(no subject)

[shapinglight]

First of all, apologies to the people who left comments on my post about concrit which I still haven't responded to. I had every intention of getting back to you yesterday but RL intervened and I didn't get the chance. So sorry. I will answer at some point, but not today either, as knackered. Didn't get much in the way of writing done today, as I'd hoped. Have still to start serious revision of the Darla fic and have nothing as yet for the next calendar post. Did watch ep 5 of Dollhouse season 1, though. Spoilers behind cut.



Okay, I admit I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the first three episodes of Dollhouse given what I'd heard about them. However, must admit that eps 4&5 have mostly left me cold. Ep 4 was better than ep 5, and may improve on re-watching, but ep 5 strikes me as the season's Teacher's Pet. There were a few things that made it worth watching, ie. the interaction between Bosslady (can never remember anyone's names) and Mr Nasty Security Guard, and between Nerdy Warrenalike and Amy Acker over Victor's 'male reaction', but the MotW week element left me cold. Sadly (as many others have said), I think this is down to Eliza. Part of the reason why I enjoyed the much derided ep 3 was because Eliza was basically playing Faith. In this ep, she was playing Faith's opposite and the episode didn't really come alive for me until she started thumping people.

Oh dear! Guess I'm going to have to admit it. I just get off on Eliza beating up men.

The much lauded ep 6 is up next. Was going to watch that today too, but I think I've run out of time.

How are all of you?

Comments

[quinara]

Yeah, I've grown to quite like 4, but I don't find 5 much cop at all (apart from the subplot). But then I never really minded Teacher's Pet! I'd take that over Amends any day... Hope you enjoy 6!

I've been spending quite a lot of time reading over my seasonal_spuffy fic. I'm relatively happy with it now, though it's got to 13,500 words so I have no idea if I'll have time to do another detailed read-through before my day on Monday. That's a bit nerve-wracking!

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

*flails* Cannot speak because of the danger of possible spoilers. But: ass-kicking! Yes, it is very watchable.

Re: bosslady, aka Adelle DeWitt. You will soon see her awesome power. Asskicking without ever raising a toe! Or her voice. Just her perfect, British eyebrow. It is sooooo beautiful. I am in love. *thud*

[shapinglight]

I'm relatively happy with it now, though it's got to 13,500 words so I have no idea if I'll have time to do another detailed read-through before my day on Monday. That's a bit nerve-wracking!

It is! Good luck. seasonal_spuffy has sadly passed me by this year. I hope next year I might have an idea for another Spuffy fic. I almost had one the other day, but because I forgot to write it down, it's gone.

Not too keen on Amends myself either. SMG always fails to convince me these days when she emotes big time, which is something that seems to happen a lot in B/A scenes. You may be right that Teacher's Pet is preferable, no matter how bad, because unlike Amends, it at least has some humour. The counselling scene is sheer genius.

[shapinglight]

But: ass-kicking! Yes, it is very watchable.

It is, isn't it? I think I could watch the scene in ep 2 where Eliza beats up the nasty hunter bloke on repeat, and when she gets hold of that walkie talkie and starts screaming at him that she's going to kill him, I love it.

:is vaguely ashamed:

DeWitt! That's it. I have to try and remember. I do like the character. Keep trying to remember which Brit dramas I've seen the actress in and failing miserably.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

Adelle!!!

Just had to pop in and say that. They should make the show about her. And that other character (no spoilers) who has gotten so amazingly interesting.

[shapinglight]

I would so love to read your reviews of the season, Maggie. Will have to get on and finish it so I can. Also, how many eps are there in season 2? I know it's still not a full season. Or am I wrong?

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

At least you are through the worst part. Will be very interested to hear what you think of #6.

All of the first five had interesting elements to them -- but the main plots were by and large so dull. Man-reaction was pretty good, though.

[shapinglight]

Man-reaction was pretty good, though.

:snort: Yes. Have to say, my view of Warrenalike (Topher, is it?), never very high, sunk to lower depths at that point. Everything he's done and he's squeamish about the word 'erection'? Actually, I suppose in a way it makes sense. He doesn't live in the real world.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

They ordered 13 episodes for the second season, with an option for 9 more. The ratings for the season opener were abyssmal. So the best bet is 13 is it, with some murmuring that they might not even air all 13.

My thoughts aren't so interesting. But I'm excited to hear yours as you go through season 1.

[shapinglight]

The ratings for the season opener were abyssmal.

Oh dear! And just when I was getting excited about it. Must say, though, the murmurs have started awfully early if only 1 episode has been shown.

I'm sure your thoughts are interesting. They always are.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

No, Topher doesn't live in the real world. And it turns out he's nothing like Warren, so don't worry about boring repetitions from Joss. At least not on that front.

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

Well the murmurs are on a website about TV ratings where the posters are militantly anti-Dollhouse and positively crow every time the bad ratings come in. Not sure what their beef is with DH... but boy do they have one.

The hope is that Fox renewed knowing perfectly well that the ratings were always going to be bad, but expecting the low production costs + good revenue production from DVD sales to Joss's small but fanatical fan base = enough profit to satisfy them. If that's so, the positive reviews (much more so than DH got for the first five episodes last season) will bolster their sense that it may not be a hit, but that it will have a cult status that keeps it commercially viable for a good bit longer than the ordinary come and go hit on the networks.

[quinara]

I hate it when ideas just vanish. I'd love to read more Spuffy by you, so *crosses fingers*. There's always going to be plot_wout_porn too, though I haven't mentioned that yet.

I think SMG convinces me, but I definitely tend to prefer more understated emotional moments (and not B/A)! I hadn't quite how wearying I found all that stuff in S3 until my recent rewatch, when getting to S4 was like a weight being lifted from my shoulders. Suddenly I could cope with more than one episode a day!

