Angel ,'Chosen'
[NAFDA] "There will be an occasional happy, so that it might be crushed under the boot of the writer." From Zorro to Angel (including Wonderfalls, The Inside and Drive), this is where Buffistas come to anoint themselves in the bloodbath. Oh, and help us get Terriers dvds!
how it started, why do people volunteer for it, etc.I think that's what the FBI dude's thing is all about. But clearly Dollhouse reaches above him, and has some tacit approval of the administration or something.
On the whole, that first episode didn't wow me. I'll watch next weeks episode when I get back from vacation.
I'm intrigued but agree that it wasn't WOW. However, of Joss's shows, only Angel would have totally grabbed me with just the first ep and that's mostly because I was already in due to Buffy. It was great seeing Eliza and Tahmoh and all the familiar names and Grrr Argh. I'll def be there next Friday.
Fay - next week's was the originally intended pilot. (Sound familiar?)
Next week's episode is episode 3, "The Target". It's not the intended pilot - Fox refused to pony up to reshoot certain bits, so it's in the bin. Then it's on to epiosde 5, then episode 2, then... Oh god it's 2002!
I actually like "Ghost" well enough. It's like The Inside, I think - Becky reloaded. I find the idea of human trafficking to be... erm, FUCKING AWFUL. To put it politely. So I'm surprised Joss has created The Sexy Human Trafficking Show, which is exactly what he's done. But the question is how it's handled. This episode makes it clear what they're doing is fucked up. Loading the personality of a sex abuse victim and putting them in the same room as their abuser, by the way? Sick.
I'm not a fan of the boxing scene. It basically tells you everything you need to know about why not to work for FOX.
Ep 2 trailer - [link]
I find the idea of human trafficking to be... erm, FUCKING AWFUL. To put it politely. So I'm surprised Joss has created The Sexy Human Trafficking Show, which is exactly what he's done. But the question is how it's handled. This episode makes it clear what they're doing is fucked up.
I don't think any show about human trafficking would come across as anything BUT "Look! What we're doing is hideous!" No matter how the weekly plot played out. So I can't really give points to Joss for teaching us that Human Trafficking Is Wrong.
Loading the personality of a sex abuse victim and putting them in the same room as their abuser, by the way? Sick.
If I hadn't been at a Dollhouse party, I would have turned off the TV at that point. I get your message, Joss. But the heavy-handed, anvilly way you've chosen to convey it is nauseating.
And putting the actual victim IN THE REFRIGERATOR? I laughed and laughed and laughed. "Look how ironic I'm being! Because the victim survived and was in fact rescued by another woman, so my skeevy gender issues are okay!"
God almighty.
As I think about it, it might be a consent issue. it's like if you agree to be tied up for consensual sex
IIRC, a person cannot *legally* consent to be restrained/hurt by another person. Legally. Organized sports don't fall in that category, because they're regulated and so forth, but people who tie each other up for sex don't have league regulations, etc. (And therefore no cool jerseys and TV broadcasts on Sunday afternoons.)
How much do we think that this is how writers/directors/producers see actors?
Is this how they wish it could be with actors, just zap them into their roles, and when done just box them up and put them away?
Do you think this is how actors see themselves?
dcp, when Joss first pitched Dollhouse my first comment was something along the lines of 'Is this a commentary on how Joss sees himself in a work sense?'.
Steph, I don't think Joss is (or needs to) teach us why trafficking is wrong. At least, I hope not. I just think the show needs to touch on the reality of the subject, and I hope it does. The other big question is identity - you can wipe those Actives of their personalities when in the Dollhouse into a child like state, but kids do naughty things. They're still human, driven by impulses one would think.
Also, did anyone else ping Topher (the science guy) as Warren? Cause that's totally the vibe I got from him.
He totally takes his bonuses as paid time with the actives. Can we get a Willow guest appearance for the season finale?
Was anyone else squicked by the Summer/Eliza promos? They were just creepy and seemed designed to tingle the boy geek sensibilities (i.e. Eliza with with her leather clad leg propped up on the chair)
Very much so. They stopped just short of dressing them in catsuits and having them arch their backs for the camera while giggling. If I didn't have a history with Joss and Eliza's shows those promos would have ensured that I would never watch it. (I did absolutely love the Grindhouse-style promo earlier this week though.)
I can't even begin to describe how happy I was to see the Grr Arrgh guy at the end of an episode of new television.
This and the nifty familiar credits will bring me back. The squick is big and it is taking a lot to get me past that. The promo, gross, although my boys would probably like it. I have to give it a chance and see the development. I live in hope. If it feels like L&O:SVU I won't be staying.
Echo: She was a good lead. She was convincing in her 2 imprints and provoked interest with the flashes of who she might be. I give her a thumbs up.
Ballard: I get it. I understand the boxing thing. I expect we will get to know him more and hope it is interesting.
Langton: I kinda have a crush on him. It will be important to my viewing pleasure how his relationship with Echo develops. Not saying he has to be a good guy or a bad guy, but it better be done well.
Brink: It is going to take brilliance to not force me to the hall when his character appears. I loves me a good bad guy (Sylar in Heroes, Ben in Lost), but I do not like this guy at all. Ick.
We didn't see enough of the other characters for me to form any opinion. I do have hope and abundant faith in the powers that be here.
How much do we think that this is how writers/directors/producers see actors?
I can see this, in fact I've known some actors that would love the opportunity to use this tool.
The messing around with the intended order of episodes is going to be crazy making. Please let this turn lighter on the anvils and heavier on the character development.
The naked guy at the end was sending the picture of Echo to Paul Ballard, the FBI agent played by Tahmoh. Mmmm, Tahmoh! (Thanks for that boxing scene, Joss, because in addition to revealing Paul's character, it also did a good job of revealing his body. Mmmmmm...)
Anyway. Liked the ep well enough to stick around for next week, but I do have some questions about the depths of ED's acting skills--can she do more than blank slate or kick-ass dancer/partier/action girl? The torn-up abuse victim lacked quite a bit due to her lack of skill there, IMO. I just didn't buy it.
Steph, I don't think Joss is (or needs to) teach us why trafficking is wrong. At least, I hope not.
I would have agreed with you if not for the heavy-handed anvilly message hammered home.