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tardis_stowawayI'm going to cheat a little bit on this one. I don't watch a lot of TV shows that are on currently. Pretty much everybody reading this already watches Doctor Who and usually Torchwood, and a substantial portion of my flist already watches Merlin as well. So I'm going to nominate a show that recently went off the air. I wish more people had watched it when it was active, but now I would love it if my flist suddenly took up watching it on DVD to give it a bit more posthumous recognition.
That's right, I'm talking about Dollhouse.
It seems like with every TV series Joss Whedon did the premise got a little harder to explain. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: the title says it all. Angel: brooding vampire with a soul fights crime. Firefly: a Western set in space with outlaws, a prostitute, a preacher, a crazy girl genius, and other folks, but it's really funny, and did I mention they curse in Chinese? With Dollhouse, the short version of the premise makes it sound unbelievably trashy: mind-wiped people can be programmed with temporary personalities, often for sexual purposes. But that's not really what it's about at all.
It's about identity. It's about consent. It's about memory. It's about trust. It's about responsibility for the consequences of one's actions. It's about the end of the world.
Dollhouse was densely packed with ideas, and provides some great meta-fodder, but it's not just that. Being a Whedon show, the dialog and character development are top notch. It had a talented and gorgeous cast, most notably Enver Gjokaj (Victor), who displayed a chameleon's skill at inhabiting different personas. Whedon fans will recognize a ridiculous number of familiar faces. Topher, played by Fran Kranz, went through an astonishing and moving transformation from his introduction as a glib, amoral techno-asshole through his slow, painful acquisition of layers and a conscience. Those who like canon 'ships will likely fall for Sierra and Victor, the dolls whose love persists across any imprints and through the childlike innocence of their wiped state.
The show was often a paranoid thriller, twisty as a serpent. Nothing was as it seemed, and nobody was who they seemed (for good and for evil, or rather for all the many hues of gray). There were some weak episodes, unfortunately including the first five episodes that aired, thus putting off many viewers and hammering the last nail in the coffin built of a challenging concept and the Friday Night Time Slot of DOOM. A few of the characters are annoying. Get through those faults, however, and Dollhouse delivers some amazing treats to viewers who want an intelligent, original, unpredictable show with fascinating characters. Also, while this was a show canceled before its time, it had enough notice to put together a real conclusion. You might not like every turn along the road to get there, but at least it won't leave you forever hanging.
I wish more people start renting or buying the DVDs and watching Dollhouse. I hope they post about it so I can vicariously relive the journey. If you try it, let me know what you think about the apocalypse.
Victor wants YOU to watch Dollhouse!
Day 01 - A show that should have never been canceled
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching
Day 03 - Your favorite new show ( aired this t.v season)
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Day 05 - A show you hate
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite t.v show
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite t.v show
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you’ve watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best t.v show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First t.v show obsession
Day 29 - Current t.v show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death
That's right, I'm talking about Dollhouse.
It seems like with every TV series Joss Whedon did the premise got a little harder to explain. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: the title says it all. Angel: brooding vampire with a soul fights crime. Firefly: a Western set in space with outlaws, a prostitute, a preacher, a crazy girl genius, and other folks, but it's really funny, and did I mention they curse in Chinese? With Dollhouse, the short version of the premise makes it sound unbelievably trashy: mind-wiped people can be programmed with temporary personalities, often for sexual purposes. But that's not really what it's about at all.
It's about identity. It's about consent. It's about memory. It's about trust. It's about responsibility for the consequences of one's actions. It's about the end of the world.
Dollhouse was densely packed with ideas, and provides some great meta-fodder, but it's not just that. Being a Whedon show, the dialog and character development are top notch. It had a talented and gorgeous cast, most notably Enver Gjokaj (Victor), who displayed a chameleon's skill at inhabiting different personas. Whedon fans will recognize a ridiculous number of familiar faces. Topher, played by Fran Kranz, went through an astonishing and moving transformation from his introduction as a glib, amoral techno-asshole through his slow, painful acquisition of layers and a conscience. Those who like canon 'ships will likely fall for Sierra and Victor, the dolls whose love persists across any imprints and through the childlike innocence of their wiped state.
The show was often a paranoid thriller, twisty as a serpent. Nothing was as it seemed, and nobody was who they seemed (for good and for evil, or rather for all the many hues of gray). There were some weak episodes, unfortunately including the first five episodes that aired, thus putting off many viewers and hammering the last nail in the coffin built of a challenging concept and the Friday Night Time Slot of DOOM. A few of the characters are annoying. Get through those faults, however, and Dollhouse delivers some amazing treats to viewers who want an intelligent, original, unpredictable show with fascinating characters. Also, while this was a show canceled before its time, it had enough notice to put together a real conclusion. You might not like every turn along the road to get there, but at least it won't leave you forever hanging.
I wish more people start renting or buying the DVDs and watching Dollhouse. I hope they post about it so I can vicariously relive the journey. If you try it, let me know what you think about the apocalypse.
Victor wants YOU to watch Dollhouse!
Day 01 - A show that should have never been canceled
Day 03 - Your favorite new show ( aired this t.v season)
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Day 05 - A show you hate
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite t.v show
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite t.v show
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you’ve watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best t.v show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First t.v show obsession
Day 29 - Current t.v show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death