Dollhouse - Episode 1x02: The Target

[Kara]

Feb 21, 2009 16:56:19 GMT -5 Tyler Austin "tiewashere" said:

My parents liked this one better.

Awww. Well I'm glad your parents think so, Ty Ty.

[Tyler Austin "tiewashere"]

My dad still can't stand it though. So it is a little annoying whenever he walks into the room and bashes it while I'm trying to watch it.

[Iceeh★]

Feb 21, 2009 19:28:28 GMT -5 Tyler Austin "tiewashere" said:

My dad still can't stand it though. So it is a little annoying whenever he walks into the room and bashes it while I'm trying to watch it.

My brother and my dad were doing that last night while I was watching it. I got so peeved at them! :moody:

[deathisyourgift]

This episode was very cool, had some trademark Joss plot twists, and Eliza does another amazing job transforming to another character. I really liked the way the active/handler relationship was explained, and the verbal trigger for getting Echo to trust him. So good. Great episode, can't wait for next week, can't wait!!

[iamthewalrus]

Episode 2: The Target - Questionnaire
Favorite character: Boyd
Least favorite character: er, Boyds driver
Favorite scene: when Jenny kicked ass
Least favorite scene: the rockclimbing and stuff
Biggest surprise: Jenny getting hunted, Ranger in the cupboard bit
Thing you saw coming a mile away: that Connell was on the other walkie talkie
Thoughts on Echo's personality: i felt sorry for her getting hunted and everything, i thought it was awesome how she toughened up though
Thoughts on this week's engagement: excelleeeent
Question you want answered most: i don't mind aslong as they're all answered at some point
Did you enjoy this episode more than the prior one? definitely

[Whedon Fan]

Muuuuch better. Loved this episode. I uderstand that the first epiosde had to set everything up for "new" viewers but we've all been waiting and reading about Dollhouse for over a year now so I don't class myself as a new viewer I already get the jist of the show. But other viewers who may not be as 'obsessive' with the show needed to be brought in and thats fine.

Now episode 2 was a huge step up. The flashback scenes with Boyd were fantastic and has shot his charatcer right up there to make him my favourite so far. He really connects with Echo, even though a lot of the time she doesn't even rememebr who he is. As their relationship grows this must be heart breaking for him.

Alpha...ohhhh. So this is the "big bad" for season 1 of Dollhouse? Niiice, so he killed Echo's old Handler and as Topher syas made Dr Saudnders "look like a jigsaw puzzle". Poor Dr Saunders, her line of "yes, everythings under control" was a good charatcer moment. She has clearly been shakened by whats happened to her. Will this cause any troubles between her, Echo or the Dollhouse in the future???

The hunting scenes were brilliant, a few of them reminded me of Eliza Dushku's movie "Wrong Turn". Bery good film btw if you've not seen it and are into horror movies I suggest picking it up. Over all a very good epiosde that leaves us with a few un answerd questions, lets just hop Joss gets to give us the answers.

Can't wait for next weeks episode the synopsis made me a little 'meh' about the episode but having seen the trailer I am completley on board. Looks like another good episode to add to the season. "Someone is eating a mint"!! Ha

[Emmie]

Feb 21, 2009 17:56:29 GMT -5 AndrewCrossett said:

When they gave the brief explanation of what went wrong with Alpha... didn't they make it sound as if the same thing happened to him that is now happening to Echo? Multiple personality imprints bleeding through, resulting (in his case, and maybe soon in hers) in schizophrenia and psychotic behavior?

I don't think it's exactly the same. It seems like Echo is remembering her true personality and the memories of herself in the 'Echo' childlike state. When she had the visions of herself, there were all of Caroline and Echo - that's who she really is. If it had included a vision of Ms. Penn, the negotiator, I think then it would be a composite event.

I also take this to mean that "shoulder to the wheel" is something Caroline used to say, that maybe it was even her mantra. Which makes me wonder if Caroline knew Alpha before she became an Active. Perhaps Alpha is part of the reason she had to become an Active.

[jellymoff]

Episode 2: The Target - Questionnaire

Favorite character:Boyd-I like his moral struggle so far. He seems to be the conscience in the Dollhouse.

Least favorite character:Richard Connel (the client). He was lame.

Favorite scene:Echo and Boyd's scenes.

Thoughts on Echo's personality:She wasn't particularly exciting, but a likable, strong woman.

Thoughts on this week's engagement:
The whole "Most Dangerous Game" scenario is a little played out, but they did it well.

Question you want answered most:More about Alpha.

Did you enjoy this episode more than the prior one?
Yes

[theend]

I really enjoyed this ep. Got my boyf to watch too and he kinda liked it. I thought Eliza was awesome, I don't understand anyone who says she's not good enough to play so many different roles.

[Nicholas]

Anyone know what the ratings were for this episode?

[wenxina]

There is a separate ratings thread on the Dollhouse board.

[Nicholas]

Oh, forshiz. Ha! Thanks.

[wenxina]

Separate topic altogether, so that kinda justifies the double post. I have no idea what Miracle Laurie (she who was tapped to play November) looks like, but I had heard that the November character had been written out for now, and that Laurie would now play Ballard's love interest. So was that her with the lasagna? Anyone know?

