Dollhouse 2.5-6

[snick_backup]

1. There were two Tophers in this episode. How could I not love it?

2. So, yeah that text-cut quote - this show has consistently set up the folks of "our" Dollhouse - Adelle, Boyd, even Topher - as being better, more moral beings than all those other people that are trying to use people for money. Would this not seem to be problematic?

3. Right on the heels of Daniel Parrin's declaration that he didn't want to be who he was before comes Echo's comment, "I'm afraid of Caroline." And we already know, from the flashback with Bennett, that Caroline was clearly not quite the sweetness and light previously depicted. Finally, my first really definite clue that I'm not supposed to feel full sympathy for the narrow-minded activist crusader.

4. Bennett + Topher = WIN!!! Every awkward moment was fabulous. Fabulous, I say.

So, loved all the Topher parts, every single one. Didn't care as much as I wanted to about Daniel Parrin. Was unthrilled by Echo-as-prophet. Couldn't care less about Ballard. Was rather sorry to see Madeleine screwed over. Was thoroughly creeped out by Bennett, as I was meant to be. Am unsure what the point was of these two episodes or how I feel about them, although I find myself entirely uninterested in Rossum's political machinations.

But mostly: Topher.

Comments

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

1. I totally thought of you!
2. It's fascinating, isn't it? I like how it sets up for "Epitaph One"--they can comfort themselves all they want by thinking that they're "better" than the others, but they end up being just as culpable. At the same time, though, there is a difference: they do have lines they won't cross and they know sorrow and regret when they do.
3. Finally, my first really definite clue that I'm not supposed to feel full sympathy for the narrow-minded activist crusader. I was so glad! It made me feel so much better!
4. It was so deliciously awkward! I ship them in a not-really kind of way, wherein I don't want poor Topher to get pulled in, but I just want to set them in a room and watch them interact.

Yeah, I don't really care about Perrin that much, either. Weird, huh?

m unsure what the point was of these two episodes or how I feel about them, although I find myself entirely uninterested in Rossum's political machinations. You know what? I agree, mostly. After being so emotionally involved in "Belonging," I felt more like I was admiring from afar in this episode. I did enjoy the political machinations, but I wasn't invested in them. I just sat there and thought, "Huh. That's interesting." I didn't care. Hopefully it'll start directly affecting our dollhouse soon (as I suspect it will), and I will be invested again.

[snickfic]

I don't want poor Topher to get pulled in, but I just want to set them in a room and watch them interact.

Aha. In that case, I am totally with you. I mean, how fabulous is it that I get to throw Topher and River Tam in the same room together? (Although I gotta say, I wouldn't mind seeing Summer Glau playing someone not clinically insane...)

I didn't care.

Exactly. I really don't care about all this outside-the-dollhouse stuff.

[next_to_normal]

Would this not seem to be problematic?

Yes, yes it would. :) Like penny_lane_42 said, I think it's something they tell themselves to feel better about what they do, but there will come a time when they'll all have to face the truth about the Dollhouse and decide who they want to be. We saw some of that in Epitaph One - Adelle refuses to obey Rossum, and morality seems to have made Topher crazy - but I suspect it will be an interesting journey.

I find myself entirely uninterested in Rossum's political machinations.

I didn't think the particular plot here (getting Perrin to discredit Rossum's competitors) was especially compelling, but like 2maggie2 said, I like the possibilities set up by the political machinations. This use of the technology is much more interesting and insidious than the technopocalypse of Epitaph One.

[snickfic]

Like penny_lane_42 said, I think it's something they tell themselves to feel better about what they do

I guess so. I think it bothers me a lot more when Echo says, "Her bad guys are badder than my bad guys," because Echo is so much the Voice of Truth (tm) on the show. Which irritates me, but the truth remains that whatever Echo says would seem to have quite a bit of thematic weight.

This use of the technology is much more interesting and insidious than the technopocalypse of Epitaph One.

Very true. And I'd be tickled pink if, in fact, each of these Epitaphs ends up being one of many possible collapses of civilization caused by the Dollhouse. It's like futurefic, only on my TV! Joss could play with the ships, draw out different thematic elements each time to say different things... It'd be much more fun than committing ourselves to the one future shown in E1.

[next_to_normal]

OMG that would be awesome! Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like that's the case, based on this interview. (Don't read if you don't want to be spoiled.) Also, it would work a lot better if he had the opportunity for more than two alternate endings. :-P

[snickfic]

Well, shoot. I didn't read the article, because I'm avoiding spoilers, but I like my idea better. Also, that totally negates the post I was in the middle of writing. :p

Then again, wasn't it Maggie who said a while back that she thinks Whedon habitually lies in interviews to throw people off? Here's hoping.

[next_to_normal]

Yeah, I think he lies, too, lol. But it wasn't actually anything he said, so much as the episode blurbs at the end of it.

But write your post anyway! I like your idea better, too.