Dollhouse - Episode 1x09: Spy in the House of Love

[gumgnome]

Apr 17, 2009 13:08:23 GMT -5 Nicholas said:

That would make sense with Laurence turning out to be the spy considering the chip was put into the chair by him, however it seems odd that he would send out Echo on missions like that when he clearly wanted her dead. I guess we wont find out until hopefully the next episode on whether or not the Dolls are still being tampered with.

I agree with this and reckon that Dominic has sent the messages to Ballard - the ep makes a point of suggesting that Mellie has been imprinted before Topher knows there is a spy, suggesting that whoever did the tampering sent the message i.e. Dominic. On the whole he doesn't like Echo point, I agree that he thinks she is a liability, but he still sees her as a pathetic tool to be used (think back to all the snarky comments he's made to her face) and wouldn't be above using her for one of the messages. The point of them all though, well time will tell.

[dane5by5]

Great episode, but some scenes in this episode confirmed some opinions I had previously only given passing though to, like Tahmoh Penikett having an erratic and overexaggerated acting style, the scene with Mellie was played very well by Miracle Laurie, but the way Tahmoh Penikett played that scene left me doubting his ability in this role and his talent as an actor.

Also, I've come to the conclusion that although I disliked the Mr. Dominic character, the actor, Reed Diamond was very accomplished and played that role perfectly.

Harry Lennix, however, he almost brings a self-righteous and arrogant quality to Boyd, which makes me loathe the character when he is meant to be the moral compass of the story and identifiable. Sometimes I find him quite objectionable, and I don't think it's the writing, just the way the character is played.

This was one the best written episodes to date, the style, splitting the story, suited the episode and the acting by Olivia Williams was superb. Eliza Dushku, Dichen Lachman and Enver Gjojak were all very good too. ED was hilarious/convincing as the dominatrix in the opening.

The next episode, "Haunted" looks like it's going to be very interesting.

This episode had some classic dialogue, out of all the episodes so far, it's the most "whedonesque".

This conversation at the end with Dr. Saunders and Adelle was great.

"It's okay to feel something..."
"That would imply I lost something."
"Didn't you?"
Victor walks past.
"Nothing I can't live without."

This was Adelle's episode. Every scene she stole. If this wasn't a genre show, Olivia Williams should be up for contention of an Emmy.

[wenxina]

Apr 21, 2009 7:47:45 GMT -5 dane5by5 said:

ED was hilarious/convincing as the dominatrix in the opening.

Maybe it's time for my annual brain bleaching, but this line is just so pun-worthy! *karmas*
If no one else gets it, I'll be in the bathroom with the Clorox performing a lobotomy.

[gumgnome]

Wenxina, I don't get it - get scrubbing.
Referring to a point made by dane5by5, I agree about Tahmoh Penikett. I loved BSG until the final season (but i guess that's a different conversation for a totally different place) and liked Helo a lot, but Ballard is just a carbon copy of Helo, which to me suggests that TP can't really act at all.

Disagree immensely about Boyd though. He's full of confidence, sure, but i'd say that would be job requirement no.1 for a handler. I love him - probably my fav character so far!

[AndrewCrossett]

I want to make a banner of Eliza in the dominatrix outfit with the inscription "ED cures ED".

[wenxina]

Apr 22, 2009 8:07:15 GMT -5 AndrewCrossett said:

I want to make a banner of Eliza in the dominatrix outfit with the inscription "ED cures ED".

And someone got my lil pun! *puts down the Clorox*

[wytchcroft]

Just watched this episode again and i still can't get my head round the goof, (which i've posted about elsewhere but no luck so far) :

Echo tells Dominic that his body language when the call came was different to everyone else in the room - which would just be her actually because there wasn't anyone else there for that crucial moment.

As Knox would say; "Oops."

[Hellbound Hyperion]

Echo tells Dominic that his body language when the call came was different to everyone else in the room - which would just be her actually because there wasn't anyone else there for that crucial moment.

Whoever she was interviewing at the time was there, too. And if Echo was, as Topher said, "rockin' a little Sherlock Holmes", she would have tensed as well - "somebody figured it out before ME?!?!"

[wytchcroft]

Aug 13, 2009 17:24:48 GMT -5 Hellbound Hyperion said:

Echo tells Dominic that his body language when the call came was different to everyone else in the room - which would just be her actually because there wasn't anyone else there for that crucial moment.

