210 replies to this topic

[TWoP Dietrich]

TV Guide sez:

Echo infiltrates a dangerous cult in order to save a woman who's being held against her will, but the mission may be complicated by the imprint given her: that of a visually impaired woman.

(I know that's what I said last week, but I'm pretty sure I'm right this time!)

[The Shrike]

I can't wait till Echo puches that guy in the face.

[Snark Shark]

Prediction: Adele is directly responsible for what's happening with Echo. It's no accident.

She may or may not be responsible for Victor sporting wood.

[JessicaLovejoy]

Must not crack up at "Osama Bin Gandhi." Failing.

"Was that flirting?"
"I think so. It's been awhile. Did I mention I was shot?"

Wow, that's the most racially diverse cult I've ever seen. It's like it was right out of central casting or something.

WHY HELLO THAR, Mellie's melons!

It ain't oak, but it's on its way to wood.

I really hope I'm one day in a situation where the elevator doors are closing and I can pointedly say "Take the stairs." Usually, the other party would just, you know, jam their hands in the door because they know about motion sensors.

she's wearing some hot, not quite so sympatico with the whole 1800's chic thing high heel shoes.

Was I not looking closely enough? Because I was expecting huge stilettos, but could have sworn I saw less severe heels. Like the kind on vintage style T-straps.

but damn if the actor wasn't particularly handsome, and those eyes.

Hells yes. He would have made me believe some stupid things, too!

FREE VICTOR'S BONER!!

Edited by JessicaLovejoy, Mar 13, 2009 @ 9:17 PM.

[ketose]

Okay. THIS is some Joss Whedon. A plot, B plot and C plot that all advanced the plot. I thought the story was tight and ED's acting was very effective.

My main problem is the excessive number of men hitting her, especially when each hit could kill her.

[ReadIshmael]

The Victor "man reaction" subplot was probably my favorite part of this episode. I think I'm a little in love with Topher, which is a little weird, sincxe he's a total creep.

Interesting to see Ballard getting closer to finding something.

Cult Leader Guy had the creepiest eyes ever, damn.

[stopeslite]

Laurence is totally going to be the first one she kills.

I couldn't stop laughing at erections being the canary in the coal mine of self-awareness.

[Kristina22]

silly thing that caught my eye...when boyd carries her out of the fire...she's wearing some hot, not quite so sympaticho with the whole 1800's chic thing high heel shoes... But all in all, I think the episodes are getting stronger. Here's hoping it stays on the air.

[stopeslite]

I noticed those boots, too! I think they came from the same prop people who put the syringe right next to her when we last saw it at the back of the vault, and who put the arrow right next to her when it was all the way across the field.

[AnonyGuest]

NosyAgent Ballard still remains a jerk in my mind. I really can't decide whether we're supposed to like him and root for him or dislike him, perhaps we're supposed to be neutral to him right now.

Victor sporting wood? Probably the most adorable thing this whole episode. I was like "Awww he likes her! That can't be good for him..." I wonder if wiping him is really going to work like they want, perhaps judging from the previews, they're going to imprint Sierra with an automatic "scared of, dislike" default in terms of Victor.

It's nice to see that Echo really isn't the only one who is starting to show traces of individuality.

I know Jonas was a creepy pedophilaic cult leader, but damn if the actor wasn't particularly handsome, and those eyes.

Boyd to the rescue again is why he's currently my favorite character on the show, that and Topher who while a creep is damn entertaining to watch. "Man Reaction" *cracks up*

I liked watching his interaction with Fred (I'm sorry I know she has a name on this show but she will never be anything but Amy Acker/Fred to me).

Any bets on the mail room guy being Alpha?

Edited by AnonyGuest, Mar 13, 2009 @ 9:09 PM.

[Meshakhad]

Great episode. Multiple plots (I laughed at the "man-reaction" plot), and some really solid acting from Eliza.

Also, I cannot wait for next week. I am definitely hooked.

[ketose]

I think Boyd and Echo are the heroes of the show and Sierra and Victor are the Scoobies

[auntslappy97]

Please, please let Tim Minear write every episode.

Brian Bloom as evil cult leader? I still see him as Dusty from 80's era As the World turns.

[MDKNIGHT]

I thought the writing and acting was better this ep. The witty reparte was much more Whedonesque without going all-over the top Buffy camp.

Anybody feel sad for Victor? He's kind of a creep when he's a Russian mobster but the poor guy is being punished for finding a pretty naked girl attractive. And while Miss Lonely Heart may or may not be as good looking as Echo's "dates" his being pimped out is as bad as Echo being pimped out. I don't have a double standard. It's sad when a person has no choice who they sleep with.

Kind of liked the writer's choice of having the Fed manufacture probable cause.

