Dollhouse 1x02 "Ghost" (OAD 2/13/2009) *Spoilers* - Page 7

johnperkins21 · 02-17-2009, 11:15 AM

I was pleasantly surprised by this episode. Based on the preview clips I had seen, and the reports of problems, I had lowered my expectations. While it didn't blow me away like Firefly did (I watched Firefly on Hulu so started with the pilot), I enjoyed the episode.

One benefit of it being Friday nights is that I have no conflicts to deal with, so I don't really have to choose between this and another show I may like more. I'll definitely be keeping my season pass, and hopefully the show finds its legs and just keeps getting better.

newsposter · 02-17-2009, 11:53 AM

when i realized this was about kidnapping i couldnt help but think of "Kidnapped"

JYoung · 02-17-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnesia

My impression is that she's not in there, but instead is sitting on a hard disk somewhere, ready to be reimplanted when her term is up.

My impression is that she didn't sign up to do those roles in particular---rather she signed up to do anything in exchange for...what? Money, I guess?

It was obvious from the beginning flashback (which was obviously a flashback to me) that she was in some kind of trouble.
I read it to be more legal in nature but it could be financial.
It would seem to me that their willing recruits would skew more towards the extremely desperate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hefe

What? Really? Are people missing the point that badly?

Who says you're supposed to "root" for the Dollhouse? Who said the Dollhouse is a good thing? Who said that solving crimes has anything to do with their "charter?"

From reading this thread, it seems a number are missing things.
Crime show and rooting for the bosses?
If the Dollhouse is supposed to be an out and out good thing, why is Echo's handler starting to have misgivings?

TAsunder · 02-17-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JYoung

If the Dollhouse is supposed to be an out and out good thing, why is Echo's handler starting to have misgivings?

Isn't he "the new guy"?

Graymalkin · 02-17-2009, 12:53 PM

The Dollhouse is not an out-and-out good organization, like the fictional F.L.A.G. in Knight Rider. It just likes to rationalize itself that way.

OTOH, it's not diabolically evil, either. If it was, it would have simply made sure that the client -- the kidnapped girl's father -- died so that their secrecy wouldn't be compromised and left the little girl to a dreadful fate.

On the surface, it appears to be a covert for-profit enterprise, like Blackwater USA, as envisioned by conspiracy theorists. In time, we may learn of a much darker ulterior motive such as world domination. But for now, it appears to be willing to do whatever its wealthy and powerful clients want it to do. I wonder how it might handle conflicts of interest -- one client wants it to protect him from another client, who wants it to assassinate the first client.

gchance · 02-17-2009, 01:40 PM

All these posts, but I have to wonder, would anyone be talking so much about this show, had it not been created and written by Hoss Whoden?

Greg

LoadStar · 02-17-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gchance

All these posts, but I have to wonder, would anyone be talking so much about this show, had it not been created and written by Hoss Whoden?

Greg

You mean Josh Weeden? Hmm. Good question.

Einselen · 02-17-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoadStar

You mean Josh Weeden? Hmm. Good question.

I would talk about any show I watch (and I am watching this not because of Josh) if anyone else would discuss it. Problem is lots of shows don't get must discussion anymore (at least not the ones I watch)

dswallow · 02-17-2009, 02:20 PM

Without Joss's involvement, I doubt we'd have been talking about it much more than a day or two before it aired; but I think after it airing, we'd all be complaining about the same garbage we watched.

Bai Shen · 02-17-2009, 02:28 PM

I thought it was interesting and I'll give it the full thirteen ep run.

Also, I thought they were moving the original pilot to episode two status?

tivoboyjr · 02-17-2009, 02:32 PM

I don't see the point of the "Dollhouse." If the dolls were being used for highly illegal activities and situations where you need someone competent but expendable, then maybe. But if you just need a chick to party with, is that who you call? And if your child is kidnapped and threatened with death, you'd trust the kid's life to a science experiment? It just doesn't make sense. I'll go with it for a couple more episodes, but I may be checking out pretty soon.

