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- TV Series: Dollhouse
- Episode: The Left Hand
- Starring: Eliza Dushku, Olivia Williams, Harry Lennix, Fran Kranz, Tahmoh Penikett, Enver Gjokaj
- Written By: Tracy Bellomo
- Directed By: Wendey Stanzler
- Network: Fox
- Series: Dollhouse
Dollhouse: The Left Hand Review
The Mystery Surrounding Sen. Perrin Deepens By Kurt Anthony Krug
December 07, 2009
Dollhouse Review(2009).
© Fox/Bob Trate
The 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger blockbuster Total Recall comes to mind with “The Left Hand,” not only because of the mind-wipes but also because people are not who they seem to be.
The Washington D.C. branch of the Dollhouse, headed up by a man named Howard (Ray Wise, Reaper) and a sadistic scientist named Bennett (Joss Whedon alumna Summer Glau of Firefly and former star of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – another show hamstrung by FOX), has captured Echo (Eliza Dushku) and Sen. Daniel Perrin (another Whedon alumnus Alexis Denisof of Angel fame). Howard won’t return Echo to Adelle DeWitt (Olivia Williams) as per Dollhouse protocol.
Adelle, who’s been growing a conscience lately (or a “soft spot” as it’s been pointed out), won’t take this sitting down as she and Topher (Fran Kranz) formulate a plan to get Echo and Perrin out. There’s a great scene with Adelle and Howard as she starts to seduce him, but then gets a firm grip on the horny old man’s genitals, making it clear she’s not taking his crap.
The performances in this episode are top-notch. Glau shows a geeky side to Bennett one minute – something that really turned Topher on – then is cold and calculating the next. Turns out, Bennett has a history with Echo, who is the reason why her left arm – rendered totally useless after it was pinned under a chunk of masonry – is in a sling.
Stacey Scowley (Monk) as Cindy Perrin, wife of the senator, does an excellent job, too. In prior episodes, she played a supportive wife who had an adorable, perky kind of cuteness about her, always telling Perrin that reason why she loved him was because she was his “beautiful damsel” and he was her “white knight.” Here, she plays a ruthless, cold-hearted bitch once her agenda is revealed. In a way, you’re reminded of Sharon Stone’s duplicitous character from the above-mentioned Total Recall.
However, the show-stealer is Enver Gjokaj, who plays the Doll named Victor. In this episode, Victor is downloaded with ego-maniacal Topher’s personality as the real Topher and the ersatz Topher work together, carrying out Adelle’s plan. Gjokaj proves his acting chops here. Not only does he have the cadence of Topher’s voice and mannerisms down, but he also dresses like him. You can tell Gjokaj was having a lot of fun with this role and you can’t blame him for playing it to the hilt.
As far as the conspiracy involving Sen. Perrin, to reveal anything here would spoil everything. Let’s just say it’s very deftly written and leave it there, a testament to the brilliance of creator Joss Whedon and his staff of writers (in this case, Tracy Bellomo who penned this episode). Again, it’s a shame that FOX cancelled this struggling series as it seems to be hitting its stride. Next week, Alpha (yet another Whedon alumnus Alan Tudyk of Firefly fame, who recently starred on the re-imagined V) returns in another 2-hour block of Dollhouse episodes.
For those fans wishing to express their displeasure to FOX for pulling the plug on Dollhouse, write to the address listed below:
Dollhouse c/o
FOX Broadcasting Company
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90213
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Man, I think we fans should donate money and make our own television station of cool ass cancelled Fox shows. We'd already have a pretty good line up. Firefly, Dollhouse (which I didn't like at first but not it's grabbed my attention), Terminator: SCC, maybe Fringe soon (it better not though)...
It couldn't cost that much could it? Yeah, it could. Damnit.