Dollhouse

"It's been a week since Joss Whedon's Dollhouse closed up its rent-a-slave operation, and we're still grieving, for the stories that will never be told now. Dollhouse kept exceeding its limitations — but never reached its potential. Spoilers rising... There are really two kinds of television shows: the ones canceled too soon, and the ones that drag on past their best-by date. Very, very few TV shows end at the right time. Even though Dollhouse got enough advance warning that it was able to cobble together a definite conclusion, we still feel as though it belongs in the same category as Firefly, Terminator: SCC and many other shows. Dollhouse started out as the most conceptually ambitious thing Joss Whedon's ever done — but forcing that concept into the box of a weekly TV show was a process akin to chainsaw bonsai. Whedon was clear, from before the show launched, that this was fundamentally a show about a woman who had been robbed of her identity and dehumanized. The overall arc of... more... - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

"And that's why I'm most convinced that Dollhouse should have had a few more years to run its course. Not just because the shift from "eww icky fantasy fulfillment" to "the whole human race is at stake" could have been a smoother arc. Or because the awareness that Rossum was the real monster, and that the L.A. Dollhouse was going to have to posse up and fight, could have dawned more... more... - RAPatton

"Color me unmoved by the alleged tragedy of Joss Whedon. What happened to Firefly was arguably tragic. But by the time Dollhouse came out, it was clear that the place for idiosyncratic, ambitious television was cable where a show could be viable with a smaller, but more devoted audience. We’ve had Battlestar: Galactica we’ve had The Wire we’ve had Mad Men it doesn’t take a genius to see how this goes. But you get paid more money to develop a show for a network, and Whedon wanted more money so he gave us Dollhouse, a show with a ton of promise but also dozens of artistic compromises. Getting “killed before its time” was inevitable. Whedon’s fans want to see him make the kind of show he can only make on cable. And I’m sure one cable network or another would be happy to develop a show with a creator who comes with a fervent built-in fanbase. But he doesn’t seem to want to do it. I think it’s a shame, but it’s his own fault." - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

IMO network TV has produced a number of gems in the last few years, though some have been short-lived. Pushing Daisies, Arrested Development, Veronica Mars, ... OK, OK, just for currently alive shows, and setting the bar down to 'good' from 'great': Chuck, Better Off Ted (technically not cancelled yet), Community, Parks & Rec, 30 Rock, House, ... I guess that's not a very long list compared to the number of active network shows. - Andrew C (✓)

"Dollhouse, Joss Whedon's weirdest show, started out being about people who can be anybody. But last night, every one of the show's characters was so clearly defined, so much themselves, that their personalities are imprinted on our brains forever. Spoilers... The penultimate Dollhouse episode was the cheesy action thriller, with tons of twists and turns that make no sense and characters jumping out of danger into more danger. But the final episode, "Epitaph Two: Return," was pretty much the opposite — it was a solid character-based drama with almost no plot twists to speak of, after the initial set-up. There was exactly one big McGuffin in the episode — Topher's somewhat miraculous scheme to restore everyone's minds to the default factory settings — and it was introduced pretty early. I've watched this episode twice already, and I sort of liked it the first time — but it plays way better the second time around, when you're less caught up in "what happens next." - RAPatton

It appears that Steve and I were on the same wavelength at almost the same time: http://friendfeed.com/foxdoll... - RAPatton

"Dollhouse, Joss Whedon's weirdest show, started out being about people who can be anybody. But last night, every one of the show's characters was so clearly defined, so much themselves, that their personalities are imprinted on our brains forever. Spoilers..." - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

"I can't freakin wait for tonight. I've had an unhealthily obsessive relationship with Dollhouse for ages, even before the show namechecked io9. The other day, I saw a headline about the Dollhouse series finale having an airdate in March, and nearly had a heart attack — before I realized it was referring to the U.K. airdate. With no more new episodes coming, here are the things we'll miss getting to experience for the first time .... Dollhouse's finale airs tonight at 8 PM, one hour earlier than normal. " - RAPatton

Found myself frustrated by the missing episode. I hate that I have to either rent the first season DVD or get it on iTunes. Is it available for free online anywhere? I personally think they could have ended the season on the next to last episode. I tried to watch the finale without watching Epitaph One and it just left me feeling like I had missed something huge. I made it 5 minutes before I turned it off. - Jen (SquirrelGirl)

Lots of E One in the previously - RAPatton from iPhone

And it is over now. Wow ... so sad. it was only really just beginning. - Amani

"Joss Whedon's mind-warping Dollhouse ends tonight, and then we'll enter the "endless rewatching and overanalyzing" phase of our relationship with this show. Here are 10 things we'll miss most about Dollhouse, plus some clips from tonight's finale." - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

I love this show! - See-ming Lee 李思明 SML

"The last episode of troubled drama Dollhouse is definitely the end of the story, according to creator Joss Whedon. He's confirmed that there's no chance of continuing it in other media, and explained why (Not necessarily what you think). Talking to Comic Book Resources, Whedon seemed resigned to the show's cancellation, as well as the role he played in taking it to that point: The only regrets I have about it are the things I didn't do right. 26 hours of television is a lot of time to tell story, and everybody involved was great. I just look back and go, 'I wish I had figured some things out a little earlier.' But that's all the time I have for regret. It is what it is." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

