Dollhouse

Apparently, Joss has a new series starting up on Fox, Dollhouse which will star Eliza Duskhu (who played Faith on Buffy). Should be good, w00t!

Cool! Let's hope FOX gives him a chance.

Looking forward to it - the premise looks cool.

Sounds like it's going to be put on hold until the strike is worked out. Did you all see the open letter Joss wrote?

Thanks, paulacs, for posting the link. I hadn't seen that yet.

Looks like this strike may be coming to some kind of resolution -- perhaps we may see Dollhouse yet!

The latest news I've read is that the network has ordered several scripts into production, without having a pilot shot first. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean they'll actually buy the series. This is evidently a way that the networks are attempting to deal with all the delays caused by the strike.

And, of course, even if the network does buy the series, we know all too well that it doesn't mean they'll support the series.

But we will all cross our fingers, right?

DianeS
owned by Wilma, Angel, and Simba

There's an actual premiere date for Dollhouse now. 2/19. Still a ways away, but good to know it is coming!

I heard it was going to get pushed into a 'dud' spot on Friday nights. Lets hope this one lasts longer then Firefly

So...the premiere came and went...what are your thoughts?

I missed it. I'm hoping I'll be able to watch it online tonight, then I'll weigh in.

I liked the first episode, but it didn't get me by the throat like Firefly and Buffy did. It's going to be a slow build and I'm not sure that the network will give it time. I also think the time slot is a problem - not for me (the most exciting thing on my Friday night is usually grocery shopping and so having Dollhouse there is a huge improvement) but for building a broad audience.

So I watched the pilot, while it seems like a good show, it just doesn't strike me as a Whedon show. So far there is no hint of his sense of humor. It's so serious somewhat like a scifi Law & Order. It might get better as it goes along so I'm holding my breath.

I suspect Whedon is just setting up the basics now and will get to the real intrigues soon. I just hope he gets to it before Fox decides to screw us all over again.

I agree about the humor—minimal. The dialogue was good, but not great. I definitely want to see more, but I'm wary.

I hope it pans out.

I liked the second episode more. I really hope the network gives it time to build because i'm sure i'll end up loving it.

I had completely forgotten it was starting but my husband saw it and DVR'd it for me.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's show. There seemed to be slightly more humor in the 2nd one. "I can handle a gun, I have for brothers and not one a Democrat." I'm hopeful more humor will come along as the plot unfolds.

Last night, I finally got around to watching the second episode, which I missed last week. I think it was stronger than the first, and I'm really looking forward to how things progress.

I agree with you LCB48, Tonights episode looks promising in the humor department.

I was very disappointed with last night's episode. Too much singing and "modeling", not enough humor and plot. Where is all the quotable dialog? We need a Willow or Kaylee character to care about, a Xander or Wash character to be amused by.

yea, definately not as funny as I thought it would be. But I think at least the end made for a promising plot development. We just have to wait.

Is it just me or does dollhouse have a resemblance to wolfram and hart (the building)? Maybe it's just because it has Fred walking around in a lab coat.

Joss et al need to jump up their revelations about whatever the deeper mysteries are. It's hard to get an audience to stick around for many episodes to figure out the deeper arc -- that works when the show is already established.

And, yeah, we never had enough time with Dushku's character(s) to care about them; so, the show has to give the audience something else. Another character to care about -- meaning, personal motivation. For instance, we don't know why FBI-guy is so motivated about the DollHouse -- so why should we care? It's as if Fox Mulder had just quixotically developed an obsession with no family mystery behind it.

I was thinking about it last night, and Joss has never really done this whole "mystery plot" thing, not to the level of say J.J. Abrams, which seems to be what he's trying to do now. Unfortunately, as a lot of you have stated, he doesn't seem to have worked out the right ratio of mystery to answers.

That having been said, *SPOILER* I totally didn't see the Russian in the dollhouse thing coming. And I agree that the end had me interested to see where it would be going.**END SPOILER**

I've also discovered that the show doesn't hold my attention enough to give it my sole attention yet, which Buffy and Firefly always did. Still, early days.

