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Dollhouse - 1x08 - Needs
This episode was freaking amazing! This show is getting so very very good. I'm so happy!
First, Adelle was evil British lady hotness this episode. The total girl!wood she has for Caroline is also delicious. I don't know if Olivia Williams as any idea how
she has Adelle coming across for Caroline, but I hope so. Cause that means she's doing it on purpose, and will therefore continue to do so. OR, my own personal favorite theory, that Adelle really canonically does have girl!wood for Caroline (LET ME DREAM!!!)
Also, that shot with Adelle standing regally in the sunlight staring broodingly at the building was absolutely stunning! I can't wait until the screencaps come out for this episode.
2. CLAIRE!
I can't figure u out, gurl! But I am utterly and completely fascinated and compelled by you. Has Claire been drinking the kool-aid? Does she really think that making the dolls docile again is in their best interest, or is she running some kind of long term con?
I kind of hope that she's drinking the kool-aid, because I think that it would be fascinating to learn WHY she is there and how she can still believe after what happened with Alpha.
HOWEVER, I think that it's probably a long con. It can't be a coincidence that Caroline was able to find Paul's number in a file found in Claire's office. Claire KNEW what Caroline was likely to do, she proposed the plan and had been watching the Dolls enough to know what it was that they desired. As a doctor, it would also seem totally possible for her to have been able to meddle with Topher's imprint to have Echo deliver that secret message to Paul.
3. Mike was kind of a douche, but I liked him. November continues to bore me so much (unless there's a boob shot, which thankfully there are plenty of). Miracle Laurie has a bangin' body, but I don't think she's much of an actress (she has moments, for example her not giving a shit about the co-ed shower, but mostly she bores me. VICTOR+SIERRA 4 EVAH! They are too cute. The Echo/Sierra slasher in me, kind of wants Echo to be in Victor's place, but Victor and Sierra are too cute for me not to love them together. Seriously, Victor is the dreamiest dreamy who ever dreamied. Victor is the male Ivy Tamwood. I called it! He is delicious.
I love him, like James Franco loves pie! So good.
I liked Caroline better this episode than I did last episode. Last episode, like every time Caroline was on screen, I was like "Ugh. I so wouldn't hang out with you, face of Eliza Dushku or not." This episode I found her spunky and industrious, and a little less I DON'T EAT ANYTHING THAT ONCE HAD A FACE AND YOU SHOULDN'T EITHER ... HOOR!
Topher is spineless. I knew this. I relate to him. I would have begged like a baby and bartered for my life too. No heroics from me, I'm pretty coordinated, but that doesn't really help against bullets.
Was I the only one who giggled when Victor and Sierra disappeared into the Clothes Rack of Illicit Love, and then Echo and November disappeared into Clothes Rack of Crouched Down Suspiciously Close to Each Other While Gently Touching Each Others Shoulders? I don't care what was actually intended, I'm going to assume that Echo was taking care of November, just like Victor was taking care of Sierra because she is secretly in love with her!
Then someone could make of DVD of it and send it to Paul and he'd be all
Only Tahmoh would have his shirt off, cause it's written into his contract like that!
Dom continues to be such a magnificent bastard. "Don't think of them like children. Let of them as pets. If I child starts talking, you're proud. If your dog starts talking you get freaked out." LOL! Such a douchey thing to say, and yet it is a very effective analogy.
So, in conclusion. I love this fuckin' show! I can't wait until next week.
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I love how this show just keeps getting better and better.
Make some room on the bed because I'm dreaming right along side of you. I take as much pleasure out of the whole thing as Adelle has watching Caroline.
I still don't know what to make of Claire either. I think whether she's a spy trying to take the dollhouse down or a drinker of the kool-aid, she has the dolls best interest in mind. She's doing her best with what she can of the situation.
Yes! I am right there with you my friend. In fact I'm glad Mike got caught so he didn't get in the way. I mean it wouldn't have been fun for him anyway, being a fifth wheel and all.
