Okay, this is going to be a flurry of links that might have come a tad too late. If you remember, I’m of the mind that Dollhouse was canceled in the minds of FOX execs long ago. However, I managed to tune into last week’s episode “Briar Rose” before I left the house last Friday and was surprised how Joss Whedon’s vision is falling together. For one thing, Echo is now interesting (sorry Eliza Dushku, but one-shot procedurals where you’re a back-up dancer weren’t really pulling me in). Also, Alan Tudyk (Wash from Firefly) stole the show with his performance that promises to wrap up in an ultra creepy way this Friday.
Long story short, I’m impressed by Dollhouse. I get it now, Joss. I would walk y’all through why I think saving Dollhouse is now worth it, but a blog over at the TIMES did most of my work for me (SPOILERS included in the piece).
So, what am I going to do for you?
Well, Friday might be the last Dollhouse ever unless this new super-awesome story arc can prove that the series has potential for an audience. In other words, just watch it.
But, I can’t in my right mind suggest that the first episode you see of something is the last one ever broadcast, so with some help with a Dollhouse fan at AllThingsFanGirl.com, I have assembled the must watch episdoes and rejected the filler. And it’s Tuesday, so you have some time to watch some internet TV between here and Friday at 9PM EST on Fox…
NOTE: For some reason, HULU and FOX don’t realize people might actually want to see the series and keep it on TV rather than assume that a DVD will eventually be released to mine more money. Not all videos are from what we would call “legal sources,” but none are hosted here or by me. Be aware MegaVideo does limit the amount you can watch for free per day, but it’s enough to get in a full episode. Eps marked “Sina” will take you to an Asian video site that has both foreign and English subtitles on the episodes.
GHOST - Episode One - Video: [MEGAVIDEO]
Synopsis: Echo is introduced as one of the “Actives” in the Dollhouse. The Dollhouse scientist Topher Brink wipes her mind and reprograms her as a ruthlessly efficient kidnapping negotiator. Echo’s new personality incorporates memories from another woman who was molested as a child, and it turns out the molester is one of the kidnappers she must now negotiate with. She crumbles in fear during the ransom exchange, nearly getting their client killed. But she is allowed to confront the kidnappers, turning them against each other and rescuing the kidnapped girl. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Paul Ballard struggles with his assignment to uncover information on the Dollhouse, which has destroyed his marriage and is wrecking his career.
THE TARGET - Episode Two - Video: [SINA]
Synopsis: Echo’s latest imprint has her as the perfect date for Richard, an outdoorsman, who takes her on a romantic wilderness adventure. The experience takes a turn for the worse when Richard indicates he will conclude the “date” by hunting her for sport. Although Echo is imprinted with absolute trust in Boyd, he is unable to do more than deliver a weapon to her, and she must kill Richard on her own. Afterward the Dollhouse team discovers the handiwork of Alpha, a rogue doll, on the corpse of an unknown assassin. It was Alpha who had maimed Dr. Saunders and butchered the handler Boyd was hired to replace. Agent Ballard receives an anonymous package concerning Echo’s previous identity as a woman named Caroline, and continues his search.
GRAY HOUR - Episode Four - Video: [SINA]
Synopsis: Echo’s latest imprint has her as the perfect date for Richard, an outdoorsman, who takes her on a romantic wilderness adventure. The experience takes a turn for the worse when Richard indicates he will conclude the “date” by hunting her for sport. Although Echo is imprinted with absolute trust in Boyd, he is unable to do more than deliver a weapon to her, and she must kill Richard on her own. Afterward the Dollhouse team discovers the handiwork of Alpha, a rogue doll, on the corpse of an unknown assassin. It was Alpha who had maimed Dr. Saunders and butchered the handler Boyd was hired to replace. Agent Ballard receives an anonymous package concerning Echo’s previous identity as a woman named Caroline, and continues his search.