Whoever she was interviewing at the time was there, too. And if Echo was, as Topher said, "rockin' a little Sherlock Holmes", she would have tensed as well - "somebody figured it out before ME?!?!"

Not convincing enough for me, i'm afraid.
Here's what i posted elsewhere;

ok, riddle me this... A Spy in the House of Love.

When Echo reveals the culprit; 'everyone else got tense - not you'... and, in fact the culprit was the only person (apart from Saunders) in the room with Echo.

So - is this;
a) goof. oops!
b) proof that Echo ALREADY knew because 1) she had been imprinted with the knowledge
2) she didn't actually know but having 'broken through' decided to get rid of the person who had threatened her earlier...
which might explain the weird conversation with dominic in the van..

[Hellbound Hyperion]

Just rewatched that section; it appears to have just been Echo, Saunders, and Dominic. So it was probably a miscommunication in the writing - either they meant for her to mention when Dominic, Topher, and Ivy all came into the room, or she should have specifically stated "Dr. Saunders and I got tense".

IMO either way is irrelevant; the only piece of information that counts is that she noticed his body language loosened when he received the call. If he were an honest security man, he would've remained tense until the situation had been handled. Loosening up is a dead giveaway when "new information" comes in.

[wytchcroft]

Aug 13, 2009 22:01:30 GMT -5 Hellbound Hyperion said:

J
IMO either way is irrelevant;

i disagree.

the only piece of information that counts is that she noticed his body language loosened when he received the call.

the only... that counts? why?

If he were an honest security man, he would've remained tense until the situation had been handled. Loosening up is a dead giveaway when "new information" comes in.

This breaks down for a number of reasons - he could be glad Sierra is safe, NSA training should make him instinctively mask his body language (ala Alias). Sercurity traiing in general teaches you to note and make the most of moments when you can 'stand down' momentarily. it helps prevent exhaustion - an ever tense sercurity agent is actually something of a liability.

But - i'm wandering off topic slightly because the main point is that something strikes me as odd in the confrontation and revelation scene, which it still does. But i hear ya - and i'm not trying to flog a dead horse, i'm glad you answered the question!

[Hellbound Hyperion]

the only... that counts? why?

Because it's TV and it's a story and the piece of information that was crucial was the difference in body language. It does kinda fall apart by the facts you provided - few people in the room to compare with and what you've now shown that Dominic is the worst NSA agent in the world - but the point was to reveal that Dominic was the spy, which was accomplished primarily by Topher giving Echo body language reading skills.

But hey, it's good to point out the flaws.

[wytchcroft]

Aug 14, 2009 19:22:01 GMT -5 Hellbound Hyperion said:

[


But hey, it's good to point out the flaws.

well, i try to avoid that normally - i just wonder if it might have been deliberate in SPY since the rest is so cleverly constructed and the van chat seemed to hint at... something.

[joxerlives]

SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE

The good;
Exciting ep, the first I ever went back and rewatched immediately after again, Very clever mislead in the first scene, we think it's Dewitt getting wiped. The humanisation of Dewitt continues and it's beautifully written and played by all concerned. Good scene too between Ballard and Mellie, your heart bleeds for him.

The bad;
Echo the spycatcher wonders why Dr Saunders doesn't leave the Dollhouse? Possibly HER DISFIGURED FACE?! No commentary which is a real shame. The Sierra stuff is ok but we've seen it all before.

Best line;
Dominic "Sooner or later everyone get's there's" (Here's hoping!)
also like
Echo "I've got a good feeling about you and I've got the whip"
and
Dewitt (on the idea of Victor the imprinted Doll becoming a client of the Dollhouse and hiring another Doll for his pleasure) "I think the universe might just collapse!"

Packing heat; Dewitt pretty handy with her foil, Dominic with his Glock
Echo;5
Boyd; 6
Dominic; 7
Sierra; 3
Victor; 2

Echo kissage;
By request this new topic will be included.