This totally takes me back to when we'd always get Krista in a shower on Blade and I am loving every minute of it.
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LOL! It's funny cause it's true. The only time you see Adelle smile is when she's talking about Caroline or Echo.
I still don't know what to make of Claire either.
And I love it. I can't wait to see what's going on with her. I really hope that Amy Acker's new show doesn't mean the end of the Claire. I can deal with it if the role is scaled back a bit, but I needz Claire on my TV screen.
I mean it wouldn't have been fun for him anyway, being a fifth wheel and all.
Yeah, he was a bit of a Debbie Downer. They got rid of him right before he become REALLY annoying.
This totally takes me back to when we'd always get Krista in a shower on Blade and I am loving every minute of it.
Aw! Blade! Krista! *is nostalgic* It's true though, it's so true :D
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But how seriously fucked up is Sierra's backstory? She essentially was sold into slavery by a guy just because she wouldn't sleep with him, and is then PIMPED OUT TO THE SAME GUY WHENEVER HE LIKES! I think the Dollhouse's argument of 'volunteers' and 'not evil' was completely obliterated with that. I really hope she gets to kill him one day.
And I wanted to like November's story more than I did, but I still found it affecting. I can buy someone being that desparate to forget their grief.
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This is how I feel. Echo/Sierra is my fav, but I know it's not gonna happen so I can enjoy Victor/Sierra who are very cute together. If Enver wasn't so adorable I'd probably be a hater, but he is so I'm not, lol
But how seriously fucked up is Sierra's backstory?
I know! It just gets worse and WORSE. Next we're going to find out that she was an orphan and had a puppy who died. They better be setting up that asshole for a MASSIVE and PAINFUL downfall though. I want him to suffer much more than Hearn did.
I can buy someone being that desparate to forget their grief.
Yeah, her decision to join the Dollhouse makes total sense after learning what we did. But like you, before that graveyard scene I wasn't caring too much.
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I don't know what it is since I've never found Amy Acker hot. But, give her a couple scars and put her in a lab coat and I'm all RRROOOWWWWRRRRRR!!
Does she really think that making the dolls docile again is in their best interest, or is she running some kind of long term con?
For me, the most telling moment was when she told Echo 'I'm not your friend in here'. Which I took as a sort of double meaning, like inside the Dollhouse, Dr. Acker is all 'Company, yay!' but yeah, I think she might be a double agent.
Victor is the male Ivy Tamwood. I called it!
Who are you and what have you done to fembuck!?! I am soo not on the Victor/Sierra ship. Honestly, they bore me to tears when the ship's not totally creeping me out.
Topher is spineless.
Lol, he really is a spineless weasel. I just wish they'd dial down the QUIRKY GEEK a couple notches because, really, when you consider what he's doing to Sierra, I have a very hard time finding his geek chic routine funny.
All in all, I really did like this episode. Mainly because they brought the *darkness* of the premise that too many of the earlier episodes skirted around. I have no doubt some of the Actives volunteered, I just don't think Adele gave them the *complete* picture in regards to what they were volunteering for.
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I know! What is that? I was always like, "yeah, she's funny or whatever", but I was never on the Amy Acker lust train on Angel, or Drive. But the moment she showed up as Claire, I like practically went into heat. I find her ridiculously, stupidly, amazing hot. Who knew that a hair cut and some scars could make someone sexual catnip?
Which I took as a sort of double meaning, like inside the Dollhouse, Dr. Acker is all 'Company, yay!' but yeah, I think she might be a double agent.
Yeah, I hope this is the case. She seems like she's helping Team Adelle, so she has room to move in the Dollhouse and has their trust, but there's really a second layer to everything that she's doing.
I can't wait to see how it all unfolds. I really hope Acker's new show doesn't mean the end of Claire. Claire is one of my favorite parts of the show.
