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When did Dollhouse get so freakin' good?
Honestly, I kind of hate to say this, but I really didn't think it would ever get this good. I like Joss's stuff--he made my favorite show ever, plus two others that I really love, plus the joyful angstiness that is Dr. Horrible--but I'm actually not one of those "Joss is god" people. And because I was skeptical on the subject of Eliza, I was skeptical about the show ever getting really, really good.
But it has.
No really deep thoughts here, though I'd like to do a real post that examines issues at some point. Just some scattered thoughts.
Ever since "Man on the Street," the show has been top-caliber. Well, last week's "Haunted" was better in theory than in execution; I was pretty disappointed by it (though it was the only episode that made me actually like Topher instead of just enjoying him as the slimy character he is; the big reveal that it's his birthday and Adelle lets him have once a year with a doll because he needs to connect but can't made me want to glomp him. Which is kind of ridiculous, but true, nonetheless). I wish it hadn't taken it quite so long to get so good, because I know a lot of people who gave up on it and I haven't been able to convince them to come back.
But I know feel that it actually is asking questions instead of just showing off its shiny toys, and that's what I needed. I needed a show that would ask penetrating questions because otherwise this topic is just far too icky.
Details:
Boyd was my favorite from the first, and I still find him the most likable character. However, I don't think he's morally right in all this; he's in it just as deep as Adelle or Topher, but I think he can be redeemed. I hope his care for Caroline will pull him out of this whole thing and set him on the right track.
I've been impressed by Eliza. She's doing much better than I thought she would (I thought she was amazing in "Gray Hour," for instance). And most of all, I've been impressed by the way the show has shown Caroline breaking through. Again and again, Echo gets out of impossible situations because Caroline's qualities of resourcefulness, dedication, and courage keep popping through. I am so impressed by the way they keep showing that--without it ever seeming like she's going against whatever her programming is at the moment. Way to go, show. Way to go.
Olivia Williams is a fierce, fierce ass-kicking actress of awesome. (Also, Adelle on a trampoline owns my soul.)
Topher is slimy but totally amusing. I enjoy him even if he leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Sierra is great, but I'm very annoyed at how they're making her a victim (especially because, in my mind at least, this ties in with Joss's obsession with geisha culture and his weird racial issues. But I'm not going there right now). I'm even more annoyed at how a guy hitting the guy who victimized her is supposed to give her closure.
Victor. Ooooh, Victor. First off, I have developed a huge crush on Enver. And I think he's ridiculously talented--clearly the kind of actor who can do anything. Every week he impresses me more, and this week, when he was Dominic? Creepy and awesome and I cannot believe just how much he was Dominic. Amazing.
Which leads me to a confession. You can add this show to my official list of obsessions, because, y'all, I now have an OTP. Oh, yes, I'm shipping Victor/Sierra like you wouldn't believe. The idea that even when he's practically personality-less, he still loves her (or at least cares about her) just makes me squee. LOVE THEM!
I adore Tahmoh and I think Paul is an awesome character, but I don't like Paul at all. He totally needed that calling-out he got by Patton Oswalt in "Man on the Street." His motives are just as murky as anyone else's. And after the whole thing with Mellie? Can't say that he's the "good guy" anymore. Sure, if he hadn't slept with her, they might have found out that he knew she was a doll. But that doesn't make it okay. And the way he took his anger out on her? NOT COOL, PAUL BALLARD!
When we found out November lost a daughter, it just broke my heart. And I'm terribly interested in why she has so many criminal records or whatever came up in the FBI database.
Amy Acker is a great actress. Between Fred, Illyria, and now Claire Saunders, I'm convinced there isn't anything she can't do.
Am I missing anyone vital?
Whatever.
This week--CRAZY! Alan Tudyk is a god, y'all! I looooved him all twitchy and neurotic and geeky and I loooooved him all scary and intimidating and genius.
AND THEN FAITH AND WASH WERE MAKING OUT!!!!! NEVER SAW THAT ONE COMING!!!!
