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Post by jeff on Mar 26, 2009 22:04:37 GMT -5
If you were a writer would you really want to work alongside Joss. Who is the MOST incredible storyteller, even when he's telling 5-6 different stories all at once. What television exec, no matter how dense, having this episode in the can, would even bother to show episodes 1-5?So, now I can "recruit" friends to watch by telling them: skip episodes 1-5 and go straight to 6. Having the man on the street interviews is pure genius -- sets the backstory, acknowledges the creepiness, gets people to admit to the seduction of the idea, etc. (I mean, you can always so back and watch episodes 1-5 to make sure you know all of the back story, but THIS is the "why did I ever consider doubting Joss" episode.) Surely Boyd is the "inside man?" (surely? maybe? ya think? could be anybody?) But I want it to be Boyd! I like the neighbor girl a lot. Many, many, many, layers and stories. That was an incredible fight scene. The story of the rich man and the woman he loved who died----fantastic. Drew me in, so sympathetic, so sad, so lovely, and her with the "it's porn isn't it?", which really a little bit it sort of was: "It is a fantasy." What were the ratings? What have the reviewers said? What is the word on the street? Oh and that fight scene brought back so many good memories of Faith/Buffy, and Faith/Angel fight scenes from the past. Loved it!
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Post by Anne, Old S'cubie Cat on Mar 27, 2009 16:59:28 GMT -5
I finally gave up waiting for Himself to find time, and watched this episode by myself. Elder Daughter walked in right in the middle and I had to stop and suggest she put on headphones if she was going to use the computer because I was not going to stop watching my show. The one time she decides to come home from school three hours early... But I got through it. Also, ad for Fringe! Squeeee!
Well, that certainly complicated things. But in a good, fair, layered Joss-ish kind of way.
I knew the nice girl next door was an active, I knew it.
And now that I've started reading through this thread, no, I didn't know about the previous casting, it just seemed a logical plot twist.
Karen, I agree, internet guy is slime. Once, he could try to "show his wife the new house", for closure. I'd still think he was creepy. But every year with a different doll? That's just disgusting.
The handler who was abusing Sierra? Can I despine him? Or flay him? I do a great flay... Please please please?
I almost admire the woman running this Dollhouse - she's trying to do right by her charges. She's still totally evil, though.
Joss sure does have a dark depressing mind these days. This is never going to be a show I look forward to, but at least it's worth the watching.
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Post by leftylady on Mar 28, 2009 15:38:35 GMT -5
If you were a writer would you really want to work alongside Joss. Who is the MOST incredible storyteller, even when he's telling 5-6 different stories all at once. What television exec, no matter how dense, having this episode in the can, would even bother to show episodes 1-5?So, now I can "recruit" friends to watch by telling them: skip episodes 1-5 and go straight to 6. Having the man on the street interviews is pure genius -- sets the backstory, acknowledges the creepiness, gets people to admit to the seduction of the idea, etc. (I mean, you can always so back and watch episodes 1-5 to make sure you know all of the back story, but THIS is the "why did I ever consider doubting Joss" episode.) Surely Boyd is the "inside man?" (surely? maybe? ya think? could be anybody?) But I want it to be Boyd! I like the neighbor girl a lot. Many, many, many, layers and stories. That was an incredible fight scene. The story of the rich man and the woman he loved who died----fantastic. Drew me in, so sympathetic, so sad, so lovely, and her with the "it's porn isn't it?", which really a little bit it sort of was: "It is a fantasy." What were the ratings? What have the reviewers said? What is the word on the street? Oh and that fight scene brought back so many good memories of Faith/Buffy, and Faith/Angel fight scenes from the past. Loved it! Thanks to Dollhouse stunt choreo by Mike Massa of AtS. ;D leftylady
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 21:26:36 GMT -5
Teaser
Documentary about the Dollhouse.
A darker meaning than little girls having a tea party? Cause that sounds pretty dark to me.
Dollhouse as urban legend.
And they didn't use this bit in the pilot, why? Cause this is definitely catchy.
Ballard watching the videos.
Mark Shepherd again.
In the Dollhouse.
Victor and Sierra again.
When Echo goes to sleep she hears Sierra? Hmm.
Is Sierra pregnant?
Victor and Sierra had sex?
Oh, she'd just had sex. No pregnancy. Yet.
Oh, Sierra's been crying at night. Oy.
Ballard's putting the pieces together.
I'm thinking that neighbor is pumping Ballard for info here.
Who is this guy? Oh, this must be a sting. Ah, the client that Ballard was talking about.
Action Ballard!
Dude, you lost your moment there, Ballard.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 21:38:40 GMT -5
Part I
More documentary.
Back at the standoff.
My husband does porn! Hee!
I thought Ballard knew that the dolls were being programmed. Why would he expect them to just be like "thanks for saving me!"
More Action Ballard.
And there's Boyd.
Again, very sloppy. Ballard's totally going to lose his lead.
We put the boy doll on top of the girl doll and we learn about urges. Yep, sounds about right.
We all have a fantasy. We need it to survive.
Ballard's fantasy.
Back in the Dollhouse. Scrubbing Victor.
