Dollhouse - Episode 1x03: Stage Fright

[Joe]

This episode got 4.1 million. It went down a tenth of a million from last week. I hope it starts rising again once Joss is in control and not Fox (episode 6 onward)

[BuffyFanOne]

i am thinking that it is going to hold at about 4 mill. just the real fans watching. people maybe were giving it a chance and were not own over.

[Malsad]

this is my fav ep yet

[butters666]

Horrible, im so done with this show

[Whedon Fan]

Feb 28, 2009 16:09:55 GMT -5 @butters666 said:

Horrible, im so done with this show

Pfft, how can you judge a show on three episodes? The three that have been shown are setting up the show, stick with it I guarnte it gets better. That is all, the rest is just a rant to everyone and I don't mean to aim it at you but Buffy is over, there will never be anymore Buffy on TV, or Angel. Yes they are amazing shows, but Dollhouse was never going to be like Buffy and I think if 'fans' of Whedons work should cut the show some slack and give it a proper chance then start to judge it.

Okay done. Moving on I actually liked this episode, not as good a last weeks but better than the pilot. I loved Tophers scenes and liked that he stood up for himself against Lawerence. Jordan was an interesting charatcer and over all what I have to say about this episode was that the writing was smart. The way Echo changed what she was imprinted to do but still did the job was a good twist. Next weeks episode looks good too. Echo has been wipped...ahhhhh

[butters666]

3 shows...3 shows that bored me, i have more then enough to do that i dont have time to watch a show that i dont like, and i dont think i should have to sit 6 episodes to see a good one. I hope it stays on the air for all that like it but i dont, as in at all, so i would rather not watch it. But like i said, i wish it well.

[jellymoff]

Favorite character: Jordan/Echo

Least favorite character: Thopher. I'm hating him, but I think I'm supposed to hate him.

Favorite scene: When Jordan beat down the paparazzi

Least favorite scene: Jordan's audition. I think Eliza did pretty well singing, but I don't beleive that she would have gotten the job. Rayna is supposed to be a big as Beyonce, and her background singers would have to be the best too.

Biggest surprise: No huge suprises.

I was really entertained by this episode. I thought it had a nice mix of action and humor.


Thing you saw coming a mile away: I knew Lubo was Victor because of the promo pics. I assumed he as a doll , and it is my understanding that we learn that in the original pilot (which I have not read)

Thoughts on Echo's personality: She was pretty Faithy

Thoughts on this week's engagement: It was different and more fun, until Rayna went cuckoo

Question you want answered most: Who is in the attic?

Did you enjoy this episode more than the prior one? Yes, I've seen "The Most Dangerous Game" done 1,000 times

[commandercool]

I didn't really like this episode that much, but I certainly didn't hate it either. Partly my problem was just that pop music grinds my nerves. I give it a 5 out of 10, and will certainly watch next week.

[Skeptic]

It had its moments and a couple of funny lines, but for me this ep was mostly forgettable. The whole spoiled brat pop star clueless skankatron in bikini decorated with chandalier crystals just grated on my entire nerves. Flew past "just not remotely interesting" right to "I wish Echo would kill her so we don't have to go through the whole stalker bs so the episode will end".

What was interesting:

- Finding out Victor was a doll.

- The chair slap. LOL

- Jordan/Echo going off on the brat near the end, telling her "bitch don't think you can take me".

- Audra Mode.

- That Echo apparently is remembering stuff, and Sierra is, too. That the two both know it. That they know to conceal that fact.

- Tahmoh.

What was anti-interesting:

- The stalker guy plot (seriously... must every ep be about a deranged guy trying to hunt/kill/torture/godknowswhatelse some woman? did I accidentally flip over to the Lifetime Network?)

- The pop star brat plot, and a couple of too-long throwaway scenes of her performing on stage.

So... that's it. I liked it less than the pilot, and I really liked it less than last week's. After the pilot, last week's ep was a hopeful step forward. For me, this week's ep was a step back. The last minute, in the Dollhouse, showing Echo and Sierra passing by and the looks they exchanged, though, was great and really caught my attention.

My 2 cents.

[Alexiness]

I loved this weeks episode. The guy with the odd accent, (Lubov is it?) seemed really lame to me until it's revealed he's really an Active.

I agree with jellymoff with how Jordan was very similar to Faith.

Rayna and her wish to die because she'll get attention annoyed me a LOT. Then not caring about Audra annoyed me further. But I guess it was supposed to be annoying? LOVED Jordan knocking her out and using her in a trade.

Audra was really awesome. I like how they wrote Audra to be Australian, considering Dichen Lachmen's from Australia herself. (And so am I! )

[dane5by5]

The last minute of this episode was the moment I've been waiting three episodes for! It was a flawless culmination of the episode and it's themes. Eliza and Dichen both played that scene so well, and without any writing, it was possibly the strongest and definitely most poignant scene of the episode.

