I'm a major Joss Whedon fan--I adored Buffy, Angel (mostly--some seasons weren't happy experiences) and particularly Firefly. I believe he's very talented--which is why I stayed with this series as long as I did.
There are certain things necessary to a compelling series--I think the most essential is a cast of characters we care about, that we can pull for. That doesn't always mean they're the good guys necessarily, look at the Sopranos. The show didn't pull its punches that organized crime is evil, but we saw enough of the demons driving Tony and Carmela and Dr Melfi, of their personal lives, we cared. Mostly.
But Dollhouse? Nothing here but a bunch of mannequins and the people monstrous enough to enslave them and those cashing a check from them. With Buffy, Angel, Firefly, I liked many of the characters from the first episode, and by end of the respective series first season loved them. And even Firefly, even with the sometime darkness in Mal and the Serenity crew playing on the wrong side of the law, I don't think you ever felt you shouldn't be rooting for them.
With Dollhouse I didn't care if any character survived or was happy. I can't stand Caroline/Echo--that didn't help. Nor does Eliza Dushku really have the range for the lame Fantasy Island riffs they put her through. Then there's FBI Agent Paul Ballard. The good guy? But, you know, I rather like my heroes, well, smart--and this guy does plenty to make me believe he's an idiot as well to lose any sympathy from me. The season finale had me shaking my head at the major reveal--just didn't work for me.
I didn't stay for the second and final season and I have no regrets this show was canceled. I *do* love many another series Joss Whedon produced however, and if this was your first exposure to him, I hope you'll try other things he did--he really is brilliant. Usually.
HedgeWitch
Posted October 1, 2010
What we know: The Dollhouse is a group of facilities in different cities, where people who cannot face their lives volunteer to stay for five years, and receive a large sum of money when their terms are up. During their time in the Dollhouse, their own personalities are erased, and the personalities and life experiences of someone else are put in the empty place; the "actives" then go out on assignment, as hired by people outside the Dollhouse. Each assignment calls for a different person, with different skills.
What we don't know, or know just enough to be curious about: Who is Caroline, and why did she decide to become an active? Her character, named Echo, is central to the series, and seems to be able to do just about anything. We get just enough flashes of back-story to add fuel to the fires of curiosity. What is the reason for the Dollhouse? What are the operators really up to? I hope all these questions--and any others that come up--will be answered, but not too quickly!
Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2010
I'm thoroughly intrigued by the unique storylines that this series has offered. The story is definitely unpredictable and it is refreshing to question and delve into this fantasy world. This series is refreshing in that it adds realism to the fantastical world of "dolls" where nothing is as it seems. There is a fine thread woven within each episode and this thread is what holds the episodes together. I saw a lot of connections between characters and situations after watching just a few episodes on the dvd, and look forward to seeing how it ends. Even when some episodes show some resolution in the end, there is still some curiosity in how some characters and situations are connected. It leaves me hooked in wanting to find out more about these connections. I highly recommend this DVD, and look forward to hopefully a season 2 on TV where other possibilities with the characters are endless! I have enjoyed letting my mind wander into this fantasy world of "dolls". It makes you take a look around you and question your own world--what's real and what's not.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Although some think that Joss tries to put too much story in a few of the episodes, given a chance this series is a fresh and much-needed addition to the TV Sci-Fi cannon. The themes it embraces (what is the human soul, individuality, and human trafficking) are all explored with witty dialogue and superb acting from some fan favorites: Amy Acker, Fran Kranz, Enver Gjokaj and, of course, Eliza Dushku. Epitath 1 alone is worth the whole series. Pick this up and sit back for a wild, mind-twisting ride!
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