Dollhouse: Echoes - Mania.com



Dollhouse Review

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Info:

  • TV Series: Dollhouse
  • Episode: Echoes
  • Starring: Eliza Dushku, Olivia Williams, Fran Kranz, Harry J. Lennix, Tahmoh Penikett
  • Written By: Sarah Fain, Elizabeth Craft
  • Directed By: Tim Minear
  • Network: Fox
  • Series: Dollhouse

Dollhouse: Echoes

The Series is Improving each week but is it to Late for Success?

By Stephen Lackey     March 28, 2009


Echo (Eliza Dushku) topline another episode of Whedon's DOLLHOUSE(2009).
© Mania.com/Robert Trate

 

This week, a nasty chemical finds its way out into a college and the results are messy. It turns out that the actives are immune to the chemical so a bevvy of them are sent into action to try and contain the chemical and the infected while Topher tries to find a cure. This is one of those opportunities where the actors actually get to play their characters in a completely different way than they were originally conceived. Sometimes, it really works such as with Olivia Williams’ portrayal of a near goofy DeWitt, and sometimes it doesn't such as with Harry J. Lennix’s adjustment to Boyd Langton. That had to be one of the most uncomfortable belly laughs I’ve seen on television in quite some time.
 
The episode overall, even if the concept is a bit over-baked, comes off quite well by the end. It does a lot to set up the future development of the actives and what looks like a mutiny coming next week. The drug doesn’t effect them the same way it does normal humans. It causes them to glitch and to remember things that were supposed to be wiped from their memories. Echo in particular begins remembering that something happened to her at the college before she was ever exposed because she first sees it on television. When she arrives at the school and finds a friend that despite all of weird actions decides to help her get into the school, I was saddened because I felt some more weak writing coming my way. But then there’s one of a few twists in this episode that brings the story back around. Unfortunately, I believe that twist worked so well because of previous episodes being written so badly. At some point, you accept that something tastes bad no matter how it’s cooked. But this week, there was a nice spicy flavor at the end that rescued the entire dish.
 
There wasn’t a lot of real action in this week’s episode which can be a bad thing for a series like this one. Similarly, one of my friends has stopped watching The Sarah Connor Chronicles because there hasn’t been enough action for him. This episode featured a lot of character and story development which is also dangerous for a show with a reputation for poor writing but it worked this week. The writers have taken a page from the Lost playbook too by adding flashbacks to give more back-story for Echo. While it’s again not an original idea, it’s still a good addition to this series. It’s very hard to care about someone who walks around like a zombie until they get programmed into being a prostitute - which seems to be Echo’s specialty - and then back to zombie mode again. The flashbacks provide a way for us to get to know Caroline and further understand her journey into becoming Echo. We can build some sympathy for her and some hope that she’ll escape the dollhouse. Hopefully, there will be more flashbacks to build her character around. Yes, there have been flashbacks before this one but most of them have centered around her meetings with DeWitt. This week was some real character stuff.
 
Ballard is a character that needs some real attention and development. His story arc with the neighbor active has come to an end so he needs something new to make him interesting. There’s always the possibility that he’s Alpha, and that would be pretty cool. He’s certainly obsessed with Echo and when Alpha left the dollhouse, she was the one he didn’t attack. Alpha has been playing games here and there and it’s possible that Ballard doesn’t even know he’s doing it. Maybe he has a nifty catch phrase that turns the Alpha part of him on and off similar to Mellie. This episode takes a step toward making Dollhouse a better show. The question is: anyone still watching?

COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

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Hobbs 3/28/2009 9:49:24 PM

I thought this was a fun episode in the tradition of Buffy.  That's what is great about Joss he has the ability to have so much going on in 40 mins that you don't notice all the little things we seem to find and bitch about.  Next weeks episode looks really good.  Too bad this show is on Fox because it probably won't be given its chance to find its legs.

Hobbs 3/28/2009 9:52:01 PM

Just one note...can't remember which of you guys said Eliza had a man face.  LOL...I was looking for that this week and though I don't think she has a man face she is starting to show the age quicker than she should at 28.  I'm actually wondering if she smokes.  A gal I know is 30 and has crows feet, and similiar facial features Eliza has and that's because she has been a big time smoker most of her life.

That being said, I would still let Eliza eat crackers in my bed.

okonomiyaki4000 3/29/2009 4:25:34 AM

This show has been getting steadily better but this was the first time it really felt like a Whedon show.  I doubt it will get picked up for a second season though. That suicidal pop-singer episode was probably bad enough to doom the show.  

redhairs99 3/29/2009 8:43:19 AM

Yeah, last week's episode was the first time the show seemed like a Whedon series.  I had pretty well written the show off as being a terrible idea until last week's show.

This week was even better.  Still, it's no Buffy, Angel or Firefly, but it's finally becoming interesting.  The only problem...I think it's too little too late.  I just don't see Fox giving this show a renewal for a second season.  They may even cancel it before all 13 episodes run.  I think there are 5 episodes left, so we'll just have to wait and see. 

jfdavis 3/29/2009 3:22:10 PM

No, it certainy isn't Buffy or Angel but I actually like it better than Firefly. (That show was little too anachronistic for me with it's Wild West motif, futuristic ships and 20th century machine guns.)  Making Ballard Alpha is a very interesting idea indeed.  The show will die prematurely.  What Fox did with M.A.N.T.I.S. and, frankly, Dark Angel tells you that.  Hopefully, Family Guy taught them a lesson...  

okonomiyaki4000 3/29/2009 3:28:50 PM

 Dark Angel? Really? They let that show have two horrible seasons. Its death was its own fault.

LittleNell1824 3/29/2009 8:02:44 PM

I thought Dark Angel was a great show. I wish they would have made that third season.

Hobbs 3/30/2009 11:56:13 AM

Dark Angels 1st season was great! 2nd season sucked...BUT if you watch the two the two seasons are two different series.  They went more sci-fi in the 2nd series and thus I think it wrecked the show and the reason why Cameron didn't get a 3rd. Well, that and the costs. I think even Alba complained after it was cancelled that they went too far off the mark in the 2nd season. 

todd890 3/30/2009 1:01:49 PM

I like the idea of Doll House and it's good in it's own way but Josh needs to return to two of his own series.

Buffy universe or Firefly. These need to be focused on again, I know he wants to do other things but come on I want to see an new film with the firefly crew or a second spin-off from Buffy. It should be with a new character and none of the old.

As of this show, I find the characters boring. the writing stinks, the acting is stale but it also has a few good things as well. the main reason he wanted to make this show was because he's friends with Eliza. She wasn't able to get work so he created this show for her. It'll sink and she 'll lose another job. By the way she does smoke, she and Sarah are good friends.

todd890 3/30/2009 1:04:44 PM

I like the idea of Doll House and it's good in it's own way but Josh needs to return to two of his own series.

Buffy universe or Firefly. These need to be focused on again, I know he wants to do other things but come on I want to see an new film with the firefly crew or a second spin-off from Buffy. It should be with a new character and none of the old.

As of this show, I find the characters boring. the writing stinks, the acting is stale but it also has a few good things as well. the main reason he wanted to make this show was because he's friends with Eliza. She wasn't able to get work so he created this show for her. It'll sink and she 'll lose another job. By the way she does smoke, she and Sarah are good friends.

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