping and they reach Boyd, Echo says to him "I'm not broken." And Boyd says "Of course you aren't."

That was a very conscious choice from Echo. To be not broken. And we will see later that she means it. In "The Spy In The House Of Love", when she fights with Dominic, guess what she says to him. That's right - "I'm not broken."

It's very important for her, and it can be said that it was this particular "you're a broken doll" sentiment from Dominic that was the downfall for him. Because technically, they were on the same side - against Dollhouse.

And Echo really shows a rather philosophical mind in this episode. She can understand things, she just doesn't have the cultural and educational background to put them into the "right" words.

So she puts it all into very simple words. Broken. Not broken. But these are very deep and existential thoughts despite the simplistic form. It was a very personal and deep moment for Echo to hear these random ravings of insight from the wounded thief. In a way, that changed her life. She's always thinking, and she puts all these random bits she hears together to form a "big picture" and a personal narrative.

It gets even crazier in later episodes. You can actually see Echo think along when others are speaking beside her about "important stuff", because a doll doesn't understand anything... but no, Echo is thinking along. So cute. I... found Echo to be inspirational... so yeah, I rant. I guess it was that same Spy episode where I noticed this happening.

I also liked the bit in the beginning. You can see Echo's analytic mind at work here too.

Echo: "I swam 30 laps today."
Sierra: "Good for you."
Echo: "I'm tired now."
Sierra: "It's important to exercise. I try to be my best."
Echo: "Are you?"
Sierra: "Excuse me?"
Echo: "Are you your best?"
Sierra: "I'm not sure how to know that."
Echo: "I think if you always try, that's best, right?"
Victor: "Every day is a chance to be better."

People say that Buffy mirrors a persons journey in becoming an adult, and that Angel mirrors adult life. Or something like that. I'm thinking that Dollhouse is this to "thinking".

I fail to express exactly what I mean... probably because I'm sleepy. So yeah, hope you all can understand me.

 

[Jimmy Bob]

I'm thinking that perhaps you should use : instead of ;

So "The Good:" instead of "The Good;"

And if you don't have anything to write after in some category, like "Best Line;" (which would look better as "Best Line:"), then don't just leave it empty, but mark it with a minus. Like this.

The Good: *write stuff*
The Bad: *write stuff*
Best Line: -

And perhaps bold those categories? So. It would look something like this.

GRAY HOUR

The Good: Lovely scene where wiped Echo gazes around in wonder at all the beautiful works of art. Interesting to see Sierra and Echo play the same character 'Taffy' in the same ep.
The Bad: The scenes from the ep 'Echo' are repeated. However this means that Sierra has the scar from that ep on her forehead without any explanation and it later disappears. We never get a proper explanation of how Echo and her friend get out of the vault, even with smoke grenades and the other goon distracting the guards with his shooting.
Best lines:
Goon 1 (of a suddenly infantile Echo) "What's wrong with her?"
Goon 2 "I don't know, hysterical woman syndrome?" (un-PC but FUNNY!)
Packing heat: Boyd shoots the Professor in the kneecap. Echo with a pistol again
Kinky dinky: Hooker Echo, mini-skirted and black PVC thigh booted in true Pretty Woman style. She considers her own breasts 'spectacular'. The Sierra version of Taffy says that after nearly getting killed on her first job she learned how to lapdance.
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost: Echo - 2
How'd they get away with that? - Accomplice slapping Echo is nasty
This weeks fantasy: Midwife Echo and safecracker Echo/Sierra (the two skills not dissimilar, just one normally involves a lot more noise)
Total number personalitites:
Echo - 11
Sierra - 4
Victor - 1
Total dolls -3 (Echo, Sierra and Victor)
Addy is a bit British: She's at the tea again.
Topher is a bit geeky: He seems to eat nothing but junk food to judge by his shopping list. Also worries about a rival programmer from Tokyo.
Subverting the Hollywood cliche: -
Bondage: Sierra tied up - 1
Knocked out: -
Kills:
Sierra - 2 kills
Echo - 1
Dolls injured: -

Capt subtext: The baby girl Echo delivers has 'linebackers shoulders' which her father takes to be a sign that she'll be a lesbian.
Happy hookers:The hotel security guard is used to dealing with distraught hookers and offers Echo hush money
Know the face?
5 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock
Guantanamo: Topher, at the heart of the conspiracy freaks out about the much larger conspiracy now attacking the Dollhouse
Fanfic: -
Missing scenes: -
Reminds me off: Echo's alias is Taffy, one of the teen Angels from Captain Caveman. Dollhouse does heist movie just like Buffy in Choices and Angel in Ground State.
Questions and observations: Good ep, the scene between Addy and Topher at the end where she takes him into her confidence and they both look scared as hell at the idea of Alpha raises it to a better level. Adele seems to drink Tequila, Vodka and Johnny Walker whiskey to judge by her drinks cabinet.

Marks out of 10: 8/10

 

[saturn5]

I'll keep it in mind, almost finished season 1 now

TRUE BELIEVER
The good;
Pretty good story and some nice political campaigning from Adele. The start of Victor and Sierra's relationship is sweet and Topher's reaction to it hilarious. Also like the gag where Ballard asks Mellie to describe the guy who gave her the letter only for her to describe the mailman. Also love Echo/Esther hitting the cult leader with the candlestick.
The bad;
Rather odd that Boyd uses his real name when dealing with the ATF?
Best line;
Topher (on the phone, upon seeing Victor's 'man reaction' to naked Sierra) "I gotta go, somethings come up"
also like
Echo/Esther "God brought me here with a message. That message is MOVE YOUR ASS!"
Packing heat; Boyd/Dominic with an SMG. Oddly in an ep full of guns Echo never uses one
Echo;3
Boyd; 6
Dominic; 4
Sierra; 1
Kinky dinky;
Victor and Sierra, some impulses obviously stronger than brain wiping
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost;
Echo; 2
How'd they get away with that?
Can't watch Echoes eye surgery, very Clockwork Orange. The cult leader has a penchant for underage girls.
This weeks fantasy;
Echo is a blind religious zealot
Total number personalitites;
Echo; 11
Sierra; 4
Victor; 1
Total dolls;3
Echo, Sierra and Victor
Addy is a bit British;

Topher is a bit geeky;
Prefers the term 'man reaction' to errection.
Subverting the Hollywood cliche
Bondage;
Sierra tied up; 1
Knocked out;
Echo by Dominic
Kills;
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
Dolls injured;
Echo roughed up and slapped around again
Capt subtext;
Happy hookers

Know the face?
5 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock
Guantanamo;
Big goverment kicking in the door and storming inside...to discover enough illegal weaponry to take Iwo Jima in the hands of those seeking the end of the world. Hard to know who's right or wrong?