*spoiler*
I agree with you on Victor, the russian, really did not see that coming either. ****

A couple of things I think they're doing well so far:
1) Introducing the background and concepts surrounding Dollhouse a bit at a time, avoiding info-dumps for the most part, but still remaining understandable.
2) The episodes work pretty well on their own while still being linked to a larger story arc, you don't have to see every episode to get it.

I'm not really sure how a feel about the most recent episode. I think that the science guy (what's his name?) the one that does all the wipeing, is supposed to be our Xander/Wash but so far it's not working for me, more relationships need to form. I am interested to learn more about Alpha though.

I see Science Guy being more like the Nerds of Doom from Buffy. He reminds me A LOT of the blond one (Andrew? Gah, can't remember).

The thing that amused me was Echo and Sierra (when they had the same personality implanted) both saying they learned to wear comfy shoes on the job. While wearing spike heels. On a job. Spike heels...

So far I like the Dollhouse, it's kinda of weird and has moments that make me go 'Wow, did not see that coming!' but I'm not sure how it can last more then a season or two. Anyone else feel that way?

29>I'm not sure how it can last more then a season or two.

I agree. I've really been enjoying the show, but so far it seems that the story could easily be wrapped up in a few more episodes. Perhaps that was done purposely, under the assumption that Fox was probably just going to cancel it anyway?

Actually I think it's really getting interesting now, and revealing a deeper structure that could make it last a long time. If it was just the mystery of who Echo was, and how she got into the dollhouse, plus her & her buds doing various sexy / dangerous / weird assignments -- that wouldn't have cut it for me. But now I think we're getting some layers that make it worth watching & hanging in for.

Unfortunately, I think Joss mis-timed this. He needed to break into the deeper mysteries / larger conspiracies much, much sooner in the series -- maybe the first episode. And introduce us to the characters first, maybe, so we could see glimmers of themselves coming out ...? or something. I think there was too much wind-up to maintain audience. We'll see.

I think lquilter hit it on the head—the windup wasn't working. Indeed, it wasn't even wind-up; it felt like a rut. We didn't need the singer-bodyguard show, for example. Little disconnected episodes, with actors playing people they won't be next week, just can't hold your attention for long.

Anyway, word on the street is that it may be cancelled. If it is, there's no justice in the world. If it isn't, there isn't any justice either. I like the show, but I'd rather watch paint dry on the Serenity than Echo beating up FBI agents, naked. (This is partially about my complete lack of sexual interest in whats-her-face—and Sierra too—but the point stands.)

how did you like last week's episode? I was shocked that *** was Alpha!!! Was anyone else?

In case you haven't seen it, I won't give it away!

I figured it out early on, but only because I knew Alpha was going to show up in this episode. If I hadn't known I wouldn't have figured it out at all. It was fun to see him, he was hysterical.

I got a kick out of the 'carrot plantation'

Glad to see *** back, although his actual appearance didn't make a lot of sense. (What did he need Paul Ballard for, really?) The show is still in trouble. The basic conceit is a trap they haven't gotten out of. Much smaller, but irritating, I think icing Laurence Dominic was a bad move. With the central characters personality-less, the people around them should be stable.

The Dollhouse got renewed for a second season. Honestly did not see that coming...

would've prefered if Firefly had gotten a second season over dollhouse....*sighs*

True that! But, it should be interesting to see where they take Dollhouse. It seemed to be finding its niche with the last few episodes especially.

And it has the ever-so-tasty Tahmoh Penikett, late of Battlestar Galactica! Another reason to watch.

New season of Dollhouse starts on Friday. Let's see how season 2 goes.

Oh good. That was a long wait. :)

anybody see the unaired episode about the dark we-are-all-dolls-now future?

I haven't but I heard that was a great episode

No I didn't, is it online? What did people think of Fridays episode? I liked it, It seems like we'll get more character development now and I'm excited to see how this goes.