Dollhouse - Series 1

Dollhouse - Series 1
Genres: Sci-Fi/Fantasy - Fantasy - General, Sci-fi - General, Television - American, Sci-Fi, Series/Miniseries
13 Episodes
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Most helpful review Dollhouse - S01 E03 - Stage Fright

  • Sci-fi Psychology

    Rated - 3.5 stars  
    By Lyco (12 reviews) from South Wales , 20 Jul 2012

    THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide

    [Highly rated reviewer]

    [Highly rated reviewer]

    Certainly not Joss Wheddon's best work but Dollhouse is so much more that what your incredibly average (minded) viewer would be willing to admit.

    The absolute killer for average Joe is the whole sexual issue. These people could be seen as 'brainwashed hookers' but there is so much more to it than that. People are not being subjected to force, no one is doing anything they don't want to do. The entire personality and set of memories that makes a person who they are is utterly removed from them and replaced with a tapestry made up of parts of other people's, changed for each 'engadgement'. The 'active's' mind is essentialy put into storage while their body is borrowed. A person is tailored for a client's specific wish, which could simply be a good date or helping retrieve a kidnapped child.

    It poses the question of what makes us who we are. Are we the sum of our experiences, memories, flaws and quirks? Are we out minds? Do our bodies, our physical selves, the proverbial book cover really play any part in who we are? If not, would loaning our bodies out really be such a terrible thing?

    But then on the other hand what of these new people made up of the memories, personalities and skills of many others? Are they not real people? Is building a person to a such a degree that you know they will react in a way you want them to willingly not just another form of forcing someone to do something for you?

    Dig a little deeper and you'll see that Dollhouse is smarter than perhaps people are able to see, too blinded by a prudish sense of right and wrong. But check such concerns at the door and it's still a fun ride, plenty of action, mystery, sci fi, the end of the world and a hand-full of eye candy. As for practical issues, Eliza Dushku's acting seems to be an issue for many viewers, but I see no problem with it personally. It can be rather one-set at times, that I won't deny but something with a good story shouldn't need to dazzle viewers with pretty new places. And of course, there are some plot issues (find me a sci-fi show that doesn't have plot issues and I will give you MY body) but they're bearable.

    My biggest problem with Dollhouse however is that the channel that aired it gave it a Season 2 when they were going to cancel it and cancelled Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (a far supreior show) instead (on a cliff hanger ending) though they half heartedly attempted to deny it. All because of the faith/fear related to Joss Whedon. (faith it would pick up viewers and fear that they'd have another Firefly on their hands if they canceled it)
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  • Who am I supposed to care for??

    Rated - 2.5 stars  
    By Noblelox (2 reviews) , 21 Jan 2013
    I can see this series being an actor's dream, play someone different every week. Pity they gave the lead role to Eliza Dushku, who just plays Eliza Dushku every week. The main downfall of this show is that you don't really know who you are suppose to be empathising with. The lead? with a different personality every week, who when not programmed, is a simple minded child?... No sorry, doesn't tug on my heart strings? Or maybe the tenacious FBI agent? Who for reasons unknown is obsessed with finding Dollhouse, but is just button down single minded FBI guy, who does nothing to appeal to the viewing audience. So as a concept, everything is so ambiguous, that you cannot form an attachment to any character, and the stories don't really do enough to maintain my interest. I got 2 episodes in before giving up and walking away.
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  • Sci-fi Psychology

    Rated - 3.5 stars  
    By Lyco (12 reviews) from South Wales , 20 Jul 2012

    THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide

    [Highly rated reviewer]

    [Highly rated reviewer]

    Certainly not Joss Wheddon's best work but Dollhouse is so much more that what your incredibly average (minded) viewer would be willing to admit.

    The absolute killer for average Joe is the whole sexual issue. These people could be seen as 'brainwashed hookers' but there is so much more to it than that. People are not being subjected to force, no one is doing anything they don't want to do. The entire personality and set of memories that makes a person who they are is utterly removed from them and replaced with a tapestry made up of parts of other people's, changed for each 'engadgement'. The 'active's' mind is essentialy put into storage while their body is borrowed. A person is tailored for a client's specific wish, which could simply be a good date or helping retrieve a kidnapped child.

    It poses the question of what makes us who we are. Are we the sum of our experiences, memories, flaws and quirks? Are we out minds? Do our bodies, our physical selves, the proverbial book cover really play any part in who we are? If not, would loaning our bodies out really be such a terrible thing?

    But then on the other hand what of these new people made up of the memories, personalities and skills of many others? Are they not real people? Is building a person to a such a degree that you know they will react in a way you want them to willingly not just another form of forcing someone to do something for you?

    Dig a little deeper and you'll see that Dollhouse is smarter than perhaps people are able to see, too blinded by a prudish sense of right and wrong. But check such concerns at the door and it's still a fun ride, plenty of action, mystery, sci fi, the end of the world and a hand-full of eye candy. As for practical issues, Eliza Dushku's acting seems to be an issue for many viewers, but I see no problem with it personally. It can be rather one-set at times, that I won't deny but something with a good story shouldn't need to dazzle viewers with pretty new places. And of course, there are some plot issues (find me a sci-fi show that doesn't have plot issues and I will give you MY body) but they're bearable.

    My biggest problem with Dollhouse however is that the channel that aired it gave it a Season 2 when they were going to cancel it and cancelled Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (a far supreior show) instead (on a cliff hanger ending) though they half heartedly attempted to deny it. All because of the faith/fear related to Joss Whedon. (faith it would pick up viewers and fear that they'd have another Firefly on their hands if they canceled it)
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  • Brainwashed acting

    Rated - 2.5 stars  
    By a customer , 05 Jul 2012
    Full of strange behaviour and plot issues - not very good, very studio bound with poor acting (an odd storyline overall for the series - brainwashed call girls is not really a SF theme and is actually really unpleasant when you consider it on a deeper level).
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