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- TV Series: Dollhouse
- Episode: Getting Closer
- Starring: Eliza Dushku, Olivia Williams, Harry Lennix, Fran Kranz, Tahmoh Penikett, Enver Gjokaj, Dichen Lachman
- Written By: Tim Minear
- Directed By: Tim Minear
- Network: Fox
- Series: Dollhouse
Dollhouse: Getting Closer Review
Hidden agendas are revealed as the series races to its finale By Kurt Anthony Krug
January 10, 2010
Eliza Dushku stars in DOLLHOUSE
© FOX TV
WARNING: This review contains SPOILERS. Read on at your own risk.
The gang’s all here for the last hurrah as Dollhouse begins the countdown to its final episode.
Amy Acker returns at Dr. Saunders, Summer Glau returns as Bennett Halverson, Reed Diamond returns as Dominic, Miracle Laurie returns as November, Philip Casnoff returns as Clive Ambrose (erroneously named as Alberts in a prior review due to the reviewer’s bad hearing). All that’s missing is Alexis Denisoff’s Sen. Daniel Perrin, Alan Tudyk’s Alpha, and Keith Carradine’s Harding.
With all these recurring guest stars in addition to the main cast, the episode didn’t seem crowded.
Granted, while Victor (Enver Gjokaj) and Sierra (Dichen Lachman) had one scene, it was significant. It would have been nice to learn how Dominic got out of the Attic, a place from which there is no escape, but that’s forgivable. Maybe the next episode will say how.
Tim Minear is an excellent writer/director. He wrote some of the best episodes of Angel. It seems he works best when there’s flashbacks involved. In “Getting Closer,” the mystery of Echo’s original personality Caroline (Eliza Dushku) deepens. Flashbacks of Caroline from previous episodes, including the pilot, were shown. They were more like pieces to a puzzle that were finally put into the right places.
Turns out Caroline is not evil, but “an idealist” in the words of Adelle DeWitt (Olivia Williams). A student at Tucson Institute of Technology, she’s more of a radical, believing the Rossum Corporation – the Dollhouse’s parent company – needs to be taken down for its immoral, unethical, and illegal experiments on human beings. Thus, Caroline’s connection to Bennett, which was revealed a few episodes back, now makes sense. As does Bennett’s hatred of Caroline (she’s responsible for Bennett’s left arm being useless).
Echo needs Caroline to tell everyone who Rossum’s silent, secret partner is. Unfortunately, the disk with Caroline’s personality is missing. The only way to bring Caroline back is by using the backup disk Alpha downloaded her personality on, but that’s been damaged. Enter Bennett. Echo promises Bennett that if she brings back Caroline, she can have a free shot on her, thus ensuring Bennett’s cooperation.
It’s cute to watch Topher and Bennett flirting. “Y’know, I’ve always had a crush on you, even when I thought you were a dude,” Topher confesses in what has to be one of the funniest quotes from the entire series.
More revelations are also shown. Turns out Paul (Tahmoh Penikett), who is now a Doll but has been downloaded with his original personality, lost his connection to Echo when Topher (Fran Kranz) implemented Active technology within his brain. It was either that or remain a vegetable for the rest of his life. Speaking of Topher, he turns out to be a human being after all, telling Ivy (Liza Lapira) not to become like him.
There are two big WTF moments. Dr. Saunders turns traitor and blows Bennett’s head off with a single gunshot. That had you jumping out of your seat.
While you’re wrapping your mind around that, Rossum’s secret, silent partner is revealed in the flashback. Turns out (SPOILER ALERT) it’s Boyd (Harry Lennix), the Dollhouse’s security chief, Echo’s former handler, and Dr. Saunders’ love interest. As Echo becomes Caroline again, Boyd is standing over her.
It’s a damn shame that back-to-back episodes of Dollhouse aren’t shown anymore because it’s going to be a long week to see what happens next. Why FOX cancelled this show boggles the mind (maybe the Rossum Corporation got to some of the executives) because these past several episodes were definitely worthy of being aired during the November Sweeps. This series may be ending in two episodes, but it’s at least going out in style.
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Fully agree withe review and the grade. When Doc Saunders shot Bennet in the head, I was like "Holy Shit!!" At first I thought she did it because she hd thise serious anomosity towards Topher and wanted to hurt him. Then, when they revealed who the secret partner was I was like "Holy $hite!" again. This show has just gottne better and better with each episode. Its a shame its the end.