Fanfic;
Missing scenes;
Very nice dinner scene on the deleted scenes, actually makes the cult members much more likeable.
Reminds me off;

Questions and observations;
Hard to know what to make of the rights and wrongs of this ep, the ATF agent plays a dirty trick although ultimately he's proven to 100% right and avoids another Waco. The irony that the cult members have sacrificed their free will much more by choice than the Dolls have (or have they?). The difference is that the cultists pose a threat to the outside with their arsenal whilst the Dollhouse doesn't...yet? Dominic shows his dislike of Echo whilst the affection developing between her and Adele also becomes evident
In many ways these eps remind me of early eps of Angel, that it was supposed to be an anthology show with the case of the week but eventually became more a story of Angel Investigations themselves with the cases as incidental. The problem is that with the Doll's wiped every week it's difficult for the characters to develop. Also whilst it's a slick series it lacks the humour and and joi de vive of Buffy and Angel (and even Firefly) it feels too sterile.
Marks out of 10; 7/10, again, enjoyed this more in the rewatch than I thought I would
　

 

[Jimmy Bob]

Hard to know what to make of the rights and wrongs of this ep, the ATF agent plays a dirty trick although ultimately he's proven to 100% right and avoids another Waco. The irony that the cult members have sacrificed their free will much more by choice than the Dolls have (or have they?). The difference is that the cultists pose a threat to the outside with their arsenal whilst the Dollhouse doesn't...yet?

I see this episode as just one big allegory of what Dollhouse the show is all about. I find it to be characteristic of these earlier episodes. Like in Stage Fright, where the situation of the pop star was an allegory for the situation with Echo.

I think the writers themselves were sort of trying to figure the nature of the show out, and thus they made earlier episodes into these symbolic pictures. Briar Rose is another example. And the beginning of the next episode. I guess season 1 is full of it.

But when Stage Fright was a personal episode for Echo (because she learned a lesson), then this wasn't.

This episode was mostly about symbolic similarities, with ATF guy mirroring Ballard and religious cults mirroring Dollhouse. So does the tale of Esther, a true believer and a blind girl who was "blind, but now she can see" work more as a symbolic thingy. Echo was blind, but now she sees. And when Saunders asks "can you see?", she looks at Dominic and she sees perfectly.

Echo was oblivious, but has grown constantly more aware of her surroundings, and like Esther saved the cult members from coming fire, so does Echo save the dolls from the coming storm.

And Boyd is her guardian angel, when Echo's attempts to end (what she perceives as) wrong (or danger) end with a fire (catastrophe), Boyd comes and carries her out. Because he's very protective of her.

Remember people, no spoilers! Second season doesn't exist for saturn5 yet.

I think Adelle admires Echo. The cult leader was obviously the symbolic mirror of her. Like him, she also has created her own world for her sheep. And her people, that she has taken out from the evil world, work to make lonely people happy. So she sees herself as also being on a "divine mission".

I also loved how much Boyd there was in it. Boyd now becomes more of a background character for a long time. So this was the last "Boyd and Echo on an adventure!" episode.

 

[StarshipDefiant]

It's definitely getting into the good ones now, and I loved the banter between Claire Saunders and Topher Brink, it's just...watchable. I also like some of the notes your taking here, and the counters, I should consider something along those lines when I go on a re-watch (I am gonna make some notes to try and narrow down a timeline, not easy, but eh).

I feel like there's something more that i should say here, but I just can't seem to think of it at the moment.

 

[saturn5]

　
Man on the street
The good;
Wow! Mellie is a Doll! Did ANYONE see that coming? Excellent ep with loads of character development, first meeting of Ballard and Caroline (excepting 'Echo') and a heck of a dust up. The subplot with an abused Sierra is horrible but very well written and acted, you just knew that this would be a problem sometime as Herne says (CHEERED when Boyd punched him through the glass, great stunt from Mike Massa). And Echo has paid sex with her first realistic and sympathetic client.
The bad;
Not much, very good ep. You do think that Adele takes a hell of chance with November by not activating her about 30 seconds earlier?
Best line;
"Perhaps I need to give it to you" Adele gives Boyd a bonus, not because he wants it but because she needs to give it to him to salve her conscience.
also like
"PORN!" (all in the delivery)
Packing heat; Echo takes Ballard's gun off him, Dominic pistol-whips Herne
Echo;4
Boyd; 6
Dominic; 5
Sierra; 1
Kinky dinky;
According to Joss when they asked casting for extras to play the Dolls they were inundated with pictures of porn stars. Must have been hell. Why do we all bother to pay for porn? Why don't we just phone up a casting agency and pretend we need attractive background players for our TV show? Echo's personality thinks her fiancee has suddenly become rich through internet porn.
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost; November beds Ballard (and she's a heck of a screamer) and presumably Echo returns to finish her romantic engagement with her client
Echo; 3
November; 1
How'd they get away with that?
The funny "What a rick!" and the indescribably horrible, Herne abusing Sierra. He's a son of a bitch but November killing Herne makes me wince every time.
This weeks fantasy;
Echo plays the dead fiancee of the Internet mogul and then a hit chick. November plays Mellie and death-in-Laura-Ashley
Total number personalitites; 2 for Echo
Echo; 13
Sierra; 4
Victor; 1
November; 2
Total dolls;4, here's November!
Echo, Sierra, November and Victor
Addy is a bit British;