And the preview for next week blew my mind. I haven no idea what's going on. None. I have no clue how they're going to wrap things up in one more episode. I do not care. I'm totally sold on this show, and my heart is going to be broken if it's cancelled.
Yeah.
Now for something meme-y, since I've missed y'all. More as to why I've been gone in the next post.
THE 'ABC' MEME: For those unfamiliar, first you pick a letter, from which you pick a prompt. Then you pick a fandom, RPF or crossover and a character or pairing. In return you'll receive a ficlet of some kind.
But it has.
No really deep thoughts here, though I'd like to do a real post that examines issues at some point. Just some scattered thoughts.
Ever since "Man on the Street," the show has been top-caliber. Well, last week's "Haunted" was better in theory than in execution; I was pretty disappointed by it (though it was the only episode that made me actually like Topher instead of just enjoying him as the slimy character he is; the big reveal that it's his birthday and Adelle lets him have once a year with a doll because he needs to connect but can't made me want to glomp him. Which is kind of ridiculous, but true, nonetheless). I wish it hadn't taken it quite so long to get so good, because I know a lot of people who gave up on it and I haven't been able to convince them to come back.
But I know feel that it actually is asking questions instead of just showing off its shiny toys, and that's what I needed. I needed a show that would ask penetrating questions because otherwise this topic is just far too icky.
Details:
Boyd was my favorite from the first, and I still find him the most likable character. However, I don't think he's morally right in all this; he's in it just as deep as Adelle or Topher, but I think he can be redeemed. I hope his care for Caroline will pull him out of this whole thing and set him on the right track.
I've been impressed by Eliza. She's doing much better than I thought she would (I thought she was amazing in "Gray Hour," for instance). And most of all, I've been impressed by the way the show has shown Caroline breaking through. Again and again, Echo gets out of impossible situations because Caroline's qualities of resourcefulness, dedication, and courage keep popping through. I am so impressed by the way they keep showing that--without it ever seeming like she's going against whatever her programming is at the moment. Way to go, show. Way to go.
Olivia Williams is a fierce, fierce ass-kicking actress of awesome. (Also, Adelle on a trampoline owns my soul.)
Topher is slimy but totally amusing. I enjoy him even if he leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Sierra is great, but I'm very annoyed at how they're making her a victim (especially because, in my mind at least, this ties in with Joss's obsession with geisha culture and his weird racial issues. But I'm not going there right now). I'm even more annoyed at how a guy hitting the guy who victimized her is supposed to give her closure.
Victor. Ooooh, Victor. First off, I have developed a huge crush on Enver. And I think he's ridiculously talented--clearly the kind of actor who can do anything. Every week he impresses me more, and this week, when he was Dominic? Creepy and awesome and I cannot believe just how much he was Dominic. Amazing.
Which leads me to a confession. You can add this show to my official list of obsessions, because, y'all, I now have an OTP. Oh, yes, I'm shipping Victor/Sierra like you wouldn't believe. The idea that even when he's practically personality-less, he still loves her (or at least cares about her) just makes me squee. LOVE THEM!
I adore Tahmoh and I think Paul is an awesome character, but I don't like Paul at all. He totally needed that calling-out he got by Patton Oswalt in "Man on the Street." His motives are just as murky as anyone else's. And after the whole thing with Mellie? Can't say that he's the "good guy" anymore. Sure, if he hadn't slept with her, they might have found out that he knew she was a doll. But that doesn't make it okay. And the way he took his anger out on her? NOT COOL, PAUL BALLARD!
When we found out November lost a daughter, it just broke my heart. And I'm terribly interested in why she has so many criminal records or whatever came up in the FBI database.
Amy Acker is a great actress. Between Fred, Illyria, and now Claire Saunders, I'm convinced there isn't anything she can't do.
Am I missing anyone vital?
Whatever.
This week--CRAZY! Alan Tudyk is a god, y'all! I looooved him all twitchy and neurotic and geeky and I loooooved him all scary and intimidating and genius.