Kinky dinky;
Ramirez wishes to be kidnapped by a pirate (I have a friend with an almost identical fantasy, differs only in that she get's tied to the mast Ulysees style and the whole of Johnny Depp's pirate crew are involved). Suprisingly Dr Saunders says that the actives aren't submissives, I'd have thought that would have been a hugely popular choice for clients (what about Sierra who begs her client to hurt her?).
Ok I'll say it now. Dominatrix Echo is the SEXIEST THING EVER! My god she's gorgeous! Sexier than Mathilda May in Lifeforce, sexier than Athen Massey in Undercover, sexier than Alyssa Milano in The Outer Limits, Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, than Charisma Carpenter and Mercedes McNab in Playboy, than Ripley at the end of Alien or even ED's own bikini fashion parade in The New Guy. Needless to say it was a sequence that featured endlessly all over the internet, TV and magazines and I earnestly believe was the sole reason that Dollhouse got a second season. If only they'd tried something similar to get a third! (Echo the naughty schoolgirl/stewardess/hot cop etc, we've already had her as a nurse in Tru Calling)
And here it lives forever in cyberspace (plus some interesting comments by ED on how she approached the role and how much she enjoyed playing it); www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gCOGkxg_QA)
Now if you'll excuse me I just have to lie down for a moment!

Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost; Victor/Adele. Not sure if Dominatrx Echo actually had sex with her client or not, some Dominatrixes do, some don't.
Echo; 3 definite, 1 possible
November; 1
Ballard; 1
Victor; 1
Adele; 1

How'd they get away with that?
Dominic getting wiped is hard to watch even after all the things he's done.

This weeks fantasy;
Echo is a dominatrix and a spycatcher. Victor is Roger the romantic, Sierra a spy.

Total number personalitites; 2 for Echo, 1 each for Victor and Sierra
Echo; 16
Sierra; 7
Victor; 4
November; 2

Total dolls; 6
Echo, Sierra, November, Victor, Mike, Tango

Addy is a bit British;
Her ideal lover is called Roger, second name Moore perhaps? She also uses the term 'Crackerjack' which will mean a lot to a Briton of a certain age but little to the rest of the world (does she have the requisite pencil?).

Topher is a bit geeky;

Subverting the Hollywood cliche;

Bondage;
Sierra tied up; 1

Knocked out;
Echo; 2
November; 1
Sierra; 1
Victor; 1

Kills;
Sierra; 2 kills
Echo; 1
November;1

Dolls injured;
Echo roughed up by Dominic, Victor cut by Dewitt. Poor Ramirez hurt for a second time by Echo, this time with the whip (which is probably far preferrable to the fire extinguisher for her!) .

Capt subtext;
In the van dominatrix Echo talks of S&M being about trust and surrendering yourself completely to another. This actually is a good analogy of the handler active relationship and what Topher tells Boyd when he first meet Echo. Dr Saunders comments on the many same sex relationships the actives are called out to do. Victor comments that he wants to keep his collection of high powered businesswoman shoes. Ramirez says she'd prefer S&M Barbie Echo to suave ladykiller Victor.

Happy hookers
Boyd considers the Dollhouse 'pimps and killers', himself included.

Know the face?
5 Whedon alumni-Mark Shepherd, Amy Acker, walking action figure, Eliza Dushku, Jim Piddock

Guantanamo;
So who is we? Who is sending the messages to Ballard? Dominic and the NSA? That makes no sense and seems unlikely, is there more than one person inside trying to bring it down?
Dominic is intent on torturing Ivy for info. Almost reassuring that the goverment want to control the Dollhouse, the NSA may have little oversight but at least it has some. The idea of the attic is just so scary

Fanfic;
Dominatrix Echo the most popular whipcracker since Calamity Jane. (http://tv.adultfanfiction.net/story.php?no=600095359 if you're 18+ and VERY open minded)

Missing scenes;

Reminds me off;
Mixed segments Quentin Tarantino style. Ballard is reminiscent of season 5 Wes in his obsession whilst sleeper assassin Mellie is like season 7 Spike. Sierra at the NSA is very Mission Impossible but even more Alias.

Breaking the programming;
Echo not only volunteers to help Topher but comprehends the purpose of the chair. Dewitt and Toper know but allow her to continue.

Questions and observations;
Echo waves to Mellie who seems to know her, as Echo or as Caroline from Ballards research? Victor refers Dewitt as 'Katherine', is that her real name? (gives credence to the 'She's Caroline's mother' theory).
The Miss-Lonely-Heart storyline has actually been mentioned a few times in previous eps. Note Topher suspects it's Boyd who has betrayed the Dollhouse but still goes to give him a chance to run before informing Dominic, he really does consider him a friend (or has his own doubts and wants to bring the Dollhouse down)
Fan bloody-tastic, second best ep of season 1
Marks out of 10; 9/10