Dollhouse - Epitaph Two: Return
I finally got around to watching the series finale of Dollhouse. I was thinking about saving it, waiting for a long time before I saw it. But then I figured that I wouldn't be able to drag myself away from what everyone else was saying about it. So, if you watch Dollhouse and you were able to not watch it, then you're gonna have to look away. And I'm about to get all gooey and sentimental, so look out.
It was beautiful. I don't care what all those Joss haters say; I love this show. I think of it as art. In the first season, I think it could've been a beautiful piece, until FOX came along and said, "It needs more boobs and explosions." This last episode was less like an episode and more like something else...
Body Count
The past three episodes have been such a crazy ride. See, for the longest time, I was surprised that Joss hadn't killed anyone important. I was starting to think that he has seen all the feedback and is trying something new now. But then I started to see River Bennet with Topher, and they were so happy. And I wondered why Bennet wasn't in Epitaph One. There could be only answer: She's dead. Within minutes, her blood was splattered all over Topher. Then I was getting worried about Mellie. Yeah. You know what happened to her. You would think that that was enough. But then the thing with Boyd. That was messed up.
Come Epitaph Two, little by little, it sank in that there are no more definites. You don't get a peek into the future this time around. Anything could happen. And I saw Mag falling behind when there was that shootout outside of the dollhouse. I thought that it would be absolutely cruel if she died here too. You'd think that she died enough times in Dr. Horrible. Unless you're Buffy or Spike, I think Joss would at least stop after one death per actor. Then I saw Mag getting shot in the legs, and I was all OH FUCK! And then Paul was being the gentleman, comforting her, telling her that everything's going to be okay and then HE GETS SHOT IN THE FREAKING HEAD.
I don't even know what to make of what went on with Topher. I was cool with him sacrificing himself. It seemed very familiar somehow. And it was perfect how he knew that he was the one that should do it. He probably went crazy from the guilt (and a couple of other things). It was the only way that he could have redeemed himself. But then he was up there, and the noble death turned into a WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED? death. He was all like "Oh, hey, what's over th--". Like Tara's death, maybe? All of a sudden, she was shot and she said, "Your shirt." to Willow, because... because... *sobs*
Characters
I love how Zone used to be a landscape architecture. He's one of those assy characters that you can't help but love because they have so many layers. It makes sense though. Think about it. Like, consider that peppy manager of Ralph's that you always see around. In such a scenario, it's just as likely that he'll be some bastard of a hero. Then with Mag and that techhead. I didn't realize that that was Maurissa Tancharoen until she was pointing a gun at Topher in the dollhouse. I still think that Epitaph One is my favorite episode. So it was fun to see our main cast with the Epitaph One characters. Ah, yes. And Adair Tishler. ♥
Tell me I'm not the only one who freaked when they saw Alpha. He was there being all creepy-like, and then Echo and Alpha hugged like old buddies. Huh? I didn't know what to think of him. I couldn't remember what happened to him last time he appeared. He... turned Paul into a vegetable. I don't remember what happens to him after that. But it was cool to see Alan Tudyk, so I was fine with it, albeit a little scared. I was relieved when he wasn't shot by Tony's leatherclad, USB-wielding team. It's the one death and you're all good rule. Especially if you get killed by Reavers of all things...
And Tony and Priya with an Asian son! It was nice. It showed that what went on in the past ten years wasn't all doom and gloom.
Ever since Epitaph One, I've enjoyed watching Adelle and Topher's relationship. She thinks of him as a son, clearly. It made Adelle a much more compelling character. The mess she made in the beginning of the season made me feel a little uneasy about her. I was relieved that she atoned for what she did at the perfect time. All of their scenes together were so endearing. And she wasn't just protective of him because she liked him. She knew that he was the only one they had that will fix what was going on.
The Story
I can't say that this episode gave me absolute closure though. I was disappointed that it wasn't two hours long. I liked the parallelism of the ending, sure. Echo lays down in her sleeping chamber. You know the episode is over when that happens. And most of the problems were solved. But it just seemed like there was something missing. Then again, I've never really felt any bit of closure when a show ends. It's always like the earth just ends right before your feet in the middle of your jogging session. But I must say that I'm pretty freaking jazzed about the finale for Lost. I can't wait to see what they'll bake up for us. They can do finales like it's nobody's business.
tl;dr: It was awesome.
