If it wasn’t for the fact that I usually have nothing else to watch at 9 PM on Friday night — that is, nothing that’s not already sitting on my DVR on in a Netflix envelope — I’ll continue to watch Dollhouse. So far the show’s a big disappointment, and what doesn’t help at all is the fact that Whedon and Dushku — the head honchos of the show — are basically coming right out and saying that the first five episodes are a whole lot of crap, and you need to hang on until the sixth episode to get your money’s worth.
You know when you should be getting your money’s worth? Episode number one.
Today, fellow CliqueClacker Bob Degon and I had a few drinks and got to talking about Dollhouse, and he had a very true statement of the show: Dollhouse‘s primary premise could ultimately be its greatest undoing. Since the main character, Echo, spends each episode either within a personality that’s not her own or as a brain-wiped shell of a woman, we have absolutely no chance to connect with the character. This is true for all of the Dollhouse characters so far, actually.
If we get no more than 30 seconds of a home video moment from Echo, or ten seconds (or less) of sudden “awareness” from her, then how are we able to like her, hate her, understand her or sympathize with her? So far, it’s impossible. Will it ever be possible?
If you’re a fan of Dollhouse, take a serious look at the show and tell me if it’s worthy of the stamp of Whedon, if you’re familiar with his work. Are you truly excited to see what’s coming next week? Did you get more than a hint of a chuckle out of some of the banter of last week’s episode? Will you really shed a tear and be angry, should Dollhouse not make it past its already-shot 13 episodes?
Unless the next two episodes are remarkable in some way, I won’t bother posting about it until after episode number six. Otherwise, you’re just going to get a couple more posts where I’m going on like this. Let’s see what episode six brings us.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Mar 01, 2009 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
Right. Right.
See you at six.
I am really tired of reviewers (and commenters) on high traffic TV websites basically throwing shows like Fringe and Dollhouse under the bus because they don’t live up to the expectations of their producers. These are the same reviewers who complain that networks don’t give shows time to build an audience and lamenting the death of intellectual serialized dramas. Well here you have two high concept thought provoking serialized dramas that you don’t want to invest in (which is entirely your prerogative, of course) and that you are lambasting because if requires time to develop and lay out its case – which seems hypocritical.
I watched Alias and Lost and agree that Fringe is slower to grab you, but it is developing momentum now. I have never watched anything from Whedon so I am totally captivated by the premise, layers of moral ambiguity, the possible trajectory etc. of Dollhouse. I guess I feel that way because I am evaluating it without expectations – which I think as a reviewer you could attempt. That does not mean that you can’t look for trademarks, or compare – but allow the show to grow, develop without dissing it at every turn. It will become self fulfilling that again Fox only let Joss have a show for 13 episodes and sites like this will be complicit.
Why I like Dollhouse? First, on the surface I like the idea of flexibility in the COTW. It isn’t always a hospital or murder. So far we have had Dangerous game, Britney show, and a kidnapping (actually, I am looking for some altruistic situations also). I like the moral ambiguity of the Dollhouse itself. Who created it, why are people who are openly derisive of the actives running it, why do people become actives and what is at the end of the five year promise, what kind of people hire actives and for what? I am intrigued by the idea of awakening consciousness and the concept of identity. I enjoy the relationship between Boyd and Echo and how that relationship can develop. The Alpha character – how is or is he behind the massacre and why was Echo spared. If Alpha is good how could he kill doll-stage actives? Did he? How did he reach his level of awareness and does he want the same for Echo. Did Alpha create the identity of or actually imprint the hunter, does he have that technology, was he behind that whole episode. How many clients will actually be Alpha controlled. What is the deal behind Ballard and why is he so sure about the Dollhouse (and who doesn’t love the FBI for both Tahmoh and Sheppard). Did Dominic order the hit (through Victor) and Adele is controlling lasagna girl.
I could go on, but my point is that without a wait for Whedon point of view, I am happy with Dollhouse and I wish some reviewers would give the show a chance on its own merits and not work against the show and maybe drive viewers away.
I agree completely. I have watched the other shows Joss has done, and loved almost all of them, and have so far rather enjoyed seeing Dollhouse play out over the three episodes we have so far. I don’t mind waiting for a show to build itself up to something awesome, which this one appears to be doing, and none of the individual episodes so far have left me feeling the last 50 minutes was a waste of my time.
I hope you do start seeing something you like in the show, as I feel it’s a shame for it to just be ignored on this site, but in the meantime I’ll be eagerly awaiting a new episode each week.
*POST AUTHOR*
You’ve got a good point regarding allowing a show to build momentum, though with past shows I may have bitched about in getting a too-early cancellation, I actually liked the first few episodes right from the start.
