Comments on: Dollhouse: Instinct http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/08/dollhouse-instinct/ "It's my industrial strength hair dryer, and I can't live without it!" - Princess Vespa Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:04:43 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jennkim http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/08/dollhouse-instinct/comment-page-1/#comment-39615 jennkim Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:18:23 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=11810#comment-39615 ps. hope you're feeling better, and were you able to watch epitaph one? :) ps. hope you're feeling better, and were you able to watch epitaph one? :)

]]> By: jennkim http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/08/dollhouse-instinct/comment-page-1/#comment-39614 jennkim Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:17:40 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=11810#comment-39614 heey sonia,heey sonia, great review, but i have to say that i respectfully disagree! while i don't think instinct was dollhouse's best episode, i did feel that it was a very strong one. like man on the street, i thought it was one of the few episodes that really touched upon the unique and special service the dollhouse can provide. i found the father of the episode a pretty tragic and compelling figure, and actually thought his character and acting were both really interesting and convincing. his reactions to echo were great: thought he initially thought that providing his son with a mother who genuinely loved him was the best solution, he was (understandably) totally freaked out with sharing a house, a bed, and parenting responsibilities with echo. we got to see his change of heart in what i thought was a sad and convincing matter: once he felt his son was in danger, or that someone was threatening his role as the baby's father, he realized that he didn't want to part with him. i felt like his later gentle approach to echo was because of this newfound realization, and also out of desperation because he didn't want echo to hurt his son. and while i do agree that eliza's acting is indeed limited, i feel like she has grown exponentially in the past few episodes. i really thought the scene in vows (when she's fritzing and becoming all of the different active roles) was great, and that her transitions from role to role were seamless and really impressive. i also felt she was really good in the last scene with the baby's father: i really got a sense of echo struggling to understand what was going on, and a sense of genuine loss, hope, and sadness when she asked if she could be the baby's mom. i actually almost teared up! (maybe i'm doubly impressed because i had read in a couple of interviews that this was the hardest role for her to play!) anyway, thanks for the review, sonia! -jenn heey sonia,heey sonia,

great review, but i have to say that i respectfully disagree! while i don't think instinct was dollhouse's best episode, i did feel that it was a very strong one. like man on the street, i thought it was one of the few episodes that really touched upon the unique and special service the dollhouse can provide. i found the father of the episode a pretty tragic and compelling figure, and actually thought his character and acting were both really interesting and convincing. his reactions to echo were great: thought he initially thought that providing his son with a mother who genuinely loved him was the best solution, he was (understandably) totally freaked out with sharing a house, a bed, and parenting responsibilities with echo. we got to see his change of heart in what i thought was a sad and convincing matter: once he felt his son was in danger, or that someone was threatening his role as the baby's father, he realized that he didn't want to part with him. i felt like his later gentle approach to echo was because of this newfound realization, and also out of desperation because he didn't want echo to hurt his son.

and while i do agree that eliza's acting is indeed limited, i feel like she has grown exponentially in the past few episodes. i really thought the scene in vows (when she's fritzing and becoming all of the different active roles) was great, and that her transitions from role to role were seamless and really impressive. i also felt she was really good in the last scene with the baby's father: i really got a sense of echo struggling to understand what was going on, and a sense of genuine loss, hope, and sadness when she asked if she could be the baby's mom. i actually almost teared up! (maybe i'm doubly impressed because i had read in a couple of interviews that this was the hardest role for her to play!)

anyway, thanks for the review, sonia!

