Dollhouse - Episode 1x06: Man on the Street

[beto]

Definetly, the best episode so far. I liked the others, but this was a masterpiece, the one that had me checking the boards everyday for news on the show and finally putting up with the registration process (I've been on-and-off lurking here since Buffy S8 started, I guess).

Mar 27, 2009 5:29:28 GMT -5 vampmogs said:

What I really found interesting was that Adelle realised that Echo was remembering her engagement. She could have sent Echo straight to the attic after discovering that because Echo isn’t supposed to be that self aware. But instead of harming Echo Adelle granted her wishes and allowed her to complete the engagement. Which just proves we don’t know the full story about Adelle.

I have a theory regarding Adelle: I think she knows Caroline. :smart:

I Ghost, when Caroline is "signing up", she talks to Adelle sometimes as if they had already met: saying things like "Oh, you're loving this, aren't you?" seemed a lot more personal than what Adelle's reclusive all-professional personality would allow. I almost got the "Repressive mother / Rebellious daughter" vibe. I'm not saying they are, but you get the idea...

Then, as the series go on, Adelle keeps protecting her, and disregarding Lawrence's warning of the Echo going composite. Sure, the guy is a prick, but he does have a point.

Surely, I might be reading too much into this, but I'm almost positive Adelle has some hidden agenda for Echo - be it protecting her or even having her help destroy the Dollhouse from the inside.

But it's too soon to tell. :unsure:

[rogue11]

Okay I was one of the people who wanted a Faith spinoff more than Dollhouse, I change my mind for the time being
Last nights episode was really good. It felt like a real Joss Whedon series and not just anoher one of those fox shows.
That fight scene in the kitchen was fantastic and the music was da bomb (anyone know what the song is called?)
The whole thing with Mellie was somewhat expected, like why would Adelle have a camerea set up in her apartment if she wasn't connected to her somehow?
Tsk Tsk on Sierra's handler. Those handlers are just like the watchers in buffy, and the dolls are sort of in the position of being the slayer, the one who needs to be looked after.
Yeah this show is getting good for sure.
Hope this keeps up.

[wenxina]

Pretty sure that the cameras were at Ballard's place, not Mellie's. At least the scenes we saw. When Adelle called to trigger Mellie, it was Paul's voicemail. And Adelle was watching the same apartment as in the earlier scenes, meaning that it was Paul's apartment that was under surveillance. Not saying that Mellie's isn't too, just that we don't know that it is.

[darthrosenberg9]

Yeah. It's definitely Paul's place that's being watched. November/Mellie OR Victor/Lubov could easily have planted it at any time. Adelle may also be watching Mellie/November's, but it seems a little unnecessary.

And I definitely think Adelle and Caroline have a connection. To be honest, I've thought so since "Ghost." All that "just like she said" business and the way they carried themselves in the opening scene of the series. Plus, Adelle has always seemed WAY more invested in Echo than she has in the other dolls. I thought it was so strange the way she sat down at her personal table when she was painting her picture. Plus,

SPOILER: Click to show

"Echoes" REALLY hints (if not flat out tells us) that they had a fairly personal prior relationship.

[Secret Scoobie]

i loved this episode. (which seems to be a theme with everyone!)

However, I DID suspect the Mellie/active reveal, I thought that from episode one actually, when she came out and offered him lasangna.. i just thought "oooooh I bet she's an active". HOWEVER I was fooled into thinking I was wrong about her being an active... for all of 5 minutes when I thught she was going to die and I was distressed because I love her, and I love her and paul together!!!!

I love the line where Rebecca/Echo is being dragged out of the house and points in the bedroom and yells "PORN!" hahahaha. Great dialogue is this ep, much more of a jossy feel and the twists and reveals were great.

I too loved Adel being the trigger for Mellie!!! Wow...if she is an active's handler that gives her a massively unknown character level... (apart from the obvious "there is something betweeen adelle and caroline vibes")

Okay I'm off to watch ep. 7 YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[xanderholic]

Did anyone else have a "squee" moment when

SPOILER: Click to show

Mellie went postal on Hearn?

Or was it just me? lol

[joxerlives]

Man on the street

The good;
Wow! Mellie is a Doll! Did ANYONE see that coming? Excellent ep with loads of character development, first meeting of Ballard and Caroline (excepting 'Echo') and a heck of a dust up. The subplot with an abused Sierra is horrible but very well written and acted, you just knew that this would be a problem sometime as Herne says (CHEERED when Boyd punched him through the glass, great stunt from Mike Massa). And Echo has paid sex with her first realistic and sympathetic client.

The bad;
Not much, very good ep. You do think that Adele takes a hell of chance with November by not activating her about 30 seconds earlier?