Eliza Dushku and Joss Whedon are both correct when they have both said the show finds itself, and the audience finds a character to invest in, when Echo begins to become self aware.

The final scene in "The Target", when Echo hits her shoulder in the "shoulder to the wheel" recall, was also my favourite scene in that episode, so it's surely going to be an "in" for the audience, considering most of the other characters being morally objectionable or downright irritating.

I thought the writing of the episode was great for the most part, my only criticism, and it's not so much a criticism of the actual writing, more of the audience, was that the revelation that Jayna wants to die and that she is unhappy even with all her success. I've read some people saying the exact same thing as Jordan/Echo when she voiced her opinion of "what do you have to be unhappy about?", they could have given Jayna a more explicit explanation, to perhaps make her situation for the general audience more sympathetic. I had no problem with the character and liked the parallels to Britney Spears and some of the lines like "I have to be rebellious, but only enough to prove I'm not a factory popstar..." were poignant. I've always felt a little sad for Britney Spears, and I think this episode did a great job of telling that story of a young person with so much success still being unhappy.

There were a couple of moments in the episode, that I caught a fleeting glace of Faith, like when Jordon pushes Jayna to the wall and threatens her, but for the most part, I felt like Eliza Dushku did a great job portraying this character, who while being tough ("I'm a Southie" was a classic line) was quite distinct from Faith, she had an emotional maturity that Faith never displayed often.

Since the series started, I've been eagerly anticipating "Grey Hour", I think it was the first synopsis or script I read of an episode, and it has been stuck in my head since! After viewing the trailer, I am even more excited, it looks incredible. From what I can remember of the script, Sarah Fain and Elizabeth Craft wrote an excellent script, it'll be interesting to see the finished product.

I was not surprised in the slightest at the "revelation" that Lubov is Victor, an Active. I had that suspicion, now I'm waiting to see if my other suspicion, Millie is November, another Active to keep Paul Ballard running in circles, also is true.

One thing I'd like to hear opinions on, is whether the discussion between the two handlers in the car, regarding the previous "Sierra", "... she got the job done." Does that mean the previous Active who was known as Sierra was killed on an engagement or by Alpha, which is why The Dollhouse recruited a new Active to replace her?

That was my understanding.

Eliza Dushku is also quite the singer, I think a number of people are now wishing Faith had a cameo in "Once More, With Feeling".

One more thing, last year I had a rant about Joss Whedon hiring Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. I take that back. They are clearly great writers in their own right, and are masters of the musical story. If they also wrote those songs like with "Dr. Horrible", I'm thoroughly impressed.

[Nicholas]

Favorite character:

It had to be Echo again, but Sierra ran a close second. Echo won me over because of the bad ass lines she had.

Least favorite character:

Jayna. She was a very annoying character and at the end, I couldn't even feel sorry for her even though the way her story was set up, we were supposed to.

Favorite scene:

When Echo and the Diva-Bitch have a confrontation in the dressing room and Echo almost whoops her ass. It was the only scene that got a rewind to be watched a second time. I think one of the reasons that I like the character of Echo so much is because in several instances, like in this scene, she resembles Faith, which was one of my favorite characters.

Least favorite scene:

Probably, just the crazy fan getting his gun ready. I really enjoyed this episode so it was hard for me to find a dislike.

Biggest surprise:

Well see I have a few....I thought it was intresting to see that Sierra is beginning to remember her experiences as well, which is a good thing for Echo because I think it will help progress the story if she doesn't have to go through it all alone. I also thought that Victor turning out to be a Doll was highly unexpected and I wonder what his overall purpose is. And last but not least, Echo hitting Jayna with the chair.

Thing you saw coming a mile away:

That Echo wasn't actually going to kill Jayna. As soon as she pushed her, I knew something was going to catch her.

Thoughts on Echo's personality:

I thought that the idea of it was really neat, having the interal instinct to want to protect Jayna no matter what the circumstances, but I thought itwas kinda of corny that of all the people that they could have chosen to be the back up singer for the mega pop superstar, they chose Echo. I guess maybe since they had a man who was close to Jayna help her make the decision, but still.

Thoughts on this week's engagement:

It wasn't over the top amazing, but it wasn't stupid. It just seemed like an average type thing for a Doll, but don't get me wrong, it was intresting to see.

Question you want answered most:

What the hell is the Attic!?


Did you enjoy this episode more than the prior one?

They were both kind of equal to me. Stage Fright had great qualities and I think that its good to see that the show has the abilities to stretch in different directions.


YES, I wish Faith could have sang in "Once More, With Feeling"!!!!

[dane5by5]

Mar 1, 2009 2:01:24 GMT -5 Nicholas said:

Biggest surprise:

Well see I have a few....I thought it was intresting to see that Sierra is beginning to remember her experiences as well, which is a good thing for Echo because I think it will help progress the story if she doesn't have to go through it all alone. I also thought that Victor turning out to be a Doll was highly unexpected and I wonder what his overall purpose is. And last but not least, Echo hitting Jayna with the chair.