-jenn

]]> By: Teresa http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/08/dollhouse-instinct/comment-page-1/#comment-39610 Teresa Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:32:51 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=11810#comment-39610 OMG, I have to strongly disagree with you about this episode! I thought it was one of the more powerful episodes of the show so far, second to Epitaph One! I loved Eliza in this - and I'm not her biggest fan. But I thought she kicked it out, and I loved how in this episode - even though we as viewers knew what the black car was, and what she was there to do from the very beginning - I felt her terror and her fear for her child. It felt like a thriller, even though I knew what was going on, because I was pulled into her panic. I also love the episodes that are on the "less flashy" jobs for actives. Sure, the ones where she gets to be in a tight outfit and wielding weapons are fun - but I love the quieter jobs. As for the show - it's true, at this point, if it doesn't get more consistent, I won't mind if it gets pulled either. I want it to finish out the season, to be sure, but if there is no season 3, I'll understand. I want Joss to always be on television, but this might not be the show by which he does that. OMG, I have to strongly disagree with you about this episode! I thought it was one of the more powerful episodes of the show so far, second to Epitaph One! I loved Eliza in this – and I'm not her biggest fan. But I thought she kicked it out, and I loved how in this episode – even though we as viewers knew what the black car was, and what she was there to do from the very beginning – I felt her terror and her fear for her child. It felt like a thriller, even though I knew what was going on, because I was pulled into her panic. I also love the episodes that are on the "less flashy" jobs for actives. Sure, the ones where she gets to be in a tight outfit and wielding weapons are fun – but I love the quieter jobs.

As for the show – it's true, at this point, if it doesn't get more consistent, I won't mind if it gets pulled either. I want it to finish out the season, to be sure, but if there is no season 3, I'll understand. I want Joss to always be on television, but this might not be the show by which he does that.

]]> By: saurora510 http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/08/dollhouse-instinct/comment-page-1/#comment-39554 saurora510 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:56:00 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=11810#comment-39554 Rhea, I like your thoughts on developing Echo as becoming more human, rather than Caroline being the one that exists. For us, the one that exists is Echo, but I still argue that the show's banging us over the head too much in telling us how special she is without allowing us to figure it out ourselves. I also have to agree that i probably won't miss this show if it gets pulled, unless it starts to really unfold its potential...but how long do we have to also keep saying that and keep getting lukewarm/mediocre product? Rhea, I like your thoughts on developing Echo as becoming more human, rather than Caroline being the one that exists. For us, the one that exists is Echo, but I still argue that the show's banging us over the head too much in telling us how special she is without allowing us to figure it out ourselves.
I also have to agree that i probably won't miss this show if it gets pulled, unless it starts to really unfold its potential…but how long do we have to also keep saying that and keep getting lukewarm/mediocre product?

]]> By: Mary http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/08/dollhouse-instinct/comment-page-1/#comment-39539 Mary Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:33:45 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=11810#comment-39539 If Joss wants this show to continue, he has to write and direct more eps. The show is lots stronger when he is at the helm. And Eliza has to be writen for. As Sonia said, she is an adequet actor, so eps should be wtitten for her. Just sayin. If Joss wants this show to continue, he has to write and direct more eps. The show is lots stronger when he is at the helm. And Eliza has to be writen for. As Sonia said, she is an adequet actor, so eps should be wtitten for her. Just sayin.

]]> By: Rhea Dee http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/08/dollhouse-instinct/comment-page-1/#comment-39537 Rhea Dee Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:16:42 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=11810#comment-39537 I hate to say it, but I will not miss this show if it gets pulled. I don't hate it. I just think that the limitations of the storyline are starting to show themselves in this season, and especially with this episode. I really liked Dollhouse from the get go--I thought it was cool even before that game changer episode of Season 1, "Man on the Street." But I feel like maybe Dollhouse has exhausted all their standalone stories already. I was extremely bored by the first episode's wedding mystery and this baby story bored me to death. The only time the show gets interesting for me anymore is when Echo and Ballard talk about her memories from the jobs she's doing. Watching Echo create her own personality is fasinating to me; but even then I feel like they focus too much on Caroline being real and how important that is rather than Echo becoming more human. All in all, I think this concept has tired itself out already. Sorry, Joss. :( I hate to say it, but I will not miss this show if it gets pulled.