Who are you and what have you done to fembuck!?! I am soo not on the Victor/Sierra ship. Honestly, they bore me to tears when the ship's not totally creeping me out.
Aw! HAVE YOU NO HEART!?!?! lol. I know it's weird seeing me say that, but if I can't have Echo/Sierra, or any F/F doll pairing, then Victor/Sierra can get my love for now. There is definitely an element of creeper to Victor's obsession with her, but he's a sweet creeper who just wants to take care of her. And lord knows Sierra needs someone to actually care about her and look out for her after all of the times she's been abused. And there's something in that idea that even after being wiped, there is something inside of them that recognizing the other, that their feelings are stronger than science. Plus, I just want to pinch Victor's cheeks. The actor is adorable, which helps me not hate the ship.
I just wish they'd dial down the QUIRKY GEEK a couple notches because, really, when you consider what he's doing to Sierra, I have a very hard time finding his geek chic routine funny.
Yeah, he's a little too wacky. The actor they hired has a really broad acting sense though. He's always SUPER EXCITED like that. I hated it in the other roles I saw him in, but I can deal with it here. Though dialing it back a bit would help.
I also think that we're supposed to be creeped out by Topher. Caroline's disgust with him when he made that "I'm just the science guy" comment, I think was supposed to reflect the audiences disgust with him. I totally wouldn't be surprised if Joss has me do something REALLY unethical/morally disgusting soon. I feel like we're being lulled into liking the guy cause me makes funny jokes, but there are still this little hints about what a little shit he is, and we've got to see him being a HUGE douche soon. If we don't see him being a huge douche I'm going to very disappointed because despite the smile, the guy lacks all kinds of morality and needs to learn a few lessons. Topher becoming something that resembles a human being would be a nice arc.
I have no doubt some of the Actives volunteered, I just don't think Adele gave them the *complete* picture in regards to what they were volunteering for.
Yeah, there's definitely some sketchy elements to the 'volunteer' process. Although, Sierra's introduction to the Dollhouse - if it really did go down like we heard this episode - is the only one where we've seen abduction instead of heavy handed coercion. I also think you're totally right, and that these people HAVE NO IDEA what it is they are really signing up for. They probably think they are going to be Sydney Bristow, but they end up being Nomi Malone.
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Hee! Yeah. I went searching for Acker pictures last night, getting all pissed because there are soo little really *good* pictures of Acker as Claire, aside from shitty screencaps. I WANT HI-RES HOTNESS DAMMIT!!
There is definitely an element of creeper to Victor's obsession with her...
I didn't mean to say I find Victor creepy. I actually like the actor. He's like Costas Mandylor v.2.0 - this time with 100% better acting! I like to imagine what it would have been like (aside from the fact that he would hvae been 12 at the time) if he'd been cast opposite Dina Meyer in Secret Agent Man and how it wouldn't have sucked so much less!
What I find creepy is, when they're in their doll state, it - I don't know - feels like sexualizing children. It didn't help with the whole 'man-reaction' in the shower thing. Second, I feel like it's *way* too soon to be pulling a 'star-crossed lovers' storyline. So the ship feels forced. I'd rather spend a bit more time getting to know the characters. It would have also helped a bit if they'd spent a bit more time on Sierra's attraction to Victor as opposed to making it All About Victor!
While I find Victor's need to protect Sierra admirable, this is a storyline where Sierra needs to save herself. And, imo, what should have been about Sierra became a bit too much about Victor.
It's funny when you said Victor was Ivy Tamwood because my reaction was Sierra is totally Ivy, in a - the character through which we view the darker themes of the narrative because they *can't* do it with the lead. Because it's kinda hard to sell THIS -
..when you realize that character is a rape victim forced into prostitution by a jilted lover!
I also think that we're supposed to be creeped out by Topher.
Yeah, but it's like they want to have it both ways. It's like over on Chuck where the show presents Lester and Victor sexually harassing women as FUNNY! And I'm like - um, no it's not. That because Topher's quippy nerd guy, he's supposed to be harmless. Which makes him THAT much creepier.
