Dollhouse 2:1
I had gotten so accustomed to the credit sequence for this show that I completely forgot how Joss Whedon changes his credit sequences! What few things from this new season are shown look interesting to be sure, I’m looking forward to the entire season already.
This episode doesn’t answer any questions at all about Alpha, so if you were hoping for that, you get nothing. From what I have read, Joss intends for Alpha to still be mentioned, but he will be a much lower presence this season.
So, some of the stuff that happens in this episode alludes to what happened in Epitaph One, but true to the promise, you don’t actually need to have seen Epitaph One for this to work. For example, I knew that Ballard was going to become Echo’s handler, and that Echo was not as fixed as Topher thought, but that’s cuz I saw the unaired episode. But, these are both things that are revealed in this episode – we just see some aftermath in Epitaph One.
At the end of the last season, we find out that Dr. Saunders is actually a doll, she used to be called Whiskey. We also learn that her dislike for Topher seems to have kind of suddenly turned into a huge hatred. I, personally, feel this is a little fast – she seemed to just be at odds with him, and now she’s going out of her way to be a menace. Not that I really like Topher necessarily, that he creates the imprints and puts them in the dolls kind of bugs me, but I still don’t like seeing this interaction between them.
And he brings up a great point – she needs a treatment! So I ask, why on earth has Dewitt allowed her to remain in full knowledge of the situation? You would think they would have simply reimprinted her, I don’t understand this. But, I do like Amy Acker a lot better in this role. I was never a fan of Fred on Angel, and I’m glad that she seems to have improved since then.
I’m also opposed to the tension between Ballard and Langton, because I’m a big fan of both of these characters. It seems strange that they should dislike each other so much, since they are both such advocates for Echo.
Topher seems to be cracking a bit, aside from his interactions with Saunders. I am looking forward to getting an explanation as to why he doesn’t yet know that Echo is remembering all of her personalities, because you would think he’d pick up on that! Also, I was thinking about the episode last season where someone remote wiped Echo and she turned into a hot mess. I am so glad that at least now, when she glitches, she is functional and kind of like a ninja.
Another curious point is the apparent relationship between Sierra and Victor. How do the authorities feel about these two holding hands? Relations between dolls is not permitted, as far as I remember, so this is an interesting development.
I was curious, up until recapping this, to know if this was going to be the last we see of Saunders. However, then I remembered her involvement in Epitaph One, so I know that at some point she does show back up. But when…that’s another question entirely.
For those who watched Buffy and Angel, you will maybe have recognized the senator holding the press conference. I’ve been excited from the time I got the news that Alexis Denisof, aka Wesley, would be back in the Whedonverse! Long live Joss Whedon veterans!
And in closing, I wonder if the creation of a doll does actually wipe their entire original self. Echo’s desire to help all the dolls find their real selves is really something Caroline would do.