Best line;
"Perhaps I need to give it to you" Adele gives Boyd a bonus, not because he wants it but because she needs to give it to him to salve her conscience.
also like
"PORN!" (all in the delivery)

Packing heat; Echo takes Ballard's gun off him, Dominic pistol-whips Herne
Echo;4
Boyd; 6
Dominic; 5
Sierra; 1

Kinky dinky;
According to Joss when they asked casting for extras to play the Dolls they were inundated with pictures of porn stars. Must have been hell. Why do we all bother to pay for porn? Why don't we just phone up a casting agency and pretend we need attractive background players for our TV show? Echo's personality thinks her fiancee has suddenly become rich through internet porn.

Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost; November beds Ballard (and she's a heck of a screamer) and presumably Echo returns to finish her romantic engagement with her client
Echo; 3
November; 1

How'd they get away with that?
The funny "What a rick!" and the indescribably horrible, Herne abusing Sierra. He's a son of a bitch but November killing Herne makes me wince every time.

This weeks fantasy;
Echo plays the dead fiancee of the Internet mogul and then a hit chick. November plays Mellie and death-in-Laura-Ashley

Total number personalitites; 2 for Echo
Echo; 13
Sierra; 4
Victor; 1
November; 2

Total dolls;4, here's November!
Echo, Sierra, November and Victor

Addy is a bit British;

Topher is a bit geeky;

Subverting the Hollywood cliche;
The client is actually a sympathectic figure and is even concerned about the security guards Ballard knocked out. For once we have a fat client rather than a male model although Mellie actually thinks him kinda cute.

Bondage;
Sierra tied up; 1

Knocked out;

Kills; November kills Herne with her bare hands (never talk flower arranging with HER!)
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
November;1

Dolls injured;
November badly roughed up by Herne

Capt subtext;
The redneck guy thinks the Dollhouse is a great idea because it allows a guy to be with another guy but means that there's 'Nothing queeny' going on (his wife/girlfriend's expression when he says this makes me laugh out loud every time, just like Echo's 'Porn' line). Dominic punches Herne when he hints that there was something between him and Adele. Jealousy?

Happy hookers
Takana describes Echo as a 'whore with a heart of gold'. Herne makes a good point about Adele hiring out the Dolls to be sweating under 'some Emir' (the difference being they'd signed up for that, they hadn't signed up to be sexually abused whilst in their non-programmed state, Sierra actually saying she doesn't want to). Joss refers to Miracle Laurie as 'Being a pro' but rapidly rethinks his phrasing.
Just idly watching '2 and a Half Men' whilst I'm writing this and Charlie and Alan are being treated to a pair of hookers by their future stepfather in Vegas. It strike me how attitudes to prostitution in TV and movies have changed in recent years, Pretty Woman, Belle Du Jour, Patty the daytime hooker in My Name is Earl, Hung etc. In a recent ep of The Big Bang Theory to cheer Howard up Raj and Leonard hire him a working girl. Times have certainly changed, used to be the only time you ever saw prostitutes on screen was when they were murdered or were informants.

Know the face?
5 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock
Whenever I see Herne I can never help but think 'Is that Dennis Quaid?"

Guantanamo;
The Afro-American woman likens the Dollhouse to slavery. Ballard is pretty damn rough with Takana.

Fanfic;

Missing scenes;
According to Joss plenty of spare material left over

Reminds me off;
The Vulcan grip from Star Trek is mentioned. The internet mogul is very reminiscent of David Nabbit from Angel who also frequents ladies of the night (but likes his a bit more demony). According to Joss' commentary Eliza didn't care much for her housewife look but I think she looks great, reminds me of when The Mayor gave Faith that dress in Graduation Day pt1

Questions and observations;
Interestingly according to the reporter the rumours of the Dollhouse have been circulating since the late 80s? Ballard and Mellie actually make a lovely couple, very sweet. For a moment I wondered if Echo's message was some sort of double bluff but to judge by Joss' commentary the message was real. From whom? We learn there are 20 Dollhouses all over the world. What is the greater, X-files style, conspiracy? Echo demonstrates genuine affection for her client, even after she's meant to have been wiped. Adele knows this but still keeps her in the field.
Absolutely love the scene where Echo thinks her fiancee made his money through internet porn, she may be a Doll but she's no brainwashed sex slave, she reacts in exactly the same way the real woman would have done. The interviews on the street are also interesting, not to stereotype but you look at the blonde girl and kinda wonder if she is a Doll?
Again, this almost feels like the 3rd pilot for the show.
Marks out of 10; 9/10 best ep so far

[alex_krycek]

i'd have to say that this is my favorit episode of dollhouse. hands down.

[joxerlives]

Yep, it's very strong, maybe this is how the series should have begun?