Dollhouse - Episode 1x04: Gray Hour

[Spiked]

Favorite character: I liked Echo a lot in this episode.
Least favorite character: Dewitt...I'm not really that into her character yet.
Favorite scene: Definitely the scene where Echo is looking at the paintings. It was perfect...quite possibly my favorite scene in the show so far.
Least favorite scene: Echo at the beginning drinking with those three guys. Eliza's squealing drove me INSANE.
Biggest surprise: Taffy knocking out the hotel owner guy and Echo injecting the guy who was threatening to shoot her.
Thing you saw coming a mile away: Alpha being the guy who wiped Echo.
Thoughts on Echo's personality: I liked her, but I'm starting to get annoyed with all of her personas being exactly like Faith.
Thoughts on this week's engagement: I thought it was great. And like I said before, the scene with Echo looking at the paintings was incredible.
Question you want answered most: Like everyone else has said, why'd Alpha wipe Echo?
Did you enjoy this episode more than the prior one? A lot more. It still doesn't quite match up to the second episode, but I definitely liked it more than the other two.

[snizapman6294]

i agree wtih ALL of that except for the fact taht i love DeWitt... she's Lilah + Giles + Wes + The Senior Partners.

[snizapman6294]

and that the answer i want the most is about Topher...

[Emmie]

Great episode this week. Fast-paced, witty dialogue, full of action and metaphor.

I loved how the vault, the "Gray Hour", seemed to represent Echo's struggle. She's pushed by others programming into this state of mind where she's forcibly wiped and it takes time for her to find her bearings and find her way out. While within the "gray hour" she struggles to learn about herself and eventually finds the efficacy to take action (both good and bad) when she kills the one sadistic, manipulative thief and saves the one who was kind to her and sought to help her understand herself. What's more frightening, that Adelle was prepared to have Echo neutralized or that Echo within 2 minutes saves one life and takes another? What does this tell us about Caroline? Perhaps this willbe foreshadowing for the potential danger Echo will present - a lethal threat to those who the Dollhouse who've used her (Adelle, Dominic) and a loyal friend to those who protect her well-being (Boyd).

I was grinning through Topher's freak-out about conspiracy's and when he first said that the only person better than him was dead, I thought he meant a real programmer that had died. Now I wonder if it was a real programmer who's personality was copied and imprinted into Alpha. Who also was supposed to have died as far as Topher knew. So I'm not really sure which programmer Topher was referring to - maybe both. I guess that's the point really, this show leads to uncertainty. It's also interesting that Topher was obsessed with saying it wasn't his fault - where does responsibility begin and end in his mind?

I agree that one of the greatest strengths of this episode was that we got to see the inner Dollhouse staff all working together. It was a finer balance played between Echo's engagement and the inner workings of the Dollhouse. As I'm looking up at what I just wrote, I realize that I've raised even more questions. Another strength for the episode at this point in the season - raising questions that make me want to see more.

Favorite character: Echo. Followed by Topher, surprisingly. I thought his rambly awkwardness was great. And how he went from arrogantly talking about breaking down his assistant only to build her up again (like a doll), to freaking out about being upstaged and saying "it's not by fault."
Least favorite character: Dominic did nothing for me in this episode. Seemed like a waste of space. At least the unlikeable thief Echo killed was *supposed* to be unlikeable.
Favorite scene: Wow, I dunno. 1) I loved Echo talking about Picasso with nice!thief and about being broken - funny to see him treating her like a child ("not a toy"). 2) I also loved the mirror wipe at the end - beautiful symbolism. Echo cannot see herself clearly because of the steam, so begins to draw a eidolon of what she thinks she should look like and then suddenly realizes how to wipe away the cobwebs/mist. Undoing what the Dollhouse has done to her. Great foreshadowing and symbolism. 3) I also loved the scene immediately after Echo is wiped and she's on the floor and mean!thief is messing with her. It was funny to see her repeat things back to him but not understanding the meaning. Well played by Dushku.
Least favorite scene: The scene lifted from the unaired Echo pilot script. I enjoyed the flocking scene in that script, but it felt out of place here.
Biggest surprise: Echo running down the hallway from the two guys in the beginning. That gave me this uncomfortable gutwrench like when I watch Seeing Red. I wasn't expecting it to turn that way and then to realize that it was an act. Very interesting twist.
Thing you saw coming a mile away: Well, the wipe because of promos for this ep.
Thoughts on Echo's personality: She's a fascinating mixture of innocence and danger. And Taffy was really fun while we saw her.
Thoughts on this week's engagement: Considering the worth of the art piece they were stealing was in the millions and it takes a few million to "rent" a doll, it makes me wonder if the guy isn't just a personal collector. As has been noted, the interesting part of the engagement was where it went wrong.
Question you want answered most: Grape or apple?
Did you enjoy this episode more than the prior one? Yeah, definitely. It's tied as my favorite with #2 The Target.