Topher is a bit geeky;

Subverting the Hollywood cliche;
The client is actually a sympathectic figure and is even concerned about the security guards Ballard knocked out. For once we have a fat client rather than a male model although Mellie actually thinks him kinda cute.
Bondage;
Sierra tied up; 1
Knocked out;
Kills; November kills Herne with her bare hands (never talk flower arranging with HER!)
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
November;1
Dolls injured;
November badly roughed up by Herne
Capt subtext;
The redneck guy thinks the Dollhouse is a great idea because it allows a guy to be with another guy but means that there's 'Nothing queeny' going on (his wife/girlfriend's expression when he says this makes me laugh out loud every time, just like Echo's 'Porn' line). Dominic punches Herne when he hints that there was something between him and Adele. Jealousy?
Happy hookers
Takana describes Echo as a 'whore with a heart of gold'. Herne makes a good point about Adele hiring out the Dolls to be sweating under 'some Emir' (the difference being they'd signed up for that, they hadn't signed up to be sexually abused whilst in their non-programmed state, Sierra actually saying she doesn't want to). Joss refers to Miracle Laurie as 'Being a pro' but rapidly rethinks his phrasing.
Just idly watching '2 and a Half Men' whilst I'm writing this and Charlie and Alan are being treated to a pair of hookers by their future stepfather in Vegas. It strike me how attitudes to prostitution in TV and movies have changed in recent years, Pretty Woman, Belle Du Jour, Patty the daytime hooker in My Name is Earl, Hung etc. In a recent ep of The Big Bang Theory to cheer Howard up Raj and Leonard hire him a working girl. Times have certainly changed, used to be the only time you ever saw prostitutes on screen was when they were murdered or were informants.

Know the face?
5 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock
Whenever I see Herne I can never help but think 'Is that Dennis Quaid?"
Guantanamo;
The Afro-American woman likens the Dollhouse to slavery. Ballard is pretty damn rough with Takana.
Fanfic;
Missing scenes;
According to Joss plenty of spare material left over
Reminds me off;
The Vulcan grip from Star Trek is mentioned. The internet mogul is very reminiscent of David Nabbit from Angel who also frequents ladies of the night (but likes his a bit more demony). According to Joss' commentary Eliza didn't care much for her housewife look but I think she looks great, reminds me of when The Mayor gave Faith that dress in Graduation Day pt1
Questions and observations;
Interestingly according to the reporter the rumours of the Dollhouse have been circulating since the late 80s? Ballard and Mellie actually make a lovely couple, very sweet. For a moment I wondered if Echo's message was some sort of double bluff but to judge by Joss' commentary the message was real. From whom? We learn there are 20 Dollhouses all over the world. What is the greater, X-files style, conspiracy? Echo demonstrates genuine affection for her client, even after she's meant to have been wiped. Adele knows this but still keeps her in the field.
Absolutely love the scene where Echo thinks her fiancee made his money through internet porn, she may be a Doll but she's no brainwashed sex slave, she reacts in exactly the same way the real woman would have done. The interviews on the street are also interesting, not to stereotype but you look at the blonde girl and kinda wonder if she is a Doll?
Again, this almost feels like the 3rd pilot for the show.
Marks out of 10; 9/10 best ep so far

 

[saturn5]

ECHOES
The good;
So we find out how Echo came to the Dollhouse. Hilarious to watch Dominic bossed around by Victor and the other dolls and lovely scenes between Adele and Topher.
The bad;
Why do they use the NSA as cover? Surely they're involved in intercepting communications, not stuff like this?
Best line;
Toper (of Dominic) "He didn't take any, no way would Dominic have any fun"
plus
Again "Nothing is what it appears to be"
Packing heat; Dominic with his Glock (personally I always found them a bit light for my taste?) Sierra and Victor also get one whilst we also see Victor with an M16 in his flashback.
Echo;4
Boyd; 6
Dominic; 6
Sierra; 3
Victor; 2
Kinky dinky;
Echo's knee socks, high heels and micro-mini dress are spectacular, especially when she's on the bike (but is that ED?). Check out her stumble when she chases Sam from the lab. She engages in bondage sex with her returning client.
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost; none unless Echo goes back to finish her engagement. Why are Topher's trousers off? What did he and Adele get up to? He says she's his 'Superior in every way"?
Echo; 3
November; 1
Ballard; 1
How'd they get away with that?
The poor kid headbutting the glass, yeeesh! Tophers ode to drugs is also pretty near the knuckle.
This weeks fantasy;
Echo returns to her biker-party-girl persona which we see in Ghost, Victor is a federal agent and Sierra a goverment scientist
Total number personalitites;
Echo; 14
Sierra; 5
Victor; 2
November; 1
Total dolls;4, but we hear of another Doll, Foxtrot? Sam becomes an active at the end but do we ever see him again?
Echo, Sierra, November and Victor
Addy is a bit British;
"Sarcastic? Unfeeling? British?" She uses the British term crisp. Brown sauce is actually a mix of fruit and spices. Topher also refers to his machines that go 'Ping!' which is a reference to Monty Python's The Meaning of Life.
Topher is a bit geeky;
Topher is so excited to meet the Rostrum head guy he might throw up. He quotes Mighty Mouse 'Here I come to save the day'.