[shapinglight]

I hope you're right. DVD sales do make a big difference these days, and what happened with Firefly must have brought that home to Fox, I suppose?

As for this site hating Dollhouse, maybe they were all fans of The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which was cancelled instead of Dollhouse rather to people's surprise. I've seen the first series of that. It was okay, but I don't have anything much to say about it except that Summer Glau was very good.

[shapinglight]

I didn't think he would be exactly like Warren. He seems more a progression of Warren, though without the obvious misogyny.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

I didn't find any of the episodes bad. I thought the quality was pretty consistent.

[diachrony.livejournal.com]

I must say that having seen the first ep of the second season my opinion has finally solidified that Eliza Dushku is simply a subpar actress with very weak and limited skills. Sadly ... I was valiantly trying to make excuses for her all through S1, but ... gah! She's simply not very good.

At least she's likeable - I still enjoy watching her even though she makes me wince (odd as it may seem), and the other actors in the series are pretty uniformly admirable. Adele DeWitt is an awesome character.

I'm enjoying Dollhouse overall quite a bit. It's quite a juicy theme and it looks like they're going interesting places with it.

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

I saw Topher as very Warrenlike too. It's a different twist to the figure though. A more multilayered, deeper version. Actually the farther the season progresses, the more he reminds me of the really cool villains and redemptionists of Buffy, because while he's a pathetic little creature, with an extreme hubris, he also has his nice sides, is terribly insecure at points and a tragic figure (that Warren, who was just plain evil never really got to be), a bit Londo on B5.

Him, Adelle and Dr. Saunders turned out to be the most intriguing characters to me.
(also the S2 kick off ep absolutely rocked)

[shapinglight]

I hope to write more Spuffy some day. Just now, in fact, I hope to write more anything some day. It seems to get harder and harder and I seem to have less and less time for it. :(

I haven't rewatched season 3 in years. In fact, I haven't watched any BtVS since early this year. Keep meaning to but never get around to it. Do remember finding B/A in season 3 horribly irritating and tedious, though.

[shapinglight]

Er - consistently good, you mean? I've enjoyed parts of all I've seen so far but have to say, ep 5 was the least good IMO.

[quinara]

:( Well, if you end up taking a break we'll almost certainly be here for you when you get back. Ready to pounce on new stories!

Well, when I say recent I mean Easter. :D I know there are some people who argue rewatches should be practically a constant cycle, but with Buffy I'm certain there are some episodes I've seen at least thirty+ times, so I don't really see it as all that necessary to catch up with the other ones. There's a lot of S3 I haven't watched very much at all, but then I don't really care about it, so *shrugs*.

[shapinglight]

I don't want to take a break. I just don't seem to have enough time for everything. Wah! It's not fair.

In season 3, I like the standalones. Some of them are brilliant. It's weird, because I like Faith and I like the Mayor very much, but the season arc just doesn't grab me for some reason.

[shapinglight]

That's good to know, and I'd agree that Eliza is pretty one-note. That's why I've preferred by far the episodes where she's acting a character similar to Faith, even though you have to suspend your disbelief to accept that she could beat the crap out of these guys she beats the crap out of.

And I do like Langton, is it?

[shapinglight]

Glad you enjoyed it, and no idea when I'll get to see it. Not for a while I should think.

I like the characters you mention, or at least find them interesting. I also like the fact that DeWitt is considerably older than glamorous female characters usually get to be in US TV, while Ballard's neighbour, though a very pretty girl, is an awful ong way from being a size 0. Good for Joss.

[quinara]

In season 3, I like the standalones. Some of them are brilliant. It's weird, because I like Faith and I like the Mayor very much, but the season arc just doesn't grab me for some reason.

Yes! to all of this. Every now and then I'll feel like watching a Faith episode, but when I look through the options I end up not bothering.

[diachrony.livejournal.com]

Boyd Langton - yes! Played by Harry Lennix - I adore Harry Lennix as an actor - was very excited that he was in the cast. Lots of potential in his character too.

[goodbyebird]

Dollhouse hasn't blown me away, but there have been some good episodes and compelling characters/subplots. Unfortunately I have to agree with you on Dushku, she's just not up for the task(I do enjoy her imprint in 1x06 though, very un-Faith like, but it still works). And it frustrates me that the other, more competent actors have to stay in the shadows a bit. I think the show would benefit greatly if they leaned more towards being an ensemble show instead of going the very very main character route.

s2 started off well enough, I'm hoping it's all up from here on out :)

[shapinglight]

Replying horribly late again. Sorry.

Yes, Langton is about the only character in the show who you can really emphathise with. Until you remember he must at some point have chosen to work for this horrible organisation.

Hmm.

[shapinglight]

I think the show would benefit greatly if they leaned more towards being an ensemble show instead of going the very very main character route

I'm sure you're right, but since the show only exists because of Eliza I guess that's never going to happen. Pity.

And I should get myself some Dollhouse icons.

[goodbyebird]

I'm sure you're right, but since the show only exists because of Eliza I guess that's never going to happen.

Maybe they can keep her so busy with her producer tasks that she doesn't have time for it all ;)

And for DH icons, try flatlined, mouthfullofdust, iladora, llenka, nowgold and dollhouse_elite.
EDIT: Oh. I guess you can't do that, what with all the spoilers. Want me to head-hunt some for ya?

[shapinglight]

Hi. Sorry not to have responded before. Thanks for the link to the Dollhouse icon makers. I'll probably wait until I've finished watching season 1 before I snag any. It should be relatively easy to avoid spoilers that way.

[goodbyebird]

If you're really keen, I made a couple of batches early s1, so you won't get spoiled by those. They're at forsquares.

[shapinglight]

Thanks for the link. Those are wonderful icons.