meganbmoore: (dichen lachman)
meganbmoore ([personal profile] meganbmoore) wrote2009-05-10 10:25 pm
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Dollhouse 1.12

So, if I could erase the miracle catch and everything after it, I would like the episode?

I mean, I literally went “GO TO HELL SHOW” when Ballard caught the disk. (I am not using the W word because I hate how dehumanizing and dismissive of people it is, and I hate how it encourages what seems to be the general fandom attitude about, you know, people, even though Echo/Caroline was the voice used to call bull on it.) I mean, can you imagine how different that would have been if Echo, Sierra or November had caught it? Not Mr. Hero Complex?

Also, he got to save BOTH princesses. I wonder if Madeline would still be so grateful if she knew he had angry violent sex with her so she’d lead him to the object of his obsession, and then didn’t even consider saving her? Blegh. Also, I hated how Ballard and Boyd were so buddy cop. Like, I’m pretty sure both actors were cast because they come across as nice guys, and that makes me hate the characters more? (Not the actors…I’ll happily watch either in a show where I don’t want to murder their characters.)

If there’s a season 2, though, I want Madeline to have flashes of memory-and possibly ninja and bounty hunter moments-and eventually team up with Loomis and their be the actual decent people to go after the Dollhouse. I really want to give Ballard credit for saving Madeline instead of Caroline, but…this lets him stay close to Caroline? That kinda kills the deal.

I also wanted to punch things when Topher referred to the Dolls as “volunteers.” Caroline? Hunted for two years and apparently given an ultimatum. Priya? Sold because she wouldn’t have sex with a guy so he could have her programmed however he wanted. Sam? Ultimatum. Alpha? Also sold. ENOUGH WITH THE “VOLUNTEERING” CLAIMS!

Also, Adelle’s unending disdain for Ballard almost made me like her again.

This is the first time I’ve liked Echo or Caroline-though it annoyed me how much more passive Caroline seemed than she was in the past-though part of it was her effectively saying that no, this isn’t ok or excusable and that Caroline’s body is Caroline’s, and no, the imprints didn’t have as much or more right to it, but I hated how she at least somewhat bought into Alpha’s claims that she abandoned “Echo.” Because, hey, BEING HUNTED FOR TWO YEARS and apparently left with that or getting disappeared totally means doing that completely of your own free will. I also wasn’t exactly happy about Caroline’s talk about the contract. I mean, even if I could buy that she’d choose it, what was going on would seem to negate the contract, as they obviously weren’t taking care of her the way they claimed.

Speaking of Alpha, this was rather like Heath Ledger in Dark Knight in that it was an actor I liked doing an amazing job on a character I don’t like or find overly interesting. Speaking of actors, one thing in favor of this show is that it reminded me that Amy Acker is a good actress, which is something that Fred’s storyline in Angel sometimes made it easy to forget. Even though I’d figured it out, I’m bitter that someone confirmed that Saunders was Whiskey in my post the other day despite the explicit “no spoilers” statement, but I do like being right. If the series gets renewed, I may be looking forward to her dealing with knowing she’s a Doll the most. And maybe addressing that Saunders was a man a good twenty or so years older than her!

Alpha’s obsession with Echo also puts an odd spin on Victor/Sierra. But, kind of a positive one? Like, Victor’s thing for Sierra was creepy when it was introduced because they’re like toddlers in their wiped state, but eventually, it became more that she was his favorite person in a fairly normal kid way, but with the complication of adult bodies and communal baths, whereas Alpha’s thing for Echo was clearly creepy and dirtybadwrong-not-in-the-fun-Kaori-Yuki-way from the start. And, you know, Sierra actually notices Victor (somewhat) as opposed to not even really noticing when he kisses her. And poor Victor! Enver Gjojik (Not looking up the spelling!) really does do a good job of having him come across as a confused child.

I am, however, deeply bitter that we barely got any bounty hunters. Promo pics of November and Sierra as bounty hunters is the only thing to ever truly get me excited about the show! There are not words for how I anticipated it! At least I got a bossy Sierra imprint for a few moments, and November calling Ballard furniture.
 
In short, Whedon should have had Tim Minnear involved from the start. It may have actually been a show I genuinely enjoyed (as opposed to good actors and a lot of my narrative kinks being used in the worst possible way) that way. Maybe he’ll stay attached if there’s a season 2.

umadoshi: umadoshi kanji (Rin & Tohru impressions (squareitup))

[personal profile] umadoshi 2009-05-11 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I am, however, deeply bitter that we barely got any bounty hunters. Promo pics of November and Sierra as bounty hunters is the only thing to ever truly get me excited about the show!

I followed a link from Whedonesque last night to what's apparently the original script for this episode, and there was some material with them that I'm very sad didn't make it into the episode. :/ I haven't seen the promo pics; I wonder if that means some of that material was actually shot?
umadoshi: (chibi Haru Kyo Rin (roostah))

[personal profile] umadoshi 2009-05-11 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd really like to see it, so I hope so. Although IIRC the script correctly, I think some of the scenes were longer versions of scenes that went into the episode without them, so they may have been cut pre-filming. But maybe not.

(There's a moment with November and Ballard that I would especially like to see. Ugh, he makes me twitchy.)
havocthecat: the lady of shalott (Default)

[personal profile] havocthecat 2009-05-11 01:10 pm (UTC)(link)
*sigh* I want this show rewritten and done well, because then I'd be all over the show and its plots and the sheer wrongness of how everyone behaves and is treated. If it can acknowledge the problems, I'd be happier. I hope that makes sense.