DOLLHOUSE: “Instinct”
Photo Credit: FOX.
Read on for my thoughts on Dollhouse 2×02, aired October 2nd, 2009.
Those few of you who have read my blog on a regular basis, know that I LOVE Dollhouse. My obsession is such that I have been repeatedly mocked by my peers for offering to lend the DVD ad nauseam. If you have not read my Dollhouse recaps, click here to see the proof that I have loved every episode since day one. However (you knew that “but” was coming, right?), this latest offering left me cold, disappointed, and a little angry. If you were one who loved the episode, don’t take this personally, and please know that I love the show and am a big supporter. In no way should you interpret this review as evidence that I have given up on the show. Also, please comment below and let me know your take on the episode.
A Story: This episode involved another long-term engagement for Echo. Will the Dollhouse ever learn from its mistakes? Anyways, not only is this one of the risky long-term engagements, but Topher decided to try out a new protocol on the glitching doll, one involving the most primal of attachments: motherhood. He even worked it so that Echo’s mind convinced her that she could breast feed, and she could. Unfortunately, the engagement took a dangerous turn, as usual. If you hadn’t already seen the disturbing “The Hand That Rocks the Dollhouse” promos, then you were immediately keyed into the episode’s creepy potential by the music. From moment one, viewers were told that this would not end well—a bit heavy handed, in my opinion. In fact, throughout the episode, I felt like I was watching a daytime soap, what with the over-blown reactions on Echo’s part to her husband’s mysterious phone call, and the unrealistic lightening storm in L.A. Soap operas are great in their own way, but I don’t want Dollhouse to be Days of Our Lives. Also, what was with Echo/ Emily’s happiness in waking up in the middle of the night to feed her crying baby? Even the most loving of mothers would be a bit groggy and cranky. Isn’t the whole point to make her a “real” person rather than an idealistic one? That said, I thought Eliza did very well in the role, and was convincing in her portrayal, despite the unconvincing story. My biggest problem was the way that Echo/ Emily was convinced that her husband was going to kill her and the baby, just from one vague conversation. I’m not married, but if I heard a friend or family member say something about getting rid of me and the baby, I would not assume I was about to be assassinated. Think about it. How quickly would you believe that a family member was trying to kill you? Due to the overly dramatic and faulty premise, I couldn’t manage to care about Echo’s troubles, and my usually weepy self did not shed one tear when she gave up the baby.
Despite my complaints, Echo’s conversation with Paul at the end of the episode, in the park, is worth recapping. Echo had to give the baby up, so she feels sad. She tells Paul: “All of these things that happened to me, I feel them.” Paul says that he knows that she remembers, but she corrects him: “Not remember—feel. […] It’s not pretend for me. They made me love my little boy, and then they took him away. They make it so real—every time, they make it so real. Why do they do that?” Then Paul decides to be his most aggravating patronizing self: “I know you want to help me bring down the Dollhouse, but maybe it’s too much. I can do this on my own. I promise, I’ll get you out. I’ll get you all of you out. If you want, I’ll tell Topher what’s going on with you, and he can fix it. He’ll come up with a way to wipe you and you won’t remember a thing. You won’t have to feel sad anymore.” Shut up, Paul. Echo explains to the clueless human being: “Feeling nothing would be worse. That would be like before, asleep. I’m awake now. I don’t want to go back to sleep.” This is definitely setting us up for some awesome stuff, so I am optimistic regarding future episodes. I just wish that I didn’t hate Paul so much. I hope that he is redeemed somewhat.
B Story: November, or rather, Madeline, is back! This was the best part of the episode for me. Miracle Laurie did a fantastic job portraying Madeline in a way markedly different from Mellie. Bravo! In this episode, Adelle went to Madeline to urge her to return to the Dollhouse for her diagnostic. I liked her dynamic with Adelle, as Madeline was a very dominant personality, and wasn’t cowed by Adelle. Since we last saw Madeline, she has been enjoying the life of the idle rich. Thankfully, all went well at her diagnostic, and she’s not “broken.” Also, she turned down Topher’s offer for a ventriloquism update. Hehe. I was excited to see her meet up with Paul again, and surprised that he didn’t trigger any past memories. We also learned more about the story of her daughter’s death. It seems that Katie died of cancer, and Adelle went to her to offer her the place in the Dollhouse. According to Madeline, she accepted so that she didn’t have to feel pain anymore, and it worked. So she still remembers her dead daughter, but is no longer sad. Is this due to the passage of time? Or did the Dollhouse do something to her brain? I also thought it was interesting that it was not Dr. Saunders who treated her cut. Did Saunders never come back from her joyride, or is this just due to Amy Acker’s availability?
C Story: The other plot line in the episode featured Senator Perrin, played by the awesome Alexis Denisof. For nostalgia’s sake, let me just tell you all how much I adore Alexis in his past role of Wesley Wyndam-Price—especially when he went all scruffy Marlboro man. Just saying. But back to the present, Senator Perrin was at his house, still trying to make heads or tails of his Dollhouse intel. We meet his wife Cindy, played by Stacey Scowley, and through his conversation with her we get some background on his quest to bring Rossum down: “I’m not after money laundering. Rossum crossed a line.” The Dollhouse better watch out. He had a source at the NSA, but he or she went underground. That has to be Dominic, right? There is a knock at the door, and Cindy goes to answer. There is total silence, and it takes a while for her to return, so I started to worry that she was kidnapped or killed, but thankfully, no. She comes back with some files/ papers (?) and says that there was no one there. Looking through the new documents, Perrin states: “This is prostitution, human trafficking … maybe murder.” We also learn that the senator has a personal grudge against Rossum because the company had the means to help his dying mother, but instead chose to imprint really expensive prostitutes, etc. The wife is scared, as she should be. Then the mysterious reveal: “We’ve got better than proof. We’ve got a name.” So who is helping him? Madeline? Paul? Alpha? Thoughts?
A few additional notes:
- As usual, Sierra was severely underused. She played a friend of Emily/ Echo’s, and she had very little to do. I hope that this is rectified in future episodes.
- The actor who played Nate, Kristoffer Polaha, is also on Mad Men. He plays Francine Hanson’s husband, Carlton, a neighbor and friend of the Drapers.
- According to IMDB, Stacey Scowley also played the bride in the unaired Dollhouse pilot. She was the woman whose ex hired Echo as his date to make her jealous. “This is the best day of my life!” Hehe.
- The all-Eliza credits still bug me. Can’t they fix this already?!?!
ha ha. . .cia you’re so funny. i feel like they’re getting better!
I know, I’m the weirdest Dollhouse fan ever. Everyone else thinks season 2 is an improvement, & I’m like the only die hard fan who’s disappointed. I also seem to be the only one who LOVED early season 1. Go figure. Had a long talk with mom about the episode though, & I feel much better about it. She gave me the Alias speech (which you gave me & has become my mantra): “You can’t think about it that closely.” Hehe. Next week will be awesome, however, so I’ll stop complaining.