Subverting the Hollywood cliche;
Bondage; no but Echo ties up her client
Sierra tied up; 1
Knocked out;
Kills;
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
November;1
Dolls injured;
Capt subtext;
Adele's interview of Caroline is reminiscent of seduction. Paul wants to take care of Mellie, just like he wants to save Caroline, always the white knight. Topher and Adele begin to share. Adele says she has a good story about Victor. Dominic hints that there's more to him than just a professional heavy, namely his suits, is he hinting that he's gay?
Happy hookers

Know the face?
5 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock
Guantanamo;
The press are fed a cover story of a student prank gone wrong
Fanfic;
One theory explored in fanfic is that Caroline is actually Adele's daughter?
Missing scenes;
Reminds me off;
Very reminiscent of the classic 3rd season Buffy ep Band Candy, Adele in particular similar to the wonderful Joyce.
Breaking the programming;
In this ep all the Dolls glitch but Echo starts before she even get's the drug. She actually says 'No' to her treatment.
Questions and observations;
Adele refers to her and Caroline playing this game for 2 years? First return client, the same guy from Ghost. Caroline is an anti-war protester and animal rights activist. My personal theory was that Leo, her boyfriend who was shot was actually Alpha. Boyd plays the piano pretty well. We learn Caroline's full name, Caroline Farrell and Dominic's, Lawerance Dominic.
We find hints of the Dolls previous lives, Victor was a soldier, November is mourning someone
Marks out of 10; 7/10 again, enjoyed this more than I thought

 

[StarshipDefiant]

Echoes was a good eppie, but this is one of those episodes where I wished they used dates (at least years) instead of "A few years ago" and "The present" or whatever but that's because I like to date things and know what is when (and it'd make the job I am procrastinating on much easier, but whatever). Overall, great episode and Dominic's bit about patting his arm and mumbling something like "soft like a kitty!"

 

[saturn5]

Yeah the stoned Dollhouse staff were very much paid of laughs although Topher didn't seem that different

NEEDS
The good;
Excellent scenes with the actives planning their escape in true The Prisoner style. Very gratifying to watch Victor beat the stuffing out of the guy abusing Sierra.
The bad;
Seems all very reckless of Adele, Victor throttles one handler and beats up Sierra's client. Echo beats the crap out of another handler before raiding the armoury and threatening everyone with a gun. Perhaps Topher put in blocks to prevent them killing anyone but given how the wipes haven't been working lately this still seems very risky.
Best line;
Dr Saunders; "Let the tide wash in"
Packing heat; Echo with a glock. The Dollhouse has it's own armoury in the handlers room with Glocks, M16 carbines and H&K MP5s.
Echo;5
Boyd; 6
Dominic; 6
Sierra; 3
Victor; 2
Echo kissage;
By request this new topic will be included.
Kinky dinky;
Mike suggests that they've been kidnapped to have sex with aliens, an idea that Mellie is understandably not too keen on (presumably she's seen Alien vs Predator; Requiem or Taboo Comics/Monsters and Angels-internet GOT-fic?). But she's quite ok with the thought of showering naked with both boys and girls unlike Sierra who's more hesitant.
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost;
Echo; 3
November; 1
Ballard; 1
How'd they get away with that?
Dead Echo is plenty frightening! Check out Eliza as undead Bonnie and Clyde here [FONT=Times New Roman]http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=107239
[/FONT]Victor is also pretty hardcore throttling the handler but that suits his soldier mentality. Echo beating up Sophie is also pretty savage.
This weeks fantasy; 1 each for everyone, their own personalities but without the memories. Echo is still the moral crusader we see in Echoes. Victor the level headed military man, November the maternal free spirit, Sierra kinda prickly and damaged.
Total number personalitites;
Echo; 15
Sierra; 6
Victor; 3
November; 2
Total dolls; 6, we meet 2 more, a blonde girl called Tango (who I think we've seen before as a background player?) and Mike who seems to be a conspiracy theorist and finds himself in the ultimate conspiracy. We also meet handler Sophie who like Topher's assistant Ivy will become a recurring minor character. We see another active in military garb (maybe filling in for Victor?) but we don't get a name.
Echo, Sierra, November, Victor, Mike, Tango
Addy is a bit British;
Topher is a bit geeky;
Astonishingly he's afraid of the dark
Subverting the Hollywood cliche;
Bondage;
Sierra tied up; 1
Knocked out; everyone passes out once they've achieved their closure
Echo; 2
November; 1
Sierra; 1
Victor; 1
Kills;
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
November;1
Dolls injured;
Capt subtext;
Ballard's dream suggests he has a sexual attraction towards Caroline at the expense of Mellie. Victor is appalled by the Village People-style leather chaps he appears to have in his wardrobe (Rid'em Cowboy?). Echo eyes Tango's legs in her stockings and suspenders. Tango closely resembles Liza Minelli's character in Cabaret. Is she off to a hetero client who wants to have sex with her or to a gay guy who wants to sing 'Money makes the world go round' with her as Buffy star Joel Gray (Doc from season 5) did in that movie. Boyd says he would have liked to have seen Echo leading everyone to freedom, he subconsciously wants to free everyone?
Happy hookers
Echo refers to the Dollhouse 'Pimping them out'
Know the face?
5 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock
Guantanamo;
Dominic suggests that the handlers think of the Actives as pets instead of children? Mike thinks they're goverment prisoners.
Fanfic;
Missing scenes;
Reminds me off;
The Buffy ep Tabula Rusa (a phrase used in this show), the characters all have their personalities and are trapped somewhere but don't have their conscious memories
Breaking the programming;
They all do so Adele allows them all to partially achieve their secret desires under controlled circumstances.
Questions and observations;
Victor very much the military man and does it very convincingly. November has a daughter called Kate who died, did she kill her? Even unprogrammed Caroline is pretty tasty in her fight with Sophie, maybe she retains some of her fighting skills from her imprints? Sierra's loathsome returning client (who appears to have forced her into the Dollhouse in the first place?) calls her Maria but is that her real name or the name of the personality he hires? Is he the guy who gave her the cut on her face in Echo? Victor's love for Sierra seems to be able to overcome even his mindwipe.
Presumably Mike didn't really have an awakening, he's the control entered by Topher to convince the others they have to make their escape quickly.
Marks out of 10; 8/10

 

[StarshipDefiant]

According to the wiki (which sources the end credits, but I haven't checked), the active in question was Quebec but again, that's from the end credits or production sources. I never noticed that before about November, that she didn't seem to care or that all concerned about others in the shower facilities.

