(no subject)

[shapinglight]

Oh well, I'm obviously going to hell or something, because I just watched the despised (at least, I have the impression it's despised) third episode of Dollhouse and rather enjoyed it. In fact, I've enjoyed all the episodes I've watched so far.

Does this make me a bad person?

Should anyone be moved to comment, no spoilers please. Thanks.

Comments

[deird1]

Yeah, it's not my favourite, but I've never got why it's so disliked either...

[shapinglight]

There were some cheesy bits, but have to say for me, they were more than made up for by Eliza beating the crap out of that creepy bloke.

:is horribly shallow:

[shylahmask.livejournal.com]

I thought you were going to hell because your favorite fictional character is a mass-murdering rapist? ;)

[shapinglight]

Well, that too. But liking Dollhouse ep 3 probably puts me in the
lowest circle.

ETA: sorry for all the editing, btw. Hate it when I spot typos.

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Well, I loathed it, but good for you! Have you SEEN the guest stars for S2? Yowza!

[shapinglight]

Have you SEEN the guest stars for S2? Yowza!

Yes, it seems to be a BSG reunion, plus Alexis Denisof. Great stuff.

Do you mean you loathed the whole series or just the 3rd episode?

[angearia.livejournal.com]

I'm happy you're enjoying it! I enjoyed the third episode, but I think it doesn't stand up as well as the others.

[shapinglight]

I agree the first two were better, but I've heard so many negative things about this series that I've been pleasantly surprised so far.

Am wondering if any of the ones I've watched up to now has been one of the ones Joss said he was ashamed of because it didn't mean anything. Maybe this was one?

[quinara]

I still can't work out where the hate comes from for Stage Fright (I find myself wondering whether there's some Joss-fail race issues with Rayna that I miss, because otherwise I have nothing). Of the episodic episodes it's possibly my favourite - I like Echo reworking her parameters and the little head-shake to Sierra at the end.

[shapinglight]

I like Echo reworking her parameters and the little head-shake to Sierra at the end.

I liked that too.

I find myself wondering whether there's some Joss-fail race issues with Rayna that I miss, because otherwise I have nothing.

There could well be. It wouldn't be the first time that Joss has tried to redress the lack of POC in his cast only to fall over his own feet, as it were (thinks of Nikki and Robin Wood).

Have to say, I liked the previous episode - the hunting one - better, because, again, I so enjoyed watching Eliza beat the living daylights out of that psycho.

:Is even more horribly shallow:

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you're not going to hell...for that. Heh. I actually liked it, too, but I wonder if the pop star milieu was something people felt was too fluffy or something. I thought they did a good job, and liked it more the second time. I'd say if you're already enjoying it, you're not likely to be disappointed in the end. (Especially as regards ass-kicking.) Does that count as a spoiler?

[shapinglight]

Yeah, you're not going to hell...for that.

So, only for liking Spike, then? :)

but I wonder if the pop star milieu was something people felt was too fluffy or something.

Possibly, or a bit of a cliche? And I don't mind being spoilered about ass-kicking. Somehow, I sort of believe it when Eliza's doing it, even though she's so tiny and skinny she'd probably snap in half like a twig in a strong wind. She doesn't look it, though. She looks like if she hit you it would hurt.

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

I think it's just a matter of personal tastes. I was prepared to enjoy Dollhouse and found I mightily disliked it. Which goes to prove, you never know what'll capture your attention and what won't.

[shapinglight]

I was prepared to enjoy Dollhouse and found I mightily disliked it. Which goes to prove, you never know what'll capture your attention and what won't.

Yeah, it does seem to be a show that people feel strongly about one way or the other. I can see why that is. I'm just glad that after Firefly, Dr Horrible and the Buffy comic, I've finally found another Joss thing I enjoy (so far).

[enisy.livejournal.com]

Wow, if you've enjoyed all the episodes so far, you're in for a treat. It only gets better from there.

[shapinglight]

Good news. :) You like it, then? Have to say, I find the little nerdy guy horribly creepy. He's like Warren, only sort of nice, which only makes him more disturbing.

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I'm glad, we managed to lower your expectations so far that you could enjoy it. :)

The ep's not all bad but I loathed the stupid singing girl with a passion.
Next season looks nifty doesn't it, with all the BSG people and Summer Glau.

I think the ep Joss said he was ashamed of was the fifth one (which I found was actually a little better than the third). My faforite so far is Epitaph I

[shapinglight]

Hehe, I'm glad, we managed to lower your expectations so far that you could enjoy it. :)

Yes, it was probably a good thing. :) I'm looking forward to seeing Summer Glau. River was about the only character I liked in Firefly and Summer's great in The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which I've seen season 1 of and quite enjoyed, but not enough to write about it.

I think the ep Joss said he was ashamed of was the fifth one

In his speech to the American Secular Society, he says there are three he's ashamed of because they don't mean anything. I suspect 3 is one of them, and now you mention 5. Shall have fun trying to work out which the other is.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

It's not an awful episode (at least not, say, "Expecting" or "Teacher's Pet" awful) but personally, I had trouble with it because it's a straight rip-off of an old Incredible Hulk episode. Which probably only bothers me and the 3 other people in the world who remember it. But while Dollhouse probably did the idea better, I kept expecting Eliza to get angry and tear her clothes off (OK, she did do that), turn green and run around pushing over furniture. Which would have been... odd.

[shapinglight]

Which probably only bothers me and the 3 other people in the world who remember it. But while Dollhouse probably did the idea better, I kept expecting Eliza to get angry and tear her clothes off (OK, she did do that), turn green and run around pushing over furniture. Which would have been... odd.