For my own amusement I am now watching Laurence's scenes from the POV that he was in love with Alpha and is insanely jealous that apparently Alpha only cares about Echo. Seriously only something that over the top leads to nearly mustache twirling hatred.

[stopeslite]

What was the deal with the implant? It sounded like they were entirely severing and rerouting her optic nerves, and the big concern was that if she sneezed or something they would detach and she'd bleed to death of a stroke. But a huge hit, and they detach from the camera and reattach back the way they're supposed to? I know, suspension of disbelief and all, but don't go and tell me specifically why something won't work in imaginary world and then make that very thing happen.

ETA: Along those same lines, why did they ever bother to tell us that Echo was supposed to only do romantic and altruistic engagements? Every single one has been high-risk.

Edited by stopeslite, Mar 13, 2009 @ 9:21 PM.

[ketose]

Anybody feel sad for Victor? He's kind of a creep when he's a Russian mobster but the poor guy is being punished for finding a pretty naked girl attractive.

The problem is that he only finds one pretty naked girl attractive. I think it's pretty scummy to imprint a fear reaction in Sierra and not Victor. Not that the Dollhouse is all that above board anyway. Next week seems like a cliffhanger episode. Is Dollhouse going on hiatus?

[AnonyGuest]

Another thing I just thought of, how even though the "person" she'd been implanted with had been blind since she was nine she didn't struggle at all with reading I understand most nine year olds know how to read, I myself read quite well back then, but seriously? She can pick up the bible with names that I even struggle with and read it with fine no problem or adjusting? Okay, Okay I get that you know "Echo" can read and all but still...am I the only one who was bugged by this a little?

[mmace63]

For my own amusement I am now watching Laurence's scenes from the POV that he was in love with Alpha and is insanely jealous that apparently Alpha only cares about Echo. Seriously only something that over the top leads to nearly mustache twirling hatred.

LOVE it! Too funny.

[dandylion paws]

Prediction: Adele is directly responsible for what's happening with Echo. It's no accident.

Never thought of that. I was mostly running through what possible connections Adelle could have had with Caroline (a relative, maybe?) but it would be awesome if Adelle herself was on some kind of inside job/vendetta to bring down the dollhouse.

IMHO, all the bitching points about ED's acting that I've read online pretty much got thrown out the window in this week's (and honestly, last week's) episode. Maybe it's just me, but Eliza's acting in the past couple of episodes has been on par (or better, in some scenes) than anything Sarah Michelle Gellar managed to crank out on Buffy.

Methinks Topher has a wittle man-reaction to Dr. Saunders. And it's kind of sweet. God, am I shipping those two? I totally am. I actually liked Topher in this episode. He acted less like Warren Meers, which is always a good thing.

And Mellie's melons? Wowsers. For all the good they did her, she might as well have been wearing a turtleneck. I'm caught between thinking Mellie is adorable and wanting to tell her to grab some dignity and stop being so frakkin' needy. Girl, grab a pan of lasagna and a gallon of ice cream, because he's just not that into you.

Laurence is still the hottest creepy asshole flunky guy on television, but I'd better not get too used to him. He's on Echo's shitlist--and deservedly so--and when she snaps, they'll be carrying him out of the dollhouse in several Hefty bags. I'm a little surprised at the mildness of Adelle's reaction to his big-ass step out of line. I'd have thought that kind of insubordination would've earned at least a castration in the dollhouse. And I'm having trouble believing that his attempted neutralizing of Echo is purely for professional reasons (he's afraid she'll snap like Alpha) like he wants Adelle to think. After all, just because someone euthanizes a rabid dog doesn't mean the euthanizer hates the dog--it just has to be done. But the way he taunted Echo in her doll state--a cruel and useless move, considering that, for all he knew, she didn't know what he was talking about--I think Laurence might want her dead for his own personal reasons...something to do with Adelle's connection to her, maybe.

Any bets on the mail room guy being Alpha?

TV Gods, make it so.

Edited by dandylion paws, Mar 13, 2009 @ 9:35 PM.

[auntslappy97]

ETA: Along those same lines, why did they ever bother to tell us that Echo was supposed to only do romantic and altruistic engagements? Every single one has been high-risk.

I thought this was just for the job after she got hit with the arrow and almost died.

[ethanvahlere]

At first I thought Whedon et al were just being coy with the "Victor-getting-an-erection" subplot, but it did work, and what made it funny was how Dr. Saunders was so clinical about the whole thing, or at least from her tone of voice. That was funny.

Two things I didn't see coming; that it was the ATF guy who engineered the whole thing, and Dominic coming in to kill Jonas and "eliminate" Echo. That was well played.

why did they ever bother to tell us that Echo was supposed to only do romantic and altruistic engagements? Every single one has been high-risk.

Dr. Saunders recommended Echo only do romantic or altruistic engagements - Adelle has chosen, for whatever reason, to ignore that suggestion.

