Dollhouse Discussion Thread

[dumbstuck]

DUDE Val Kilmer is incredible in several movies, Tombstone being the first that comes to mind. Sure he's made a lot of turds, but his great performances, are truley amazing.

I agree about Tombstone. Other examples would be True Romance and Real Genius. But just because he actually acted in a handful of films, doesn't excuse the boatloads of wooden performances he usually turns in. Dushku is the same way. Wooden and one-note in every episode. After 12 eps, I'd yet to see any kind of stretching.

the difference is this, Kilmer phones in performances, or just gets crappy scripts or crappy directors.
Still doesn't change the fact that 99% of everything Kilmer's ever done is wooden.
Dushku has competent scripts, experienced television directors, and by her own admission is trying to put out some of her greatest work. She still sucks, at least with Kilmer when he tries he's usually pretty good.Key words here are "when he tries". Too bad that's almost never.

[Clem]

I don't know why we're talking about Val Kilmer, but he was awesome in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Although you'd be hard pressed to find fault with anything in that movie.

[Tycho]

Repetitive title?

But then I have seen Kiss Bang and it is a very different kind of movie.

Yes, I find myself very amusing.

[Clem]

Season 2 is here and the show seems to have slightly more direction.

Once again the supporting cast stepped up and stole the show from the star. In this case it was Whiskey/Dr Saunders' inability to cope with the knowledge that she's a doll. From teasing Topher to flirting with Boyd to running away at the end, Amy Acker was firing on all cylinders. She's clearly the best character on the show right now, conveying the central conflict in a MUCH more relatable way than Dushku's Echo. I especially loved the "I don't like crowds, sunlight..." scene. It pains me that she's been written out to go appear in a Whedon-less show. Come back soon Amy.

The main plot turned out to be something much more mundane. Ballard does his usual obsessive "i must bring down the villain by any means" schtick, which was bad enough when it was aimed at the Dollhouse, let alone guest stars. I honestly don't understand this character AT ALL. He was put in the hero role, but he can't act as the hero or the show would be over. The guy's just killing time until they're brought down and he gets to turn around and say HA HA.

With the developments in the first season finale (and the unaired episode), i was kinda hoping Echo might be more genuine and as a result, likable. Unfortunately, even with access to all these different composite personalities, she still comes off as a mental patient, only a badly acted one. I'm usually a fan of Dushku, so colour me confused, but she's tanking in this role. I know she wants to extend her range beyond playing bad girls every project, but maybe that IS her range.

Anyway, to sum up, the B-plot was pure Whedon and i loved it. However, the A-plot was dull, cliche and i had no investment in it whatsoever.

Also, how cool is it to see Alexis Denisof back on television. After being the best damn character in the entire Buffyverse, the guy just up and disappeared. What took you so long.

[Perephal]

Got caught up with the first four episodes of the season. This has been pretty good so far and the senator plot is very engaging. Easily one of the best episodes of the series was the last one they aired where we learn more about Ciara's life before the dollhouse.

[Clem]

Got caught up with the first four episodes of the season. This has been pretty good so far and the senator plot is very engaging. Easily one of the best episodes of the series was the last one they aired where we learn more about Ciara's life before the dollhouse.

Sierra's origin was a definite highlight. I loved how readily Boyd shows up to disappear the body. Of course he made Topher do all the hacking and pouring. Kinda reminded me of when Walter and Jessie had to do something similar on Breaking Bad. I assume the bathtub in this case was able to withstand the acid, didn't eat through the plastic and fall through to a lower floor

Even so, Dollhouse is still the worst Joss show by far, in an extremely distant fourth place. Probably due to the fact that Echo is the most boring part of her own show. Also, with the dire ratings and the fact Fox have removed it from the schedule, only to burn off the remainder in giant blocks at a later date, doesn't fill me with hope he'll turn it around.

[Perephal]

Got caught up with the first four episodes of the season. This has been pretty good so far and the senator plot is very engaging. Easily one of the best episodes of the series was the last one they aired where we learn more about Ciara's life before the dollhouse.

Sierra's origin was a definite highlight. I loved how readily Boyd shows up to disappear the body. Of course he made Topher do all the hacking and pouring. Kinda reminded me of when Walter and Jessie had to do something similar on Breaking Bad. I assume the bathtub in this case was able to withstand the acid, didn't eat through the plastic and fall through to a lower floor

Even so, Dollhouse is still the worst Joss show by far, in an extremely distant fourth place. Probably due to the fact that Echo is the most boring part of her own show. Also, with the dire ratings and the fact Fox have removed it from the schedule, only to burn off the remainder in giant blocks at a later date, doesn't fill me with hope he'll turn it around.

I read an interview where Whedon was slightly more optimistic. We'll see where the show ends, but I do hope that we get some kind of conlusion to the program whatever happens. you are correct about Echo being boring, mos to fher scens are pretty tedious.

[Clem]

I read an interview where Whedon was slightly more optimistic. We'll see where the show ends, but I do hope that we get some kind of conlusion to the program whatever happens. you are correct about Echo being boring, mos to fher scens are pretty tedious.

I heard he was writing the finale as the end of the series, as opposed to a season, with a few loose ends incase of a miracle and it continues. I think he was surprised it got a second season as it is.

The only way i would've seen Dollhouse even standing a chance of returning was entirely retooling during the summer. Ditch the lame duck cast, take the concept from "Epitaph 1", set ten years in the future with the last unprogrammed people fighting for survival in a world gone mad, and maybe that's a show i could get behind. Felicia Day is always adorable (even fighting for her life and mind) and mini-Caroline is a hilarious concept. They even promised more of it in Season 2, but i've yet to see any hints so far.

[Fazhoul]

I don't know if it was mentioned in the previous eleven pages of posts but there was an episode of the first season that Fox didn't air titled "Epitaph, Part 1". Fox felt that the episode was too dark but it's included on the DVDs for the first season.

The episode takes place ten years in the future and shows a world gone to hell after someone used the imprinting technology to either wipe the majority of the population or to "jump" their bodies. Up until this episode I was ambivalent about the series but this episode turned me into a fan and I'm eager to see how the show gets from 2009 to 2019. Of course, right after I became a true fan the show is pulled off the air.

[Clem]

Fox have officially cancelled Dollhouse.

In happier news, Joss Whedon is free to pursue other interests

[spidey 85]

sci fi channel a man can only dream .

[Perephal]

are they still airing the remainder of the series?

[Clem]

are they still airing the remainder of the series?

Yep. It's been taken off the air during November sweeps, but it theoretically returns in December with several double-bills and finishes out it's 13 episode run sometime in January.

However, schedules can change, so if the ratings keep getting worse, there's no telling what they'll do. I wouldn't put it past them to hold off on airing the last few and bank them for the eventual DVD release. That's the same unique selling point they used for the first season with "Epitaph 1".