Let me start by saying I am a big fan of Joss Whedon. The man has an inherent ability to create characters that are instantly likeable and forever memorable, something i can only dream to achieve but will constantly aspire to. Buffy was a good show with, as i've already stated, memorable characters. I had my issues with it, namely the overdose of teen drama in it but the good always outweighed the bad. Angel, which is by far my favourite, brought new and old characters into a new setting, dropped the teen drama (but not the drama) and took everything good about Buffy and built on it. And when Spike came along, it only got better. It was just a shame it was cancelled so soon after he joined. And Firefly rates as the only science fiction show i have watched an entire season of and enjoyed! So without any hesitation when Whedons new show, Dollhouse, started up I tuned in to see what he had in store.
On the surface the premise seems good, People imprinted with memories in top secret underground base used to fulfill fantasies both sexual and mundane. Sounds quite basic but with Whedon you know your only scratching the surface. The first couple of episodes laid the groundwork but are very slow and unfortunately, at times, boring. I will admit, I watched the first 6 episodes and gave up, but a lot of people said that episode 6 was the beginning of the evolution of the show into something greater. Now, at the time I was quite busy and didnt have time to check out the rest but made it a point to do it eventually. Well eventually was today, I decided since I had nothing else on today and since I was avoiding all contact with the GAA madness I'd sit down and finish out the series. And i'm happy to report I was not disappointed.
As the episodes progressed I found myself caring more and more about the characters, even if they took on a different personality every episode. Props to Whedon and his writing team for managing to do that! Now its not all good. The actors are good, at times excellent. Tahmoh Penniket, who plays Agent Ballard is worth a mention for playing the role of obsessed and suffering man on the edge to a tee. You can see in his eyes that hes chasing something he realises he may never find. But of special note is Harry Lennix, a fine character actor and great casting for the role of Echo's (Eliza Dushku, who i will get to) handler. He manages to be simultaneously sympathetic and unfeeling. Fran Kranz is the token nerd that controls all the imprints, and also provides the comic relief to great effect. Olivia Williams is the big boss lady that everybody fears but also manages to feel warm and motherly at the same time. There are other "dolls" but none are really worth mentioning as they were severely underused, a problem i hope will be rectified next season. And then there was Eliza Dushku of Buffy fame and an occasional jaunt on Angel. She plays the main doll Echo, and her past self, Caroline albeit briefly and in flashback form. For a leading lady she is the weakest link in the show, even among the unrecognisable and briefly seen actors that make up the rest of the dolls. I noticed from the start that even when she was playing the part of the blank doll, she still retained some of the personality of the last person she was imprinted with. And on the other side, when she is imprinted theres still a sense of emptiness in her. Dont get me wrong, when shes good shes good, and shes no doubt easy on the eye, but if I picked up on it, and I'm no critic / acting savant then the real critics will too.
But this is minor, there are a few flaws but this is the case in every film or tv show that has ever existed yet we still remember and love them. I have a feeling that Dollhouse will be a mix of cult hit and mainstream favourite, a line Mr.Whedon is used to treading.
For those who havent already, I reccomend a trip to the Dollhouse.