Next weeks episode was definitely, 100% produced as episode 3. It's written by Steve Deknight, and is the first episode where FOX seemed to think the show may work. Hence why it's moved forward in the airing order. They've also moved Tim's first episode forward in the running order slightly.
"Echo", the original pilot, is gone. Several plot elements no longer make sense in it, as they've gone a different direction with (some of) the characters and setup. "Echo" is a curious episode to be honest, as it is toneily (is that a word?) very different - it 'feels' like a Whedon show. It also connects a lot more of the dots, makes it clear there are Male dolls, and connects the different elements together more (e.g. Paul and Echo). It's a shame they lost it.
There are male dolls which can hired, they're visible in the background of the Dollhouse at this point. Also, the case file marked "ALPHA" seen at the end of the episode, follows the naming conventions for the dolls (echo, sierra etc), and you see a Naked Man (any HIMYM fans?) at the end of the episode.
Here's the episode vs production order for the 6 episodes FOX has committed to airing:
Episode 1 - Feb 13 - "Ghost" (2nd episode shot - Joss)
Episode 2 - Feb 20 - "The Target" (4th episode shot - Steve Deknight)
Episode 3 - Feb 27 - "Gray Hour" (3rd episode shot - Elizabeth & Sarah)
Episode 4 - Mar 06 - "Stage Fright" (5th episode shot - Jed Whedon and Maurissa)
Episode 5 - Mar 13 - "True Believer" (7th episode shot - Tim)
Episode 6 - Mar 20 - "Man on the Street" (6th episode shot - Joss)
Note that this one is revised since I covered it on Dollverse, as it looks like they swapped 3 and 4 around again.
I watched SCC after I watched Dollhouse, and the promos during SCC were noticeably less skeevy. I wonder if that was deliberate.
Prison Break is Dollhouse's new lead in. That would be a series with less viewers than Terminator has left, then. Sob.
Prison Break is Dollhouse's new lead in.
WHAT?! when is this happening? they are seriously trying to kill it before it gets going, aren't they? jesus.
It's not until April. The idea would be, one suspects, that's plenty of time for Dollhouse to find it's legs. But still, Prison Break as a lead in?
I think there's an outside chance FOX will pull Terminator before then, should it fall any more. It's down to under 4 million viewers now, which is ridiculous. That Kevin Reilly bloke must have balls of steel.
Allyson, the thing you mentioned above got me thinking. There's some research I reading earlier which suggests that being lonely for extended periods in effect changes the brain - well, damages. It increases levels of cortisol, which messes a bunch of stuff up, including memory.
I am guessing they 'simply' upload the memories, and don't physically alter the brain with each personality, so the person you implant can't be the same in each Active. Or maybe they do alter the whole brain? In which case, they presumably have the tech to fix brain damage.
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
Sigh. Has this strategy ever worked for Fox?
