Dollhouse Review
The show is not Joss Whedon’s best by any means but it is
one the most underrated shows that was robbed to reach it’s full potential.
The Dollhouse is an illegal organisation that wipes people’s
minds and temporarily reprograms for specific purposes – dream dates, sex,
heists, assassinations. These people are known as ‘Actives’, people who are
running from their own lives are now living in an underground luxurious home as
blank slates until their next assignment. The series follows Echo, played by
Eliza Dushku, an ‘Active’ formerly called Caroline and her journey to become
self-aware.
It is fun watching Echo and fellow ‘Actives’ Victor, played
by Enver Gjokaj, and Sierra, played by Dichen Lachman, go on various
assignments as different characters. The first season mostly consists of
standalone episodes, which contain subplots that build-up an overall arc that takes
front and centre in the second season.
I’ve heard quite a few criticisms over Eliza Dushku’s
performance, saying she’s not convincing enough at playing multiple
personalities. While I agree she’s not as diverse as Enver Gjokaj or Dichen Lachman
in these multiple roles, I feel that it works to her advantage. What she
absolutely nails is Echo’s evolution throughout the show, a character who is a
blank slate slowly becoming self-aware until she becomes a rebellion. Every
personality she goes through leaves an impact, some big and some small, and
Eliza is able to subtly show Echo’s slow growth as a character going from zero to
hero.
Other main cast and characters include: Tahmoh Penikett as
Paul Ballard, a police officer trying to expose the Dollhouse; Olivia Williams
as Adelle DeWitt, a high ranking official of the Dollhouse; Fran Kranz as
Topher Brink, a scientist who controls the memory wipe and implant technology;
Henry Lennix as Boyd Langton, Echo’s handler for her assignments. What I love
about the characters on the show is how morally complex they all are and play
against type. Like the workers in the Dollhouse are technically the bad guy
roles but they are presented as normal people we all enjoy following. Paul
Ballard plays the role of the hero trying to rescue Caroline/Echo, but his
methods aren’t always the best and the role of hero belongs to Echo herself.
Even Echo we find isn’t always morally right, especially when we find out her
original personality Caroline even though had good intentions wasn’t all that
nice.
It’s unfortunate that this show did not get renewed for
another season with all potential presented in individual episodes; ‘Haunted’
where she’s imprinted with a recently murdered rich woman and through Echo
solves her own murder, which is an interesting way of dealing with life after
death that could’ve been explored more; ‘The Attic’ which is Inception-like
dealing with psychology which could’ve made a several episode arc and the two
‘Epitaph’ episodes could’ve taken up a whole season and would’ve taken the show
to a whole new level. Still I’m thankful for what we’ve got and it is nice
enough that Joss Whedon was given notice so that he end the show in the most
satisfying way possible.
It’s worth seeing or giving a second chance, it’s a
beautifully smart show that deals with themes of identity, slavery, free-will, exploitation,
activism.
Meeting The Stars
I met Eliza Dushku in 2016 at a convention, Starfury Vampire
Ball 7. It is mainly a convention celebrating ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ but it
also tries to celebrate other vampire shows and Joss Whedon’s work. She was an
absolute wonder, she has an incredibly laid-back personality and talks to
people like how you meet someone at a pub. I remember when I had my photo-shoot
with her I had a folder which I should’ve left with a steward. I didn’t want it
in the photo, so I was unsure what to do with it. In a little dilemma and
really excited that it was my turn with her I ended up just kneeling to put it
down on the floor and nearly forgot to pick it back up. She just thought it was
funny and has a really sweet laugh.
I also got her sign to my Dollhouse boxset,
which I will treasure. During a panel I asked her what her favourite episode
was and she said ‘Haunted’ because it was a challenge because Joss made her do
the episode with her hair tied back and her hair is her comfort zone, and
jokingly called Joss a “bastard”. I also asked what her what was like to voice
Catwoman in ‘Batman: Year One’, she said she loved getting in touch with her
feline-side but in reality prefers dogs to cats saying “cats don’t like me.”
I also met Miracle Laurie who played Mellie at the
convention, unfortunately I didn’t bring enough money for a photo-shoot with
her. I hope to get one with her in the future as she was absolutely lovely and
has a wicked sense of humour. I remember at one of the parties she joined in at
the party dance songs and had a lot of energy. I did manage to get an autograph
with her and that minute I got with her was really worth it. I asked her at the
same panel with Eliza about her favourite episode and she said ‘Man On The
Street’ for the “three flowers in a vase” scene.
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