I definitely can't wait for next week.

[Egg Foo Yong]

ETA: Along those same lines, why did they ever bother to tell us that Echo was supposed to only do romantic and altruistic engagements? Every single one has been high-risk.

I thought this was just for the job after she got hit with the arrow and almost died.

That's how I remember it too.

For my own amusement I am now watching Laurence's scenes from the POV that he was in love with Alpha and is insanely jealous that apparently Alpha only cares about Echo. Seriously only something that over the top leads to nearly mustache twirling hatred.

Oh, that would just be AWESOME.

And because it can't be said enough...man reaction!

[mmace63]

Another thing I just thought of, how even though the "person" she'd been implanted with had been blind since she was nine she didn't struggle at all with reading I understand most nine year olds know how to read, I myself read quite well back then, but seriously? She can pick up the bible with names that I even struggle with and read it with fine no problem or adjusting? Okay, Okay I get that you know "Echo" can read and all but still...am I the only one who was bugged by this a little?

No, you weren't the only one. lol. I was thinking "ok for being all of nine years' old reading comprehension and reading the BIBLE no less" so fluently. It was a miracle! (one of many, apparently)

[ketose]

Since I can't even spell Nebuchenezer (see?) she would have had to have come from a majorly religious family to know that at age 9.

[thethinman]

What I don't understand is that if the cult leader hadn't brainwashed his followers to the point where they would take up arms then what was the rationale for the cache of weapons? And if he was under ATF surveillance, how was he able to amass such an arsenal?

[ora42]

Another thing I just thought of, how even though the "person" she'd been implanted with had been blind since she was nine she didn't struggle at all with reading I understand most nine year olds know how to read, I myself read quite well back then, but seriously?

I thought the same thing at first, but then realized that since she was so religious, she was probably very familiar with the passage, so once she started reading and realized which one it was, she would be able to recite it from memory. My 8 year old could have probably "read" the passage too, just because he knows the story from hearing it at his day school.

Also, was I the only one thinking "five by five" when Echo said she could see perfectly at the end? Something about the eyebrow raise made it jump into my head.

[ShunnedforLife]

Victor sporting wood? Probably the most adorable thing this whole episode. I was like "Awww he likes her! That can't be good for him..." I wonder if wiping him is really going to work like they want, perhaps judging from the previews, they're going to imprint Sierra with an automatic "scared of, dislike" default in terms of Victor.

Oh, well I went to the extreme side of that. I totally thought he touched her so I'd much rather have it just be installed reactions.

I was a little bored with the a plot but was plesantly intriged and somewhat amused at the b plot and little path of knowledge and tidbits spread about the dollhouse and side effects of imprinting. Can't wait for next week.

[Snark Shark]

Along those same lines, why did they ever bother to tell us that Echo was supposed to only do romantic and altruistic engagements?

That wasn't something stated as a permanent status for her. The doctor was stating it as a temporary condition after she'd been fairly brutalized in "Target". Even though they erase their memories, it's been made clear that er... echoes of their experiences can remain. Enough that they thought it at least POSSIBLE that Victor being given a lot of romantic assignments was giving him spare wood, for example, until Doc Fred found another explanation.

[QueenCharisma]

This episode was even more boring than the last and pretty much all of the episodes so far, even the pilot. But there were some bright moments:

• The return of stalker Mellie! Look, she brought manicotti! And her fabulous chi chi's! I think I'm in full on girl crush mode, dammit.
• Topher seeing Victor get a man reaction and then having to sit through video tapes looking for more man reactions!
• Victor being excited by Sierra. This could be an interesting development later on. Is Echo not the only doll about to start compositing? Let's hope. Alpha can build an army!
• Dr. Saunders licking her lips while watching video footage of Victor's man reactions. I know it probably wasn't intentional, Amy Acker just has really bad timing with her real life ticks, but it was amusing for me nonetheless. Obviously, I'm still 12.

The rest of the episode was abysmal. So utterly and completely, mind numbingly boring. Eliza made me laugh several times during her Esther assignment and I'm pretty sure that's not what the writers were going for. The whole religious cult storyline is played and wasn't even remotely interesting. I mean, Jonas was definitely no Caleb.

The previews for next week's show, however, have me all kinds of excited. I'm a hulu watcher so I never see them prior to the episode and thank God, I saw the show live tonight, otherwise I would've never seen next week's show at all. I was about to quit on Dollhouse and now I'm super intrigued to see Echo and Ballard's first meeting. Hopefully, the episode lives up to the hype and the awesome preview.

Edited by QueenCharisma, Mar 13, 2009 @ 9:47 PM.

[ethanvahlere]

Next week seems like a cliffhanger episode. Is Dollhouse going on hiatus?

Next week is the infamous "episode 6" where Whedon supposedly had free reign and no interference from the network.