"He also finally answered rumors about the possibility of a Dollhouse comic: I don't think it's a comic. It's a TV show...apparently not a Fox show, but it is a TV show. There are themes in it and ideas that could work in a comic, but for me to spend the amount of time it would take keeping the comic true to what's already out there when I'm already doing that with 'Buffy' would be a... more... - RAPatton

Just finished getting around to watching Epitaph One. Goddamn, I haven't cried over an episode in years. - tehKenny

Cheryl, I thought so too. (He was so convincing that I kept wondering if they dubbed Topher's voice!) - Mark J

SEMI-SPOILER-ISH I think they knew by the time they did epithet one; I don't know if it was sooner, but it might have been. His motivations, well I think that was shoe horned by epithet one. I think Caroline's DNA was always part of the plan, but forced end of the world not so much - RAPatton

"A fan gets Jossed when the elaborate Epileptic Trees or Fanfic that they've lovingly built upon canonical elements is abruptly disproved by further canon or by the Word Of God. Named after Joss Whedon; Buffy The Vampire Slayer was notorious for this, as fans would come up with detailed and elaborate theories or plots during summer hiatuses, most of which got completely thrown out within three episodes of the new season." - tehKenny from Bookmarklet

what episode is everyone up to? - Mike Chelen

most recent is 2E11: Getting closer - Louis Simoneau

The closer Dollhouse gets to its unjust cancellation, the nearer the end of civilization gets. And once again, the apocalypse just makes everyone, and everything, better. But what was up with that last plot twist? - The Amber from Bookmarklet

It's as if they hadn't ever watched Buffy or seen Serenity. - Kevin Fox

Exactly. - The Amber

"Topher, especially, has gone from Satan Jr. to one of the richest characters on television. Topher's relationships with almost every character on the show got little moments of revelation and dismay. There's his reunion with Claire, who starts out cleaning Topher's busted lip with something akin to tenderness, and winds up shooting the woman Topher is falling for. Then the scene where Topher, already drowning, has to explain to Echo that yes, he deleted Paul's love for her. Like I mentioned, Topher and Adelle are now miles from the snarky banter and inappropriate flirtation of their earlier relationship. And Topher's scenes with Bennett were so funny and twisted, with the two amoral geniuses bonding over their love of pure mad science, that I got more invested in their relationship, after that short time, than I'll ever be in Skate or Huddy." - RAPatton

The final 10 episodes of the show have been great (assuming the next 2 keep it up) - RAPatton

3 years ago - RAPatton from iPod

So Topher has an additional reason to have a mental breakdown in the future. - Vezquex

"The description and promo pics for the final episode, "Epitaph Two: Return," are out. ECHO RACES TO STOP AN APOCALYPSE ON THE SERIES FINALE OF "DOLLHOUSE" FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, ON FOX Picking up from the events depicted in "Epitaph 1," the "lost" episode of DOLLHOUSE, and set in the year 2020, Echo and her surviving Dollhouse crew attempt to restore order to a devastating future world before mankind is eliminated. The cast includes Amy Acker, Miracle Laurie, Reed Diamond, Alan Tudyk, the little girl Adair Tischler (as "Caroline,") Zack Ward (as "Zone")... and of course, Felicia Day. And Brandon Tischler plays T, who has a "special relationship" with Sierra. And here are those pics. " - RAPatton

"2010 I think, we don't know how long we've been off the air" -- ha! Great way to break the 4th wall - RAPatton from iPhone

Yup. Clearly they're seriously condensing the season. they didn't plan to double-up episodes for the last three weeks and last Friday's should have run in January. 3 more episodes! Ack! I hope they don't kill of Anya! - Kevin Fox

"Last night, Dollhouse served up a blend of the Borg, The Matrix and The Cell... and then revealed how they all fit together, in a wholly original story. And then we finally learned the secret origins of Rossum. Spoilers ahead." - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

Dunno. Trying not to bluescreen. - tehKenny

You know what, this show doesn't suck that much. eliza dushku is still terrible tho, she's killing it. but otherwise it's not bad at all. - Richard Lawler

I have been suffering through her not quite acting for a hot minute, she did well this round. - The Amber

UM, WHAT? - tehKenny

Nope. Generally when the situation involves a mass suicide, you don't have much in the way of a Masterplan. - tehKenny

And here's a writing device that I love to pieces. A show uses it, and I love the show. It's just how that works. - Jonathan Hardesty

Such a guilty pleasure this is. I'm loving every minute of headspace land. MOAR! - Jonathan Hardesty

I hope he did *something* dastardly to keep her from being too far gone! - Jonathan Hardesty

By the way, I totes spoiled the episode for someone on Facebook thanks to this post. - tehKenny

"DIRECTED BY JOHN CASSADAY"??? SWEET!!! - Steven Perez

Oh my! - Jonathan Hardesty

Fucking hell. I'm in for a ride for sure! God. :P - Jonathan Hardesty

And it's written by Jed and Maurissa. Nice. - Jonathan Hardesty