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If you had told me I'd find an episode of about a pop singer's protection more enjoyable than an episode about a heist gone wrong, I'd have told you to leave me at the mercy of a Russian mob specializing in human trafficking. And yet here am I, having watched a Dollhouse episode long on ideas but short on drama. With a central mystery that simply wasn't remotely mysterious, what remained was essentially a chamber play in which our nominal hero sat around, passive and paralyzed.
The heist in question? The recovery of an Elgin Marble, named after stolen pieces of the Parthenon obtained by the English in the early 19th century. The set-up? A would-be high-rolling bachelor party in a swanky hotel, replete with a "pay off any prostitutes that get beaten while on premises" policy. (I know I always check for that feature while browsing Expedia.) This cover was only part one of the mission; by staging a fake attack, Echo (posing as "Taffy") gained access to a wall adjacent to a vault containing priceless artwork. After subduing the guard, her former partygoers joined her as part of a four-person crew.
"Taffy"'s programming dictates confident sexuality, provocative dress, excellent thievery skills, and its very own catch phrase: "five by five." Whoops, wrong show: it's actually "Blue skies." Everything goes fine, until two things happen. First, the antiques expert on crew decided to steal the sculpture for a higher bidder while sealing the rest of his crew inside. Secondly, a mysterious someone manages to wipe Echo's mind while she's on the phone with Boyd. The result? An infantilized Echo, immobilized without the key phrases that usher her from Topher's Wiping Chair to yoga class.
While the Dollhouse scrambles to fix Echo remotely, she largely remained on the floor for the rest of the episode, fixated on the artwork around her. A wounded member of her makeshift crew, Walton, guided her through Art 101, with Echo fixated primarily on a Picasso piece. She claimed it was "broken," this week's buzzword. According to Walton, Picasso aimed to show that while humans start out whole, they eventually start to "slide." Kinda sounds like what's going on inside Echo's brain: she's sliding out of her conditioned wiring bit by bit.
With Echo out to lunch, unable to process her post-wipe state without the soothing environment of the Dollhouse (finally giving purpose and function to its aesthetics), Dewitt brought in a back-up plan. Or, a back-up file. All depends on your perspective. She had Topher download Taffy's personality into Sierra, so we the audience had the odd experience of watching Sierra acting like Echo when she acted like Taffy, right down to the catch phrase. Unable to access the vault in time, she managed to (sorta) talk Echo through the escape via the same phone that managed to wipe Echo in the first place.
All of this sounds like an action-packed episode, but it was really a character study. Problem was, there was no actual character to study: while it was interesting to watch an essentially newborn baby look at art for the first time, her time inside the vault evoked pity but little insight into her character. We didn't get any insight into her pre-Doll life; we only got further confirmation of how debilitating it is to have your life in the hands of people that prevent you from any sense of self. Maybe some viewers needed to see this fact hammered home in an unsafe environment, but to me it felt redundant.
As for Alpha-as-the-remote-wiper...not much of a mystery there, eh? The show only has one threat at this point. Maybe they'll eventually peel back layers and show how Alpha has help on the inside, but for now, if something goes wrong with Echo, there's only one place to look. The biggest plus to this plot point? That the show deployed it so soon. It's paced as a thirteen-episode limited run, almost as if the writers don't trust Fox to give them anything more than that. So Echo's journey towards self-awareness, along with Alpha's overarching plot, are moving with more than acceptable speed.
If only the same could be said of Ballard's plotline. Restricted to two small scenes with Lubov, he did his usual "I want answers!" schtick with his would-be informant. Looks like Dewitt's feeling the heat from some higher ups about his search, which gives his investigation some credibility while giving insight into Dewitt's position in the company. The answer? Two words: middle management. Here's my hope of hopes for Dollhouse: that they don't pull a Ballard-is-Alpha-only-he-doesn't-know-it plotline. Think Ben/Glory from Buffy with more kickboxing. And inexplicable nudity. No thanks.
Other thoughts about tonight's episode:
- What on earth was up with the midwife intro? I know the American health care system is messed up, but I refuse to believe this couple's HMO is more expensive than hiring a Doll.
- Three words: Chekhovian gas canister. As soon as you saw that, you knew it would factor into their escape.
- Enjoyed how Taffy2 forced her own programmers to negotiate her payment before helping Echo. To me, that showed how Sierra is potentially like Echo in terms of making unexpected choices within the determined parameters.
- Speaking of these two, I enjoy that they are lunch buddies with Lubov. What I didn't like was that the crucial look at the end of last week's episode seemed completely ignored this week. Can't figure that out at all. I'm down with all three slowly coming back to life, as it were. It's groovy (and probably best) if Echo's enlightenment happens quicker than the others, but I hope she's not solo in her awakening over this season. (Maybe these eps are being aired out of order?)
In short: provocative ideas, less-than-provocative drama. I don't think it's too much to ask for both, considering the pedigree of talent involved. Slowing down the action to reveal character works...unless your character is a cipher. Then, not so much. It's just one of those tricky things inherent to the out-there concept upon which this show is based. I'm still onboard with the show, but just found this week's ep a touch lacking in comparison to the last two.
