Dollhouse

Lucky · February 15, 2009, 11:08am

I really wanted to like this, but… I could only make it through 15 minutes before I switched it off. I will try to get through it again later…

Armando · February 15, 2009, 11:54am

I just watched this on HULU and really liked it. It’s not a GREAT pilot, sure, but it was compelling and had enough mystery to it to sustain a long run while at the same time the concept of the dollhouse and the memory wipes leaves plenty of room for weekly adventures that would be attractive to a more mainstream audience.

I had a hard time, however, seeing Tamoh as anyone but Helo. It’s going to take me a while to get used to him as someone other than our morally upstanding utility player Karl C. Agathon. This has nothing to do with the show (though it may have something to do with his range. It’s still too early to tell) but with my own fandom.

I hope the show lasts more than a few episodes or a single season.

Jarathen · February 15, 2009, 11:59am

It definitely wasn’t as bad as it could have been, and since it’s a pilot episode of a show that lends itself to serialization, it could have been AWFUL. I’m not a big Whedon fan (the wife is), but I like Dushku well enough, and Penikett enough, to give the show a shot.

Apollymy · February 15, 2009, 1:45pm

Watching it now. I chuckled when Tahmoh’s character told the Russian guy to wash his hands, and his shoes!

missmuffet · February 15, 2009, 1:57pm

DavidFromMontreal:

I also was underwhelmed. Josh Whedon has been persona non grata in Hollywoodland, because he has a habit of telling the network one thing and then doing another (like promising Season 5 of Angel would be more stand-alone episodic, with less season-arcing storylines… and then he got cancelled! go figure!) Obviously he’s learned from his mistakes, because I found the first episode to be very un-Whedonesque. The dialogue and direction could have been done by any number of TV hacks. I assume he’s trying to play nice and give an interesting-premise-but-conventional-television effort. I didn’t find the acting all that good either… but then, they can only act what’s written.

Of course, this is only the pilot. Many shows hit their strides later (like Buffy). But I’ll find it terribly ironic if this show lasts for several seasons when Firefly only made it a handful of episodes.

P.S. DawnAZ, the only place I’ve seen Olivia Williams before is in The Sixth Sense, playing Bruce Willis’s wife.

who is the Josh Whedon you speak of? Is he related to Joss Whedon??? :D;)

bigdamnhero · February 15, 2009, 3:16pm

The thing that makes Whedon’s shows appealing (for me at least) is the sense of family and friendship he creates among his characters… that’s not possible to create in an episode or two… the interesting thing about Dollhouse is that I don’t see where he’s going to do that with these characters yet… but I’m willing to give it a shot.

roosterpfunk69 · February 15, 2009, 3:23pm

I think DavidFromMontrea was just correcting Joss’s parents horrible mistake and he renamed him a “real” name. I hate recently “made up” names. almost as bad as nameing your kid Shawnquez or tameka. Joss is a “nickname” of Joseph or a masculine version of Jocylin. I say go with it DavidFromMontrea!!!

missmuffet · February 15, 2009, 3:52pm

Actually - Joss’ parents named him Joe. Joss changed his name when he got to Hollywood to something more unique. Nevertheless - feel free to call him whatever you want - I was just teasing anyway.

JadOnTV · February 15, 2009, 4:10pm

I found the pilot to be dull and humorless. I really want it to turn into something good, as I love pretty much anything else Joss has done, especially Firefly. So far, the show hasn’t given me anything to really care about. Supposedly Jane Epsen comes in after the third ep and the show does a sort-of reboot. I really hope it gets better.

Boxytheboxed · February 15, 2009, 5:19pm

Agreed, it was dissapointing. Except those short spots for terminator/Dollhouse were awesome.
However I have faith in Jane Epsen, she has done some fantastic work

Steve · February 15, 2009, 5:23pm

They better get on the “make it more interesting” train real quick.

Ratings

bigdamnhero · February 15, 2009, 5:59pm

No kidding? I guessed it was short for “Joshua” or something, but then again, I never bother to look it up.

Magnus · February 15, 2009, 6:11pm

It’s was ok. I was hoping for more. There was none of that Whedon humour that we know and love

Kappa · February 15, 2009, 7:26pm

I may have missed something, but is the Russian guy a Doll?

Pike · February 15, 2009, 8:46pm

As pilots go, it’s one of the more promising ones of late. I’m not sure Tamoh can play ‘smart guy,’ but we’ll see.

Jarathen · February 15, 2009, 9:13pm

He was a Russian human trafficker, of the type Tahmoh got in trouble for interfering with.

Merry_K · February 15, 2009, 10:35pm

Great succinct analysis. I liked it, but I thought Tahmoh did very well. As much as I like the guy, I wasn’t expecting him to stand out, but he was the most interesting character.

Nickname_Boomer · February 15, 2009, 11:19pm

Maybe I was a little harsh before, I’ve been thinking it over. and admittedly i am a proud Whedon whore, and an FOX hater, so take that into account. but when the DVD’s come out I have this sinking suspicion that they’ll air this episode third and have a truly fabulous pilot episode. but we all know thats just crazy talk FOX would never pull that kind of insane frak’in BS

Oh Right

The_Lonely_Toaster · February 16, 2009, 12:17am

Not a great pilot, but a solid showing with promise. I thought it showcased Dushku’s most subtle and mature acting to date though.

dxf · February 16, 2009, 7:48am

I watched it in chunks over the weekend. Joss is the man, but I’m also in the “underwhelmed” club. GRANTED, it’s a pilot, and one that was substantially worked over at that.

I’m just having enormous difficulty buying the entire premise. Somehow, Buffy and The Angel Detective Agency-Turned-Supernatural-Law Firm were more plausible. And I say that fully realizing how ridiculous it is to make a comment like that about a TV show.