Dollhouse

This series is centred on Echo, a young woman who is in the 'fantasy fulfilment' business. Having committed certain offences, which are revealed later, she has been persuaded to give five years of her life to the Dollhouse. During this time her mind is wiped and she will live as a doll. When hired the required personality will be downloaded into her mind and she will fulfil that person's desires. Echo isn't the only doll, over the course of the series we get to know other dolls, who are both male and female, their handlers and key workers in the Dollhouse; notable Echo's handler Boyd Langton; Adelle DeWitt, head of the LA Dollhouse Adelle DeWitt; Laurence Dominic, her head of security; scientist Topher Brink and Doctor Claire Saunders. Outside the Dollhouse and its wealthy clients it is considered an urban legend but FBI Agent Paul Ballard believes in it and is determined to expose it; something that will put him in considerable danger. Early on we get many 'client of the week' stories but gradually the overarching plot takes over. Then we learn more about the Dollhouses and the shadowy corporation behind them.

As one might expect from a series created by Joss Whedon there are plenty of interesting ideas and great characters... also like some of his other series it was ended too soon. The early episodes do an impressive job of introducing key characters without telling us too much about them... there are some surprising revelations throughout the series. The nature of some of the Dolls' engagements mean it could easily have become a little sleazy but this is avoided this by giving a good mix of stories. The cast, which includes many Whedon regulars, does an impressive job. Most notable of these is Eliza Dushku who does a really fine job as Echo; Harry Lennix, as Boyd Langton; Tahmoh Penikett as Ballard; Fran Kranz, as Topher; Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt; Amy Acker as Dr Saunders; and Enver Gjokaj and Dichen Lachman, as dolls Victor and Sierra respectively. Most episodes include a good amount of varied action and plenty of tension. The plot obviously includes many science fiction elements but it is more about characters than technology so even if you aren't a sci-fi fan you can enjoy this. Overall I'd definitely recommend this; don't be put off by its premature ending; it does have a proper conclusion.

Season 1 of this show is great. It's dark and it's powerful and it's unique and it's interesting, but it's pretty slow moving and you can find yourself wanting more. Then came the season 1 finale "Epitaph One", and my like of this show turned into obsession. Then came the AMAZING season 2. Every single episode in season 2 is a great one. In fact most episodes don't seem like they're from a TV show at all, they seem like short movies! The acting is phenomenal in season 2, and season 2 is just so freaking smart! Tell me the Chaucer stuff in "Belle Chose" wasn't brilliant, or the camera angles in that episode weren't extremely beautiful... the pair of episodes "The Public Eye" and "The Left Hand" are the most genius I've ever seen on TV! They are so edgy and provocative and kept me entertained the full way through. I can go on and on about how good season 2 is honestly! And Eliza man, Eliza!!! She holds her own with the other unbelievable actors in season 2 and even manages to outshine them on more than one occasion. Yeah she definitely proves that she is worthy of headlining her own show in season 2.

How anyone can call this show boring and complete garbage is mind boggling for me. What hurts even more? Some of them claiming to be Joss Whedon's "fan" had actually said he lost his potential.

For one, Joss Whedon can never lose... anything. His mind is constantly working to create diverse, intelligent, cult-driven shows that will take us on an emotional high every time we watch it.

Dollhouse is perfect, even with its flaws (because honestly, nothing is "perfect" or else our world wouldn't be what it is). Joss is able to create villains that aren't villains. There aren't any demons or vampires or the supernatural here, and I think that's what makes some viewers dislike the show so much. They can't watch it and distance themselves from it by saying, "Oh he's a vampire so therefore blah blah... etc." In Dollhouse it's all about human nature and where we've taken ourselves. And that no matter how advanced our technology may be, we are all the same... always. You can never take someones soul away.

I refuse to watch anything belonging to Fox ever again (unless Joss somehow signs with them yet AGAIN for some Goshforsaken reason). I don't know how much more grief I can take when they go off and cancel it. Ugh. W-ankers!

Fantastic. Compelling. Brilliant. A complete package. Well connected episodes and a very satisfying ending. I can't say enough about Dollhouse. Eliza Dushku was amazing as she flawlessly play many characters. Fran Kranz was the anchor as he played a well developed character. I fell in love with Dichen Lachman ... beautiful, exotic, wonderful actor ... I just don't understand why her career has languished, she deserves more. Highly recommended.

Okay, I'll admit, when I watched the first episode of this show I was a little let down. As a long time Whedon-fan I'd had high hopes for his TV return. The pilot didn't exactly have me clapping my hands and doing cartwheels. The next few episodes held my interest, but it was mid-way through the season (when Fox stopped interfering) that the trademark Whedon-brilliance really appeared.

The show was no longer just about Echo, but started to give more screen time to the other characters, who are all as perfectly flawed and human as they can be. We started to get a stronger sense of the underlying arc, the moral ambiguities that the Dollhouse presents became more apparent and I found myself counting the hours till I could watch the next episode.

This is a show that will make you think and question. If you want mindless fluff, go elsewhere (90210, anyone?). If you want real, intelligent television (with a whole lot of fun mixed in), then Dollhouse is it.