My point of this post was that two of the show runners of Dollhouse are themselves admitting that the first five episodes are the bitter pills you need to swallow to get to the good stuff, six episodes in. For their sakes, I hope they’re right and it continues to be better in episodes seven, eight, etc.
As I said, if any of us have something to say about Dollhouse in the coming weeks, we’ll say it. Otherwise it’s just not worth musing about.
Oh so it’s supposed to suck? Well then the show is exactly what they wanted1 Very nice job! Your show really sucks and will be canceled before the 6th episode!
Quotes are important, I think. The way I read the article, think of the first six episodes as six pilots for folks who aren’t tuning in for the sake of Joss. Why the Whedonesque humor couldn’t have been plugged in to make them entertaining to long time fans I don’t know. But after these six pilots (redundant to those who watch all six) air, hopefully we get what we’re all tuning in for — Josstastic goodness.
I already bitched about this show on TV Squad so I’m going to keep this short as possible. This show is uninteresting up until the last minute when they throw you a bone that Echo is not an empty shell. That is not how you make a TV show.
There is only so much room on a DVR and I dont feel like filling mine up with a show that I’m not going to like except for a 1 second fist to shoulder bump right before a cut to credits.
Well, this weeks episode was so unmemorable that I completely forgot I had already watched. I almost watched it again, until I read the description and recognition kicked in.
Josh and Eliza screwed themselves. I’ll continue to watch, but I know others won’t, and it’s their fault. Anyone who is stupid enough (and yes, it was stupid) to premiere a show in this day in age with the knowledge that it would take six episodes to kick in (when shows are yanked after one!), doesn’t deserve a hit show.
I’m disappointed and pissed. We deserved better than what we were given.
Here’s all I know:
Every show that ends up running more than one season usually SUCKS during the first season. I don’t think three – or even five – episodes is enough to get a good read on a show, Joss Whedon or not.
Seems like because Whedon is involved everyone expects the Firefly magic in just three shows time.
I liked episode two better than episode one. I liked aspects of episode three. So I’m willing to give the Dollhouse team the benefit of the doubt when they say they have cool things in store for us from episode six and beyond. I like the handler character a lot, and a lot of the best moments in the show so far (for me at least) have come from his scowling. Whedon even acknowledged as much in the most recent episode. I’m not a fan of Eliza Dushku’s acting but she is very charismatic. I won’t get spoiler-y but the end of episode three was a nice hint of where the show could possibly go and a fun moment.
I kind of like the show already in a ‘terrible ninja movie’ kind of way, hopefully it does get better.
I thought episode 2 was great, episode 3 not so much. I do agree though that we have a let these shows grow. It’s very rare that a show hits it out of the park during the first half of the first season. Look at Whedon’s previous shows, for example. Firefly was great throughout, but Buffy took a whole season before it got any good, and Angel took some time too. The only drama that I can think of which I loved right from the start is Lost. I think, with this being Whedon, expectations are way too high for so early on. But people are comparing these 3 episode with the whole of Buffy, Angel and Firefly. Not only are we in the first few episodes of an hour long show, but we’re a few episodes into an hour long show that has been heavily messed with by Fox.
This show continues to grow on me. I actually enjoyed this week’s episode, as Paul’s storyline took a bit of an interesting (if not telegraphed) twist, we saw more out of Boyd (doing more than required), and more Echo that’s against what she’s expected to be.
I can continue to hang on and see what happens, especially if the team is saying it gets better (and, offhandledly blames Fox for it, which I’m totally cool with).
The first season of most shows are normally pretty bad looknig back comparing them to later seasons. However by themselves the shows are normally watchable and entertaining and not a dullfest.
The show ain’t gonna make it to six.
“So, basically, the first five episodes of Dollhouse are supposed to suck.”
Mission accomplished!
“Unless the next two episodes are remarkable in some way, I won’t bother posting about it until after episode number six. Otherwise, you’re just going to get a couple more posts where I’m going on like this.”
Then perhaps you shouldn’t be writing about this show at all. Maybe CliqueClack should turn it over to someone else.
The case could be made that WE may want to read about it and discuss it, and you are denying us that ability in this venue.
*POST AUTHOR*
Nobody on CliqueClack “owns” a show. If someone else here wants to post about it, they’re totally encouraged to. I was just giving my reasons for not. If nobody else posts about it, then it’s because they felt there was nothing to bothr writing about.
It sounds to me like Fox wouldn’t let them go really “episodic” for the first five, period. Ergo, they were stuck with that. More of a network screwing than Joss having no clue how to do a show any more.
Did you mean “serial” or “arc-based?” What we’ve gotten so far is usually what is referred to as “episodic.”
As I am not a tv executive, I cannot fathom why tptb hire a man and and do not let him do what he does best- create characters and write great dialogue. There is a built in fan base that is overwhelming– why NOT start there?