*dies of awesome*

[lirazel]

If you know my feelings about Dollhouse at all, you must have thought about how incredibly much I would be freaking out over this episode. AND YOU WOULD BE RIGHT.

I might flail so hard that I die. Just to warn you.


First off: OH OTP!!! She liked Victor even when she was Priya! He wants to make sure she never has to use the bad color! They were playing with paints in the shower! He had a horrible flashback and she comforted him! She wanted him to come to her treatment! He'll wait for her right there! "He thrills me"!!!!! "I'm crazy about him. I love him"!!!!!!! "He loves you back"!!!! THE TWO OF THEM SLEEPING TOGETHER!!!! (With Echo overlooking them!!!!)

*dies*

And now for random thoughts in no particular order.

Priya's painting was beautiful. I loved it.

I love the Topher&Adelle dynamic in this episode. I think they may have officially become one of my favorite platonic relationships ever. Topher's getting more fascinating all the time, and I love that whoever-that-was called her on the fact that she convinces herself that she's morally okay. And then when she talks about everyone being morally compromised! Because she's trying to drawn lines--her rage over Nolen-the-rapist was very, very real and genuine--but she's not sure where they're supposed to be or even if she's capable of drawing them.

And Topher! I mentioned that he's getting more fascinating. He was always so slimy to me, but I love him having this moment of trying to do the right thing, even if it's in the wrong way. Paired with his relationship with Whiskey/Claire, I'm liking him way more as a character than I did in the first season where he was merely Warren-esque sleezy. And the interaction with Sierra at the end makes his birthday celebration heartbreaking. Anyone else think that when he told her that she got beer "on special occasions" he was talking about his birthday?

Echo's finally getting interesting! With noticing Sierra's problem! And the book! And I lovelovelovelovelove the writing on the inside of her bed--so awesome. And Boyd giving her the pass key! AWESOME STUFF IS HAPPENING, YO. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE STORM. (Even if the use of "storm" as a metaphor for coming conflict is the most cliched thing ever.

Interesting tidbit: Nolen is the name of my sister's jerky ex-boyfriend who convinced her that he was a nice guy and then ended up breaking up with her in a douchey way and then turning into a total tool after that. I was predisposed to not liking any character who shares that name. But the idea of how far he would go to get Priya? It's such an example of a culture that tells men that they deserve a given woman and that her desires just don't matter. Obviously, it's an extreme example, but here's this rich, powerful, very intelligent guy, and he absolutely believes that this woman exists only for his own benefit. It's chilling and disgusting and, boy, did he ever need killing.

One thing I really appreciated about this episode was the way they shot the violence between Nolen and Priya. It was ugly and it made me wince. It was just as painful as that sort of misogyny should be. There was nothing glamorous about it. And even though I lovelovelove that Priya fought back--she's a strong woman, no shrinking violet, and the victim is finally gone, which is what I'd been waiting for all along in her characterization--she was still a woman fighting against a man who was bigger and stronger than she was. You don't really see that a whole lot in Joss's shows, but it reminded me of when the Operative flings Inara across the room in Serenity. After Buffy taking on guys twice her size and River killing Reavers by the dozens, it's nice to be reminded that you can still be strong even if you aren't a physical match with the person who's trying to hurt you. Does that make any sense?

Even though she wins--and the knife thing was heavy--it's more a chance thing and a case of desperately fighting for your life than anything else. But I am so glad they let her save herself. The Sierra-as-victim thing was seriously the feminist (and racial) issue that was bothering me the most in the show. BUT PRIYA'S A BADASS NOW. YAY!

I want an icon of her silhouette against the backdrop of her beautiful painting. Stat.

Boyd is awesome. Just taking charge like that. I'm more interested in his background than ever, the way he knows how to dispose of bodies and that he had all the necessary elements to do so right on hand like that. Also, I wish we could see more of his tender relationship with Echo--that's the one thing I really miss from Season 1. They had a nice moment or two, but I miss that.

Jed and Maurissa have written my two favorite episodes of the show so far, bar none--this one and "Epitaph One," obviously--with "Man on the Street" still being my third favorite. They get the emotions right, but I think they need to work on dialogue a bit. Joss's stuff, and Tim's, too, it just sings. I love the words they put in people's mouths. I wish there'd been a bit more of that here. But that's my major complaint.

Where was Tahmoh? Not that I really miss Mr. Knight in Tarnished Armor, but he does bring an interesting dynamic to the show, and it would have been a cool contrast between him and Topher--Tahmoh wants to "save" Caroline, and Topher wanted to help Sierra here, even though he had no real idea about how to go about doing that.

Also, even the mentions of Whiskey/Claire got me all excited. COME BACK, AMY ACKER.

OH AND DID I MENTION MY OTP?!??!?!