BobB · 02-17-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JYoung

It was obvious from the beginning flashback (which was obviously a flashback to me) that she was in some kind of trouble.
I read it to be more legal in nature but it could be financial.
It would seem to me that their willing recruits would skew more towards the extremely desperate.

I think it was pretty clearly legal - remember, in that scene they repeated several times, "Acts have consequences." She did something she shouldna.

dcheesi · 02-17-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobB

I think it was pretty clearly legal - remember, in that scene they repeated several times, "Acts have consequences." She did something she shouldna.

But later in the episode one of the handlers made a quip about them doing time if the cops ever found the place (can't recall the exact quote). And the FBI wouldn't have assigned a guy to look for them if their existence was a matter of public legal record (and there's no indication that they're government/spy-agency backed or anything that would keep them legally secret).

That actually is a bit of a continuity issue, although I suppose if (big if) they plan to let these people go after their terms are up, they'd have to make it look legal for their benefit... Perhaps there's some other, legal program that's a front for this operation? One that would explain the subjects dropping off the face of the Earth for five years?

madscientist · 02-17-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tivoboyjr

I don't see the point of the "Dollhouse." If the dolls were being used for highly illegal activities and situations where you need someone competent but expendable, then maybe. But if you just need a chick to party with, is that who you call? And if your child is kidnapped and threatened with death, you'd trust the kid's life to a science experiment? It just doesn't make sense.

I think this point has been pretty well discussed earlier in the thread; there were a number of reasons given. If none of those convince you, then I guess it's just "suspend your disbelief" time ... or, I guess, "cancel your SP" time

tivoboyjr · 02-17-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madscientist

I think this point has been pretty well discussed earlier in the thread; there were a number of reasons given. If none of those convince you, then I guess it's just "suspend your disbelief" time ... or, I guess, "cancel your SP" time

Sorry - I usually read the whole thread prior to posting but in this case I didn't. I know it wasn't touched on in the last couple of pages. Will go back and read it.

JYoung · 02-17-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcheesi

That actually is a bit of a continuity issue, although I suppose if (big if) they plan to let these people go after their terms are up, they'd have to make it look legal for their benefit... Perhaps there's some other, legal program that's a front for this operation? One that would explain the subjects dropping off the face of the Earth for five years?

I suppose that cooking the books a bit could fix that.
The cover story could be that they are overseas contract workers.

And it's possible that after the contract is up, they give them memories that match the cover story.

Assuming they let them go.....

johnperkins21 · 02-17-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JYoung

It was obvious from the beginning flashback (which was obviously a flashback to me) that she was in some kind of trouble.
I read it to be more legal in nature but it could be financial.
It would seem to me that their willing recruits would skew more towards the extremely desperate.

I'm guessing that she was in the military and got into some kind of trouble there. My only real basis for this is that she was holding a cammy hat:

Amnesia · 02-18-2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnperkins21

I'm guessing that she was in the military and got into some kind of trouble there. My only real basis for this is that she was holding a cammy hat

I don't see why you would think that. It's not like she's in uniform...Anyone can buy a camo hat...

johnperkins21 · 02-18-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnesia

I don't see why you would think that. It's not like she's in uniform...Anyone can buy a camo hat...

You are correct. However, it could also explain what makes her one of the better actives, if not the best they have.

The reason I think that is because it's the first thing that popped into my head during that scene. I saw the hat, recognized that she didn't necessarily volunteer for the job, and figured that she was probably sent there by a commanding officer.

Peter000 · 02-18-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnperkins21

One benefit of it being Friday nights is that I have no conflicts to deal with, so I don't really have to choose between this and another show I may like more.

Friday nights has suddenly become the most busy TV night of the week, though weirdly there are no unresolvable conflicts.

There are 6 shows I watch that air during prime-time—Ghost Whisperer, Sarah Connor, Dollhouse, Monk, Psych and Numbers. BSG gets pushed back to 11 central because of a conflict. If I hadn't had caught the DirecTV season of Friday Night Lights, that would be the only real unresolvable conflict. I guess I could record Psych at a different time as well.

So Dollhouse is staying for now. I did enjoy it but it was nothing to write home about.

