After months of stories, rumors and wondering, fans will finally get to see and judge Joss Whedon’s newest series, “Dollhouse” for themselves. The series kicks off this evening as part of Fox’s new sci-fi Friday and comes between the return of “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” and “Battlestar Galactica.”
Joss Whedon, creator of the groundbreaking cult favorites, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and “Firefly,” returns to television and reunites with fellow “Buffy” alumna, Eliza Dushku, for a thrilling new drama, DOLLHOUSE.
ECHO (Dushku) is an “Active,” a member of a highly illegal and underground group of individuals who have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas. Hired by the wealthy, powerful and connected, the Actives don’t just perform their hired roles, they wholly become — with mind, personality and physiology — whomever the client wants or needs them to be. Whether imprinted to be a lover, an assassin, a corporate negotiator or a best friend, the Actives know no other life than the specific engagements they are in at that time.
Confined between missions to a secret facility known as the “Dollhouse,” Echo and the other Actives including SIERRA (Dichen Lachman), are assigned engagements by ADELLE DEWITT (Olivia Williams), one of the Dollhouse leaders. After each scenario, Echo, always under the watchful eye of her handler, BOYD LANGTON (Harry Lennix), returns to the mysterious Dollhouse where her thoughts, feelings, experiences and knowledge are erased by TOPHER BRINK (Fran Kranz), the Dollhouse’s genius programmer.
Echo acts with no memory of before. Or does she?
As the series progresses, FBI Agent PAUL BALLARD (Tahmoh Penikett) pieces together clues with the help of Russian informant, LUBOV (Enver Gjokaj), that lead him closer to the Dollhouse. Echo stops forgetting as her memories begin to return, and she slowly pieces together her mysterious past.
Produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Mutant Enemy Inc., DOLLHOUSE revolves around Echo’s blossoming self-awareness and her desire to discover her true identity. But with each new engagement comes a new memory and increased danger inside and outside the Dollhouse. Joss Whedon directed the pilot and serves as executive producer and writer. Liz Craft and Sarah Fain are co-executive producers.
I predict Dollhouse will be cancelled by spring and be replaced by a cheesy reality show.
Do I need to repeat my mantra? No spoilers, please.
Meh… a Dollhouse full of FAIL
after seeing it –
interesting concept but it doesn’t feel properly fleshed out, not even for a 1st episode. It’s bad enough that the show is on FOX but if it doesn’t make dramatic improvements I don’t see it making past 5 episodes.
It was A LOT better than I was expecting. I can’t wait to see where it goes.
People sure seem to expect a lot out of one episode of television.
Needed more adverts to keep me from falling asleep.
Dullest thing I’ve seen since the last dull thing I watched, which was so dull I forget what it was called.
Can I have my hour back please Joss?
I thought the pilot was really good. Lot of potential to mix and match and break genres, something Whedon is very good at. If the scifi element was out of it I’m sure it would be a hit for FOX. The title is what’s killing it. They should have called “Alias The Next Generation,” or “24-Two.” “Dollhouse” makes it sound like a reality show about crazy doll collector-supermodels.
But people have already made up their minds to hate it. Too bad, it has some very interesting concepts I’d like to see play out. Put down the koolaid and relax, it’s just a show.
I think the changing personalities each week will make it hard for people to connect with the character, especially since her Echo personality (when she walks around with a blank expression on her face) is so vapid.
I gather we are supposed to feel something for her . . . except we don’t. I think the concept is a little far reaching for a series. Similar to My Own Worst Enemy, I don’t think a weekly series is the right medium for it.
And I agree; for a pilot episode they should have chosen an action persona, not a negotiator. Especially since the actress did not sell the dialogue she spoke. I read somewhere Joss wrote this show around her . . . and he killed Wash as well.
Yeesh people, see this is what happens when people don’t take a deep breath before posting.
You can’t judge an entire show by one episode, especially the pilot. There were flashes of brilliance in the shows plot and acting, yet there were some slow plot details that need to be fleshed out. Give the show a few episodes then decide, if you still don’t like it then don’t watch it. (My spidey sense detects some latent hostile browncoats about…)
I love The Dollhouse so far. Fran Kranz (who also does amazing character videos on showbizzle.com) is so awesome! He’s everywhere I guess! How do you SAY showbizzle?
Hey! Where’s the black girl?!
And why’s the Asian chick all bleach blonded? What’s THAT all about?
I am really excited about Dollhouse, however I live in Australia and, although Fox8 have supposedly claimed the rights for it, I have no idea when it’ll air. Can anyone help me out?