Dollhouse 1.01, 1.02
I like to try to give premiere episodes a little bit of a pass, since I know that usually the show runners are still working out kinks and the actors and writers are still getting a feel for the characters. But knowing that Dollhouse’s was already completely redone made me leery of allowing that much leeway. And yet, I wanted to watch it. I wanted to see if it could live up to the hype. Having just finished my massive Buffy/Angel viewing project, I was definitely more than willing to give Joss another chance. Though I wasn’t expecting Firefly levels of greatness by any means.
I wouldn’t call “Ghost” a disappointment but it certainly fell flat for me. There was much about it was made me think everyone involved was trying too hard. And probably they were since network involvement pretty much mandated that this was the only second chance they were going to get. Yet it still seemed overwritten and overwrought. I questioned some of Eliza Dushku’s acting choices, particularly how to portray Echo when leaving the motorcycle race birthday party but before she had been mind-wiped again. I questioned some of the directing choices, particularly the close up on the product placement truck’s hood ornament that would have had me shivering with Wolf Ram Hart anticipation if only this had been during Angel’s run. The similarities to other shows and movies, that I had assumed based on early online reviews, only proved to be true. Especially the opening scene which played out like a much watered-down version of Nikita’s initial confrontation with Madeline. I like Olivia Williams just fine but she is no Alberta Watson. And Peta Wilson was much more believably stressed and trapped into joining.
Still, I ultimately enjoyed it enough to want to watch the next episode. Things got really tense once Echo and her client of the week went to meet the kidnappers. I’m not sure I understand the imprint mythology on the show yet, because why would a past abduction be included if the imprints are picking and choosing between the best elements of multiple people for a situation? And yet it seemed like instead it was just a copy of one whole real person. So…why bother? Why not just get said whole real person? How did they end up with these copies in the first place? It’s all vague and I didn’t care that much; it was instead more of a nitpick. Sort of like the wasted time focusing on Helo in the boxing ring. OK, eye candy but really? We didn’t need the metaphor to be that heavy handed.
I had heard from multiple sources that “The Target” was a vast improvement on the premiere episode. Sadly, I did not think that was the case at all. In fact, I’m now left with such a bad taste in my mouth that I honestly don’t know if I’ll continue on with the series at all. My heart sank when I saw just how many previouslies they had crammed in to the beginning. You shouldn’t need all that set-up for the second episode if it’s not a two parter. And especially not if you’re a showrunner that’s been claiming to the media for months now that the first half dozen episodes are independent, stand-alone stories. Not a good sign.
I felt like this episode suffered from trying to do too many things at once. There was no clear focus. The client of the week story was a retread of The Most Dangerous Game, which is fantastic source material. But even so, I had troubles with the characterizations of both Echo and the client himself. The woohooing while white-water rafting was on a par with Mt. Dew commercials, ie fake and lame. And the switch to the hunt was too abrupt, necessary for Echo, sure, but absolutely jarring for the audience, even when aware of what was coming thanks to copious Fox promos all week long. It was like Whedon’s old “shocking” “twists” for the sake of fucking with the audience that plagued Buffy’s final season. On top of that story was the flashback element. The timeline seems messy, and maybe that’s intentional, but it felt like it belonged to a different episode. The only useful story parallel was the mirroring of Echo’s trust in her handler and his trust in her at the end. Which could have been illustrated without bringing in the Who Is Alpha mystery just yet. Leave a little something for later. Don’t blow it all at once. There was also the Helo storyline to contend with. I’m assuming Romo must be a recurring character or else his encounter with the agent was wasted screentime. The whole thing was just so cliché. There is nothing new about the true believer government agent that is teased and harassed by his co-workers for chasing after the Truth. And we certainly didn’t need to meet his neighbor with a crush on him.
I started out thinking that at the very least, I’d be watching this show for Helo and Fred. Well, Agent Paul Ballard is already turning into a caricature. Dr. Claire Saunders is unfortunately not at all compelling, despite the garish facial scars in lieu of actual personality development. Olivia William’s head of the Dollhouse seems like she’s too busy focusing on making her blocking marks each scene to actually be believable as a character. The mind wipe technician is a complete tool and hateful douchebag. Is he supposed to be the Wash? The Xander? He sucks ass. The head of security is even worse. Where are the lovable rogues to root for? The only one I like is Boyd, Echo’s handler. The only moment of worry I had during this episode is when he took an arrow in the gut. For one brief second I considered that he might actually be a goner. But not even kill-‘em-all, no-happily-ever-afters Joss Whedon is going to off a main character in the second episode.
Echo herself is too much of a blank slate to care about. Her personality changes for each client so there’s nothing to connect with. It’s a great actor’s showcase for Dushku but too much of an anthology for the viewer. I don’t like the wiped personality when she’s back at the Dollhouse either. If they’re supposed to be “childlike” tabula rasas then why did she show zero reaction to the security guy yelling at her face? I don’t know anyone, child or not, that would respond with “I’m going to go swim in the pool.” That was dumb.