But that's just my opinion: what did you think? Did you think the episode was "blue skies" or did it rain on your parade? Is Ballard's investigation interesting or moving at the speed of real-time geology? And just how high up does the management at the Dollhouse actually go? Leave your thoughts below!
Ryan eats at a table for one over at Boob Tube Dude.
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At least I know I'm not the only one thinking these things. (1) I also fear the dreaded cancellation (bye, Life on Mars). (2) I still have a hard time processing the look at the end of last week's episode. (3) I was studying Alpha's naked profile looking for a Ballardesque resemblence.
It's still a good show - I like it.
If you were part of the Joss Whedon crew and you'd worked on a number of series for fox which all had basically a very short run would you really expect to get anything more????
I'm pessimistic till they are picked up for a season 2. I'm sure they are too. Enjoyable though. I'm hoping the convo between Topher and what's her name happens on camera, but that would be too easy wouldn't it.
In answer to your question about the whole mountain scene at the beginning, Echo referenced it while she was in the vault. While she was talking to the injured guy she asked "What's my name?" He responded "Taffy". Then she looked at a piece of art depicting mountains and she said, "That was not my name when I was there." That beginning scene took place in the mountains. It was very subtle, but it was another reference to Echo remembering things.
I really enjoyed this episode, much more than last weeks. I enjoyed the conversation about the 3 dolls sitting together, and how it was their primal instinct. I also thought this week had some funnier moments than weeks past.
I am looking forward to seeing more, because from what I hear the series really starts to hit it's stride the further we get into the season.
Dollhouse sucks. It's the worst thing Joss has ever produced.
I watched three episodes and couldn't take it anymore. Buffy and Angel had growing pains, but you could see the magic straight away. Firefly rocked from episode 1. Dollhouse- ugh. P*** the aspirin.
You know, I'm already bored with Dollhouse. It's one of those shows were you have to force yourself to watch it. They had a good premise but the driection that they went with, I don't like. Part of has to do with when they get wiped, they become child-like - which drives me NUTS. That and every episode they have the 'mission Echo' (what personality she is programmed with) which I find VERY BORING.
If I did they show, I would have had Echo remember stuff and had escaped the Dollhouse from episode 1, and on the run. I would have the Dollhouse Operatives and Alpha on her tail and Echo trying to remember who she really was (with her past missions used as flashbacks in each episode). The Dollhouse operatives would be trying to get her back, while Alpha playing his game with her while Echo is trying to find information/clues so that she would find out her true identity. That's what I would have the series be about. This direction that FOX took - is simply BORING.
All I know is that every week I ask myself if I would still be watching this show if it wasn't created by Joss Whedon. And every week, the answer is NO.
"...perfectly crunchy lettuce..." I heart Joss Whedon.
I also really liked this episode. The idea of putting the same imprint on two different dolls? Fantastic! Not EVEN something I considered when thinking about the premise of the show and where it could go. I'm always on board for the inner workings of Joss Whedon's mind. And here's the thing... He's pretty friggin' brilliant, and his stuff is always deeper than it may seem at first.
As for the the rich couple in the mountains, I think they expressly didn't want an hospital environment, and were willing to pay top dollar for an expert midwife who would have no memory of the event. Makes you wonder what their story is. I thought it was a great little snapshot to illustrate another instance of doll implementation. (Especially a non-sexual one, as that's what many have implied the only use for a doll is.)
"You're privilege abusing."
Wow, you guys are really harsh! I guess I'm just so tired of all the CSI and Law & Order spinoffs, sucky, predictable reality TV shows and Jay Leno moving into primetime (yuck), that I can appreciate a sci-fi drama that doesn't fall into any of the conventional scenarios (ragtag band of explorers lost in space, aliens from outer space, etc.)
Personally, I like it. I'd get rid of that obnoxious British lady and the equally annoying Ellen De Generes-looking Topher, but otherwise, cut the show some slack. The show is only four episodes in to its first season. Give it a chance.
personally, this was my favorite epi so far (especially considering last week's horrible epi, imo). i particularly like the scenes in the dollhouse. like when topher was talking about the dolls instincts and behaviors when they are not "imprinted."
"Ellen DeGeneres-looking Topher." yeah i hadn't thought of that, but yeah i see it.
my least favorite part of this show are Echo's weekly episodic missions. but i think i liked this mission best so far--i liked how echo looked at the art and how they programmed 2 dolls with the same imprint.
one thing though, Dushku OVERACTS. like when she is a doll she is supposed to be p***ive, okay i get that. but when she is imprinted, she is too much "on," too exagerrated. after all, when imprinted, she is supposed to BE that person, not ACTING LIKE that person. for me, her overacting gets intrusive.
i'm with IggyPop on this one, still giving this show a chance.
While not the best of the 4 eps, it's still so much better than CSI: Miami or Ghost Whisperer or 2 1/2 Men, et al.
I agree it was pretty laid back. But we did learn a couple of things. First, Adelle has a boss! And girl is scared of him/her! Secondly, we got a set up of Topher being told about Alpha and he will now be actively trying to prevent future attacks on the Dolls. That's cool. It's gives Topher something difficult to do instead of gloating over his own awesomeness. haha!
Still in hot anticipation for eps 6-13, which are being touted as Joss' actual vision of the show w/o his hands being tied by Fox!! WooHoo!