Another Topher is a bit geeky, notice he tends to speak in IM jargon, "I am...B-T-W" and you are not the first person to make this observation about Tango; the wiki makes the same notes as you have.

Overall, Needs is a pretty damn good episode, and an example of what could have been had Joss Whedon been allowed to work his magic for the series from the start.

Some other things I wanted to say, but I've seen to have forgotten them, damn it.

 

[saturn5]

I take it you mean the doll in soldier garb?

SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE
The good;
Exciting ep, the first I ever went back and rewatched immediately after again, Very clever mislead in the first scene, we think it's Dewitt getting wiped. The humanisation of Dewitt continues and it's beautifully written and played by all concerned. Good scene too between Ballard and Mellie, your heart bleeds for him.
The bad;
Echo the spycatcher wonders why Dr Saunders doesn't leave the Dollhouse? Possibly HER DISFIGURED FACE?! No commentary which is a real shame. The Sierra stuff is ok but we've seen it all before.
Best line;
Dominic "Sooner or later everyone get's there's" (Here's hoping!)
also like
Echo "I've got a good feeling about you and I've got the whip"
and
Dewitt (on the idea of Victor the imprinted Doll becoming a client of the Dollhouse and hiring another Doll for his pleasure) "I think the universe might just collapse!"
Packing heat; Dewitt pretty handy with her foil, Dominic with his Glock
Echo;5
Boyd; 6
Dominic; 7
Sierra; 3
Victor; 2
Echo kissage;
By request this new topic will be included.
Kinky dinky;
Ramirez wishes to be kidnapped by a pirate (I have a friend with an almost identical fantasy, differs only in that she get's tied to the mast Ulysees style and the whole of Johnny Depp's pirate crew are involved). Suprisingly Dr Saunders says that the actives aren't submissives, I'd have thought that would have been a hugely popular choice for clients (what about Sierra who begs her client to hurt her?).
Ok I'll say it now. Dominatrix Echo is the SEXIEST THING EVER! My god she's gorgeous! Sexier than Mathilda May in Lifeforce, sexier than Athen Massey in Undercover, sexier than Alyssa Milano in The Outer Limits, Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, than Charisma Carpenter and Mercedes McNab in Playboy, than Ripley at the end of Alien or even ED's own bikini fashion parade in The New Guy. Needless to say it was a sequence that featured endlessly all over the internet, TV and magazines and I earnestly believe was the sole reason that Dollhouse got a second season. If only they'd tried something similar to get a third! (Echo the naughty schoolgirl/stewardess/hot cop etc, we've already had her as a nurse in Tru Calling)
And here it lives forever in cyberspace (plus some interesting comments by ED on how she approached the role and how much she enjoyed playing it); [FONT=Times New Roman]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gCOGkxg_QA)
[/FONT]Now if you'll excuse me I just have to lie down for a moment!
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost; Victor/Adele. Not sure if Dominatrx Echo actually had sex with her client or not, some Dominatrixes do, some don't.
Echo; 3 definite, 1 possible
November; 1
Ballard; 1
Victor; 1
Adele; 1
How'd they get away with that?
Dominic getting wiped is hard to watch even after all the things he's done.
This weeks fantasy;
Echo is a dominatrix and a spycatcher. Victor is Roger the romantic, Sierra a spy.
Total number personalitites; 2 for Echo, 1 each for Victor and Sierra
Echo; 16
Sierra; 7
Victor; 4
November; 2
Total dolls; 6
Echo, Sierra, November, Victor, Mike, Tango
Addy is a bit British;
Her ideal lover is called Roger, second name Moore perhaps? She also uses the term 'Crackerjack' which will mean a lot to a Briton of a certain age but little to the rest of the world (does she have the requisite pencil?).
Topher is a bit geeky;
Subverting the Hollywood cliche;
Bondage;
Sierra tied up; 1
Knocked out;
Echo; 2
November; 1
Sierra; 1
Victor; 1
Kills;
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
November;1
Dolls injured;
Echo roughed up by Dominic, Victor cut by Dewitt. Poor Ramirez hurt for a second time by Echo, this time with the whip (which is probably far preferrable to the fire extinguisher for her!) .
Capt subtext;
In the van dominatrix Echo talks of S&M being about trust and surrendering yourself completely to another. This actually is a good analogy of the handler active relationship and what Topher tells Boyd when he first meet Echo. Dr Saunders comments on the many same sex relationships the actives are called out to do. Victor comments that he wants to keep his collection of high powered businesswoman shoes. Ramirez says she'd prefer S&M Barbie Echo to suave ladykiller Victor.
Happy hookers
Boyd considers the Dollhouse 'pimps and killers', himself included.
Know the face?
5 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock
Guantanamo;
So who is we? Who is sending the messages to Ballard? Dominic and the NSA? That makes no sense and seems unlikely, is there more than one person inside trying to bring it down?
Dominic is intent on torturing Ivy for info. Almost reassuring that the goverment want to control the Dollhouse, the NSA may have little oversight but at least it has some. The idea of the attic is just so scary
Fanfic;
Dominatrix Echo the most popular whipcracker since Calamity Jane. (http://tv.adultfanfiction.net/story.php?no=600095359 if you're 18+ and VERY open minded)
Missing scenes;
Reminds me off;
Mixed segments Quentin Tarantino style. Ballard is reminiscent of season 5 Wes in his obsession whilst sleeper assassin Mellie is like season 7 Spike. Sierra at the NSA is very Mission Impossible but even more Alias.
Breaking the programming;
Echo not only volunteers to help Topher but comprehends the purpose of the chair. Dewitt and Toper know but allow her to continue.
Questions and observations;
Echo waves to Mellie who seems to know her, as Echo or as Caroline from Ballards research? Victor refers Dewitt as 'Katherine', is that her real name? (gives credence to the 'She's Caroline's mother' theory).
The Miss-Lonely-Heart storyline has actually been mentioned a few times in previous eps. Note Topher suspects it's Boyd who has betrayed the Dollhouse but still goes to give him a chance to run before informing Dominic, he really does consider him a friend (or has his own doubts and wants to bring the Dollhouse down)
Fan bloody-tastic, second best ep of season 1
Marks out of 10; 9/10

 

[StarshipDefiant]

Yes, the active (doll) in the solder garb, sorry I didn't make myself to clear there! I liked the bit between Echo and Doctor Saunders, personally. I felt the question had some merit and noticed that Claire (poor, poor, Claire) couldn't seem to answer the questions, indeed (you watched it twice, yes?), Claire seemed to be at a lost for words (then again, maybe she was just floored by the questioning?).

