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Article by Sonia Aurora
Aspiring screenwriter and seamstress, Sonia's dream is to write life-tweaking films while product-placing her own line of handbags. In 1999, she wrote, co-directed and co-starred in the short film Dr. Lovestrange, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bug, a satirical homage to Stanley Kubrick set amidst the panic of Y2K. She is working on her next short about the Mayan Calender that she hopes to finish before the end of the world. Ever the late bloomer, she finally started a blog chronicling her misadventures as one half of a long distance relationship (http://llddr.wordpress.com). She still struggles with which picture to kiss before bedtime: her boyfriend's or Bruce Campbell's. And, in the interest of time, she'd like to start thanking the Academy now. 14 Comments
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As for the interviews, they weren't stellar, but the guy with the guy-guy fantasy was great!
What I liked most, however, was that the show actually adressed its nature. This show was all about rape. The thing with Sierra (almost child rape, or reverse hentai rape where in hentai "adult" women have the body of a girl), the Mellie threat, and of course Patton Oswald. The greatest moment in the show for me was Oswald talking about seeing the reaction on his wife's face, having her share his success with him – all very emotional, and Ballard answers dryly: "And then you have sex."
Because that *is* the nature of the dollhouse. It's a mindrape institute, and finally the show is talking about it, even making a case for it in a way. I mean, Oswald's fantasy, the girl talking about the perfect moment and how "it could be beautiful" instead of creepy as hell – and the strongest defense may be when de Witt leaves her mole where she is on the grounds that "she loves him". I mean, sure, taking her away would only encourage B to search, but also she really does. It doesn't mean I find it less squicky when they will have sex in future episodes because while I can dig a secret agent seducing her target, this is forced love. But now I'm ready to have the show convince me otherwise.
Another interesting note: Oswald said he'd had the Dollhouse fantasy for seven years. I don't suppose he's had Echo each year or that would make her be active for at least seven years with a contract expiring after only five.
And finally, I hope we have enough Doll sleeper agents now. I don't want to "spot the Doll", so I assume all but one of the officials is really not a Doll, the single exception being because Whedon and his team won't be able to help themselves.
As to the mole inside the Dollhouse:
I think it's the Asian chick even though she's so obviously the mole. I like, however, the idea that it's Topher himself, sending her away on stupid errands to mess with the imprint, and that he only pretends to be as morally bancrupt as he appears to be.
I don't think it would make sense to lie about the mole in the Dollhouse when they then go on to encourage him to keep looking for clues and also have their apartment bugged and a mole near him. Too much trouble.
In short: That was finally a show I can care about. A show that at least seemed to have something to say. And while I don't like that Mellie's a doll, and was not so surprised by it, I think the way they revealed it and what they did with it was great. Finally.
Fopr myself, I was hokked on Beffy (and Firefly) form the beginning, but yes, I was decidedly unimpressed with Dollhouse till this episode as well. It had the twists that the earlier eps were either missing, or not that twisty (Echo loosing her imprint). or not all that convincing with (like the singer wanting to off herself). The charaacterisation is getting better too (before now, Echo's guide and Topher were the only ones who seemed to have more tthan one dimension). I'm still bothwered by the fact that the women are often the damsel in distress for the men, though, in particular Echoe's guide & the FBI agent. Even when they can kick ass on their own, they're still used in the damsel *context*, giving the guys someone to worry about/develop their characer over. The only truly strong character whi hasn't become a damsel at any point yet is the woman in charge. (Why is it I can't retain anyone's names on this show aside from the actives and Topher?) I think I was going to keep watching no matter what, but when eps are like this one, I'll actually *enjoy* it.
In hindsight, I should'nt have been surprised by Mellie, but in the moment I was sucked in. Her cute way around Ballard was so *geniune* – which is another arguement for the dollhouse, as it were, it just never entered my mind honestly to suspect her. It also just adds dimension to everyone on the show, the suspicions that anyone "human" could be a "doll". I also love your theory on Topher. I don't think its so much moral bankrupcy for him but that "muwah-ha-ha"-ness of power he has that he revels in so much. And how much better to have power than to mess with it even further. In a way, his genius is only known underground. He doesn't get the recognition I'm sure he feels his ego deserves. To bring the Dollhouse to light means to bring a spotlight on him. I just really wanted to like the show but now I genuinely do.
Now, why wouldn't her feelings for Ballard be genuine? I think, perhaps, until she's triggered, she's just normal Mellie, with her own personality. It isn't until she's triggered that she's wiped. No?
I loved, loved, LOVED this episode. It was everything Joss has been promising for the 6th episode and MORE!
PS – I love that Echo said she "wasn't finished" at the end of the episode, and was sent to complete her engagement with that internet guy. I wonder if that was just residual imprint from that personality, or if that was part of her own true personality seeping through, feeling for that guy and wanting him to be able to complete his fantasy on that anniversary? I hope it was the latter.
I'm not the only one who noticed the shift in tone and everything about this episode: http://www.canada.com/Entertainment/Dollhouse+und…
The only reason I think they wouldn't be genuine is because of the way DeWitt says in the elevator ever-so-snidely "she loves him after all", which makes me think its a programmable love, not a real one
In Gray Hour, they made a big deal out of Topher being unable to remote wipe or remote imprint, so I assume Mellie has been imprinted as a sleeper agent who is in love with Ballard. That would make her pasta cooking a little less sad
I'm also curious whether there's a third imprint in Mellie; we had two colors, but there were three flowers in the vase, right?
In Gray Hour, they made a big deal out of Topher being unable to remote wipe or remote imprint, so I assume Mellie has been imprinted as a sleeper agent who is in love with Ballard. That would make her pasta cooking a little less sad
I'm also curious whether there's a third imprint in Mellie; we had two colors, but there were three flowers in the vase, right?
I knew the Mellie reveal was coming, but not this soon. It actually makes me a little sad that she finally got her in with Paul only to be activated. Her cover/default personality is such a sweetheart (not to mention, sassy in the afterglow). I'm glad that Adelle is letting her stick around, even if she is primarily a means of keeping tabs on Ballard.
This episode was really satisfying on a lot of levels. Joss finally got to put a bunch of moral cards on the table and lay out different perspectives on the situation. Even so, there were some pleasant surprises. For example…
* Ballard faced up to the fact that his obsession has become unhealthy. That's not going to stop him by any means, but at least he's aware of it and might see when he crosses the line in the future. And he's starting to look beyond the talisman of Caroline to see the opportunity he has standing right across the hall.
* DeWitt laid down the law of what is and isn't acceptable within the boundaries of their operating procedures. Despite her cool demeanor, she clearly does care about the actives under her care, as well as helping their clients and protecting the company. I kind of love her for that.
* Dominic finally acted something like a real boy. I realize that someone has to be the antagonist or there wouldn't be any plot to make the show worth watching, but I was getting tired of his Company Man douchebaggery. Maybe now he'll step off a bit.
* And who knew that Patton Oswalt had such strong dramatic chops? Like, seriously good. He made me cry a little too. :*)
Given what a devoted Whedonite I already was, Dollhouse has been appointment/DVR/Hulu material for me from the beginning. I can't wait to see where it goes from here. Is it too soon to start bombarding the network with support for season 2? ;p