Fans of “Dollhouse” will get an unaired episode when the series hits DVD.
According to the Hollywood Reporter‘s “The Live Feed” blog, the series is producing 13 first season episodes, but Fox is only scheduling 12 episodes for the first season. Actress Felicia Day guest-stars in the thirteenth episode, called “Epitaph One” that is also written by series creator Joss Whedon.
Day twittered, “Man, day getting worse and worse. Found out my Dollhouse ep, #13 isn’t gonna air. Only on DVD. Such a great part too. Thx Fox. 🙁 …”
Producer Tim Minear confirmed that a 13th episode has been produced but isn’t airing. Minear said Fox is counting the re-shot pilot as an episode. And since the show borrowed from the un-aired pilot, it counts as part of the order.
Fans worried that the finale might not really be the finale intended, Minear assures fans that the episode Fox will air is where Whedon wants season one to end. The thirteenth episode is a bonus and will be on the DVD release. It will have full post-production and serve as a coda to the season.
Of course, there’s no indication on if or how this could affect things should “Dollhouse” get a second season pick-up…
I hope this is a joke, because it mirrors Firefly somewhat. If not… I’m fi’n to bus a cap.
Perhaps it may show up on Hulu? Hulu has all the un-aired Firefly episodes …
Does Fox just hate its viewers?
From what I’ve read at other sites, the original pilot, which was broken up for other episodes, was part of the original 13 episodes that made up the DVD deal. Since, after the “re-using” of that episode, they only had 12 episodes, but were required to have 13 for the DVD deal, it’s more of a bonus episode than actually part of the season story arc.
Now don’t get me wrong: I still want to see this aired, too. However, the way I understand it, if there’s a season cliffhanger, it’s going to be episode 12 regardless.