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yendiSo, we watched the last two eps of Dollhouse, and the most recent one, in particular, took the show a step forward. Turns out that Patton Oswalt really does make everything better (so just imagine how much The King of Queens must have sucked out of the box).
The week before (the "Echo joins a cult" episode), however, featured a "twist" that was like the result of two stupid ideas having (unprotected) sex and conceiving a third stupid idea with both of their traits, then lobotomizing it to make it even dumber. And it was written by Tim Minear, even.
So, we're first told that no one checked the security cameras at the store. No one. And then, we find out that it's because Head FBI Raid Guy was the one who planted it. And, um, well, no one else on his team asked about it? Or his bosses when they read reports? Or even the local cops who would have been called in first? Or anyone? And better yet, he thought that inevitable defense attorney wouldn't want those tapes, too?
There were so many better ways to have done this, including a tape switch, demagnetizing it, just plain sabotaging it a day or two earlier, etc. Of course, none of them would have allowed one of the two intelligent characters on the show to then figure things out, which is the problem.
On the plus side, the cult episode did finally give a hint of why Reed Diamond's only a guest star.
This week's was actually decent, though (or at least better than the last six).
First, can we have Tahmoh Penikett guest star on The Sarah Conner Chronicles and sleep with Shirley Manson's character? Because then he'll have slept with a Cylon, a Doll, and a Terminator, which has to be a trifecta worth achieving.
The "reveal" of Mellie as aCylon Doll was not surprising in the slightest, of course; the Victor reveal pretty much ensured that we'd be prepared for it. But it was damned well done, and turned the otherwise icky rape plotline into something manageable (as the rapist was sent to his death without realizing it). Of course, the entire show is still creepy on sexual levels (even when there might be a sympathetic motivation behind a character like Oswalt's). But that was a given coming in.
The fight between Echo and Ballard was wonderful; I'm a huge fan of junk fights (the clubhouse brawl in Rumble in the Bronx remains one of my favorites), and this one was fun.
We now, finally, have the beginning of an arc and an actual storyline. We know that there are lots of these places, and they've been around for years. We know that there's an insider working to take down the houses (who, based on how things are currently being telegraphed, almost has to be Topher's unappreciated assistant), but there's no way it's just one person working alone (maybe with Alpha?), and I'm assuming we'll hear more about that soon.
I'm still not blown away, but at least there was good dialogue (the entire Oswalt scene was great) and a decent plot, which is enough to keep me around until next week.
The week before (the "Echo joins a cult" episode), however, featured a "twist" that was like the result of two stupid ideas having (unprotected) sex and conceiving a third stupid idea with both of their traits, then lobotomizing it to make it even dumber. And it was written by Tim Minear, even.
So, we're first told that no one checked the security cameras at the store. No one. And then, we find out that it's because Head FBI Raid Guy was the one who planted it. And, um, well, no one else on his team asked about it? Or his bosses when they read reports? Or even the local cops who would have been called in first? Or anyone? And better yet, he thought that inevitable defense attorney wouldn't want those tapes, too?
There were so many better ways to have done this, including a tape switch, demagnetizing it, just plain sabotaging it a day or two earlier, etc. Of course, none of them would have allowed one of the two intelligent characters on the show to then figure things out, which is the problem.
On the plus side, the cult episode did finally give a hint of why Reed Diamond's only a guest star.
This week's was actually decent, though (or at least better than the last six).
First, can we have Tahmoh Penikett guest star on The Sarah Conner Chronicles and sleep with Shirley Manson's character? Because then he'll have slept with a Cylon, a Doll, and a Terminator, which has to be a trifecta worth achieving.
The "reveal" of Mellie as a
The fight between Echo and Ballard was wonderful; I'm a huge fan of junk fights (the clubhouse brawl in Rumble in the Bronx remains one of my favorites), and this one was fun.
We now, finally, have the beginning of an arc and an actual storyline. We know that there are lots of these places, and they've been around for years. We know that there's an insider working to take down the houses (who, based on how things are currently being telegraphed, almost has to be Topher's unappreciated assistant), but there's no way it's just one person working alone (maybe with Alpha?), and I'm assuming we'll hear more about that soon.
I'm still not blown away, but at least there was good dialogue (the entire Oswalt scene was great) and a decent plot, which is enough to keep me around until next week.
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-26 02:10 am (UTC)Maybe the assistant tampered with her programming. It looked to me like they wanted us to believe that Topher himself tampered with her programming. (He just couldn't get it right until she went to get him some lunch, then immediately finished the job?) But what if the Dollhouse is absolutely responsible for all of it? It's possible.
Having said that, I don't think Ballard is a doll. They're expending too many resources trying to deceive him.
Finally, I agree; Patton Oswalt was great.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-26 02:23 am (UTC)I didn't see them playing Topher as the spy, unless they blew it. But if they're actually setting him up as the spy, it might make sense.