Dollhouse – Needs

dollhouse-needs I feel like we are watching a marathon runner sprinting to win the race too early. Honestly if tonight had been the last episode, I do not know how disappointed I would really have been. That is saying a lot, it was a very good episode, I just do not know where they are going now. The story lines that have been of interest for the past few weeks, have been semi-worked out. Yes there are larger story lines looming, but the problem is that we do not have a good attachment to them yet. They really need to maintain the multiple threads in a way that we are still concerned about them. So begins another episode of Dollhouse.

Echo, Sierra and Victor awaken in the Dollhouse with most of their original personalities and memories intact. They have been put into an experimental environment in order to resolve repeating behaviors. Echo deviates from her programming and leads the charge to free the Actives from their apparent captivity in order to escape the Dollhouse forever.

Ballard discovers the Dollhouse is closer than he thinks.

Let me just go straight into commentary mode for this episode, we are past understand what the show is about now I think. The dream at the beginning of the episode felt a bit out of place and I could just tell it was a dream from the first few seconds. I did not really like it though? We already have an understanding that Ballard is all wrapped up in Echo (Caroline) and this case it turns a bit sexual. Unless Ballard already had some sort of interaction with Echo (damn is this guy Alpha) this is one of those things that the audience really does not need to see. After this rocky start though it gets cooking over in Dollhouse land.

The great escape part of this weeks episode was great. I loved seeing Victor take control and lead them out of the Dollhouse, but only to be foiled at the end. Whedon does a great job at really fleshing out the actives this week, but that is where I think we also get into a problem. We know a bit too much about some of the actives and their past. It was interesting how we learn about November’s daughter and that people really do sign up for the Dollhouse, they probably are not forced. How they find them though is probably an interesting story. Where does the show go from here? Ballard finding out where the Dollhouse is located and how to shut it down. Alpha and how he plays into the scheme of things over at the Dollhouse. Maybe more about the company behind the Dollhouse. I do not know, I was really getting into the Actives they have shown us already and what they were doing there, how they were interacting and it seems that story came to a close. Whedon really better have something that hooks me back into the other story lines that are still out there. I mean why couldn’t we have had more Alpha interaction so that I would be more invested in that storyline?

Back to this episode though…I really enjoyed Victor, and he seems to remember a bit about Sierra, like maybe they have met before. Echo goes all burn down your lab again on the Dollhouse, it seems that is just her nature. Was some of her programming leaking over or can she really just take out a handler by herself? Adelle is really one step ahead of everything isn’t she? I liked how the Actives got to accomplish their goals, and then Dollhouse employees just picked them up. Very nice and tidy and gave the audience a bit more respect for Adelle. Also it was an interesting twist to try and get the audience to believe Claire was somehow involved with helping the Actives, it could still be up in the air, and the writing is well done is that respect. You never really know what to take at face value. It was also interesting to see Topherand Echo (as Caroline) interact when she wants to question his ethics about what is going on. Plus how in control of the programming is Topher? Overall a lot happened, but not a lot got done. It seems my commentaries cause me to ask a lot of questions, probably a good thing though as it relates to a show.

It was tough this week, a great episode, but one that may also cause future episode to stagnate a bit. We shall see, let’s hope Whedon has something special in store for us. The question is will Fox continue to let him tell the story or does he have an end planned in case they suits decide it is just not enough for their Friday night lineup?

Also an interesting piece on the shower scenes http://www.tvguide.com/News/Dollhouse-Dichen-Lachman-1004692.aspx to check out.