Yeah.

Now I feel bad that my first (almost completed and still looking for a beta!) Victor/Sierra fic is so angsty. I need to write something fluffy and pretty to make up for it. And I need more icons of the two of them. Pretty ones.

Comments

[silverusagi]

I just wonder if Nolen is the first client to permanently 'request' an active (something we see Adelle saying no to in Epitaph One). And many people who are actives probably have desperate stories and thought it was the only way out for them, but Priya didn't agree at all to rent herself out for X many years.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

It's definitely an interesting question, and I'm glad they at least explored the idea, because it does seem like the next step, you know? If you can get your "perfect person" one time, why not every few weeks (which we've seen)? And now--why not forever?

And many people who are actives probably have desperate stories and thought it was the only way out for them, but Priya didn't agree at all to rent herself out for X many years. Exactly. Madeleine may have been trying to escape her past, Victor may have had PTSD (my personal theory), Caroline may have felt blackmailed into it...but Sierra had zero choice. She's the character who most fits the innocent victim trope.

[madcap-shiny.livejournal.com]

THIS EPISODE OMG. I've always felt really on-the-fence about DH even though I've stuck with it, but THIS EPISODE.

I want icons. Of Priya. I have some Sierra ones stored away already, but I really want icons of her as Priya.

Broken!Topher is also a necessity.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

It was such a fab episode; EMOTIONAL RESONANCE. All this show needs is a rocket launcher!

Priya kicks ass. I love her. And Broken!Topher.

[madcap-shiny.livejournal.com]

I've seen the meta in some circles that this episode was following along the idea that recruiting somebody mentally ill into the trafficking that is the Dollhouse is okay. What do you think? I dunno. I semi-disagree, but I can definitely see the bad implications.

I know this is really a once-a-season kind of episode, but I would just about kill for more with Priya - backstory about her life and what kind of person she was and such. ("Epitaph Two," anyone? Eh? Eh?)

This all makes me even more excited for the Victorcentric ep this season.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's what the show was arguing. I think that the characters felt that way. It's one of the lines Adelle and Topher were very willing to cross. But just because that's the case doesn't mean that the show is arguing that position. I'd have to think about it more.

Ah! And that's actually what you said, too! I just lovelovelove your comment you linked to, and I agree with every single thing about it. *hearts you*

YES to more Priya. I really like her. I would hang out with her and be her friend, unlike Caroline. Caroline was obnoxious.

I will just absolutely die of joy if "Epitaph Two" is anywhere near as awesome as "Epitaph One."

VICTORVICTORVICTOR. Do you have any idea what episode that will be? I really don't know how I'll be able to wait!

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

I want an icon of her silhouette against the backdrop of her beautiful painting.

What about these?

[angearia.livejournal.com]

God that's beautiful.

You're making me want a gif of her rising to stand in front of the painting though. Like - that moment is chilling in its power. Just GUH.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Like this?

[angearia.livejournal.com]

ZOMG!

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Oh, heh. Is there a way to have her rising up against the backdrop above? The one that shows the bird.

(You should ignore me. You really should. Demanding, demanding. Bad me.)

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Honey, I need to be pushed. I have to be pushed. Because I'm a lazy, lazy person. I had to think a bit to figure out how to squeeze a bigger-square avi into 40-kb size limit - and...



Hope you like it.

(I apologize to Penny_lane_42 for spamming her LJ with my stuff). *smoochies*

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

No need to ever apologize! Spam away! Especially when you bring such beautiful offerings with you!

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned lately how your powers amaze and delight me?

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

*blushes* Any avi requests? :)

[snickfic]

I think I need to snag the one on the left. Is that okay?

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Of course it's okay, hon! Anything for you! I can make a customized version (add a text you want, change color scheme, make a moving pic, etc.

Also, if another sequence strikes your fancy I may try to rework it into an avi.

[snickfic]

Thank you! I think just this icon will be great - I think that scene was by far the most striking visual image in the whole ep, and having it just like that, clean and simple, is just what I wanted. :)

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

You're incredibly awesome. Those are gorgeous!

[shamoogity.livejournal.com]

Hi, I don't know you, but would you mind if I snagged the one on the left? Really beautiful. It only just struck me while looking at these icons that she's become the black smear on her paintings.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Of course, shag away! I can customize it for you or make another using the same sequence.

(World needs more Dollhouse love)

[snickfic]

*has no words sufficient for squee*

*flails with you*

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Yay! I love flailing with others!

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

They had to let her do it herself, but at my house we were all saying, "That guy needs to meet Mellie. The third flower is..." But hey, different deaths for different rapists, and why is poor Priya/Sierra the target alla time?