[deathisyourgift]

This episode rocked.


I loved the midwifery, and the exchange between remote-wiped-Echo and other heist dude concerning art, and most of all I loved the idea that Echo and Sierra were imprinted with the same personality, showing just how impressive the imprinting can be. And I found the scenes with Topher enjoyable, especially when he's talking to that intern, or whoever she was.

Great episode, can't wait for next week's!!

[Greer]

Favorite character: I really liked Echo, but I also like how Taffy was also imprinted on Sierra
Least favorite character: Adelle...She just annoys me greatly and I'm not a fan.
Favorite scene: I like it when she was wiped clean and just kinda floating around, talking to the non-a hole guy that was trapped in the vault. I also liked it when the three dolls were sitting together and Topher was talking about how it was instinctual.
Least favorite scene: Echo being all slutty with the guy at the hotel :/
Biggest surprise: Stealing the freakin' Parthenon! Seriously, it's in the basement of a hotel in LA? Really? haha
Thing you saw coming a mile away: I'm seconding that Alpha was the guy who wiped Echo
Thoughts on Echo's personality: I want her to remember more, past the dream-like state. For once, I just want her to be tough and not slutty. That's all.
Thoughts on this week's engagement: I was unsure about it at the beginning but I ended up really enjoying it. I liked how Taffy was in charge of everything and how she was rockin' the badass outfit the whole time. The heels were great! hehe. I was very surprised that they were stealing the Parthenon.
Question you want answered most: A little different from the 'why did Alpha wipe Echo', but still, why is Alpha so obsessed with Echo? How does it all lead back to her?
Did you enjoy this episode more than the prior one? I'm not sure. I liked some of the parts but I still loved the storyline in Stage Fright, plus the whole "I wanna die" thing and then Echo dangling the singer from the railing to scare the fear of death/life into her.


I really enjoyed this episode. It was very interesting how they tried to program Sierra with Taffy's imprint, but they just putzed around with her for so long! Plus, Echo has such a funny little pay-as-you go phone, and I think it's funny for being in such a secretive organization. I really like how she was able to escape and bring the nice burglar with her. He turned out ok in the end. I like how Boyd was so protective and ran right in there to save her.

Plus, Sia's "I go to sleep" was the end song! I adore her and all of her work, so that made my episode for me.

[Midnight Butterfly]

i really like the episode.
"did i fall asleep". ill never get tired of hearing eco say say that.
id love a pair of short and t-shirt dollhouse pyjamas with that written on them
that could be an idea for the slayalive shop

[BenTaylor3907]

Gah! I thought I typed up my review already. I though it was a great episode. Although Stage Fright is the best so far, or at least I think so. Word! I'm glad that dude got the lethal injection in the neck. Nobody smacks Echo like that. Was it me or did they escape a little too easily? No Claire Saunders this time, total bummer. I'm still not liking Enver Gjokaj's character. I think it might be his accent, I don't know. Topher thinks he's hot stuff, I can't wait to see Alpha catch up with him. lol. I'm glad to see Liza Lapira in Dollhouse, I loved her on NCIS. Tahmoh Penikett is going to have to step it up a notch to win my good graces. Captain Karl 'Helo' Agathon = boss, Detective Paul Ballard = not so much. Crap, I forget what the next episode is about. I have the worst memory ever. lol.

Oh, and the whole "Did I fall asleep?" "For a little while." is starting to bug the crap out of me.

[stakey]

LOVED this weeks episode!

Topher is growing on me, enjoyed his rants this week and his interaction with Dewitt.
Missed Claire.S this ep though, .

Thought dusku's acting was great and WOW she looked frigging FANTASTIC!

Really nice to see the scene from the original pilot script being used in this episode. im talking about the one when they are in the canteen in the dollhouse and Topher comments on them being like Bison, was really annoyed that wasnt used in the re-done pilot but was so happy to see it used here instead. I Feel like it has bit more resonance here than in the pilot as we have seen a gradually recognition between Echo and whatsherface....Savana??...so to have the canteen scene follow on after last weeks ending works far better.

