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Dollhouse: A Spy in the House of Love

by Brad Trechak, posted Apr 11th 2009 12:02AM
Dollhouse(S01E09) What did we learn tonight? We learned that Adelle herself is not above taking advantage of her position at the Dollhouse. While it's not quite as bad of the actions of Joe Hearn, it is definitely a conflict of interest and is something I doubt the Rossum Corporation would approve of.

That being said, she's apparently into James Bond types, which sort of makes sense given her career choice.

My favorite line of the episode was from Boyd: "We're pimps and murderers, but in a philanthropic way."

Honestly, I don't think anybody who works there believes in what the Dollhouse is doing and most of them are amoral. Topher is there to play with toys and to be constantly reassured that he's a genius. Adelle seems to be there for power. Boyd is loyal to Echo, but obviously not to the concept. It's like a psychological study on why people work.

What else did we learn? We learned what it means to go to the Attic. It's lobotomization, no matter how Topher tries to phrase it, and it's very similar to the process for creating a Doll (which we saw happening to Sierra in the pilot). We also learn that the Dollhouse does keep a copy of the original personality of their Actives (which was hinted at last week, but shown definitively tonight). This could be for a number of reasons. First, in case there is information that is known to the original personality that may benefit the Dollhouse. Second, to honor their contract and imprint the regular person back into the body when five years are up. I'm leaning towards reason number one.

I note that while Laurence Dominic was determined to be infiltrating the Dollhouse, it hasn't been established if he was the person imprinting the outgoing messages to Mr. Ballard. Based on what we've learned (and I've mentioned before), I think it is Doctor Saunders. However, based on the history of Joss shows and his amazing ability to lead people down the wrong alley before showing a surprise turn into the right one, that's likely not the case.

With Langton's sudden promotion, it's likely that a future plot point will be Echo's conflicting feelings for her two handlers, past and present. She'll probably have to choose between two conflicting orders told to her by each and will choose Boyd's. Or it could go in a completely different direction. This is why I enjoy watching Whedon shows.

If anything brings down the Dollhouse, it will be hubris. Hasn't it occurred to someone to keep the Actives in a closed-off area where they won't wander like children into inappropriate conversations?

It looks like someone told Sierra she was on an episode of Alias. That app that read that woman's retina? Soon to be on iPhone, I'm sure.

I don't recall if I mentioned this before, but kudos to Joss and company for casting a somewhat chunky (but by no means unattractive) woman as November. It would be easy to think that all the Dolls have to be, well, dolls (in the Barbie or Ken fashion). I'm glad that some of the Actives seem more real than that.

"Investigate the purpose" sounds a lot like "Follow the money."

I give this episode a thumbs-up. In two weeks, we have the first of the final three episodes. If you need one more after that, buy the DVD set.

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Dollhouse

First of all, I liked how the show got better, but it seems that every time there is a good episode, there is a bad one to follow it, and this episode kinda bothered me a while, mainly because there were several plotholes.

Dominic is a spy for the NSA, he has never left any trace of his ativities even tho they are supposedly monitored, except for that bug that Topher found.

When they found out there's a spy in the dollhouse, he is the security head, he has the capability of controlling the situation and he let's Echo, a doll he personally dislike, take charge, or at least part of the situation, and then she discover he is the double-agent without any kind of proof whatsoever, by body language? Come on, that was just bad writing.

After that, he could just have ordered Echo to be wiped again and told she was glitching, again, but no, like a guilty person he pulls his gun, fire and manage to miss all his shots, and gets owned, like it'd be far less suspicious for him to kill Topher, his assistant and Echo, instead of just ordering Echo to be wiped.

After he is discovered, Adelle orders him to the attic, and say when the NSA is coming looking for him they'll take him out of his box say everything is ok and then put him back on, the major problem there is considering how they are so unwilling to take out FORMER Agent Ballard of the FBI, an agency that doesn't seem to know officially they exist, how are they willing to take out a NSA Agent, considering the NSA is far more powerful, and around 7 times bigger than the CIA, and knows they exist, and as a double-agent, he would contact them to deliver reports regularly and have all kind of procedures to say when he was in danger, and he'd hardly work alone, it'd surely have a task-force.

Also, another major hole, is that since they are supposed to keep track of every move of the dolls, considering they are very expensive 'projects', they suck at keeping track of them and apparently don't know that much about them, I mean, Victor goes on 10 dates with Adelle and nobody has any idea, how hard it is to put a gps microchip on them or even give them a watch with a gps tracker for them to use?

Overall, bad episode, Action-wise, it was alright, but story-wise, it sucked

Source :http://watchdollhouseonline.com/

April 28 2009 at 2:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hayley

I admit to having a full blown girl crush on Miracle Laurie and she is definitly the hottest female on the show probably even the hottest PERSON on the show because although I warming to Victor and Ballard I kinda don't see "it" if you know what I mean!

I loved this episode. Holy crap Batman on discovering that DeWitt was using the Dollhouse (possibly with the imprint of an ex-lover?) and Holy CRAP Batman when Millie told Ballard she was a doll ( am i the only one whose heart broke for Ballard?) And even holy-er crap when Echo asked to bee imprinted! There's some crazy shit going down in the house!

I really hope that this one doesn't get cancelled and I hop to god that someone doesn't use the headline:
"Fox sends the Dollhouse to the Attic" (no matter how proud i am for coming up with it!)

