entirely ruined her disposition with books

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.

( spoilers and such )
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.

Dear Joss, FOX Execs., and anyone else who has the slightest bit of power over Dollhouse's advertising:

I get that the whole premise of Dollhouse is supposed to be creepy and wrong.  Squicky, if you will.  We as audience members are supposed to be repulsed by the idea of people erasing each other's identities in order to use them for their own gain or satisfaction.  Characters like Topher (aka Warren) and the way he gets off on controlling these women (I realize there are men involved, too, but that isn't really the issue here) are supposed to be viewed as reprehensible. If I didn't believe that wholeheartedly, I would stop watching this show in about two seconds.

But see, there are a whole lot of people out there who didn't get that vibe at all.  And they are offended, squicked, disgusted...and they've sworn off of the show already.  

You know why I think this is?  Because of the disgusting, sexist ads featuring Eliza and Summer.  Look, I get it.  I was so taken with the idea of the two of them onscreen at the same time that it took me some time to realize just how they were being presented.  River and Faith on the same screen!  That's so awesome!  They're pretty!  Real, live crossovers!  The network is really speaking to the built-in geek fandom audience!

But that is not what those ads did.  Instead, they presented two extremely beautiful young women as nothing more than objects to provide sexual titillation that can be "programmed" to the desires of whoever is watching, making  a "date night" with the viewer.  In these ads, they were dolls.  And there was absolutely nothing to make us think that that isn't how the network wanted us to view them.

The ads completely undermined the show itself.  How on earth could people be expected not to think that Joss and the network are presenting the dollhouse in a straightforward, have-your-fantasy-fulfilled, a-woman-is-just-a-body-for-your-enjoyment kind of way?  Seriously?  We're supposed to be skeeved by Topher viewing the dolls as toys for his own sick enjoyment and then turn around and do the exact same thing to two real, live women with minds and hearts and souls?  

No.  Absolutely not.  If you continue to advertise in this way, you will lose all the thoughtful, reasonable viewers and the show will only be watched by the very morally-skewed people you're trying to critique.  I know that you executives don't really care about quality of viewers, just numbers, but (and I could be wrong--for as many times as other humans inspire me with their compassion, thoughtfulness, and courage, there are at least as many times that they make me ashamed to be human) I like to think the thoughtful members of your audience are a larger percentage than the sexist perverts.

These ads are self-defeating.  I've been looking around the internet, peeking in here and there to get an idea of the main reactions to the show, and I can tell you for certain that you've already lost the respect and the viewership of a lot of thoughtful people. 

And that's the last thing you can afford right now.

I had quite a lot of problems with the pilot, but none that I don't think won't--or at least can't--be overcome or subverted in future episodes--except this.

Look, if you don't get this right--accurately communicating the tone of the show--nothing else is going to matter.

Please.  Take a few moments to think.

And then do the right thing.

- Lauren

This is my reaction post to "Echo," which I wrote as I watched, so it's garbled.  I'll probably have some coherent thoughts tomorrow.

[Poll #1348704][Poll #1348704]
Let me know what you think and why!

[EDIT] Whoa! Looks like the Spike fans are really vocal about choosing Num3ers. That totally cracks me up. Any BSG fans out there?

So I guess most people have heard by now, but I wanted the chance to freak out over the casting announcements for Dollhouse.  The fact that they're casting at all warms my soul--it's really happening!--and watching the cast being formed in front of my eyes is so incredibly exciting.  I mean, it's good enough that it's Eliza Dushku, right?  But that her love interest is going to be played by Helo?  That's just fantastic.  I find Tahmoh Penikett so very attractive, and even though I've seen, all told, probably two seasons of Battlestar Galactica and it's been a while, I remember really liking his character.  So I'm incredibly excited at the thought of him interacting with Eliza.

I haven't heard of any of the other actors, but they all look like lovely people (I immediately imdbed them, of course), and I really have confidence in Joss.  Even when the actors he chooses aren't the best in the world (and let's admit it, some of them, especially on Buffy, aren't), they're always right for the part and rise to the occasion.  I can't wait to fall in love with these new actors.

I think it's hilarious, and many people have pointed this out, that it seems like Joss is trying to assemble the cast with the least pronounceable names of all times.   But it's such a lovely diverse cast already--his most diverse by far--and that makes me very, very happy.

Amazing, isn't it, the power Joss Whedon has to make my days better?

Am I freaking out with excitement over the announcement about Joss's new show?  Oh, yes.  I am.

First off, the name is fantastic.  I love the way, like with Firefly, he's picked one word with such powerful connotations (also, Ibsen, anyone?).  Second, considering that I've never seen Eliza Dushku as anyone but Faith, I'm excited to see if she can play someone else as compellingly.  Also, Tim Minear?  Great.

Wanna hear something pathetic?  I'm so ridiculously sad about the fact that I always come into fandoms late that I already registered at the forums at Dollverse and am plunging into this wholeheartedly.  Here's one I can be a part of from the beginning and not start loving and writing fic about during its last season or after it's gone off the air.  *coughfireflyveronicamarsgilmoregirlsbuffycough*

It really stinks that I don't have anyone in real life to squee with over this.  But y'all will do. ;)

I already can't wait.