Olivia Williams acting was great this week also.

Oh, and I really want a pair of Tophers trousers...

[wenxina]

Mar 7, 2009 18:40:26 GMT -5 stakey said:

Really nice to see the scene from the original pilot script being used in this episode. im talking about the one when they are in the canteen in the dollhouse and Topher comments on them being like Bison, was really annoyed that wasnt used in the re-done pilot but was so happy to see it used here instead. I Feel like it has bit more resonance here than in the pilot as we have seen a gradually recognition between Echo and whatsherface....Savana??...so to have the canteen scene follow on after last weeks ending works far better.

That would be Sierra.

[stakey]

Mar 7, 2009 19:16:22 GMT -5 wenxina said:

That would be Sierra.

! !

During the episode I had this heated debate with my housemate in that she said her name was Savana and I said it was Sierra.
Thank you for re-convincing me that her name IS Seirra.

Right im off to go sing 'I-told-you-so' to my flatmate...

cheers!

[hitnrun017]

I actually think Dichen Lachman is doing a much better job at portraying different characters than Eliza. It's not really fair to totally compare just yet, seeing as how Dichen has only played three different personalities, but each one has been so different. Eliza is still great, no question about that, and she really shines at playing the 'tabula rasa' state, but each personality just seems like regular Eliza doing different things. Dichen is more believable.

[stakey]

thats true, although I think her parts have been written with a lot more variation. As you say it is a bit too early to say this but when you compare how their characters were written in ep 3 and 4...Elizas (I wanna say Jenny...?) had a more kick ass attitude that she couldnt really help portray. Whereas dichen had the more varied part of a shy mega fan which contrasts much more with Taffy's personality.

but as you say it is a little too early to say for definate.

I must add though, the half smile that dichen does as the chair rises and she is Taffy was fantastic!! The camera shot and the music just really made that scene. Which also reminds me to say, i loved the director of this episode. He really took full advantage of these immense sets and had the camera constant on the go.
Really enjoyed the end scene with Dewitt and Topher as they talk and the camera is panning round the office and revealing everything.

[hitnrun017]

Yeah, the way the parts are written must be a factor. Never really thought about it, but it's true all of Eliza personalities are kickass, strong women. Not a bad thing, but now I really want her to play some weak little girly-girl, like the midwife thing at the beginning of this episode was nice and different... although kind of confusing. Next week should be good with the blind cultist.

[wenxina]

Altruistic engagements... those are kinda lacking so far.

[deathisyourgift]

Mar 7, 2009 8:02:02 GMT -5 Greer said:

Plus, Sia's "I go to sleep" was the end song! I adore her and all of her work, so that made my episode for me.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! I made squealy fan-girl noise when it started playing because I am in love with Sia!!

You get karma for that comment, absolutely.

[henzINNIT]

Hmm... better than the last one, but i can't help but feel I'm watching this out of service to Joss's legacy and not the quality of the show itself. A lot has changed since I last watched a Joss-verse show, and as far as mysteries go, this is no Lost. I will continue to give it my time but this hasn't grabbed me yet.

[commandercool]

I watched the first three episodes with two of my friends, and for this episodes we picked up a fourth guy, and he seems like a fan. We all really enjoyed the episode. It was my favorite so far.

By the way, Sierra is REALLY cute ;D

[Nicholas]

Favorite character: Had to be Echo. I thought it was extremely creepy to see her in a blank state while on a mission. I think thats something that could be played with again in later episodes.


Least favorite character: Topher. I found the actor to be pretty weak at the end, although he was going strong in the beginning.

Favorite scene: The scene where Echo initially get wiped. It was creepy.

Least favorite scene:
The scene where Topher finds out Alphas alive.

Biggest surprise: When Echo ran from the hotel room after supposedly being "raped".

Thing you saw coming a mile away: Echo getting out of the whole thing in the end.

Thoughts on Echo's personality: I really liked it, but I felt it was kind of played differently by the other active.

Thoughts on this week's engagement: I didnt understand why they put Echo on this when she was flagged for romantic only.

[Joe]

Mar 10, 2009 15:15:22 GMT -5 Nicholas said:

Thoughts on this week's engagement: I didnt understand why they put Echo on this when she was flagged for romantic only.

The guy who bought Echo for his engagement told Adelle that he won't tell her what he's using her for. Just who he wants her to be. That doesn't explain why Adelle trusts him, but they didn't know it was a robbery. At least that's how I understood it.