P.S. I am a girl and while I acknowledge Eliza's hotness (although she has lost something - I prefered her when she was Faith in Buffy!) and Miracle I can't see the girl who play's Sierra supposed hotness! Am i the only one who thinks she looks like...a...um...transvestite?

April 15 2009 at 4:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nass

Boyd is also NSA/ in contact with Ballard because Echo's personality evaluation didn't work on him as intimated by the line, "I somehow trust you..." The only reason why that would be included would be to foreshadow Boyd not being loyal to the dollhouse, while evading the problem in this episode and leaving it to be resolved in another.

Joss just got mercked. Wha-pow.

April 12 2009 at 1:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rob Stevens

I think Mellie/November is the hottest girl on the show so far. Bar none.

I loved the episode, and I liked the idea that Echo would ask for an imprint in order to help. That drive to want to make a difference that is part of Caroline's character is so deeply ingrained that it can't be wiped. I also liked the touch with Adele being "Miss Lonely Hearts," although she had three "throwaway" lines in the show that are leading me to wonder ...

Is Adele DeWitt an Active herself?

It would make sense, since Rossum would certainly want people in the top position that they knew without a doubt could be trusted. She just made a few comments in that episode that could be considered deeply ironic if that were to be the case, and that's certainly Joss' style.

Great show. I wish Fox wasn't going to kill it. I wonder if Joss & Co. have a bit of Battered Wife Syndrome.

April 12 2009 at 2:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gill

"Adelle seems to be there for power."


Adelle is doing it because she believes in the work that the Rossum Corporation is doing. She stated that quite clearly.

It's been made quite clear that she doesn't relish the job she has so power is not at all her motivator.

April 11 2009 at 7:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Gill's comment
Todd

If they cancel Dollhouse where will I get my Fred fix???

April 11 2009 at 10:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Smithee

To the people objecting to the use of "chunky"--are you just objecting to that particular term, or are you seriously claiming that November isn't heavy? I like her too, but it hasn't rendered me blind.

I think the ordinariness of many of the actives is a problem with the casting. Although how they are imprinted is crucial, the fact is that a significant percentage of their missions are as high end escorts and most of them are really not attractive enough to be plausible in that role. Whether you or I like the looks of these actives, or object to judging them by their looks, is irrelevant. The question is whether some billionaire, who is spending millions of dollars for a few days with some trophy girlfriend, will feel like he's getting his money's worth. Shallow or not, I think most of them would keep looking rather than take anything from the current crop of actives.

April 11 2009 at 2:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Smithee's comment
CParis

"The question is whether some billionaire, who is spending millions of dollars for a few days with some trophy girlfriend, will feel like he's getting his money's worth."

Let's consider who is actually going to become an "Active" for a minute. Your real-life supermodel arm-candy (I'm not talking about the ANTM nonsense, but the women/men who don't "get out of bed for less than $10,000/hr") is not going to become an active - they don't need the money and if they are kidnapped into the Dollhouse, it would be noticed.
Besides, a billionaire can already afford to get a "date" with a real supermodel if he wants.

April 11 2009 at 3:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Smithee

@CParis: If your point is that the whole thing is implausible either way, I agree. I don't agree with your details, however. One certainly doesn't have to be a supermodel to be more attractive than the actives. One can go into any West LA "meat market" bar on a Friday night and see dozens of women and men more attractive than any of the actives.

"Besides, a billionaire can already afford to get a "date" with a real supermodel if he wants."

You are forgetting part of the equation. Paraphrasing the old joke, they aren't just paying for the companionship -- they are paying for him or her to leave afterward. There's nothing better than a mind wipe for that.

April 11 2009 at 3:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mdisloki

I loved this episode, but did anyone else feel like they were watching an episode of Buffy? Someone is casting demonic spells on some of the Scoobies trying to infiltrate the group. As usual Buffy has an idea of how to figure it out and in the process her 'handler' impresses the 'counsel' and gets promoted. Now Buffy is unhappy with her new 'handler'.

As I said in TSCC's comments, I've always watched Fox more than any other channel. They have always had shows that love, but if they decide to boot Dollhouse and TSCC, and put some crappy game show or reality show on I don't think I can watch anymore. I think Fox should do the same thing I suggested for TSCC. Give the show a 3-5 season deal and let Joss build a complete arc.

PLEASE FOX, DON'T LET US DOWN.

btw, I agree with the guys above. November is smoking hot! Not to mention Echo in the leather... wow

April 11 2009 at 1:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
GL

Great episode all around. The fencing scene was a nice addition to Adele's character and the Ballard/November dynamic is going to be great.

As for November, she's attractive as she as, no need to knock the other attractive women on the show (how 'bout some love for Olivia Williams while you're railing about TV standards for one set of people) or to pretend she isn't exactly what she is.

April 11 2009 at 1:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ac

In terms of hotness: Echo > November > Sierra. Novenmber being considered chunky is crazy talk!

April 11 2009 at 1:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rljones

I found it quite interesting that Echo could see what was happening and then went to get suggest she get imprinted as a spy hunter and save the dollhouse. As Adelle said, don't tell anyone, she could be useful this way. I just wished this plot point would be able to continue through a normal season of 20 or episodes.

April 11 2009 at 11:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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