Thread: Mother. Fucking. DOLLHOUSE.

Yes, it's Joss Whedon's new show. Yes, it's premiering this Friday night.

Yes, it's on Fox.

First things first: what's it about? It's about an agency that employs "actives", or "Dolls", to do all sorts of missions -- from humanitarian to sordid -- and uses them all as identity-less blank slates. They are implanted with personalities and abilities unique to each mission and after every one their memories are wiped. Echo, played by Eliza Dushku, begins to remember.

It's about identity. It's about people, it's about who we are, and what it is to be a person.

Also, there's cool stuff with guns and things.

I want to get this out of the way

Now, if you've heard about Dollhouse, you've probably heard about all that shit about Fox screwing them around. Ignore this. Ignore the pessimistic drivel you hear about "death slots" and production halts being bad omens. Joss is happy with the timeslot, and he's written many times that the network calling him out on his original pilot was a good move that has resulted in a better first episode. (Besides, even if I'm wrong and they are bad omens, what use is going around saying they are? All you'd do is put people off and inhibit your own enjoyment of the show, if you were going to have any.)

I'm completely and utterly psyched about this show. It's about time television's king of character storytelling returned to the small screen, and, man, TV wants him back.

Also, see this: http://www.fox28.com/Global/story.asp?S=9817537 Free PS3s!

But I mean why did they clone and brainwash Faith?

I was going to say something about it being scheduled for Friday night, you know, because it is pretty bad. But I guess you covered it.

There is great truth to the Friday Sci-Fi death slot. Isn't it something like 13 or 14 sci-fi shows have either started there and didn't live long or gone there to die?

Regardless of genre, Friday is just a bad bad slot for television during the primetime. Kids and adults 18-49 (or whatever demographic set it is) probably wont be in on a Friday night, etc.

Well, I mean, wrestling pulls pretty good ratings in the Friday night timeslot so it can be done. It just depends on how devoted and/or large your fanbase is

Wrestling pulls in about ~3-4e6 viewers which is absolutely horrible compared with the "Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" with about 2 mil more. Which is even lackluster compared to the ratings on mid-week shows.

It just doesn't bode well. Chances are that the numbers will be low, but I don't know if they factor in people who record it on their DVRs.




Regardless, I'm stoked.

Oh man, I just can't wait for his next series to feature Eliza Dushku.

Originally Posted by simonj

Oh man, I just can't wait for his next series to feature Eliza Dushku.

Eliza was a minor character in one of his three previous shows. I'm not sure what you're getting at, here, because if you're saying he's overusing a certain set of actors, well, that's dumb.

The rest of the cast is completely new, except for Amy Acker as Dr Whatsit (I forgot the character's name) who was a main in Angel for a few years and is now playing a minor character in this.

Anyway! TOGS, I'm not sure if they factor that in either, but I think Terminator has been in that timeslot since it started, and it's in season 3 or something. Yes, it's just been cancelled if I recall correctly, but that's probably because it's no good. Also, I'm fairly sure that Joss is working with the network to draw up some plans about internet viewership, etc. I don't know if I've heard things or I'm just making that up, but following Dr Horrible, Joss is pretty into the New Medium.

You mean she was a major character in one of his previous three shows and a minor character in another of his three previous shows?

Originally Posted by gwahir

Anyway! TOGS, I'm not sure if they factor that in either, but I think Terminator has been in that timeslot since it started, and it's in season 3 or something. Yes, it's just been cancelled if I recall correctly, but that's probably because it's no good. Also, I'm fairly sure that Joss is working with the network to draw up some plans about internet viewership, etc. I don't know if I've heard things or I'm just making that up, but following Dr Horrible, Joss is pretty into the New Medium.

As a guilty pleasure, I've been watching Terminator show but it was on Monday nights after House. It's now being switched to Fridays halfway through the second season. I wont be surprised if it doesn't get picked up for a third.

As far as internet, that's essentially what the whole Writers Strike was about. But given the deals the struck, it's not a useful medium for immediately released episodes (if I recall correctly). But trust me, I want this show to work, it sounds pretty damn interesting, but apparently Fox disagrees (or maybe they have a grudge after Firefly).

Originally Posted by TheOriginalGrumpySpy

As far as internet, that's essentially what the whole Writers Strike was about. But given the deals the struck, it's not a useful medium for immediately released episodes (if I recall correctly). But trust me, I want this show to work, it sounds pretty damn interesting, but apparently Fox disagrees (or maybe they have a grudge after Firefly).

I don't think so. If they had a grudge, they wouldn't've picked it up. I don't think Firefly is part of the equation.

And yeah, I watched Terminator too. I liked it (despite its stupidness) but then I lost the steam and couldn't be bothered to keep downloading it.

Originally Posted by Mr. E

You mean she was a major character in one of his previous three shows and a minor character in another of his three previous shows?

No. If you're talking about Eliza, I meant she's a major actor in this new series and has been a minor actor in one other series (Buffy). She hasn't been in any other of Joss's shows (except for three Angel crossover episodes).

She was in 6 Angel crossover episodes (minor character)
She was an integral part in two story arcs of Buffy. In spite of her not being in a majority of the episodes I would still count her influence as major.

