One of my obsessions is Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Well, it’s not really an ‘obsession’ per se. I just pretty much know everything there is to know and tend to splurge my money on various Buffy-related merchandise. I also freak when I recognize an actor who appeared on Buffy in another show I’m watching (whatever it may be). A couple people have recommended to me that maybe I should try a few of Whedon’s other shows, namely Dollhouse or Firefly. I’ve already seen a few of his other works such as Dr. Horrible, Cabin in the Woods, and of course The Avengers (who HASN’T seen that?). I decided on Dollhouse. I stayed up all night watching the last half of season 2 and thus finishing the series. Here is a look into my mind.
For those who don’t know what Dollhouse is about, allow me to utilize my horrible summary skills to try and explain it to you. Dollhouse is about this organization founded and backed by this even bigger science/techy organization called Rossum. This organization is known as, surprise surprise, Dollhouse. Dollhouse recruits volunteers who have past experiences they’d rather forget (or in some cases prison inmates and mental health patients) and in return for their services for five years, Dollhouse will relieve their pain and provide for them financially for what is assumed to be most of or the rest of their life. The way Dollhouse does this is by completely wiping the person of all sense of self, turning them into a ‘doll’. This doll is then essentially prostituted away to the wealthy for whatever need they have to be fulfilled. Yes, most of the time this is sexually. These arrangements are called engagements. Prior to being sent off on an engagement, the doll is temporarily programmed with a personality that the requester has specifically asked for, and the doll becomes that person. After a short period of time, the doll is then returned to the Dollhouse, and they are wiped clean again in preparation for the next engagement. The series itself focuses specifically on the Dollhouse in L.A. as well as the doll Echo. Echo is played by Eliza Dushku (who played Faith in Buffy) and is a very special doll who gradually becomes self aware as the series progresses, something dolls are not supposed to do.
From the first episode, I was hooked. Not only for my tendency to follow shows that feature actors/actresses from Buffy (No Ordinary Family, Merlin, Ringer) but from the premise of the show itself. In the first season, most episodes are like a different story, giving the show a sort of anthology feel with recurring characters. I read some reviews online that criticized this, but I think that this is one of the attributes that separate Dollhouse from other T.V. series. Everything about the show; the plot, the acting, the script, was awesome. You have to give the actors and actresses credit for being able to portray such a wide range of personalities while retaining the same character. The non-doll character that I especially enjoyed was Topher Brink. He had that familiar unstable/quirky tech person you often see in crime-dramas nowadays (think Abby from NCIS or that one lady I don’t care about from Criminal Minds). Except he’s different. We get to see his character evolve from childish and immoral (he views the dolls as toys rather than people), to a moral..and increasingly unstable person because of it.
I could go on and on about the individual characters, but I’d rather skip to the next part. Warning, spoilers.
I swear Whedon is one of the most sadistic and brilliant writers/directors ever. I say this because he likes to kill off every single likeable character in a show. Especially my favorites. And he does it mercilessly too. A sudden gunshot to the head, an explosion from a device meant to save the world (while making them have a redeeming moment of sorts right before), suddenly cutting them in half, LIQUEFYING THEIR INSIDES AND SOUL AFTER POSSESSING THEM WITH A DEMONIC ENTITY. Sorry. I especially have a problem with the latter one. Ahem. With every show of his, he has not failed to make me calmly stand up from my seat, and proceedingly bash my head against the nearest wall while screaming “WHY?!” and wailing for the next 10 minutes. That takes talent. He seemed to really go overboard with this for Dollhouse because, you know, it was canceled midway through season 2. So it appears that he decided “screw it” and killed off half of the main and recurring cast. If not, more.
The idea of a Dollhouse has really gotten me thinking lately about the morality of it all. Most of the dolls are volunteers, but does that really make selling their bodies for private use okay while they’re essentially in a ‘vegetative state’? Barring all the plot devices regarding the tech taking over the world, I don’t think it’s so bad. You give up 5 years of your life to fulfill the desires of others. You’re taken care of in a spa-like environment, given the best medical care, and ensured that you’re always in the best physical condition. Besides after that, you get paid a LOT of money and you don’t remember any of it. How bad could that be? Especially since you signed up for it. I mean, I’d do it.
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