Bierboy · 02-18-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter000

Friday nights has suddenly become the most busy TV night of the week, though weirdly there are no unresolvable conflicts.

There are 6 shows I watch that air during prime-time—Ghost Whisperer, Sarah Connor, Dollhouse, Monk, Psych and Numbers. BSG gets pushed back to 11 central because of a conflict. If I hadn't had caught the DirecTV season of Friday Night Lights, that would be the only real unresolvable conflict. I guess I could record Psych at a different time as well.

So Dollhouse is staying for now. I did enjoy it but it was nothing to write home about.

I feel your pain, Peter. I deleted my Dollhouse SP and will catch it on Hulu when I can. I'm also watching SciFi's airing of Moonlight which presents even more scheduling conflict; I thought it was a great show and was sad to see it go. I've pushed both Monk and BSG to later recording times on Fridays. Other conflicts on Friday night for me include Blackhawks hockey.

balboa dave · 02-18-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter000

Friday nights has suddenly become the most busy TV night of the week, though weirdly there are no unresolvable conflicts.

There are 6 shows I watch that air during prime-time—Ghost Whisperer, Sarah Connor, Dollhouse, Monk, Psych and Numbers. BSG gets pushed back to 11 central because of a conflict. If I hadn't had caught the DirecTV season of Friday Night Lights, that would be the only real unresolvable conflict. I guess I could record Psych at a different time as well.

So Dollhouse is staying for now. I did enjoy it but it was nothing to write home about.

This Friday will be the season finales for Monk and Psych.

Bierboy · 02-19-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balboa dave

This Friday will be the season finales for Monk and Psych.

Those shows aren't the problem; they air all over the place. It's the shows that only air once a week that pose the problem (though not so much now with the proliferation of availability on the Web).

DreadPirateRob · 02-19-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hefe

What? Really? Are people missing the point that badly?

Who says you're supposed to "root" for the Dollhouse? Who said the Dollhouse is a good thing? Who said that solving crimes has anything to do with their "charter?"

This.

I liked it. I didn't *love* it, but I liked it. My only main quibble with it at this point is that Joss is playing it a little too straight insofar as dialogue is concerned. I'm sure that will come as the show - and the characters - find its footing.

dcheesi · 02-19-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadPirateRob

This.

I liked it. I didn't *love* it, but I liked it. My only main quibble with it at this point is that Joss is playing it a little too straight insofar as dialogue is concerned. I'm sure that will come as the show - and the characters - find its footing.

With the exception of the tech guy, I don't see much opportunity for Joss' usual quirky characters and dialog here. The 'actives' are intentionally dull and blank, and the handlers are way too serious to fall into that kind of banter easily. He may be able to occasionally write a personality-of-the-week with some attitude/humor, but not every week lest it seem like some underlying trait showing through (though perhaps that could factor in later?).

NJChris · 02-19-2009, 03:20 PM

Even tho I liked the first one, maybe they will implant her with the Faith personality and then she escapes and it turns into another show...

realityboy · 02-20-2009, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Helmerichs

I read somewhere that Fringe has the highest ad rates on television, for that exact reason.

The fact that they're using the same model for Dollhouse suggests that they must be getting results...

Well, they announced they would be doing this for Fringe and Dollhouse back at the upfronts last May. If I recall, Dollhouse was supposed to take over Fringe's slot after it wrapped for the season.

Rob Helmerichs · 02-20-2009, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by realityboy

Well, they announced they would be doing this for Fringe and Dollhouse back at the upfronts last May. If I recall, Dollhouse was supposed to take over Fringe's slot after it wrapped for the season.

Right, but Fringe has been on the air long enough that if the experiment weren't working, they wouldn't be able to get away with it with Dollhouse.

DevdogAZ · 02-20-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Helmerichs

Right, but Fringe has been on the air long enough that if the experiment weren't working, they wouldn't be able to get away with it with Dollhouse.

Or they already sold the ads at the Upfronts last May and didn't want to have to give any of the money back.

ronsch · 02-20-2009, 12:22 PM

Thank goodness there is a new episode tonight to put this thread out of it's misery.