Watch What We Say: Dollhouse

By Jason Lee

March 19, 2009

Technically I'm not a hooker, but I still have a pimp.

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At the center of things we have Echo, an Active with a mysterious past who's inexplicably been able to adapt to her assignments in a more resourceful way than should be possible. We have two other Actives that seem to instinctively respond to Echo and to each other. We have a nosy FBI agent who's determined to find out the secrets behind the Dollhouse. Most intriguingly, we have a rogue Active who's broken free of the Dollhouse and seems fixated on Echo. These storylines have combined in such a way as to literally make my jaw drop on several occasions so far.

The visual look of the show is stunning. The writing (though for the most part, missing the trademark wit and humor of Joss Whedon) is penetrating and strong. Generally, the acting is phenomenal with a solid performance by Eliza Dushku as Echo and some standout work by Dichen Lachman as a fellow Active (Sierra), Amy Acker as a hard-boiled doctor and Olivia Williams as the woman in charge.

Best of all, the story is INTERESTING. There has not been a single episode in which I was indifferent to the outcome. I actually cared about these characters and their fate. I also appreciated that the mid-episode twists were both un-anticipatable and jarring.

I know that my view represents neither the opinion of the public at large nor the collective attitude of the Whedonites (who have largely turned their noses up "Dollhouse," muttering amongst themselves, "I've seen better"). I think you'd be hard pressed to find another online TV writer out there that admires this show the way I do.

But let's consider the following: Joss Whedon and his merry band of writers have given us a complex world that delves deeply into questions of identity and real-self. They've constructed plots and story arcs that push their characters to the limits and allow the drama to organically unfold from there. They've established rules and they're playing by them.

And you know what? Echo kicks a lot of ass.

Count me on board for the rest of Season 1.

Watch What We Say rating: Three-and-a-Half TiVos




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Watch What We Say: Rating System

Four TiVos: This is television content raised to the level of a transcendent art form. Not only should you TiVo this program for yourself, you should keep it on your TiVo for future generations to watch and savor.

Three TiVos: This is a very good show with a regular spot in my TiVo rotation. I watch every week and will often invite my friends over to share the enjoyable experience.

Two TiVos: I'll TiVo this show if I need something to watch while I'm folding laundry or dusting furniture.

One TiVo: I actively dislike this show and never allow it to take up space in my TiVo. Often times, I'll gripe about the show's producers, ridicule the actors and lambaste the network for keeping it on the air.

Zero TiVos: If this show is on, I unplug my TiVo for fear that the show is accidentally recorded and my entire home entertainment system gets contaminated with this malignant, diseased trash.


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