Are they using that thing from Blade Runner.
Sierra makes him feel better. Hmm.
Handler's discussing Victor and Sierra.
They're all broken.
Ballard interrogating whatshisname. So there was a real Rebecca. A rather touching story, actually. Except for the ickiness.
He'll throw the Kindle at you. Snerk.
People will accept a change that's already happened.
Go live in your real world.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 21:46:54 GMT -5
Part II
More documentary.
Back in the Dollhouse.
The Handler is in on the Victor shenanigans?
He's going to The Attic?
Interesting that The Doll once again is getting blamed/punished for the mistakes the people who run the Dollhouse have made. Victor is so sad here. And he has no idea about what he did or why it was wrong.
Ballard and neighbor.
Ooh! Nekkid Tahmoh.
Did that conversation really turn on Ballard? Cause that was a weird segue.
Bouncy the Rat? Heh.
Ohhhh, Sierra's handler was the one!!!! OMGEWWW!!!!
And Boyd is getting chewed out for uncovering it. Typical.
Yep, they've tapped Ballard's apartment.
And exit strategy? I'm not sure she understands what that even means. I'm kind of surprised that all the utilities keep functioning in this place.
I wonder who the higher ups are.
Baiting Ballard with Echo.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 21:55:27 GMT -5
Part III
More documentary. Heh. Love the look this girl gives his boyfriend.
Topher in his lab. Ah, he's crafting personalities. This scene is like a cross between Dark City and Minority Report.
This chick must be a lab assistant.
Echo is on assignment but Boyd isn't assigned with her.
Boyd seems to be the only competent person in this organization.
Adelle chewing out Handler. This should be good.
4 times.
We're in the business of using people.
What does Adelle think that the Dollhouse is about really? Is she really genuine about all the poetic mumbo jumbo?
Yeah, this guy is a dick, but he's got a point.
Did it make it better, that she didn't struggle? No, it made it easier.
What is the best use for you.
Is that neighbor in the photo? Are they going to abduct her and use her against Ballard?
Ballard and neighbor in bed. That as quick.
Action Echo pwns Ballard.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 22:01:01 GMT -5
Part IV
More documentary. Guy's got a point.
Fight, fight, fight.
Wait, is what Echo is saying for real?
Over 20 Dollhouses? The professional in me is hoping that the other ones are run better than this one.
Neighbor gets nabbed. Ick. Nice choice of music here.
A code? So... neighbor's also a doll?
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 22:07:57 GMT -5
Coda
More documentary.
Imagine it being used. Now imagine it being used on you.
If that technology exists, it'll be used, it'll be abused, it'll be global. And we will be over, as a species. We will cease to matter. I don't know. Maybe we should.
Ballard gives up his badge. Now what is he going to do? Ah, he was suspended.
You played a very good hand. I played a very bad hand, very well. There is a distinction.
I don't think they're as ignorant as they're supposed to be. No. We're working on it. Hmm.
Echo and Adelle.
Painting the house from earlier.
Doing the date over.
Nice music there at the end.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 22:10:47 GMT -5
I really do think that the pilot would have been loads better with this documentary stuff. Cause it talks about the things that people think about when they hear the premise. So when the audience sees that, they're like "Just what I was thinking!" and then they've bought into the show.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 22:12:35 GMT -5
Urban legend documentary / news thingee! Nice intro. The story grows more intricet and more divisive. Oooooh, coincidental language? Joss wrote this one, so I'm thinking not so coincidental. "A mindless whore. Just your type." Damn. It this guy trying to get smacked down? What? Screaming and . . . Victor wants to pretend. Pretend they're married. The dolls don't have sex drives - that's "part of the deal". If Victor's off program - like Alpha . . . hmmmmmm. And here's a mention of the attic again. Sierra cries when they're asleep. I'm getting a not good feeling about this. I think, not Victor. I'm thinking someone else - someone in charge at the house, maybe?I like this woman at the Bureau who's helping him. She's less obsessed than him, but just as interested in making sure if something is wrong that they find out and fix it. "Rick?" "Dick." "I thought his name was Rick." "Oh, it is." Oh, snap! ;D So, what's the story he's hired her for? And holy crap! He actually found her, finds the person he's been looking for. That? I was not expecting. Damn, you're good. I totally didn't see the twist coming. I really like Bald Black Woman too.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 22:19:28 GMT -5
Ha! "That could be sweet for some guys." And she looks at him in a whole new light. It's oddly fascinating hearing him talk about how they build a personality to fit what they need. I mean, yes, creepy, and yet also fascinating. Wonder why you're not dead? Gonna erase me? Put me in the attic? You're disgusting! And he's right about how they're doing the same thing. Which makes them both horrible, yes? "We are in the business of using people. The question is, what is the best use for someone like you?" O.M.G. They want to use him . . . to attack the neighbor. Rape and kill her?! OMG!! This is a nice moment between these two. And she is standing in for the audience now, isn't she? Just stating straightforwardly that he should find out about hte dollhouse, because what they're doing is wrong. Oy. And now here's the plan. Send the icky guy to kill her, send Echo to kill him. I've been suspecting Mellie as a Doll for a while now. When DeWitt sent Sierra's former handler out to kill her, after looking at the surveilance in her apartment, I was almost certain, for why would they have surveilance on her apartment unless she worked for them? They couldn't be certain that Ballard would fall for her unless they were working on it. The logical place to have surveilance on him was his apartment. Then I wavered for a minute, with DeWitt sending him to kill her, but the absolute contempt she held him in for raping her children (for that's what he was doing: I think she draws a strong distinction between the imprinted personalities and the resting childlike state of the Actives) made me think she was sending him out to die a horrible and poetic death. Which she confirmed later: "Not without its poetry" Now I wonder who the inside man is. Doc Saunders? Topher's prentice? Who? I think it's Sierra. I mean, not like she knows it, but she's got some hidden programming that makes her go around reprogramming the chair thing and so forth. I think it's her mostly because she's the most recent one to show up and so forth.