Yes, super squee to the nth power for all of it. Topher, Boyd, Adelle, Victor/Sierra: it's all win. (I didn't miss Ballard a bit.) The downside is no more 'til December, WTF. :-(

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

why is poor Priya/Sierra the target alla time? Poor girl. But I needed to see her confront him, definitely. Because in "Needs" (that was the name, right? Or was there no "s"?), Victor was the one who punched him out. The Priya we saw here was far stronger and more awesome.

Ballard is creepycreepycreepy and makes me want to take a shower, but I find him fascinating in a totally disgusting way.

I KNOW! How will we last that long? I'm so glad that the last episode for a while was so strong.

Also: your icon is made of awesome.

[ohwaluvusbab.livejournal.com]

Paired with his relationship with Whiskey/Claire, I'm liking him way more as a character than I did in the first season where he was merely Warren-esque sleezy.

I've never gotten this at all. Topher, for all his moral failings, has never struck me as a Warren. If anything, he's Andrew.

To be blunt, I'm kind of amazed that everybody is so shocked by Topher's development. On a show like this in particular, where the writers urge the viewer to look beneath the surface, people were expecting that Joss would want us to take one of the main characters at face value? (No offense intended. Just my admittedly abnormal viewpoint.)

Um, this episode was 10 shades of awesome. Ended too soon. And of course, looks like the rest of the show is to follow suit if Fox have anything to say about it...

[snickfic]

I've never gotten this at all. Topher, for all his moral failings, has never struck me as a Warren. If anything, he's Andrew.

Yes. A more socially adept and scientifically successful Andrew, someone who just doesn't think through what he's doing.

I liked Topher from the beginning for sheer entertainment value. However, very early on, a friend commented that she figured Topher would eventually turn into a good guy because he was funny - an interesting insight, I thought. How often are the real Joss villains in deadly earnest (The Master, Glory, the First, ohmygoodness Adam), and how often do the ones with the senses of humor eventually come over to the good? (See Spike.)

At any rate, I'm tickled pink at all the deeper Topher character development.

[ohwaluvusbab.livejournal.com]

I liked Topher from the beginning for sheer entertainment value.

Topher has always struck me as being far superior to the countless 'friendly nerd' characters I've seen. (Don't get me wrong, I love the friendly nerds.) As witty as he has always been, there's always been strikingly unpleasant shades to his character, e.g. considerable self-absorption, seeing people as playthings. And yet, he is portrayed as an 'innocent', e.g. his birthday friend, 'man reactions'. I'm not surprised he's turned out to be one of the most fascinating characters, and his moral dilemma here doesn't feel forced at all. Props should also be given to Fran Kranz, who is able to pull off a character I would imagine would be very difficult to pull off.

how often do the ones with the senses of humor eventually come over to the good? (See Spike.)

Hmmm, that's very interesting. I think in both cases, the 'villains' who have potential for good, are people who are essentially always trying to keep up the act, if you will. Like Spike, Topher's reliance on sarcasm and mocking could be an expression of his need to keep people at a distance. Humour = depth in Joss-land?

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I agree: obviously, in disposition and such, Topher is far, far more like Andrew (his amoral status reminds me of what Buffy once said about Andrew--he's not really evil, he just takes on the flavor of whatever's around at the time. Topher might have made it through life without ever encountering a major moral quandary, and so his amoral status wouldn't have been an issue. But his talents led him to the worst possible environment. And that is so cool).

It's the action of changing people, of viewing people as toys that reminds me of Warren. The whole of the show is like what Warren did to Katrina blown up to a more epic scale. Every week I think of Katrina, especially in this latest episode, though obviously in this case, Nolen would be the Warren figure.

I'm not exactly shocked by Topher's development. It just felt to me like it's taken a loooong time to start catching a glimpse of his complexity. This is not true, however. It hasn't taken longer than it took to develop, say, Spike or Lilah or someone like that (as a matter of fact, you could argue that it's taken less time). It just feels that way to me because I've never watched a Joss show as it airs. My experiences with watching all his other shows (except for Dr. Horrible) have been very short and intense: I watched entire seasons in less time than the lapse between "Vows" and "Instinct." I'm having to relearn patience and experiencing it in a different way. It's interesting.

It really did end too soon, didn't it? I could have watched for hours. And it made me really mad at Fox, too.

[ohwaluvusbab.livejournal.com]

I am with you here. Especially with this:

Topher might have made it through life without ever encountering a major moral quandary, and so his amoral status wouldn't have been an issue. But his talents led him to the worst possible environment.

Spot on, I think.

Also the part about viewing people as playthings. One of my favourite scenes from the episode.

I also watched all of Joss's other shows in one great big chunk on DVD, so I get the being patient thing.

And it made me really mad at Fox, too.

I'm just relieved they're at least showing the remaining 9 episodes. I don't know what I would have done if they'd pulled it now.