I don't think Adele's turn was a surprise as an unresolvable inconsistency.

How do we account for the fact that we watched her say something different to Echo about "what's in the attic" right before Topher pushed the button and fried her? She said it was a place of unending torture, not "where Rossum keeps its darkest secrets." How are they going to explain the re-write? And why would Adele talk to Ivy about replacing Topher and get Ivy all pissed? Even if she told Ivy about the rapist, that makes no sense. But then she tells Topher to be a good company man? And he freaks out. And then she tells Boyd to be a good company man or he'll be dead. But then suddenly she reverses on being a "company man" herself?

Is this the old "Joss didn't show you the whole conversation"? Except he did show us the whole conversation with Echo, and it was different.

The whole thing smacks of rushed re-write of the last 2 minutes because we found out the series got canceled -- just like the last few episodes of Angel. Which maybe Joss was shooting for. The last 30 seconds of the episode, with everyone in Adele's office as they reveal the plot to take down Rossum once and for all, was basically a re-shoot of the last minute or so of "Power Play," with the nouns changed from "Circle of the Black Thorn," "apocalypse," and "Wolfram & Hart" to "Rossum." Hell, we even have to recruit Lindsey (Caroline, the apparent once-insider who learned too much and is now an outsider) before we're ready.

At least Joss has two episodes to plot out this blaze of glory instead of just one, as with "Not Fade Away." (Don't get me wrong -- NFA was probably the best hour of television in the 2000's).

Why is the Adelle thing such a surprise, has no one seen Epitaph One?

Excellent comments. I will second comments already made here by adding:

(1) agree that this series got much much better in season 2. I was blown away by "The Attic" episode.

Which leads to:

(2) a need for more limited episodes series on American television. The Europeans are more comfortable with this (as observed many times by comments on this blog). I have also noticed that French Canadians are also more comfortable with this concept (such as Aveux, Minuit Le Soir.) Sometimes it is better to define, in advance, that a show will last 24 or 30 or even 18 episodes: it allows you to tell the story, beginning to end, the way it should be told.

I wish the American networks could get more comfortable with this idea. Dollhouse is a perfect case in point.

One thing Joss Whedon knows how to do is end a series. Both Buffy and Angel had awesome final episodes. Will miss Dollhouse when it's gone. By the way, I guess Mellie is not in the attic otherwise we would have seen her to.....no?

So, no one has mentioned that Clyde was put in the attic while his mind was made into a modified imprint. Anyone think Topher is a doll imprinted with Clyde's mind?

I think Topher's assistant was so short with him because DeWitt told her about Topher helping to dispose of the rapist dude's body (by dismembering it).

Before watching The Attic, I was talking to a mate of mine about the Dollhouse and its cancellation.
I think that a limited story format that would force a series to end after two or three seasons, would make more interesting television.
It doesn't need to apply to procedurals like CSI, Law&Order, etc. but I think The Dollhouse or Lost (or even 24) would benefit from such an approach.
Now, if only the networks would agree ;)

My theory after this is that Topher and Summer are both Clyde 2.0's, and that Adelle gave Ivy a heads-up (her cryptic comment about replacing Topher=literal?). That would explain a) her weird mood when she returned b)Topher/Summer mutual worship c) Topher/Summer both showing gaps in morals and ambitions beyond their work d) prior Caroline/Summer relationship.

Not a single comment about Echo's answer to "What year is it?"

"2010 I think, who knows how long we've been off the air" I don't think I've ever laughed so hard while watching this show as I did then.

Whendon really tricked me with DeWitt. She became such an evil bitch I was ready for Paul to put a bullet in her head. And after all that she is a good guy again.

I'm also eagerly awaiting for someone to give Victor his own show. One like Alias maybe so he can go undercover a lot. So we can get the many different personalities he is capable of playing.