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I know! I've only found like one, and I'm tired of looking at that one. I need more hi-res claire sexiness.
if he'd been cast opposite Dina Meyer in Secret Agent Man
I definitely would have been able to finish watching the series. Mandylor was painful, too painful for me to watch. Even Dina's awesomeness couldn't counteract the awfulness of Mandylor.
What I find creepy is, when they're in their doll state, it - I don't know - feels like sexualizing children. It didn't help with the whole 'man-reaction' in the shower thing.
Mmm, I see what you're saying here. I think it would have been better if we'd seen more 'sitting and reading books together' thing, showing they like each other but having it being pretty chaste. Though, in their doll-state they really haven't done anything but read and talk and look at each other. I don't think Victor had any idea what his 'man reaction' meant, or what to do with it. It was only when they had their base personalities back, they there was real sexual tension, and that makes sense.
I doubt well see, Victor and Sierra in their tabula rasa state doing much more than holding hands, and I'm alright with that. Elementary school kids have 'boyfriends and girlfriends', who they hold hands with and like better than other people. As long as Victor and Sierra stay all "flowers are pretty like your eyes, let's climb the rockwall together", I can't won't be creeped out by them.
It's funny when you said Victor was Ivy Tamwood because my reaction was Sierra is totally Ivy
I was thinking this too. She's Ivy is that she is the one being made to suffer because the lead character can't (the difference being Echo isn't the cause of Sierra's suffering, and Echo felt real pain on Sierra's behalf and did what she could to help Sierra by telling about her crying at night. While Rachel, is a douche). Sierra is everything tragic about Ivy. Victor is Ivy's dreaminess. Victor is Ivy in protective, I will do anything to keep you safe, I could stares at your face for hours and never be bored Ivy. Maybe that's why I love them, they are everything that is wonderful about Ivy Tamwood when you put them together, lol
this is a storyline where Sierra needs to save herself. And, imo, what should have been about Sierra became a bit too much about Victor.
Yeah, totally. What happened, happened to her and she needs to be the one to to take action. I will say though, that I trust in Joss. He keeps is female characters strong (at least during the first three years of shows generally), so I can totally see Sierra becoming more self-suffient as she heals from what's been done to her.
Topher's quippy nerd guy, he's supposed to be harmless. Which makes him THAT much creepier.
From what I can gather, most people DO find him creepy though, and are uncomfortable with how much they like him at times, because he is a creep. As long as they keep showing that he is definitely not all sunshine and lollipops, and that his smile and jokes cover a complete lack of empathy and understanding for others, then I won't mind so much.
What I fear is that he'll get the Spike treatment.
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slight plot hole with sierra...she should fall asleep when victor punches evilman, or not at all cos they got caught...
and it makes me sad that victor wont be waiting to make sure sierra is ok before sleepytime :(
"Victor is the dreamiest dreamy who ever dreamied..." YUPS!!!!:D
"I so wouldn't hang out with you, face of Eliza Dushku or not" caroline is annoying, BUT, face of eliza dushku....if she can get me to rent jay and silent bob strike back, i could put up with crazed activist for that smile...
also, i like november! in the way that, shes annoying and dull, but good as sleeper active neighbour of cute bumblingness, and her back story was ace-awwws with the baby!!!!
i agree with the sierra story completely messing up adeles righteousness...but shes adele!so...british!i have to applaud my countrymen/women
adele is growing on me...but my heart belongs to Claire(...i agree, scars help with hotness!)and echo/sierra. :P
still amazes me that sierra was in neighbours :D:D:D
loving your conclusions of dollhouse eps fembuck!:D
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I would say not, because the guy just got punched. He wasn't killed or sobbing out apologies or anything. He was still smug and gloating. She needed to get more closure than that. I think it was really Victor, actually protecting her and loving her that gave her the peace of mind needed for closure.
