'The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco'
TV, movies, web media--this thread is the home for any Joss projects that don't already have their own threads, such as Dr. Horrible.
Was there even a sex scene in the first episode?
Yes - during the mindwipe sequence there's a brief flashback to sex with her date/client.
(And just to be completely honest here, I found the first ep offensive enough that I did not watch it again when it aired nor have I seen the second ep. So it's possible that the sex was cut out of the broadcast version of the pilot.)
Let me clarify that the answer may well be yes, actually. There may be a victim of rape without an intentional act of rape, and indeed the Dollhouse clients know perfectly well what they're getting into. But the identity issue surely complicates it a little.
The sex was still there, Jessica. I thought I read in one of interviews that sex part was something he wanted to explore.
So it's possible that the sex was cut out of the broadcast version of the pilot.
Nope, it's still there.
Was there even a sex scene in the first episode?
I think it was mentioned that she had slept with motorcycle race client, but I don't remember an actual sex scene. I was very distracted when I watched it, though.
but have others drawn the same rape connection that we have?
Quite a few people on LJ (which is the only place I've read) came to that conclusion right away.
I've read a couple reviews to that end.
Echo actually falls into lust or love or limerance with the client, and enjoys the sex.
I don't want to seem like a rape defender, but it's not Echo. It's a fully created personality outside of "Echo", and that personality has consensual sex.
I am in no way saying that this makes the rape issues go away, I'm just saying that I think identity is an important component.
and that personality has consensual sex
Does it? I mean: Would the clients be paying for an imprint that would refuse them? The Dollhouse seems to be able to imprint the physical and emotional - why not make sure the Actives say yes to the clients? Why would we assume the imprinted Actives suddenly have free will in this particular area?
(Note: I have not watched the second episode, so everything I know about it I learned from this board.)
I guess that was a poor word choice on my part. It's consensual in that the personality desires it, or is at least not opposed to it, but you're right, it's not really "consensual" in a broader sort of way.