You are into the good ones, right now and hang on, because (IMO, anyways) it's one helluva ride for the rest of the season.

 

[saturn5]

Looking forward to it!

Haunted
The good;
Terrific central concept, imagine waking and being told by your friend that you've died and then getting to attend your own funeral and find out what everyone thought of you. Some lovely scenes too with Topher and Sierra and the continued humanisation of Adele. The story of this ruptured family getting back together is actually very touching especially when the drunken brother reminisces about the first night he and his sister spent in the house together and how glad he was they made up, Gatsby and Nick style, just before she died.
The bad;
If Margaret and Adele were such good friends why doesn't Adele recognise Margaret's family? Exactly how did Margaret know that someone was attempting to murder her? The idea that her handwriting would be enough to prove that a note is genuine takes some swallowing.
Best line;
Adele; "Loneliness leads to nothing good, just detachment"
which would have been comfort to Ballard who has rough sex with Mellie even though he knows she's a Doll
Mellie; "Are you looking for a Dollhouse client?"
Ballard (haunted, looking at himself in the mirror) "I found one"
also like
Margaret/Echo; "Elmo"
Jocelyn; "EMO"
Margaret/Echo; "That's not a word sweetie" (her entire character summed up in that sentence)
Packing heat; Margaret doesn't like guns but is quite prepared to riflebutt her son with one.
Echo;6
Boyd; 6
Dominic; 7
Sierra; 3
Victor; 2
Echo kissage;1
Echo/Margeret kissed by her son.
Kinky dinky;
Incestuous vibe between Margaret and her son, his 'mother's bed' line especially. When the son says that Margaret/Echo "Checked out his body" she doesn't deny it but claims it was 'subconsciously' and she'd had 'too much wine'. He also spies on her voyeuristically through the window knowing her nightime routine and she doesn't appear at all disturbed. Adele is also a voyeur, watching Toper and Sierra. Ballard's violent sex with Mellie borders on rape fantasy. She digs it but doesn't want it all the time (a common reaction amongst most people I think). Echo in jodpurs and riding boots, MMMMMMMMMMMM! Margaret seems a cougar, using the Dollhouse for younger men before getting her own. Sierra seems to fantasise about 'Sexy, sexy aliens' is a she a got-fic fan? (http://www.galaxy-of-terror.com/mainsite/ and http://taboo.eroticillusions.com/free/taboomain.html if you're over 18 and VERY open minded)
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost; does Topher have sex with Sierra? Possibly...
Echo; 3 definite, 1 possible
November; 1
Ballard; 1
Victor; 1
Adele; 1
Sierra 1 possible
Topher; 1 possible
How'd they get away with that?
The nanny story is HORRIBLE! The son murders his mother plus the incestuous subtext. Even though it's all a game and she get's into it you feel for Mellie being treated so roughly by Ballard. Question is would he have stopped if she'd wanted him to?
This weeks fantasy;
A dead woman comes back to witness her own funeral and investigate her own murder. Sierra is a supergeek in a supermodel's body, Victor is a horse expert
Total number personalitites;
Echo; 17
Sierra; 8
Victor; 5
November; 2
Total dolls; 6
Echo, Sierra, November, Victor, Mike, Tango
Addy is a bit British;
Margaret says Adele would keep a 'Stiff back and stiff upper lip"
Topher is a bit geeky;
Huge geekfest right down to lasertag and classic sci-fi debate.
Subverting the Hollywood cliche;
The rich turn out to be just like the rest of us only with more money
Bondage;
Sierra tied up; 1
Knocked out;
Echo; 2
November; 1
Sierra; 1
Victor; 1
Kills;
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
November;1
Dolls injured;.
Capt subtext;
Topher fantisises about Adele and Margaret together. Margaret expresses her admiration for Echo's body and even gropes her breasts. Boyd warns of the collapse of civilisation. Ballard feels self loathing at having taken out his frustrations about the case by ravishing Mellie, even if she enjoyed it. Adele puts the mind of her old friend Margaret in Echo, the Doll she has developed an affection for. Adele indulges Topher his fantasy in the knowledge that she allowed herself her tryst with Victor. The sons jealousy of the mother's new young husband is pretty clear.
Happy hookers
Know the face? Gregg Henry played a Sheriff in Firefly (and every other show you've ever seen! Check him out on IMDB, 132 credits in 34 years)
6 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock, Gregg Henry
Guantanamo;
Rather sinisterly Sierra wants to interfere with the other sleeping Dolls and make them fight for each other's amusement. Her idea about having them perform comedy skits is a lot more reassuring. That the Dollhouse is able to remotely cyber-wipe the FBI computer is scary beyond belief.
Fanfic;
None for Dollhouse (although they do offer twins) but huge amounts of incestfic on the net, normally Buffy/Joyce/Dawn or the Charmed sisters. (http://buffy.adultfanfiction.net/authors.php?no=7021 and
http://buffy.adultfanfiction.net/authors.php?no=5134 again if you're 18+ and VERY open minded)
Missing scenes;
Great scene where Adele and Echo/Margaret look at Margaret's body in the coffin and she complains she doesn't like the dress she's being buried in.
Reminds me off;
Topher imprinting Sierra is very Dr Frankenstein right down to the flashing blue lights and his 'It's alive!' schtick. The incestuous subtext is reminiscent of both Oedipus and Hamlet. The whole idea of implanting your memories in a younger person and living forever is reminiscent of an old British horror film 'Nothing but the night' (Christopher Lee is the good guy for once). In Angel we had the father killing the son, here we have the son killing his mother.
Breaking the programming;
None this week, very much a standalone ep but a pretty good one
Questions and observations;
Adele is clearly dismayed at the thought of how people would remember her if she died, she's ashamed of the Dollhouse or just thinks people wouldn't understand? She states that 'Illusions aren't pointless. Note Topher doesn't just want a sex slave, the girl he creates for his birthday is sparky and challenging, beating him at lasertag.
Call me a sap but I was really touched by the ending, despite all appearances to the contrary Margaret was loved by her brother and daughter and is able to tell them that she loved them in return from beyond the grave, the uncle and niece are reunited and are a loving family once again.
Is Margaret really living on? The real Margaret died with her body, surely it's only a copy in Echo? It reminds me of Sheldon's question about the Star Trek transporter, are you really transported or does the real you die and a clone assembled at the other end? When Ballard looks up Novembers prints she seems to have multipile identities, her Dollhouse characters or was she some sort of identity thief? Is it really Eliza on the horse? Adele holds Margaret's hand as she is wiped, does she experience Margaret's life as well?
Marks out of 10; 7/10

