Dollhouse

[erastes]

I have to say, that Dollhouse is definitely growing on me. I quite liked it--despite many of my flist not doing so, but it's becoming more intruingin sweek on week.  Last week for example  there was a very interesting shaking of the head between Echo and Sierra, which made me wonder. Why did she do that? It was as if Sierra was going to say something and Echo warned her off, but in her Echo state she shouldn't be aware of anything like that. Did anyone else notice this? Is there a forum where this sort of stuff is discussed?

The Dollhouse itself becomes more creepy, and it's very clear that what they are doing is hugely wrong.  This week they layered the interest for me, as Echo was wiped in mid-assignment, and her active persona was given to Sierra to finish off.  People have moaned about the focus on hot female bodies, but hello? How many of us were leering over naked in Spike in Buffy?  Me, for one. There's surprising little nakedness in this, actually - when you see shower scenes, they are nipple height for me, head height for women. the shower scenes are, I admit entirely gratuitous but they have men in them, so who cares.

All in all, yes, I'm really enjoying it. Yes, it's about victims--but it's not about female victims, all the Dolls are victims/slaves and that's pretty horrible.  Echo, as she gradually becomes a little more self-aware each week, is turning into a great character.  I admit, three weeks ago, being dismissive of Eliza's talent, but either I'm now getting it, or she's growing in strength and confidence because she did damned well this week (and last, in Stage Fright.)

Comments

[lunalelle.livejournal.com]

People who talk about how misogynistic the show is are completely missing the point. Dollhouse is an incredibly self-aware series - it is aware of how exploitative it is, yet it exploits its actors and its characters to bring attention to the issue of exploitation (and to subtly stick it to FOX, which wants to exploit some more).

Really, it's a fascinating show. The first episode was shaky, but it's certainly got me attached to it. Eye candy is just one facet of the package. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Nod nod, that's the impression that I got, in fact it is shaping up to be hugely empowering, and the men are constantly falling flat on their faces.

I'm glad it's not just me.

[gavinatlas.livejournal.com]

My bf and I noticed the head shake, too. I have to say I don't think the fantastic humor writing that made Firefly work is present here, but I'm beginning to think that's on purpose. This, I guess, is a mostly humorless world. It crossed my mind that it would be difficult to build and deepen Echo's character if she's a different person every week, so maybe she has to have some memories at some point.

I didn't really care for the Stage Fright episode. The lead singer wasn't believable in my opinion. Why would she have this intense, clear-headed work ethic one minute and then an insane death wish the next? It didn't bother me when I watched the show, but thinking about it later made me think her behavior was not believable.

My favorite moment so far was when Eliza was told she didn't know how to use a gun, and she said "I have four brothers. None of them Democrats." Hah! Though that's the only laugh so far.

I don't know what to think of the Olivia Williams character. Evil, I think. Powerful. But her outfits? Is she always about to go on a date? Are they trying to say she uses her sex appeal as a weapon?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I think you are right about the humour, it's definitely "JW growing up" as it were, like Dickens changing from Pickwick to Bleak House, although the occasional one-liner is welcome. I suppose the death wish thing was just another selfish impulse of the Diva mentality, she would have been putting 100s of people out of work, for a start, but she didn't think about anyone other than herself, and wanted fame without having to actually do any more work!! I boggle at people who scrabble madly for fame and then complain bitterly that that fame takes away their privacy!

I have a real antipathy to characters always looking as if they stepped out of a bandbox (whatever that is)--I know its fantasy, and I know that some American cities have a huge reliance on smart dressing, but sheesh, I'd just love to see someone who didn't look like they hadn't just stepped out of the salon, or just had their clothes freshly drycleaned before they put them on, or snagged their stockings from time to time or didn't feel comfortable in stilettos. That aspect of American TV drives me mad. Lets see people as they really are. But then, they never ever have fat people who aren't clients or villains, and certainly never on the beach!!! /rant.