According to imdb:

DOLLHOUSE is part of a FOX campaign called "Remote-Free-TV", which also includes fellow-FOX-show FRINGE. Both shows are expected to have dramatically reduced commercial breaks and therefore more actual screen time.

Originally Posted by Mr. E

She was in 6 Angel crossover episodes (minor character)
She was an integral part in two story arcs of Buffy. In spite of her not being in a majority of the episodes I would still count her influence as major.

6? No way. Two in the first season, one in the fourth.

She was a minor character in, let's say, the Buffy/Angel universe. Her part was minor. Her part was smaller than Angel's was when he was on Buffy, and that wasn't a very big part.

Haha! Holy shit, I was reading up more on Friday Shows that were canceled and it seems like Fox was given more than it's share of failed shows:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_slot

four in the fourth

Originally Posted by gwahir

According to imdb:

DOLLHOUSE is part of a FOX campaign called "Remote-Free-TV", which also includes fellow-FOX-show FRINGE. Both shows are expected to have dramatically reduced commercial breaks and therefore more actual screen time.

Yeah, Fringe's commercial breaks are between 60-90 seconds, but that doesn't actually mean that this is going to help anyone. If anything you're taking out advertising revenue in hopes that the show will garner viewers in an already crippled slot. Of course they are advertising the hell out of this show.

Oh yeah, it wasn't just one. But I'm sure it wasn't four, either. Three?

Maybe, I'm not entirely sure.

Originally Posted by Mr. E

Maybe, I'm not entirely sure.

Wikipedia's episode guide--

"Salvage" March 5, 2003 4ADH13 79 4x13
Wesley releases Faith from prison to help capture Angelus, who is himself going after the Beast.
Crossover: Another prisoner uses a Bringer's knife to attack Faith. Angelus calls Dawn Summers to find out if Buffy is still in Sunnydale.

"Release" March 12, 2003 4ADH14 80 4x14
Angelus continues his search for the Beast's Master as Faith attempts to find a way to contain Angelus.

"Orpheus" March 19, 2003 4ADH15 81 4x15
Willow is called in to restore Angel's soul. Meanwhile, while in their comas, Angelus and Faith experience flashbacks of Angel's good deeds over the centuries, culminating in a mental showdown between Angel and Angelus

Goddamnit who cares?

I... but...





edit: HANG ON A MINUTE the day i take criticism for overzealous fandom from you is the day i finally acknowledge the existence of monday.

Now that was an excellent comeback.

oh god it's hours away

guys

guys

guys

oh come on i've been waiting all day for it to be available somewhere to download

It just came on like 2 hours ago, you'll probably have to wait another two or three hours at least before it shows up on a tracker

Originally Posted by gwahir

oh come on i've been waiting all day for it to be available somewhere to download

It's up on sidereel now if you still haven't found a decent torrent/link.

so what's the consensus?

[ame="http://www.hulu.com/watch/57885/dollhouse-ghost"]Hulu - Dollhouse: Ghost - Watch the full episode now.@@AMEPARAM@@http://www.hulu.com/embed/WqbSmVMzUO6zrQJ9ob9zUQ@@AMEPARAM@@WqbSmVMzUO6zrQJ9 ob9zUQ[/ame]

First episode was pretty good. I look forward to more.

Originally Posted by TheOriginalGrumpySpy

Wrestling pulls in about ~3-4e6 viewers which is absolutely horrible compared with the "Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" with about 2 mil more. Which is even lackluster compared to the ratings on mid-week shows.

Well, Smackdown had better ratings than Dollhouse so :P

That is sad though, because I have much love for the Joss

Yeah I don't have much hope for a 4million viewer premier.

The premier was as cool as I expected it to be, but it definitely has potential...that a Friday night wont let it achieve.

Apparently according to TVGUIDE.COM: It's worth noting that Episode 2 is markedly better, 3 features a nifty reveal, and 4 serves up a cool plot twist.

Okay, so:

I liked it. I liked it a lot, in very different ways than I expected. I like Topher's amorality and I like Olivia DeWitt's conflictedness. I love that the Actives' memories are compiled from actual people, because, as we saw, these people are flawed. They have weaknesses. I don't know what I expected, but I think what I expected was much simpler and less interesting -- just people programmable to be the masters of all situations. I should've known better! The only thing I'm not loving is the FBI story string, because it's been done before. Mulder. The guy in The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I'm sure Dollhouse will pull it off uniquely and interestingly, but what was shown in the pilot just hasn't done anything for me yet.

I also thought there was some less-than-artful exposition and the opening scene between "Caroline" and Olivia was a little pretentious. But nothing's perfect.

God, this show has potential. This show has so much damn potential and I can see it. I'm ignoring everything less than spectacular I hear about ratings from here on out. I'm not going to expect the worst. I'm going to hope for the best and that's it.

I mean, I get people's interest in ratings, omens, etc., but talking about it doesn't achieve anything. This show works.

Well.. yeah the FBI story isn't very intriguing. Why did we have to see him boxing to show that he doesn't give up. Like, I don't think they could have been more blatant.

I thought it was more of an emotional thing. As in, emotionally, the boxing ring was where he was at the time.

What I really liked is that, as Gwahir said, the actives have regular human flaws.

F Y's I, it is reportedly in the top 10 iTunes TV episodes.