One final complaint: where is the humor?
I’m sure I’ll give this show another couple of tries. But I don’t know how much my patience is going to last, especially when I’m mercilessly dropping shows from the must-see list during my imminent new infant hibernation.
I wouldn’t call “Ghost” a disappointment but it certainly fell flat for me. There was much about it was made me think everyone involved was trying too hard. And probably they were since network involvement pretty much mandated that this was the only second chance they were going to get. Yet it still seemed overwritten and overwrought. I questioned some of Eliza Dushku’s acting choices, particularly how to portray Echo when leaving the motorcycle race birthday party but before she had been mind-wiped again. I questioned some of the directing choices, particularly the close up on the product placement truck’s hood ornament that would have had me shivering with Wolf Ram Hart anticipation if only this had been during Angel’s run. The similarities to other shows and movies, that I had assumed based on early online reviews, only proved to be true. Especially the opening scene which played out like a much watered-down version of Nikita’s initial confrontation with Madeline. I like Olivia Williams just fine but she is no Alberta Watson. And Peta Wilson was much more believably stressed and trapped into joining.
Still, I ultimately enjoyed it enough to want to watch the next episode. Things got really tense once Echo and her client of the week went to meet the kidnappers. I’m not sure I understand the imprint mythology on the show yet, because why would a past abduction be included if the imprints are picking and choosing between the best elements of multiple people for a situation? And yet it seemed like instead it was just a copy of one whole real person. So…why bother? Why not just get said whole real person? How did they end up with these copies in the first place? It’s all vague and I didn’t care that much; it was instead more of a nitpick. Sort of like the wasted time focusing on Helo in the boxing ring. OK, eye candy but really? We didn’t need the metaphor to be that heavy handed.
I had heard from multiple sources that “The Target” was a vast improvement on the premiere episode. Sadly, I did not think that was the case at all. In fact, I’m now left with such a bad taste in my mouth that I honestly don’t know if I’ll continue on with the series at all. My heart sank when I saw just how many previouslies they had crammed in to the beginning. You shouldn’t need all that set-up for the second episode if it’s not a two parter. And especially not if you’re a showrunner that’s been claiming to the media for months now that the first half dozen episodes are independent, stand-alone stories. Not a good sign.
I felt like this episode suffered from trying to do too many things at once. There was no clear focus. The client of the week story was a retread of The Most Dangerous Game, which is fantastic source material. But even so, I had troubles with the characterizations of both Echo and the client himself. The woohooing while white-water rafting was on a par with Mt. Dew commercials, ie fake and lame. And the switch to the hunt was too abrupt, necessary for Echo, sure, but absolutely jarring for the audience, even when aware of what was coming thanks to copious Fox promos all week long. It was like Whedon’s old “shocking” “twists” for the sake of fucking with the audience that plagued Buffy’s final season. On top of that story was the flashback element. The timeline seems messy, and maybe that’s intentional, but it felt like it belonged to a different episode. The only useful story parallel was the mirroring of Echo’s trust in her handler and his trust in her at the end. Which could have been illustrated without bringing in the Who Is Alpha mystery just yet. Leave a little something for later. Don’t blow it all at once. There was also the Helo storyline to contend with. I’m assuming Romo must be a recurring character or else his encounter with the agent was wasted screentime. The whole thing was just so cliché. There is nothing new about the true believer government agent that is teased and harassed by his co-workers for chasing after the Truth. And we certainly didn’t need to meet his neighbor with a crush on him.
I started out thinking that at the very least, I’d be watching this show for Helo and Fred. Well, Agent Paul Ballard is already turning into a caricature. Dr. Claire Saunders is unfortunately not at all compelling, despite the garish facial scars in lieu of actual personality development. Olivia William’s head of the Dollhouse seems like she’s too busy focusing on making her blocking marks each scene to actually be believable as a character. The mind wipe technician is a complete tool and hateful douchebag. Is he supposed to be the Wash? The Xander? He sucks ass. The head of security is even worse. Where are the lovable rogues to root for? The only one I like is Boyd, Echo’s handler. The only moment of worry I had during this episode is when he took an arrow in the gut. For one brief second I considered that he might actually be a goner. But not even kill-‘em-all, no-happily-ever-afters Joss Whedon is going to off a main character in the second episode.
Echo herself is too much of a blank slate to care about. Her personality changes for each client so there’s nothing to connect with. It’s a great actor’s showcase for Dushku but too much of an anthology for the viewer. I don’t like the wiped personality when she’s back at the Dollhouse either. If they’re supposed to be “childlike” tabula rasas then why did she show zero reaction to the security guy yelling at her face? I don’t know anyone, child or not, that would respond with “I’m going to go swim in the pool.” That was dumb.
One final complaint: where is the humor?
I’m sure I’ll give this show another couple of tries. But I don’t know how much my patience is going to last, especially when I’m mercilessly dropping shows from the must-see list during my imminent new infant hibernation.