I don't hate it. I just think that the limitations of the storyline are starting to show themselves in this season, and especially with this episode. I really liked Dollhouse from the get go–I thought it was cool even before that game changer episode of Season 1, "Man on the Street." But I feel like maybe Dollhouse has exhausted all their standalone stories already. I was extremely bored by the first episode's wedding mystery and this baby story bored me to death. The only time the show gets interesting for me anymore is when Echo and Ballard talk about her memories from the jobs she's doing. Watching Echo create her own personality is fasinating to me; but even then I feel like they focus too much on Caroline being real and how important that is rather than Echo becoming more human.

All in all, I think this concept has tired itself out already. Sorry, Joss. :(

]]> By: Rhea Dee http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/08/dollhouse-instinct/comment-page-1/#comment-39535 Rhea Dee Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:15:24 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=11810#comment-39535 I hate to say it, but I will not miss this show if it gets pulled. I don't hate it. I just think that the limitation of this storyline are starting to show themselves in this season, and especially with this episode. I really liked Dollhouse from the getgo--I thought it was cool even before that game changer episode of Season 1, "Man on the Street." But I feel like maybe Dollhouse has exhausted all their standalone stories already. I was extremely bored by the first episode's wedding mystery and this baby story bored me to death. The only time the show gets interesting for me anymore is when Echo and Ballard talk about her memories from the jobs she's doing. Watching Echo create her own personality is fasinating to me; but even then I feel like they focus too much on Caroline being real and how important that is rather than Echo becoming more human. All in all, I think this concept has tired itself out already. Sorry, Joss. :( I hate to say it, but I will not miss this show if it gets pulled.
I don't hate it. I just think that the limitation of this storyline are starting to show themselves in this season, and especially with this episode.
I really liked Dollhouse from the getgo–I thought it was cool even before that game changer episode of Season 1, "Man on the Street." But I feel like maybe Dollhouse has exhausted all their standalone stories already. I was extremely bored by the first episode's wedding mystery and this baby story bored me to death. The only time the show gets interesting for me anymore is when Echo and Ballard talk about her memories from the jobs she's doing. Watching Echo create her own personality is fasinating to me; but even then I feel like they focus too much on Caroline being real and how important that is rather than Echo becoming more human.
All in all, I think this concept has tired itself out already. Sorry, Joss. :(

]]> By: Robin http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/08/dollhouse-instinct/comment-page-1/#comment-39536 Robin Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:15:07 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=11810#comment-39536 Well, I have to agree that this isn't one of my favorite episodes, but I didn't have quite a strong reaction as all that. It was more on the level of "Meh". Eliza-as-Echo-as-Emily didn't feel false so much as poorly programmed. Topher was gleefully mucking about with experimental imprinting techniques and it went very wrong, much like his intention to have Whiskey/Saunders challenge him morphed into her hatred of him. And I think Madeline's attitude problems are another facet of that. Topher erased her pain over losing a daughter and in doing so erased an essential portion of her personality. In the past, we've seen the Dollhouse administration - in particular Adelle and Topher - assert that imprinted Actives are real people, but I'm starting to think that they're wrong about that. We're seeing more and more chinks in their armor this season. A product of a yet-undiscovered saboteur, or an inherent deficiency in the imprinting itself? Hopefully, that will be revealed as the series progresses. Well, I have to agree that this isn't one of my favorite episodes, but I didn't have quite a strong reaction as all that. It was more on the level of "Meh". Eliza-as-Echo-as-Emily didn't feel false so much as poorly programmed. Topher was gleefully mucking about with experimental imprinting techniques and it went very wrong, much like his intention to have Whiskey/Saunders challenge him morphed into her hatred of him. And I think Madeline's attitude problems are another facet of that. Topher erased her pain over losing a daughter and in doing so erased an essential portion of her personality.

In the past, we've seen the Dollhouse administration – in particular Adelle and Topher – assert that imprinted Actives are real people, but I'm starting to think that they're wrong about that. We're seeing more and more chinks in their armor this season. A product of a yet-undiscovered saboteur, or an inherent deficiency in the imprinting itself? Hopefully, that will be revealed as the series progresses.

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