A terrific episode on many levels, where every move the writers/directors make, no matter how strange it may seem, somehow works. It's an extra busy day in the Dollhouse, as the existence of the spy who contacted Paul Ballard through an altered doll imprint is discovered, and there is a race against time to find his identity before Adelle, who has been called to the Rossum headquarters for 48 hours, returns. November's imprint leads to a startling scene where Paul finally learns the truth about Mellie; Sierra's imprint leads to a very intentional, IMO, and very well-executed, homage to "Alias"; Victor's imprint leads to another totally surprising, funny and touching revelation (plus you get to see swordfighting as foreplay!); and Echo's imprint leads to the discovery of the spy (to quote Adelle: "Didn't see that one coming"!). Olivia Williams is outstanding in this episode, but Eliza Dushku is very good as well, playing a more evolved, more observant Echo. The best episode of the series so far. My favorite line: "No, I'm not suggesting you become a client. I think the universe might implode upon that one!". ***1/2 out of 4.
3 Reviews
Who is the traitor in the Dollhouse?
Tweekums14 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Shortly after Adelle goes away for a few days leaving her head of security, Laurence Dominic, in charge of the Dollhouse Topher discovers a hidden device in the chair. It would appear that an outside agency has placed it so they can add their own programming when the dolls are conditioned. Laurence is furious and orders a lockdown as they try to uncover which employee is the traitor.
We then see what each of the dolls is doing around this time. November is back being Mellie and returns to her apartment; as she talks to Agent Ballard she suddenly freezes then warns him that she is November from the Dollhouse and anything he tells Mellie will be reported back before switching back to being Mellie. Victor sets off to see an elderly female client but then heads off and meets Adelle; she has clearly being using him as a sexual partner and as the only person she can talk to about work in the knowledge that security won't be breached. Sierra slips into the NSA as Laurence believes they must be the ones who installed the device and wants her to find the identity of their agent. Echo end up being programmed to identify the spy by quizzing Dollhouse employees and observing how they react.
This was a top notch episode that had plenty of great twists and lots of character development before the spy is unmasked and sent to the attic. One might have though Ballard learning that Mellie was sent by the Dollhouse would be the main revelation of the episode but ultimately it was relatively minor compared to other things we learn. The various other Active's missions were all interesting in their own ways; Sierra's provided some excitement and solid action and Victor's led to some very interesting revelations about Adelle. Echo's unsurprisingly is the most interesting; not just because of what she uncovers while programmed but because she is the one to suggest that Topher imprint her so she can help not the other way round. The unmasking of the traitor was handled very well and was quite a surprise following a nice bit of misdirection. Eliza Dushku is on fine form as Echo and is ably supported by the rest of the cast; most notably Fran Kranz, Olivia Williams and Reed Diamond as Topher, Adelle and Laurence. Overall a great episode which is likely to see more changes at the Dollhouse than are immediately obvious.
We then see what each of the dolls is doing around this time. November is back being Mellie and returns to her apartment; as she talks to Agent Ballard she suddenly freezes then warns him that she is November from the Dollhouse and anything he tells Mellie will be reported back before switching back to being Mellie. Victor sets off to see an elderly female client but then heads off and meets Adelle; she has clearly being using him as a sexual partner and as the only person she can talk to about work in the knowledge that security won't be breached. Sierra slips into the NSA as Laurence believes they must be the ones who installed the device and wants her to find the identity of their agent. Echo end up being programmed to identify the spy by quizzing Dollhouse employees and observing how they react.
This was a top notch episode that had plenty of great twists and lots of character development before the spy is unmasked and sent to the attic. One might have though Ballard learning that Mellie was sent by the Dollhouse would be the main revelation of the episode but ultimately it was relatively minor compared to other things we learn. The various other Active's missions were all interesting in their own ways; Sierra's provided some excitement and solid action and Victor's led to some very interesting revelations about Adelle. Echo's unsurprisingly is the most interesting; not just because of what she uncovers while programmed but because she is the one to suggest that Topher imprint her so she can help not the other way round. The unmasking of the traitor was handled very well and was quite a surprise following a nice bit of misdirection. Eliza Dushku is on fine form as Echo and is ably supported by the rest of the cast; most notably Fran Kranz, Olivia Williams and Reed Diamond as Topher, Adelle and Laurence. Overall a great episode which is likely to see more changes at the Dollhouse than are immediately obvious.
Second best ep of season 1
Joxerlives18 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The good; Exciting ep, the first I ever went back and re-watched 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 spy-catcher 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, tied to the mast and ravished by Johnny Depp and his pirate crew). Surprisingly 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?).
The English language does not really have the words to adequately describe how sexy dominatrix Echo is. Suffice to say she's sexier than Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman and you can't say more than that. Reputedly this scene alone got Dollhouse a second season, a shame we couldn't have had more Echo in sexy outfits (hot cop, sexy stewardess, nympho nurse, cheerleader, French maid, naughty schoolgirl/Girl Scout) to earn it a third.
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 spy-catcher. Victor is Roger the romantic, Sierra a spy.
Total number personalities; 2 for Echo, 1 each for Victor and Sierra
Echo; 16
Sierra; 7
Victor; 4
November; 2
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?).
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 preferable 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 lady-killer Victor.
Happy hookers
Boyd considers the Dollhouse 'pimps and killers', himself included.
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 government 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 whip-cracker since Calamity Jane. And the video clip lives forever on Youtube.
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
The bad; Echo the spy-catcher 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, tied to the mast and ravished by Johnny Depp and his pirate crew). Surprisingly 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?).
The English language does not really have the words to adequately describe how sexy dominatrix Echo is. Suffice to say she's sexier than Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman and you can't say more than that. Reputedly this scene alone got Dollhouse a second season, a shame we couldn't have had more Echo in sexy outfits (hot cop, sexy stewardess, nympho nurse, cheerleader, French maid, naughty schoolgirl/Girl Scout) to earn it a third.
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 spy-catcher. Victor is Roger the romantic, Sierra a spy.
Total number personalities; 2 for Echo, 1 each for Victor and Sierra
Echo; 16
Sierra; 7
Victor; 4
November; 2
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?).
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 preferable 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 lady-killer Victor.
Happy hookers
Boyd considers the Dollhouse 'pimps and killers', himself included.
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 government 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 whip-cracker since Calamity Jane. And the video clip lives forever on Youtube.
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
See also
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