On Dollhouse

It is currently Saturday, right after 1. I have Dollhouse episode 7 cued up and waiting for me to watch it. And I realize just how much I've been wanting to watch this episode.

I've heard people complain about Dollhouse. It isn't your standard Joss Whedon show, it doesn't have a lot of the things that makes a Joss Whedon show his show. And I call bullshit on this. People complain about the lack of witty dialogue and 4th-wall-burning banter. Some crave the intense and twisty romantic entanglements of the main characters, which we are just barely seeing. Some even call him a hack because all the new characters are the same, or fill the same roles, as previous characters, the best and most distinctive one being the relationship of Echo and her handler Boyd as compared to Buffy and Giles, her watcher.

And I call bullshit.

None of those things are what make a "Joss Whedon show" a "Joss Whedon show." Those might be some of the things that tie together the three (and a half, if you include Dr. Horrible) shows we have seen, but there is something deeper to it. I am a writer. I am a creator. I look at things a lot harder, longer, and more theoretically than most. And I guarantee you, Joss Whedon does as well. Especially for his creation.

So, what makes Dollhouse a "Joss Whedon show?"

It is intensely character based. Or at least, it is finally turning that way. The show suffered from having to explain the world to its viewers. It is truely the viewers fault that the show was not immediately excessable. It is hard to jump into a show like this, and instead of doing it as the original intention was, to jump in with both feet and let those who could swim in the deep end of the show drown, and those who could drink it in deep, they took an easier approach with some shallow pool action.

I am not condemning this idea, nor am I condoning. I am a smarter viewer than average, and would have liked the jump-in approach, as I think it makes for a better story. But that is the past.

It is also intensely changing. Every episode matters, in the long run. Dollhouse had a VERY hard time making me believe this until episode 4. This is all one part of a bigger narrative. A bigger story, centered around our characters, specifically Ballard and Echo, and then rippling out from them to touch everyone else.

The world of Dollhouse has lots of rules. And more importantly, it has lots of rules that need to be broken, and our viewers need to know these. It wasn't truely until two episodes ago that I felt that the show started flourishing.

Rachel and I watch together, and as I read online and talk with her, it seems that I am the only person who really loves the character of Dominic, head of security. To me, this man is the most Joss-Whedon of the characters. He is dark, powerful, smart, and passionate about his own feelings. So much so that he would endanger his life, his company, and his mission to kill Echo when he thought he had a chance because he views her as a threat to his own life, company, and mission! I love the play, I love the actors portrayal, and I love the fact that he has been in every episode with a strong appearance and a strong role, yet is only a recurring character.

Actually, looking at the show now, the recurring characters ARE stronger characters at this point. Which is mind boggling from a show-watcher standpoint. I see the few characters who are getting regular billing, and find myself wanting to see more of Dominic, Dr. Sanders, and Millie (even though I hated her for SO long until last episode).

Man, last episode. I've told my friends, and now I tell you. If you do not jump on this show immediately, you will be lost. Not in the good way. Not even in the bad way. Just inexplicable and totally lost. Even if you can catch up and watch everything, you are missing the very important absorption time, especially after S01E06. Holy shit.

I ramble on and on, not making a lot of coherent progress from one point to another, to get to my main point. Dollhouse is definitively a Joss-Whedon show. And one all of you should be watching. Including me. Right now. Bye.