It was beautiful. I don't care what all those Joss haters say; I love this show. I think of it as art. In the first season, I think it could've been a beautiful piece, until FOX came along and said, "It needs more boobs and explosions." This last episode was less like an episode and more like something else...
Body Count
The past three episodes have been such a crazy ride. See, for the longest time, I was surprised that Joss hadn't killed anyone important. I was starting to think that he has seen all the feedback and is trying something new now. But then I started to see River Bennet with Topher, and they were so happy. And I wondered why Bennet wasn't in Epitaph One. There could be only answer: She's dead. Within minutes, her blood was splattered all over Topher. Then I was getting worried about Mellie. Yeah. You know what happened to her. You would think that that was enough. But then the thing with Boyd. That was messed up.
Come Epitaph Two, little by little, it sank in that there are no more definites. You don't get a peek into the future this time around. Anything could happen. And I saw Mag falling behind when there was that shootout outside of the dollhouse. I thought that it would be absolutely cruel if she died here too. You'd think that she died enough times in Dr. Horrible. Unless you're Buffy or Spike, I think Joss would at least stop after one death per actor. Then I saw Mag getting shot in the legs, and I was all OH FUCK! And then Paul was being the gentleman, comforting her, telling her that everything's going to be okay and then HE GETS SHOT IN THE FREAKING HEAD.
I don't even know what to make of what went on with Topher. I was cool with him sacrificing himself. It seemed very familiar somehow. And it was perfect how he knew that he was the one that should do it. He probably went crazy from the guilt (and a couple of other things). It was the only way that he could have redeemed himself. But then he was up there, and the noble death turned into a WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED? death. He was all like "Oh, hey, what's over th--". Like Tara's death, maybe? All of a sudden, she was shot and she said, "Your shirt." to Willow, because... because... *sobs*
Characters
I love how Zone used to be a landscape architecture. He's one of those assy characters that you can't help but love because they have so many layers. It makes sense though. Think about it. Like, consider that peppy manager of Ralph's that you always see around. In such a scenario, it's just as likely that he'll be some bastard of a hero. Then with Mag and that techhead. I didn't realize that that was Maurissa Tancharoen until she was pointing a gun at Topher in the dollhouse. I still think that Epitaph One is my favorite episode. So it was fun to see our main cast with the Epitaph One characters. Ah, yes. And Adair Tishler. ♥
Tell me I'm not the only one who freaked when they saw Alpha. He was there being all creepy-like, and then Echo and Alpha hugged like old buddies. Huh? I didn't know what to think of him. I couldn't remember what happened to him last time he appeared. He... turned Paul into a vegetable. I don't remember what happens to him after that. But it was cool to see Alan Tudyk, so I was fine with it, albeit a little scared. I was relieved when he wasn't shot by Tony's leatherclad, USB-wielding team. It's the one death and you're all good rule. Especially if you get killed by Reavers of all things...
And Tony and Priya with an Asian son! It was nice. It showed that what went on in the past ten years wasn't all doom and gloom.
Ever since Epitaph One, I've enjoyed watching Adelle and Topher's relationship. She thinks of him as a son, clearly. It made Adelle a much more compelling character. The mess she made in the beginning of the season made me feel a little uneasy about her. I was relieved that she atoned for what she did at the perfect time. All of their scenes together were so endearing. And she wasn't just protective of him because she liked him. She knew that he was the only one they had that will fix what was going on.
The Story
I can't say that this episode gave me absolute closure though. I was disappointed that it wasn't two hours long. I liked the parallelism of the ending, sure. Echo lays down in her sleeping chamber. You know the episode is over when that happens. And most of the problems were solved. But it just seemed like there was something missing. Then again, I've never really felt any bit of closure when a show ends. It's always like the earth just ends right before your feet in the middle of your jogging session. But I must say that I'm pretty freaking jazzed about the finale for Lost. I can't wait to see what they'll bake up for us. They can do finales like it's nobody's business.
tl;dr: It was awesome.