TV Dollhouse

[Roo Stercogburn]

Joss Whedon's latest finally has an air date, at least in the US.

I'm really looking forward to this. Eliza Dushku is absolutely not an influencing factor. Nuh uh.

13th Feb

"Dollhouse" (2009)

 

[Dreamor]

Posted about this a while ago, https://forums.freddyshouse.com/general2/229534-new-show-joss-whedon.html?highlight=Dollhouse

Does looks good, bit like Joe 90... with the dummys

 

[SilverHood]

Really looking forward to this. With a bit of luck, the money men will look at Firefly DVD sales and realise, hey, even if the show isn't a ratings success, they'll still get their money back and then some.

Glad I'm living in the US, can set my DVR to record the show and fast forward through the ads

 

[ECA]

Joss Whedon just rips other peoples ideas off.
About as original as a fart in a gimpsuit.

 

[Roo Stercogburn]

Joss Whedon just rips other peoples ideas off.
About as original as a fart in a gimpsuit.

<looks at ECA's avatar>

 

[Cyradix]

Eliza Dushku? Is that the vampire slaying hottie from Buffy?
Ooh

 

[MYstIC G]

Looks like a piss poor version of La Femme Nikita where they've taken one of the later series storylines (Nikita gets pumped full of drugs and is brainwashed) and are going to use it as the basis of a whole show.

This needed saying again.

 

[Trem]

Joss Whedon just rips other peoples ideas off.
About as original as a fart in a gimpsuit.

Totally agree.

I thought Firefly was utter shite (after bloody Cal persuaded me to buy the boxset )

 

[Ch3tan]

Totally agree.

I thought Firefly was utter shite (after bloody Cal persuaded me to buy the boxset )

Yeah but you have never watched Top Gun, so your opinions do not count (unless it is a DIY matter).

 

[ECA]

Bamp.

First episode out, will be watching shortleh.

 

[Roo Stercogburn]

Ooooohhh, review please without plot spoilers when you've seen it

 

[ECA]

Just finished watching.

It might get more interesting but right now it seems like a "La Femme Nikita" Clone.

As with everything Joss Whedon does the concept and storyline are stolen, but stylistically it's different.

If you havn't seen LFK you'll probably enjoy this, if you have seen LFK it seems like a poor remake so far >.>

Maybe it'll get better later in the season.

 

[Tom]

La Femme Nikita the film, or series?

 

[ECA]

Series.

 

[Dreamor]

First episode was ok, I'd like to see more 'actives' taking a role.

Does feel a lot more like La Femme Nikita than any of the descriptions.

Be interesting to see how the episodes pan out.

 

[Nate]

I never really watched an episode of LFK, it looked really shite and French..

 

[Ch3tan]

then you missed out on a tv great because of your weird views.

 

[ECA]

then you missed out on a tv great because of one actor with a slightly effiminate haircut and a dodgy accent.

fyp.

 

[Ch3tan]

Hehe, he was hardcore though.

Anyway, Dollhouse... hmmmm, could go on to be very good. It was closer to Nikita than anything else, but was not really like it at all. Worth a watch to see where it goes.

 

[Dreamor]

Reminds me a lot of "My Own Worst Enemy" with Christian Slater, anyone seen that? The 'programming' part of it all anyway.

 

[Roo Stercogburn]

Just finished watching this a few minutes ago.

As said above, very strong shades of La Femme Nikita (TV series, but then the movie was actually just called Nikita). LFN started out a bit crap too, it was only later as the intrigues in Section got fully underway that it became a bit more than the usual stock spy story TV.

This series will stand or fall on Eliza Dushku's ability to play utterly different characters every time she is 'active' and if she can string it all together as her personality emerges between activations. The start was ok, but nothing brilliant. The dialog wasn't as snappy as Firefly, the characters less engaging than Buffy. It has a good cast that I hope are given the chance to shine, the only weak one being the techno nerd fellow who appears to be sleepwalking his part.

I'll keep an eye on this one, but I get the sense Mr. Whedon is playing it safe here, waiting some time before slipping in anything that will make the TV studio too nervous. Or more accurately, thats what I'm hoping because this will need to up the tension somewhat from this slightly bland start to succeed long term.

 

[Ch3tan]

I knew there was something missing, and you have just hit on it Roo, the dialogue, nothing really sharp and funny, or any memorable exchanges between characters. Did not feel like Whedon at all.

 

[ECA]

Just to add, when LFN started, there was the whole "saved from the execution chamber" and the risk that any operative could be "cancelled", you knew who the heroine was and generally what was happening.

We really didn't get much backstory at all ( no character buildup ).
It felt like a bad season starter. ( And as ch3t said - it was the internal tension within Section that made La Femme Nikita so good - which won't start happening in Dollhouse until Echo starts retaining her memory ). ( And I hope nobody considers that spoiler as it's been written a lot in show previews ).

 

[nath]

Hmm.

You're right about the lack of Joss Whedon snappy dialogue - it just wasn't there. In fact, the only clue that this was a Whedon show (other than "Created by Joss Whedon" was the various actors used that I've seen in his other stuff. Otherwise it really didn't seem that great.

However, hopefully it's a bit bland and mediocre to rope in the dribbling morons that seem to decide what gets to be shown on tele, and that eventually it'll get better.

 

[Ch3tan]

Infact the only bit of sharp dialogue was when the other active burst in guns blazing at the end.

It was Roo that pointed out the intrigues in Section, ECA, not me, but he was spot on. Still LFN stood well with the solo episodes as well. The story arc was hinted at with the file on Alpha, and presumably Alpha himself being at Echo's old house?

 

[ECA]

Ep 2 is out.

In the immortal words of someone funnier than me.

It's getting better!

 

[Deebs]

Totally agree.

I thought Firefly was utter shite (after bloody Cal persuaded me to buy the boxset )

I thought Firefly was great and loved the entire series. Shame it was canned. Will have to take a looksy at this Dollhouse. As Chet said, your views don't count unless it is about how to bodge the simplest of D.I.Y. Nuff sed.

 

[nath]

Ep 2 is out.

In the immortal words of someone funnier than me.

It's getting better!

This episode was definitely better, but still lacking. Despite another Joss actor - Badger from Firefly, still no other trademark Whedonisms. Where's the snappy dialogue?

Oh, and did anyone notice the funky camera technique they use in the intro to make everything look fake? Just like the monster truck video someone posted a while back, makes things look like miniatures. Can't for the life of me remember the name of the technique though.

 

[Dreamor]

2nd Episode was a lot better, but I still find it hard to imagine a 2nd season out of this unless they really go all out on the story.

The strongest character there, I feel, is Boyd Langdon (Harry Lennix) who is Echoes Watcher.

I'm going to keep watching it and see how it goes, i totally agree with what was said earlier about the ability of Eliza Dushku to change between roles - if she isn't good enough it will kill the show.

 

[Sparx]

i thought it was great, entertaining to watch, Whedon does well with easy watching stuff. Its no Firefly tho. I would love to touch Eliza