caroline is annoying, BUT, face of eliza dushku....if she can get me to rent jay and silent bob strike back, i could put up with crazed activist for that smile...
lol! I'll just wait until the Taffy personality is imprinted again. Hell I'd take anime!Alice over Caroline any day. It's so sad that Echo's base personality it the worst one. I love Echo, simple as she is about a 1000x better than Caroline.
shes annoying and dull, but good as sleeper active neighbour of cute bumblingness
The boring and dull just kills it for me. I like fall asleep whenever she opens her mouth.
adele is growing on me...but my heart belongs to Claire(...i agree, scars help with hotness!)
I can't choose who I love more, Adelle or Claire. I love them both so much. And I can't choose who I want to ship more, Adelle/Claire, Adelle/Claire slash Echo, or Claire/Echo (with of course Echo/Sierra as well).
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i think youre right, caroline IS annoying :/
choosing is hard...that why i love fanfic!
i also noticed something. the actives that 'escaped' ...spells S.V.E.N
oooo spooky messages :P
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Claire kind've amazed me in this one. Definitely threw me off.
I totally agree with the Adele!wood. She has it. Caroline wants it. (or at least I'd like to think she does).
Adele amazes me too. I love how manipulative she has come off to be. Plus, the accent definitely does not hurt. Even though she is so evil, I'm really curious as to how she got Caroline to sign up and just Adele's past in general.
I didn't mind Caroline last episode, just because I kept telling myself there had to be more to her. And alas, there...kind've is. Regardless, gun-wielding Eliza is hot.
I'm very surprised with how deep this show is. I know Joss isn't a shallow guy, but I guess the first couple episodes may have lowered my expectations. Plus, I think this series is so much different than Buffy or Angel because they're all people. It's all about people's motivations and nature, you can't just brush off the hideous actions because "they're vampires, it's what they do" because they aren't in Dollhouse.
Every episode just leaves me wanting to know more. Which is quite annoying because that means I have a week of anticipation.
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This! Which I love :D
She has it. Caroline wants it. (or at least I'd like to think she does).
She does. They both do. I bet while Adelle was trying to convince her to sign the contract that they had some dirty hate!sex.
Even though she is so evil, I'm really curious as to how she got Caroline to sign up and just Adele's past in general.
This. I mean she really seems to believe in what it is Rossum is doing, and she seems to be trying very hard to convince herself that she is HELPING the Dolls by making them forget how horrible the outside world is. I really want to know what got her to this point.
I'm very surprised with how deep this show is. I know Joss isn't a shallow guy, but I guess the first couple episodes may have lowered my expectations.
I'm glad it's finally getting deep. I thought it was going to be deep and dark, and then the first few episodes were so shallow and underwhelming. I blame that ENTIRELY on Fox though. They made Joss create a new pilot, which wasn't nearly as good as his original (which was deep and dark), and then they meddled with the first 5 episodes. Episode 6 "Man on the Street" was the first one where Joss was able to do what he wanted to do without Fox meddling.
you can't just brush off the hideous actions because "they're vampires, it's what they do" because they aren't in Dollhouse.
I'm liking this about it too. No one is completely evil here (while maybe that douche bag that Sierra confronted this episode), and no one is completely good. They all exist in a gray area, with some closer to the light than others. And even the bad guys are fascinating and complex. You can't just say, "oh, you're a bad man" or whatever, because there's more to them than that. Adelle is kind of like a smaller scale Adrian Veidt that way.
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I still keep my theory that she's Caroline's aunt or close relative. BUT OMG. The way she stares at her, and watches her from the window in Echo's pod room..*_* And when Caroline/Echo called her 'useless', she puffed her chest out and grew 5 cm taller, that outraged face read 'HOW DARE YOU BITCH!' XDD She's great, man.
And oh Amy Acker, why are you so amazing?? You can see that Joss love her, he gave her the best character. So puzzling, so fragile, so..gah!
