This episode was definitely better than the pilot, but I'm really having a hard time getting over the rape.

Cheers for the link, Hec!

I don't know how it compares to what has aired, but I thought that script was something I'd have happily watched. Intriguing, sets out the premise of the show well, not overly titillating or skeevy, asks questions about self and identity - I liked it.

Well, the unaired pilot had a whole lot less skeeve for me and more self=awareness blossoming. And Joss can't spell percocet to save his life.

I can accept the implausibility of the premise, but there's no good reason for a woman running for her life to randomly take off her shirt--especially when she's running through the woods. Among other things.

Maybe her imprint learned wilderness survival skills from watching Bear Grylls?

But you're right. It was clearly warm enough for Keeslar to be skulking around in a tank top, so no pressing need to get out of wet clothes to avoid pneumonia. And given that Echo had her adrenaline pumping and was running for her life I doubt any discomfort short of sharp pain would have bothered her enough to make her strip down.

Okay, I liked the 2nd episode alot better than the first one despite the skeeviness of her assignment. I liked learning her backstory and as far as I'm concerned I was happy when she took off that white shirt while running through the woods because WHITE stands out like a beacon in the woods. Dark red is much better cover when you're trying to hide from somebody.

I liked the unaired pilot, looks a lot better than what we have now. I'm glad that my faith in Joss wasn't misplaced. Of course, once Fox got its grubby little hands on it, it went downhill.

That script was definitely much better than what we saw for episode one. I wonder what FOX didn't like about it? Not that anyone here has the answer, but it's definitely what I'm wondering! I would have enjoyed that much more than the iffy hostage negotiator crap we got.

ETA: Except that maybe Joss got pissed and said "if they want crap, I give them crap and then I get paid for seven episodes that never get aired."

Ailleann - Eliza has a talent holding deal at FOX. They definitely want to play on the sex factor of Eliza. And so does she. She did an aborted pilot for them under the deal last year called 'Nurses', I think the basic premise was Eliza! Is! Hot! Random note - according to Joss, Eliza bought the aspect of sexuality and fetishes to the Dollhouse table.

I don't think FOX are entirely to blame for the new pilot. You know, Joss wrote Ghost. Some of FOX's objections have made it online - for one, they wanted the sex discussion toned down, sexiness turned up, thrillerness and action up also. Also, "Echo" (the original pilot) is a bit confusing for new watchers. Which everybody would be.

Amusingly, it opens with Eliza helping somebody get over addiction. Eliza was an alcoholic until recently (according to her in an interview the other day) so it was probably a bit of a deliberate opening.

As for the rape thing, I'm not even going to go there. I'm not watching the show because I like the idea of rape. I didn't watch The Inside because I like sociopathic sexual abuse etc.

Joss' Original Dollhouse script

Compare and contrast the show he intended to do with what Fox has on the air.

Okay, that was pretty interesting. It's a little more clear what the point of the show is. I like the conversations between Topher and Boyd. Topher is a little different in that script than he is now, more sinister and intriguing.

I think that it's interesting that they seem to think that all guys want some sort of danger junkie girl. First week had Echo racing motorcycles, this week white water rafting.

Sadly, one of my clients' husband told me pretty much exactly that recently. Why he married not!that remains a mystery.

I couldn't engage with this episode at all, save for the few moments with Boyd. He is clearly the heart of the endeavor, not to mention a much better actor than pretty much anyone else.

The idea that this sooper sekrit, we scour personalities for big bucks, organization would NOT recognize sociopathic tendancies is just, whuhuh?

They considered him a risk at all, much less 'medium' level and said, in essence, "SHUR, take our priceless asset and put her at risk...but it's gonna costya!" Just reeks. As if the higher deposit would mean anything to anyone engaged in that kind of commerce in the first place.

Now, if the guy who 'rented' the doll was a pasty for a pscyhopath, I could, in a way, hang with it. But, 'oops, I guess we didn't look closely enough AFTER THE FACT?" Really?

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I have enjoyed my share of exploitive genre films but sooth myself with the notion that they don't expect me to take them seriously. The 'let's show you how bad something is by tittilating youoe with it' storytelling has me lined up right behind ita and Tep.

I'll wait to see next weeks comments here before devoting anymore time the 'house.