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 22:30:25 GMT -5
" You think it's not happening? You think they're not controlling you? Don't worry about it. Just sit back and wait for them to tell you what to buy." Holy Crap. This fight? Is like, damn! This is a fight. Wait a minute . . . she's telling him all about things . . . is this . . . . is this her programming? If so, by who?? If not, is there . . . is there some layer of her underneath that is doing this? Is she actually undercover or something?? "We have a person inside." "You're going about this the wrong way." Over 20 Dollhouses all over the world. Deals in fantasy, their business but not their purpose. There is a huge conspiracy!!! OMG!! OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!! Mellie is programmed too?!? "There are 3 flowers in a vase." Holy fuck. **is completely wrung out** Wow. I mean. Wow. "Imagine this technology exists. Imagine it being used. Now, imagine it being used . . . on you." And they get what they want, Ballard leaving the FBI. "I played a very bad hand very well." "I don't think they're as ignorant as they're supposed to be." Truer words never spoken, dude! Oh, what a perfect series of images! The "romantic" image of her pretending to be his wife and then, it's all sucked away again and then, the grr arrgg monster. The "sweet" fantasy that isn't very sweet, pulled away to reaveal, voila, a monster. Damn!! For some reason I just thought maybe he was talking about women, in general, with this line. No way. "They" are controlling everything: politicians, economics, advertising, media. They control everything. They tell you what to buy.It's a mysterious world-wide cabal of control! oh, oh, oh, oh, my Well, if Mad Men has taught me anything, it's that consumers are primarily women, so I think you're on to something. It was a really great line.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 22:32:43 GMT -5
"You think it's not happening? You think they're not controlling you? Don't worry about it. Just sit back and wait for them to tell you what to buy." Holy Crap. This fight? Is like, damn! This is a fight. Wait a minute . . . she's telling him all about things . . . is this . . . . is this her programming? If so, by who?? If not, is there . . . is there some layer of her underneath that is doing this? Is she actually undercover or something?? "We have a person inside." "You're going about this the wrong way." Over 20 Dollhouses all over the world. Deals in fantasy, their business but not their purpose. There is a huge conspiracy!!! OMG!! OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!! Mellie is programmed too?!? "There are 3 flowers in a vase." Holy fuck. **is completely wrung out** Wow. I mean. Wow. " Imagine this technology exists. Imagine it being used. Now, imagine it being used . . . on you."And they get what they want, Ballard leaving the FBI. "I played a very bad hand very well." "I don't think they're as ignorant as they're supposed to be." Truer words never spoken, dude! Oh, what a perfect series of images! The "romantic" image of her pretending to be his wife and then, it's all sucked away again and then, the grr arrgg monster. The "sweet" fantasy that isn't very sweet, pulled away to reaveal, voila, a monster. Damn!! Did you know that "Truman-ism" is now an officially recognized psychological disease? People who believe that they are living like Jim Carrey in "The Truman Show." Joss is going to create people with a whole new psychosis --- people who believe that this universe actually exists. I had no idea that some one had coined the term Trumanism. Interesting.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Mar 29, 2009 22:36:11 GMT -5
I finally gave up waiting for Himself to find time, and watched this episode by myself. Elder Daughter walked in right in the middle and I had to stop and suggest she put on headphones if she was going to use the computer because I was not going to stop watching my show. The one time she decides to come home from school three hours early... But I got through it. Also, ad for Fringe! Squeeee! Well, that certainly complicated things. But in a good, fair, layered Joss-ish kind of way. I knew the nice girl next door was an active, I knew it. And now that I've started reading through this thread, no, I didn't know about the previous casting, it just seemed a logical plot twist. Karen, I agree, internet guy is slime. Once, he could try to "show his wife the new house", for closure. I'd still think he was creepy. But every year with a different doll? That's just disgusting. The handler who was abusing Sierra? Can I despine him? Or flay him? I do a great flay... Please please please?I almost admire the woman running this Dollhouse - she's trying to do right by her charges. She's still totally evil, though. Joss sure does have a dark depressing mind these days. This is never going to be a show I look forward to, but at least it's worth the watching. Please, flay away. I'm getting the idea that Joss's interest was peaked by the April bot and the idea has been percolating since them and now he has a chance to really delve into this topic.
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