 

[saturn5]

BRIAR ROSE
The good;
Totally had me fooled with Alpha (partly because his agorophobic uber-geek and Ballard makes such a great team). Stunning performance on both counts. You really feel for Mellie when Ballard dumps her. Great performance from the actress who plays the little girl too. Dominic asking for 'Whiskey' is a masterful bit of foreshadowing and Ballard is one smart cookie with his plan (but not as much as you-know-who).
The bad;
Alpha's plan seems unecessarily complicated? Ballard says he doesn't have a badge any more but then he shows one to 'Kepler' (did he swipe Loomis'?)
Best line;
Adele; "There's indignation enough for everyone to have seconds"
reprogrammed Echo upon seeing Alpha
"My prince"
Packing heat; Both Boyd and Ballard with their pistols again. Ballard also uses a stungun on Topher.
Echo;6
Boyd; 7
Dominic; 7
Sierra; 3
Victor; 2
Ballard; 8
Echo kissage;2
She plants a big old smackaroo on Alpha, so much so it cuts her lip
Kinky dinky;
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost;
Echo; 3 definite, 1 possible
November; 1
Ballard; 1
Victor; 1
Adele; 1
Sierra 1 possible
Topher; 1 possible
How'd they get away with that?
Watching Alpha slicing up Victor is HORRIBLE! The little girl's plight is also horrific but at least she has a chance to recover. Also hard to watch Ballard cruelly dumping Mellie and her near suicide. Plus Alpha's recycled urine.
This weeks fantasy;
Topher has made Echo into a grown up, healthy version of the damaged little girl in order to counsel her, Alpha turns her into a white trash princess. Sierra is a CSI girl (her technobabble may be a subtle joke on them). Victor is Dominic
Total number personalitites;
Echo; 19
Sierra; 9
Victor; 6
November; 2
Total dolls; add Alpha so 7
Echo, Sierra, November, Victor, Mike, Tango, Alpha
Addy is a bit British;
Topher is a bit geeky;
He actually uses the phrase 'All frakked up'.
Subverting the Hollywood cliche;
Amanda lets Echo sit near her, not because she trusts her but because she has flicknife concealed on her.
Bondage; Boyd puts Ballard in handcuffs (presumably his own?)
Sierra tied up; 1
Ballard; 1
Knocked out; Toper get's tasered into unconsciousness by Ballard
Echo; 2
November; 1
Sierra; 1
Victor; 1
Topher; 1
Kills;
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
November;1
Dolls injured;.
Poor Victor, traumatised by Ballard and Boyd crashing down on top of him and then cut to ribbons by Alpha.
Capt subtext;
Check out the very caring, maternal way Dr Saunders helps Victor who really comes across as a frightened child. The Briar Rose story has a feminist slant on it similar to Buffy, Amanda and Echo prefer the ending where the Briar Rose saves herself. Echo says that Amanda is "Close to moving forwards but it'll hurt" just as she is. Interestingly when Ballard asks Alpha is he Kepler he replies "Well there are a lot of aspects to that question" . He also refers to the Dollhouse as 'The New Eden' which it just might be. He asks Dr Saunders if she always wanted to be a Dr and when she says yes tells her that's a lie.
Happy hookers
The little girl seems to have been exploited as a child prostitute by her mother's boyfriend. All the Dolls in the Dollhouse are above the age of consent but only those we've seen (and only in LA).
Know the face? Alan Tudyk was Wash on Firefly/Serenity
7 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock, Gregg Henry, Alan Tudyk
Guantanamo;
Drugging and torturing Dominic who's on a day trip out of the attic, very hard to watch (great performance from Enver, really nails Reed Diamond in his mannerisms). Sending Echo to help the little girl is everybodys way of living with themselves.
Fanfic;
The adventures of doomed lovers Echo and Alpha disturbingly popular. The little girl's story reminded me of a Buffy fanfic where we learn why Faith is as screwed up as she is and Buffy, Joyce and Dawn help her get over it and adopt her as a new Summers girl http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3089247/1/Thanks_for_taking_care_of_my_body_Faith
Missing scenes;.
Reminds me off;

Breaking the programming;

Questions and observations;
So, the headquarters for the whole Dollhouse project is in Tuscon? Can anyone tell me exactly WHY Alpha is hiding naked in a dumpster when he kills the homeless man? Or am I trying to find logic in the actions of a madman? Note when Ballard finally gets into the Dollhouse he says 'It really exists', he'd obviously begun to doubt his own sanity. 'We call that editing' may be a subtle joke on the crew. Alpha thinks the Dollhouse is a good place but with bad people. I hate stairs without risers too, always fear I'm going to fall through them. Note Boyd gives Ballard a way out, he's not going to turn him in if he can help it. Surely consensual slavery is a contradiction in terms, if it's consensual it's not slavery? The Dollhouse we see was only built ten years ago despite the rumours dating from the 80s.
Marks out of 10; 9/10 really good

 

[StarshipDefiant]

Don't forget to add Quebec to your Active tally, he was the one in the soldier garb in "Needs" To answer about the badge, yes, he took it from Loomis, notice that when he shows Stephen Keppler his badge, Ballad covers up the picture with his finger. Alpha in the dumpster is probably a part of his weirdness, as he has been seen doing odd things before, one suggestion could be that he didn't want to stain his clothes as well (Or maybe he took Kepplers?).