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This. She is amazing ... ly beautiful and talented! I flove her.
I still keep my theory that she's Caroline's aunt or close relative.
After last weeks episode I can't see that anymore. When the guy was telling her about Caroline in the hospital, Adelle didn't show any kind of recognition. It seemed like she hadn't even been aware of Caroline until she was given a call when Caroline was hospitalized. I think her affection for Caroline came from chasing after her for two years after she escaped the hospital. Adelle indicated that Caroline had turned her down before, so during those two years they probably had confrontations with each other and Caroline earned Adelle's respect and interest.
And oh Amy Acker, why are you so amazing??
I don't know, but I don't ever want her to change. I liked Amy before, but I fucking love her in this role. Claire better not go anywhere, despite Acker getting a new show. I NEED my Claire fix.
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She knows her. Also, you wouldn't call Adelle Dewitt for anybody, would you? Caroline may be important for some other reason..
When 'high' on the drug, she also refers to guilt and remorse, claiming that Caroline want to 'punish' her for what she did, and that decisions have consequences and you have to live with them all your life..
For somebody that personally recruited god knows how many actives, with her little persuading speaches and her smooth talking, she seems a bit too invested in her. I don't see it as 'respect'..
I can't wait for the season finale XD I wanna knooooooOOooooow!!!!!
Olivia referred to a 'plot twist' for Adelle, which she thought 'very cool'...I wonder if it could be just what their relationship is all about..
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And in my head, 'Whiskey' is a totally badass faux-hawked lesbian. Because Whiskey is a hard name to rock.
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I haven't really seen a consistent spelling of it, but Alpha seems to be used more, and I just like that one better. "Alfa" reminds me too much of Alfalfa, which is really not an association I need to make ;)
And in my head, 'Whiskey' is a totally badass faux-hawked lesbian. Because Whiskey is a hard name to rock.
I really hope we get to see Whiskey on screen. I love the name, it's the one I would have picked for myself. And yes, Whiskey needs to be a totally badass chick.
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First, Adelle was evil British lady hotness this episode. The total girl!wood she has for Caroline is also delicious. I don't know if Olivia Williams as any idea how she has Adelle coming across for Caroline, but I hope so.
I SO AGREE. AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Adelle is just freaking amazing - Olivia Williams portrays her beautifully. And it's pretty obvious she's invested in Echo - I just don't exactly understand why. But it doesn't matter! I'm enjoying the femslash and giggle inwardly whenever I see it.
I can't figure Claire out either, and I'm really interested in finding out what her motives are, and why she stays at the Dollhouse. I decided I didn't really like her this past episode - not because of what she did (I thought it was an ingenious plan, really), but more because of the things she said about it afterward. I don't remember what exactly she said now, but if I do/if I rewatch it I'll let you know later. Despite this, I still find her to be a fascinating character, especially since I can never really tell what her motivations are.
Topher is spineless.
And I LOVE him for it. To be honest, I would have done the same in that situation as well, especially considering (if I were him) I didn't have any emotional attachments to any of my coworkers there - I don't have ass-kicking skills that would get me out of sticky situations.
Was I the only one who giggled when Victor and Sierra disappeared into the Clothes Rack of Illicit Love, and then Echo and November disappeared into Clothes Rack of Crouched Down Suspiciously Close to Each Other While Gently Touching Each Others Shoulders?
NO. NO YOU WERE NOT. I loved the contrast between Victor and Sierra, and Echo and November. Except with Echo and November, it was definitely without the awkwardness, which kind of diminished the slash a bit, but you know - whatever.
I love Echo/Sierra, but I am willing to go with Victor/Sierra because like you said, they are very, very cute together! Plus, the whole girl!wood that Adelle has for Echo can just take care of my want for a slash pairing in Dollhouse. (As much as I'd like Adelle/Echo, however, I can never quite picture them together...)
Finally: Is that last .gif of Gaspard Ulliel? Or is it just someone who looks like him?