That part genuinely shocked me, when Jordan walked into the shadows, I thought, okay, recap, Echo disappears into shadows mysteriously, then comes a chair to the face. Okay, was not expecting THAT.

I thought it was endearing that Sierra obviously remembered Echo, the cute little smile, and the scene at the beginning about friends helping each other were both nice and at the same time intriguing.

It raises the question if something is intrinsically wrong with the imprint/wipe process and if these glitches have occurred previously and if this happened with Alpha, why Echo seems to have a sense that she should not be rememebering these things, like her relationship with Sierra, but Sierra appears not to have this inherent sense of reservation. It also makes me ponder if all the current Actives are experiencing this quasi memory retainment or if it's only Echo and Sierra (or to be more accurate, Sierra's relationship with Echo).

[theend]

I quite liked this episode. Mainly I found Rayna really annoying. But other than her I thought I Eliza was great and this ep had some interesting things in like the Attic and Victor being a doll.

[commandercool]

By the way, isn't 'Stage Fright' a terrible name for this episode? I mean seriously, couldn't they do better than that?

[pablo]

Great episode! I loved it.
I don't know why but to me Dollhouse is just getting better. The Pilot was ok, last week's ep was pretty good, this episode is VERY good.
Now this is all for setting up a solid and complex mythology for the show, so I understand the escalating quality, but I do miss the wit of Whedon's comedy every now and then.

As someone said above, Jordan-Echo was a bit Faithy, especially in the "bitch u can fire me but don't think u can take me" line. That was genius!
Audra-Sierra was cool, I loved her accent although felt a bit letdown cos I hoped we'd get so see her in action for more than 3 seconds. But still, it was good.

Now Topher is becoming increasingly irritating, when I first read the character description I thought of a witty and less campy Andrew. I think he's actually closer to Warren, but this is probably how they wanted to make him come across as, Joss would never miss such a huge disconection between the scripts and the audience's reaction.

Alpha...My guesses are: Ranya's psycho fan and the dollhouse's head of security (can't remember the name...the guy that nailed topher to the wall for appearently messing up echo's mission). they both have fair hair and they both looked to me pretty dodgy. well the fan was obviously crazy, but the head of security has got something he's not telling for sure.
Also I'd say the bow hunter from 1x02 would be a likely choice, but we'll see.

Just one last random thing, though - in the last few seconds of the episodes, was Echo trying to tell Sierra not to recognize her, because her minder was watching? that's how i saw it. so appearently the dolls are starting to keep some of the memories even after the brainwash.
cool.

[henzINNIT]

zzzz.... The one thing less interesting to me than stupid spoiled pop whores is an episode of TV where I'm supposed to care about them. They bring it on themselves, and have every chance of artistic credibility and solitude if they want it.

Wait... was the reveal that the cop's informant was in fact a doll supposed to be a shock? I thought it was shown in episode 1, cause I sure as hell knew that all along. In fact it was so obvious that I though the cop knew too, and interviewed him over and over knowing that the poor sod would be unaware every time they spoke. WTF have I been watching? lol Anyway, crappy "shock", and I'm actually disappointed that it was supposed to be one cause what I thought was going on is way more interesting.

Some more pretty interesting Echo stuff but in a shitty plot. Hope the next one is better.

[Emmie]

Mar 2, 2009 18:33:17 GMT -5 henzINNIT said:

Wait... was the reveal that the cop's informant was in fact a doll supposed to be a shock? I thought it was shown in episode 1, cause I sure as hell knew that all along. In fact it was so obvious that I though the cop knew too, and interviewed him over and over knowing that the poor sod would be unaware every time they spoke. WTF have I been watching? lol Anyway, crappy "shock", and I'm actually disappointed that it was supposed to be one cause what I thought was going on is way more interesting.

You must have been spoiled by all the Lubov is Viktor talk because I knew some fans who were completely unspoiled that were very surprised by that reveal. I was expecting it too since I'd been keeping track of the casting and promotional photos and had read the original script.

[Fireball]

Im loving Dollhouse so far, really liked this episode. I loved the Viktor twist and the end scene.

[henzINNIT]

Mar 2, 2009 20:28:58 GMT -5 Emmie said:

Mar 2, 2009 18:33:17 GMT -5 henzINNIT said:

Wait... was the reveal that the cop's informant was in fact a doll supposed to be a shock? I thought it was shown in episode 1, cause I sure as hell knew that all along. In fact it was so obvious that I though the cop knew too, and interviewed him over and over knowing that the poor sod would be unaware every time they spoke. WTF have I been watching? lol Anyway, crappy "shock", and I'm actually disappointed that it was supposed to be one cause what I thought was going on is way more interesting.

You must have been spoiled by all the Lubov is Viktor talk because I knew some fans who were completely unspoiled that were very surprised by that reveal. I was expecting it too since I'd been keeping track of the casting and promotional photos and had read the original script.

I knew nothing ahead of time *shrugs*