"Omega" is a pretty damn good episode, IMO. BTW, can you answer something for me? the "Spy" episode, how does the DVD title it "A Spy in the House of Love" or is it "Spy in the House of Love"?

 

[saturn5]

Quebec duly added and it's 'A' Spy

OMEGA
The good;
Got to say I didn't see the Whiskey twist (is that a drink?) coming at all. Utterly brilliant, this storyline lifts the series up and helps it go off on a high. Such a dumb gag but it always makes me laugh out loud when Alpha 'watches his step'.
The bad;
How stupid must the Dollhouse be to use criminals as Dolls? Although wouldn't it be wonderful if we could reprogramme paedophiles and psychopaths so they were no longer either?
Best line;
Packing heat; both Boyd and Ballard (the latter switching to a Colt 45 for some reason) plus November and Sierra
Echo;6
Boyd; 8
Dominic; 8
Sierra; 4
Victor; 2
Ballard; 9
November; 1
Echo kissage;2
Kinky dinky;
Lovely though she is I never really thought of Amy Acker as turn-your-head-gorgeous in the same way as Eliza Dushku, Charisma Carpenter, Sarah Michelle Gellar, (they tried to make her into AI's glamourpuss in season 5 but it didn't really work which is why we got more Mercedes McNab as Harmony who IS turn your head gorgeous),but here she is a revelation, I was firmly convinced that it was Eliza doing the slinky dance to Roy Orbison's dreams but WOW! Also Echo's push up bra and Daisy Duke denim short-shorts as part of her white trash princess look. Bounty hunter Sierra seems to have an instant attraction for Ballard.
Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost;
Echo; 3 definite, 1 possible
November; 1
Ballard; 1
Victor; 1
Adele; 1
Sierra 1 possible
Topher; 1 possible
How'd they get away with that?
Killing the girl implanted with Caroline's memories is hideous. Alpha's idea of kidnapping a string of girls, implanting them with Carolines' memories and then killing her over and over again is too horrifying for words. Meeting 'Alpha's' first victim is also very disturbing but not half as much as his bloody rampage in the Dollhouse, especially how he kills his handler. He also refers to Crystal being a 'woman at 13'.
This weeks fantasy;
Sierra and November are bounty hunters, Echo is Crystal and her composite personalities
Total number personalitites;
Echo; 21
Sierra; 10
Victor; 6
November; 3
Total dolls; add some Whiskey to the mix! Plus Quebec, the soldier from Needs
9-Echo, Sierra, November, Victor, Mike, Tango, Alpha, Whiskey, Quebec
Addy is a bit British;
Topher is a bit geeky;
He refers to Solyent Green (Angel also a Charlton Heston fan)
Subverting the Hollywood cliche;
Bondage;
Sierra tied up; 1
Ballard; 1
Knocked out;
Echo; 2
November; 1
Sierra; 1
Victor; 1
Topher; 1
Kills; poor Wendy is killed by Alpha
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
November;1
Dolls injured;
Echo winged by Alpha's bullet.
Capt subtext;
We finally learn November's real name and she is released from her contract (love Adele's very genuine hug for her). I guess whatever was between her and Ballard was quite real for him to pick her over Caroline? The heartbreaking scene where Dr Saunders tells Victor he's broken and no one will want him any more hardly needs explaining (thankfully the lollipop scene makes up for it). Why did Topher programme Dr Saunders to hate him? Perhaps because of his own self-loathing? Or did the original Saunders already hate him?
Happy hookers
Know the face?
7 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock, Gregg Henry, Alan Tudyk
Guantanamo;
Fanfic;
Missing scenes;.
Very important, if you have the DVDs be sure to watch them to find out what happened to bounty hunters Sierra and November and how Alpha got away.
Reminds me off;
Echo/Crystal and Alpha/Bobby on the run are very Badlands/True Romance/Bonnie and Clyde. But above all they remind me of Spike and Dru whom Angel once described as "Bonnie and Clyde if they had 100 years to get it right" The idea of violent prisoners being 'cured' by brainwashing sounds a bit 'A Clockwork Orange'? Ponder the fact that this series has a character called Ballard (and indeed Dawn was reading 'Empire of the Sun' for school in the later seasons of Buffy). Alpha digs out the tracker on the back of Echo's neck much like Dark Angel. Caroline refers to Return of the Living dead as Xander did in Buffy. Topher talks of souls in jars which may be an Angel ref. Alpha's madness is similar to Glory whilst the way he kills his handler is reminiscent of Buffy killing Gnarl in season 7. The track 'Dreams' which Whiskey dances to is also used to good effect in Blue Velvet.
Breaking the programming;
Echo as a conglomerate of her personalities breaks away from Alpha's crackers plan, possibly because most of her imprints (Margaret from Haunted, the Dominatrix, Esther from True Believer etc) were good people mixed with her base personality of Caroline. By contrast most of Alpha's imprints were bad people mixed with his underlying personality of a psychopath.
Questions and observations;
Ballard's plan to get rid of the bomb squad is truly inspired. Interestingly despite the bad blood between them Tanaka doesn't arrest him. Great double bluff, we think that Caroline is being let go but actually it's November whose real name is Madeline Costly. More episodes like this and Dollhouse would be a far superior series to what it was.
Marks out of 10; 9/10 really good