It would indeed, and :snerk: Eliza does take her clothes off/wear very skimpy stuff a lot in this show, doesn't she? She had a practically invisible dress on in ep 1. Since she's an Exec producer, I have to believe it's her choice (plus, I think I remember Joss saying it was). Odd girl. She either likes showing off or is playing some ironic little game to do with objectification and the male gaze, as talked about in various LJ posts lately that I've felt too stupid to comment on.

[calturner.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed all the episodes, too. The earlier episodes were the weakest, imo, but I still enjoyed them. It definitely gets better as the season progresses. I'm looking forward to S2. :)

[shapinglight]

Me too, though I haven't nearly finished season 1 yet and won't probably get to watch any more until next week now. :(

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

I never got the dislike for the early episodes either. The worst I can say is that they didn't strike me as anything special; they were just run of the mill, formulaic TV drama with an unusual premise and the occasional flash of something deeper. I kept watching because it's a Joss show, and because I like ED (hey, I even watched Tru Calling...), and I do think it got MUCH better in the later part of the season. You get the definite impression that after five episodes the writers said "Okay, we've paid out dues to FOX, now let's roll up our sleeves and get on with the real show."


Having said that, it would be ironic if after liking the early episodes you dislike the later ones.

[shapinglight]

You get the definite impression that after five episodes the writers said "Okay, we've paid out dues to FOX, now let's roll up our sleeves and get on with the real show."

Looking forward to it, and I'm sure I'll like the later episodes better. It's the plotty stuff I'm after and so far that's fairly widely scattered, though there's some in every episode.

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

Watching Dollhouse does not make you a bad person. Acting like someone in Dollhouse - iffy, yaknow??

[shapinglight]

Acting like someone in Dollhouse - iffy, yaknow??

Well, yes. I guess that's where it could all fall down. Some people may not get that they're supposed to be squicked.

[antennapedia.livejournal.com]

I really liked the actress who played Sierra in that one, and continued to like her. The ep itself, meh. The series did grow on me, though, particularly some characters I did not expect to become interested in.

[shapinglight]

Sierra's very good, and I've heard that the other characters get more development further along the line so I'm looking forward to that.

[cozzybob.livejournal.com]

I can't remember what the third episode was about... *ponders* Well, you're only going to hell if you're going with meee~! You bring the cocoa, I'll big the little marshmellows. :D

[shapinglight]

I can't remember what the third episode was about... *ponders*

It's the one where Echo joins a backing group of singers but is really there to protect some pop star.

Cocoa and marshmallows! Yum!

[hello-spikey.livejournal.com]

The third episode is despised? In particular?

Weird. I rather liked Dollhouse. I only didn't like the beginning of the first episode, which I found lame and talky with too much withholding of information from the viewer. (My least favorite suspense technique.)

Generally I'm very excited to see Dollhouse's next season.

[shapinglight]

The third episode is despised? In particular?

I don't know if it is in particular, but have heard several people say it wasn't very good.

Glad you liked the show. You and quinara liking it makes me feel better about liking it myself.

And believe it or not, I've only just understood your user name and default icon.

[next_to_normal]

I recall the third ep being my favorite of the first five standalones. Which isn't saying much, because I disliked all the standalone eps, but no, definitely not the worst of the bunch. (I think that award went to the fourth ep for me, which most people at the time seemed to think was the best ep so far.)

[shapinglight]

Ah, well I'll have to see what I think when I get around to watching that, which won't be till towards the end of next week, I don't think.

I'm not sure if you could call the episodes standalones, though, given that Stuff is always going on in the background.

[mutelorelei.livejournal.com]

I never understood why so many people had a huge negative reaction to the show and refused to watch past the first ep or two (at least a lot of the people I know). I think maybe some people honestly don't understand that the show is SUPPOSED to be sexist and make you feel uncomfortable and squicked at times. It starts out the way it does FOR A REASON. Out of all of Joss' shows, this one purposely has a lot of despisable characters (perhaps every single one, in the end, who knows?), but I like that, it's something a little different. And it really does get so much better as it goes.

I was so shocked it got renewed, given the mostly negative reaction, but maybe some people will pick it back up, though I am trying not to build up hope for a third season, given FOX's track record.

[shapinglight]

I think maybe some people honestly don't understand that the show is SUPPOSED to be sexist and make you feel uncomfortable and squicked at times.

This is true, but I can understand why people couldn't get past that, if only because they realise that the irony is bound to be lost on some, which leaves you with nothing but the sexism. Maybe Joss is being a bit too clever by half?

Up to the point I've reached Boyd Langton hasn't done anything particularly despicable, except sign on to work at the Dollhouse in the first place, I suppose. Early days, though.

Like you, I'm not hopeful the show will get a 3rd season, but we'll see, and in the meantime it'll be so wonderful to see Alexis back on the telly.

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

Does this make me a bad person?

Only if you pay for it and help Eliza buy more arrows for her bow!

[shapinglight]

Are you sure there's not some confusion here? Ep 2 features Echo and Psycho Client of the Week on a hunting expedition, where he shows her how to use a fancy crossbow, which she aims at a passing deer. But she doesn't actually shoot anything, and it's not real anyway.

[lyr]

I'm glad you're liking it. I did, too, though it took a few eps for me to feel really invested. I think they really hit their stride towards the last few eps of the season, though.

[shapinglight]

Oh, I'm so glad you liked it. It always makes me feel better to know that people whose opinions I respect have liked something I like, and with something like this show, given how dark and potentially squicky the subject matter is, that seemed even more important even though so far a large part of my reason for liking it is seeing Eliza beat the crap out of various unpleasant men.

I saw your very interesting post from yesterday, btw, and hope to find time to comment on it before I go away tomorrow.