MAN ON THE STREET - Episode Six - Video: [MEGAVIDEO]
Synopsis: One of Echo’s engagements is disrupted by Agent Ballard. Ballard’s interrogation of the client (guest star Patton Oswalt) first makes Paul aware that his interest in disrupting the Dollhouse is becoming obsessive. Paul defies this by beginning a relationship with Mellie, but is further shaken when Echo is sent to assassinate him—only to go catatonic and recite a message from a spy inside the Dollhouse. Meanwhile, Sierra begins to show signs of trauma, and Victor is implicated as her assailant. However, Boyd stages a sting operation and discovers that Sierra’s handler, Hearn, has been raping her. Adelle sends Hearn to remove Mellie… only to reveal that she is a “sleeper Active” by activating her latent (and lethal) combat training. Finally, acts are bookended by clips of a TV reporter preparing an exposé on the Dollhouse.
ECHOES - Episode Seven - Video: [HULU]
Synopsis: A psychotropic drug is accidentally released in a college research lab owned by the Rossum Corporation, causing the afflicted to behave drunkenly and relive their worst memories. Rossum, which owns the Dollhouse, mobilizes all of DeWitt’s Actives, who should be immune to the drug because they have no memories. This turns out to be patently false, as proven when Sierra relives her rape experiences. Echo, on an unrelated assignment, sees news of the outbreak on TV and goes “off-mission” to “help him”, despite having no idea who “he” is (or indeed who she is). Her flashbacks reveal her past as Caroline Farrell and chronicle the events leading directly to her employment at the Dollhouse. The corporate spy who started the outbreak is seen facing Adelle in a similar manner as the episode closes.
NEEDS - Episode Eight - Video: [HULU]
Synopsis: Echo, Sierra, Victor and November awake with most of their original personalities intact, and Echo attempts to escape from the Dollhouse with her fellow Actives, reclaiming bits and pieces of their past as they do so. Sierra discovers that she was forced to become a Doll after turning down sexual advances from a well-connected man; Victor is finally able to act on his attraction to her; November grieves over her dead infant daughter, Katie; and Echo, after guaranteeing the other three have escaped, re-enters to the Dollhouse and forces DeWitt, at gunpoint, to release all remaining Actives. Thereafter all four “escapees” fall asleep due to subliminal programming; the entire process is revealed to have been masterminded by DeWitt and Dr. Saunders, allowing their Actives to achieve closure on their personal issues before putting them back to work.
A SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE - Episode Nine - Video: [HULU]
Synopsis: While DeWitt is away on business, Topher discovers evidence a spy is in the Dollhouse, and four Actives are dispatched to deal with the problem. “Mellie” is sent to pacify Paul Ballard, but goes temporarily catatonic to deliver another warning from inside the Dollhouse. Sierra goes undercover at the National Security Agency, attempting to raid their databases for the spy’s identity. Victor is dispatched on another “Lonely Hearts” gig; the recipient is revealed to be DeWitt. Finally, Echo volunteers to undergo imprinting to help with the investigation; after Topher turns her into a counter-intelligence agent, she helps Lawrence Dominic, the head of security, interview employees. She discovers the mole is Dominic himself, planted by the NSA to keep the Dollhouse (and its dangerous technology) from becoming common knowledge, particularly by staving off Paul Ballard. Dominic’s personality is downloaded into Topher’s database, and his body sent to “The Attic,” to be employed whenever the NSA needs pacifying.
BRIAR ROSE - Episode Eleven - Video: [HULU]
Synopsis: Echo helps a young girl deal with her traumatic past, using the fairy tale of Briar Rose as a vehicle; a corpse apparently slain by Alpha turns up in Tuscon, Arizona, with Sierra imprinted as an FBI forensics expert to investigate; and a thumb drive arrives for Dominic, who is imprinted onto Victor’s body for questioning. Ballard’s investigation leads him to the Dollhouse’s agoraphobic, pothead architect, Stephen Kepler (guest star Alan Tudyk), and with his forced assistance manages to sneak into the Dollhouse. Though Ballard finds Caroline, Boyd manages to detain him; he takes Ballard to Adelle for questioning, where they learn from Sierra that the Tuscon corpse is that of a “Stephen Kepler”. Ballard’s helper is actually Alpha, who reveals himself by attacking Victor and Dr. Saunders. Alpha imprints Echo with a memory that makes her recognize him; with Sleeping Beauty now awakened, the lovers escape the Dollhouse together.
