"Dollhouse" - Prospects and Review
One of the most talked about "bubble" shows this season has been Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse". Opinions on the show have varied wildly, from "it sucks and should be cancelled" to "it's up to the Whedon standard" (which is high praise).
I really enjoy the show. I was a huge "Buffy" fan, and I find much of the trademark Whedon dialogue in use within "Dollhouse". Several of the actors really deliver the lines well, including Eliza Dushku ("Echo") and the most excellent Alan Tudyk, who gave the best performance in the series as "Alpha". He rocks.
Unfortunately, I think a few of the actors don't "get it" as far as how the dialogue should be delivered. I was a fan of Tahmoh Penikett in "Battlestar Galactica" (as Helo), but I find him a bit flat as "Ballard" here. He's not bad...it's just that he doesn't seem comfortable with the lines. This is really apparent (to me, at least) in the scenes he shares with Tudyk.
The other actor that I find a bit "off" is Fran Kranz ("Topher"). I can't place the reason for this feeling for Kranz; it could be the character, or it could be the performance - I'm just not sure. He has improved as the series continued, though, so there is hope if the show is renewed.
Overall, the rest of the cast has created the environment that I expect from a Whedon production. Lines like "When does the hankerin' for tasty brains set in?" are liberally sprinkled in for fun. More importantly, the plot twists *make sense*, like the revelation that Amy Acker's "Dr. Saunders" was a doll or that Alpha manipulated Ballard into getting him back into the Dollhouse.
It's good and deserves a renewal. Now, the question is - will it get one?
According to io9, talks on the prospects of the show are going on right now. Airlock Alpha has also reported that FOX is leaning toward a renewal, so signs are guardedly positive on that front.
I agree with everything you said! Way to go FRED!!!
-- Posted by: Natalie Damico at June 5, 2009 9:22 AM