I like the show enough, that if Fox cancelled it now, I’d be kinda bummed, but could move on easily enough. I think it could be much better, stronger and darker in spots.
Also, Topher only requested for a Doll for his “test”, he didn’t specify which Doll. He could just as easily gotten Victor to be his “friend” this year, over Sierra if he’d been available. Although, how he resists falling for her as the ultimate hot-girl-geek who adores you is entirely beyond me! Doesn’t sound any more fun than taking a cold shower, which is what I’d have to do after the fun was over.
I’m split on Dushku. I don’t think she’s a great actress, but there are times where she surprises me. Although, while this show was designed with her in mind, I think there are plenty other actresses that could do a far better job with her character. She seems too “self-aware” as an actress, which is okay when your character also happens to be a self-aware hot chick — but, I think this part demands that kind of ‘shedding yourself’ style acting. Especially when she has to play characters that are more everyday or average.
I’m sure he knew who he was going to end up with, as there was a line about how Sierra was next in line, or had been the longest without being activated, or something.
That’s kind of how I feel. When she’s playing a tough girl from the 'hood, like Faith, I think she nails the role. But every personality she takes on in this show seems to have the same facial expressions, the same voice tones, etc.; it always feels like the same character to me. Of the little bit I’ve seen of Sierra, I think that actress is much better at assuming different roles and falling into them.
While I don’t think that would be the only issue with her acting, I could believe that her voice being the same may be the thing that doesn’t quite pull it all together for me, if that makes sense. However, while I haven’t seen this episode in a while, I seem to remember her doing very well as Buffy when they switched bodies, and I liked her character in Bring It On as well (but that was the first thing I saw her in so it’s hard to judge that). Of course, Dushku could also be playing Echo like she is not completely wiped but always retains certain elements, but I think that would be giving her too much credit.
But I definitely agree with Left Hand of Dorkness that Dichen Lachman is much better at it, for whatever reason.
I agree that Dichen Lachman is a better actress. I also agree that Eliza Dushku is frequently “too much herself.” I just don’t think that Dushku is a BAD actress and she certainly isn’t bad enough to distract me from the story.
Exactly. I meant to make that point up-thread, but forgot about it.
It’s more like making a copy of yourself everytime. It’s not really you in there. It’s a carbon (ha, carbon) copy of you. Your perceived I is dead and gone with your original body.
[fanwanking] In the episode with the killer nature guy, it seemed the van could track Echo’s vital signs, but it took an experienced person (Topher) to distinguish between happy adrenaline and fight/flight response. After riding King’s Ransom, Echo/Margret’s vital signs would have been up, and it’s entirely possible the new handler did not recognize the change to fight/flight response when the widower started banging the shovel on the stable doors. [/fanwanking]
Yes, but keep in mind that desperate, struggling man had been trying to kill Echo, and said he was going to kill Topher and Toper’s unhappy assistant as collateral damages. In Toper’s mind, it would be easy to understand that he was acting in self-defense, as well as in the defense of the Dollhouse.
Topher loves his science. Like the young programmers in http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089886/"]Real Genius the science he loves is entirely separate from the people that are being hurt by it. I agree with Kaio that Topher is immature to the pointed of stunted in his ethical development.
Remember Dewitt tell Roger/Victor that she used to work for a company that made organs from stem cells? I think the Dollhouse is working towards imprinting old personalities on clones. A world where science is advanced enough to grow transplant organs is probably working on cloning technology.
This episode really had a quintessential “Joss” moment for me: I loved when Echo/Margaret is in the stables, and her son comes in and tells her he knows that she’s his mother.
I just love that element of taking the usual fairly groan-inducing “plot twist”, acknowledging exactly what the audience is thinking, and then dumping the whole thing on its head. I actually just finished watching Firefly & Serenity for the first time, so it reminded me of another example of that “flipping”: In Serenity, when Anara is forced to call Mal and tell him to come for a visit, he immediately knows it’s a trap. They even lampshaded this with Kalie asking how he could know. Anyone else enjoy that?
The thing I either didn’t get or missed was the explanation for her death. What was the stated cause of death? And how did either the son arrange to make it seem like an accident, or why wasn’t there a police investigation?
I also liked the FBI guy getting a taste of being a client and seeing the appeal. Knowing that no matter what he does, she’s going to stay with him. Talk about unleashing a darker part of yourself.
I didn’t understand the letter her son asked her to write and the letter she wrote instead. In the letters she is writing who her killer is and how he is going to kill her? So she just writesa letter and a new will and goes for a horse back ride? She doesn’t contact the police or tell her husband?
She couldn’t explain that she was an imprint on the doll. So she arranged to write a letter that would later be found (in her handwriting) that would detail her suspicions towards her husband, how and when he might kill her, etc. Then her son could “discover” this letter hidden away somewhere. It reopens the case and the police could figure it out.
I think DeWitt does feel bound by the promises she has made. She certainly gave that impression in Needs (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=512899&highlight=Dollhouse"]old thread), but then Echo was threatening her with a gun, I think.
Caroline/Echo’s contract is only for five years. Presumably, Margret could have bought the remainder of Echo’s time on a 24x7 basis, but at some point she’d have to be moved to a new body.
I watched the ep again last night, and Topher’s storey line seemed even more sad on repeat.