[deathquaker]

Favorite character: Boyd
Least favorite character: Ballard (he turned down lasagna! That's inhuman.)
Favorite scene: End scene
Least favorite scene: Squicky hunter sex
Biggest surprise: Hearing Adelle mention "employers." So she's not the top of the food chain...
Thing you saw coming a mile away: Poisoned canteen
Thoughts on Echo's personality: I think perhaps she has a deep-set survival instinct that can't be touched by Imprints.
Thoughts on this week's engagement: Scary, and shows us the Dollhouse is not as secure as it should be.
Question you want answered most: Is Echo in danger of going psycho like Alpha?
Did you enjoy this episode more than the prior one? Yes

[Nicholas]

I was wondering what role that girl with the food was supposed to play. I see big things for her,...

[Mush]

Argh, I'm way behind on my Dollhouse watching. Well finished Ep02 just about now. It was much better than the pilot, the pilot felt so random. I don't know what do think of Dollhouse really, It hasn't that Joss Whedon feeling feeling like Buffy, Angel or Firefly. But I'm gonna give it a go I think. We only get 13 episodes this half season right? I think I can stand out and hey, maybe I think it get's superb after the third one! =D Still Eliza kicks ass, so why not watch just because of that.

Btw, Alpha is one creepy dude.

[Secret Scoobie]

Favorite character: Milly! She was so cute.
Least favorite character: Arrogant FBI agents
Favorite scene: Echo: "You're playing my game now" (oor something along those lines!)
Least favorite scene: Sex scene
Biggest surprise: "Alpha"-like killer killing the hostage in the van!
Thing you saw coming a mile away: That the house in the woods was not a safe place! Canteen and walkie were just way too obvious.
Thoughts on Echo's personality: I think the way in which she adapted to SURVIVE was very cool
Thoughts on this week's engagement: Very exciting and unexpected twist! I thought the psycho killer storyline was extremely well implemented.
Question you want answered most: Who is Milly?
Did you enjoy this episode more than the prior one? Yeah

[joxerlives]

THE TARGET

The good;
Lots of it, exciting story and some great background. This may be the pivotal ep of Dollhouse as it's the first to suggest Echo is really moving beyond her programming and Alpha is set up as this big bad bogeyman.

The bad;
?

Best line;
Boyd (handing Echo a gun)" Know how to use that?"
Echo (handling it confidently) "4 brothers, none democrats"
Very cheeky for trendy lefty Joss

Packing heat;
Echo with a S&W 9mm. Boyd has exchanged his automatic for a .357 revolver perhaps in keeping with his backstory as an ex-cop.

Kinky dinky;
Echo and client play the naughty Girl Scout together.

Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost;
Echo; 2

How'd they get away with that?
Echo being hunted is horrible but nothing compared to Alpha slaughtering everyone in the pool! Amazing how much blood they got away with.

This weeks fantasy;
Echo is a fun loving outdoor girl and a sweet girl who loves fat guys in flashback

Total number personalitites;
2 for Echo making a total of; 8
Sierra; 2
Victor; 1

Total dolls;3
Echo, Sierra and Victor

Addy is a bit British;

Topher is a bit geeky;
He asks for a gun but no one trusts him with one

Subverting the Hollywood cliche
Hello Mellie, proving that women of a fuller figure can be attractive on US tv. Her real first name is Miracle? Were her parents hippies? Speaking of which in the flashback Echo is hired to be the girlfriend for an obese man as you would expect dolls to be but we never see him.

Bondage;

Knocked out

Kills; Boyd's driver and the Ranger killed.
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo kills the psycho; 1

Dolls injured;
Echo and Boyd badly injured

Capt subtext
Topher expresses 'Big, big man love' for Boyd and describes his eyes as 'dreamy'. Boyd is protective of the actives from the start and Topher tells him it's all about trust.

Happy hookers

Know the face?
4th Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd was Badger in Firefly (and the 2nd BSG star for Jane Espenson to bring with her)

Guantanamo;
Boyd tortures the fake Forest Ranger to save Echo (Jack Bauer/Dick Cheney would be proud)

Fanfic

Missing scenes

Reminds me off;
Joss bascially reuses this storyline from the 3rd season Buffy ep Homecoming, it's derived from the famous short story 'The Most Dangerous Game' which in turn inspired real life serial killer Robert Hansen who hunted and murdered over twenty people after kidnapping them, releasing them into the Alaskan wilderness and giving them a head start. Also reminiscent of ED's horror movie Wrong Turn. Addy uses the term Tabula Rusa which was the name of a 6th season ep of Buffy.

Questions and observations;
Got to admit when Dominic walks away from Echo at the end I thought she just gave him a 'screw you' gesture. It wasn't until I rewatched that I realised she gives him the psycho's 'shoulder to the wheel' action. Is the drug in the canteen the catalyst for Echo's specialness or was there something before? I think if they'd have kept stories at this level Dollhouse would have been much more successful than it was.

8/10 MUCH BETTER

[henzINNIT]

This is probably the best example of a Dollhouse "standalone" in my opinion. Very interesting and informative flashbacks, Echo the character starts to bleed out in the engagement, and great focus on Boyd and Echo's relationship. The primary story is pretty ordinary, but it's executed well enough and the other elements give the episode weight.
On the negative, Ballard's segments are frightfully dull. Keeping him away from Echo was a mistake, how is the character supposed to appeal to audiences when he does nothing of interest for 5 whole episodes?

[joxerlives]

He is dull but his relationship with Mellie is quite sweet