Dollhouse 1x07, 'Echoes'

[fajrdrako]

Such a strange show. In some ways it's predictable. In other ways, it doesn't go where I expect (or want) it to go. I want more coherence, more narrative thrust, and it keeps shattering and dispersing.

Ah, well. Tonight's episode again managed to perplex me, confuse me, fail to charm me - but didn't bore me.

1. All through the episode I wondered what happened to the guy Echo left tied to his bed. I thought we'd see him at the end. Nope.
   
   
2. Not much about Ballard, except we learned he can cook eggs but not much else. I couldn't feel much about his relationship with Mellie, because she's a doll. It was interesting when she started to remember, though.
   
   
3. So Sam is recruited. I liked that part.
   
   
4. It was fun to see Topher and DeWitt stoned and acting silly. On the other hand... it maybe wasn't as much fun as it ought to have been.
   
   
5. The episode felt like a digression rather than a seqence. Not sure what we learned new. No mention of Alpha, lots about the Rossun Corporation. Are they the beginning of Blue Sun? Now, that would be interesting.
   
   
   

Comments

[raissad.livejournal.com]

I think Ballard is Alpha, or a personality fragment created by the compositing over which Alpha only has limited control. The dollhouse doesn't know, because Alpha used the surgical skills they alluded to to change his appearance.

I think the ep. was prep for next week during which the Dolls wake up, according to the promos.

The ep. was important, because we see Echo initially refuse treatment for the first time.

I like how Victor and Sierra are continuing their non-relationship relationship.

[flautopiccolo.livejournal.com]

1. I really liked it that Echo just left him there. I didn't mind not seeing him at the end. It was fun to imagine how he eventually managed to free himself.

2. It seems that Ballard doesn't realize that Mellie is a doll. Otherwise he would have wanted her contact information.

5. There was some background as to what forced Caroline into the Dollhouse in the first place.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think Ballard is Alpha

Could well be!

or a personality fragment created by the compositing over which Alpha only has limited control.

A sort of semi-Doll? Maybe.

we see Echo initially refuse treatment for the first time.

I loved that moment.

I like how Victor and Sierra are continuing their non-relationship relationship.

It makes them seem more real. I like the way they are shy in their wiped personas, even when their programming often makes them bold and arrogant.
(Thinking Sierra as Taffy, here.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I didn't mind not seeing him at the end. It was fun to imagine how he eventually managed to free himself.

Have you seen "Bedrooms and Hallways"? I couldn't help thinking of the scene where Hugo Weaving gets left tied to the bed he shouldn't have been using anyway. Great fun.

It seems that Ballard doesn't realize that Mellie is a doll.

Yes. Sigh. Besides liking Tahmoh Penikett, I see less and less to impress me in Ballard all the time.

There was some background as to what forced Caroline into the Dollhouse in the first place.

I like the contrast between Caroline - full of ideas, a strong (or at least normal) pesronality - compared to the vague and confused Echo. She's much prettier as Caroline.

[flautopiccolo.livejournal.com]

Have you seen "Bedrooms and Hallways"?

Not yet. Sounds fun, though.

I like the contrast between Caroline - full of ideas, a strong (or at least normal) pesronality - compared to the vague and confused Echo. She's much prettier as Caroline.

I think so too. It was very nice to see what Caroline was/is like.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Bedroom and Hallways

I'd recommend it - I thought it funny and charming.

It was very nice to see what Caroline was/is like.

She seems admirable. I suppose we will be finding out what happened to her - to bring her to Dollhouse?