AND THEN FAITH AND WASH WERE MAKING OUT!!!!! NEVER SAW THAT ONE COMING!!!!
And the preview for next week blew my mind. I haven no idea what's going on. None. I have no clue how they're going to wrap things up in one more episode. I do not care. I'm totally sold on this show, and my heart is going to be broken if it's cancelled.
Yeah.
Now for something meme-y, since I've missed y'all. More as to why I've been gone in the next post.
THE 'ABC' MEME: For those unfamiliar, first you pick a letter, from which you pick a prompt. Then you pick a fandom, RPF or crossover and a character or pairing. In return you'll receive a ficlet of some kind.
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As for the meme: G, Games, the Dollhouse. (By which I mean, whoever you want from the 'verse.)
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I am totally working on the prompt--I have part of it written already. It may be a week or two because my seasonal_spuffy entry day is fast approaching, but I will give you some fic soon!
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WORD. JUST WORD.
AND THEN FAITH AND WASH WERE MAKING OUT!!!!!
ALSO OMGSOAWESOME.
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I JUST RIGHT NOW SAW THE TRAILER FOR THIS WEEK. AND WHAT WHAT WHAT. MY FAVOURITE BIT WAS GOT TO BE WHEN PAUL'S ALL ALPHA GOT OUT SO CAN I AND ADELLE JUST LEVELS HIM WITH THIS GLARE AND SAYS ALPHA IS A GENIUS.. Sit down, Paul Ballard.
As for the meme, I shall give you Dollhouse/BTVS, the tag team of awesome Giles and Boyd, and N as in New Watcher.
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I have started working on the prompt--I'm really excited about it because it's not anything I would have come up with on my own, which is the joy of prompts, I think--but it might be a few days because my seasonal_spuffy day is fast approaching and I have got to get my shit together for that.
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In sum: I fangirl this show more than I consciously realize even as it squicks me out. JOSS DOES THESE THINGS TO ME. How.
*Apart from her expression at Boyd getting hurt last episode - broke. my. heart. And I loved when she shouted "I trust you!" to him. That's my girl.
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I do love Eliza and she's improved but I think Enver and Dichen are still acting circles around her. I feel like Eliza can bring the drama, but Enver and Dichen are so much more versatile and that helps them pull the whole chameleon-personalities conceit off more convincingly Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
I adore mind!wipe!Victor. I adore crazy!Russian!mafia!guy!Victor. I adore English!fencing!Victor. I adore Dominic!Victor. I adore whoever-he-was-before!Victor ("Needs" was beyond awesome--he seemed like such a good guy, and we don't have those on this show). Basically, I love every Victor ever, and I think he should be the breakout star of the whole thing.
"Yes, Joss, we get it. Sierra's life is one of sexual horror. Yep. We got it. That horse was dead like five episodes ago; can we see some progression with it now?"
Exactly.
I KNOW! I was not expecting to love this the way I do. It's awesome.
*Apart from her expression at Boyd getting hurt last episode - broke. my. heart. And I loved when she shouted "I trust you!" to him. That's my girl. That was awesome. Even though their relationship has creepy undertones, it can still be really sweet.
I was talking to one of my RL friends about it yesterday, and he has this theory that Boyd used to be Ballard--i.e. trying ot bring the Dollhouse down. This proved impossible, but he cared so much that rather than giving up, he decided to work from the inside to keep the dolls safe. I don't think that that totally exonerates him (in a lot of ways, he's totally Echo's pimp, and she doesn't even know it), but it makes me more comfortable in how much I like him.
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Victor is definitely magic. I must know more about his original personality. *stamps foot*
Ooh, that's a nice theory about Boyd. This shall be my personal canon until Joss says otherwise.
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I must know more about his original personality. *stamps foot* That's going to be one of the things I'll most miss if we don't get another season. (I sound like a broken record, don't I?)
Actually, I think what happened with Ballard kind of supports my theory, since basically that's what he did in this last episode. So it would make a nice parallel, you know?