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- TV Series: Dollhouse
- Episode: The Hollow Men
- Starring: Eliza Dushku, Olivia Williams, Harry Lennix, Fran Kranz, Tahmoh Penikett, Enver Gjokaj, Dichen Lachman
- Written By: Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters, Tracy Bellomo
- Directed By: Terrence O’Hara
- Network: Fox
- Series: Dollhouse
Dollhouse: The Hollow Men Review
In the penultimate episode, Echo battles Boyd and Clyde 2.0 By Kurt Anthony Krug
January 17, 2010
Eliza Dushku stars in DOLLHOUSE
© FOX TV
This week’s episode was very hard to rate, given the unforeseen twist at the end of the previous episode, where Boyd (Harry Lennix) was revealed to be the Rossum Corporation’s silent, secret partner whom nobody knows about – except Echo’s original personality, Caroline (Eliza Dushku).
This week, Boyd’s duplicity is revealed to the rest of the characters as he reunites with Clyde 2.0 – the Rossum co-founder introduced in “The Attic” – who now resides in the body of Whiskey (Amy Acker).
It turns out that Echo is the key to the survival of humanity. Boyd states that Echo can block an imprint, which leaves some sort of chemical marker in her spinal fluid. Rossum wants to harvest her spinal fluid in order to immunize people against imprints. In fact, Rossum possesses the technology to instantaneously imprint people who do not have Active technology implemented in their brain, much to the horror of Topher (Fran Kranz).
Ironically, it is that same technology that is Boyd’s downfall as Boyd battles Echo (how can he be holding his own against her when he was shot in the side last week? Maybe Rossum harvested Wolverine’s fast-healing abilities). Boyd is turned into a Doll with a flick of the switch. He then complacently lets Echo dress him in a suicide vest and blows up the Rossum building.
The saga of November (Miracle Laurie) is resolved in this episode as she kills herself right in front of Paul Ballard’s (Tahmoh Penikett) eyes after her sleeper assassin programming is activated. Did you really think this character wouldn’t die? Nonetheless, it was a sad scene.
The best scene in this episode is Victor/Anthony (Enver Gjokaj) being downloaded with Topher’s personality. He does such a great job of imitating Topher from the cadence of his voice to his body language. Gjokaj really steals the show. There were some scenes where he looked like – dare I say it? – David Boreanaz, who played the titular character on Dollhouse creator Joss Whedon’s Angel and is now on Bones.
The fight scene between Faith and Illyria… um, that is Echo and Clyde 2.0 was classic Whedon. It was exciting and fast-paced, but too short. It could’ve gone on for another few minutes.
It was great to see that the good guys didn’t avert the apocalypse as the show jumps forward 10 years into the “Epitaph One” future that was hinted at in “The Attic” episode. Apparently, the dark future was not prevented by the heroes, which leads into the series finale.
This episode was good, but wasn’t great like the previous several episodes, which is why it got a “B.” There were some flaws, both major and minor. Victor/Anthony and Priya/Sierra (Dichen Lachman) got to Tuscon pretty quickly, but that’s minor – very minor – in the grand scheme of things.
The major one was Boyd recovering quickly from his gunshot wound as mentioned above. Also, what exactly was his motivation once it was revealed he was the Rossum mastermind? He was insane and viewed the main characters as his family, which seemed like an easy way out. This could’ve been fleshed out a little bit more. It would’ve been nice to reveal how he went unnoticed and explain some more important aspects of his origin.
Also, will Alpha (Alan Tudyk) be seen in the series finale? I hope so. It appears Felicia Day (The Guild, Vi the Slayer from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will be reprising her role from the “Epitaph One” episode as Mag.
Since the series finale is delayed until Jan. 29, it would behoove fans to rewatch “Epitaph One.”
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Really liked this ep. But have to say, it played out in similar fashion to the end of Angel. I'm suprised to see that Victor and Sierra both survived since every other couple was destroyed.
Bennett and Topher (Bennett dies)
Ballard and November (November dies)
Echo and Ballard (Ballard feelings for Echo are gone)