Dollhouse

Whiskey!! Tango!! Foxtrot!! Hercules Has Seen the Minear-Masterminded Season Finale of Joss Whedon’s DOLLHOUSE!!

I am – Hercules!!

Dollhouse 1.12 FAQ

What’s it called?

“Omega.”

Who’s responsible?

The great Tim Minear (“Angel,” “Firefly,” “Wonderfalls,” “Drive”) directs from his own teleplay.

What says Fox?

“Alpha’s reign of terror continues as his obsession with Echo endangers Caroline’s survival, and Ballard’s search for the Dollhouse comes to an end, forcing him to make a life-changing decision. Meanwhile, one Doll is permanently deactivated while another’s shocking past is revealed in the ‘Omega’ season finale episode of DOLLHOUSE. Guest Cast: Amy Acker as Dr. Claire Saunders; Miracle Laurie as Mellie/November; Alan Tudyk as Stephen Kepler; Angel Desai as Sophie Alvarez; Mark Sheppard as Agent Tanaka; Marco Sanchez as Blevins; Ashley Johnson as Wendy.”

Season finale? Isn’t there another episode after this one called “Epitaph One”? Directed by series creator Joss Whedon?

There is an episode titled “Epitaph One” directed by Joss Whedon, but the Fox Network decided you wouldn’t be interested in watching it. It’ll be on the DVD due July 28.

The big news?

Fox fails to mention that Joe Howard plays a key role in the episode as well!

Is Omega the name of an active?

In the phonetic alphabet, “Oscar” is “O.”

Which doll is permanently deactivated?

Not Sierra.

Which doll has its shocking past revealed?

There are actually two dolls who have their shocking pasts revealed. One of them is Alpha.

What life-changing decision does Ballard make?

He becomes Captain Willard in “Apocalypse Now”; he’s not even in their army anymore. THEN HE WALKS ON DOWN THE HALL!!

The previews make this look like “Natural Born Killers.” Didn’t Minear knock out an unaired episode of “The Inside” that paid homage to “Natural Born Killers”?

I believe he did. He even sought Joss Whedon to direct it at one point.

Why did Alpha need obsessed cop Ballard to get into the Dollhouse? Was Paul just along to provide a distraction?

Maybe?

Why is Alpha obsessed with the Echo body? Why didn’t he download Caroline into it?

Alpha likes a good combo, and has no use for a Caroline sandwich.

Is Paul sent to the attic?

That would be telling.

Was Paul an active all along, tasked with luring Alpha back to the Dollhouse? Does anyone actually call him a blade runner?

I can say there’s a scene tonight that strongly evokes “Blade Runner.” “If only you could see what I’ve seen with your eyes!”

Was Laurence Dominic’s warning that Echo would soon be doing some wiping prophetic?

I can’t say.

Is Alpha carving Chinese characters into people’s faces?

He’s making art.

What’s good?

The show’s remarkable cast. The realization that we’ve come to care a great deal about so many of these awful people. The many and very revealing flashbacks. Tushcute’s slutty slutty Mallory outfit. Fran Kranz generally and his reading of “I made it very clear these imprints were prone to paranoia!” in particular. The crystalline reveal. “Yeah, let’s do that instead.” “I think this one wet itself.” “Understand Hell now.” “Especially now that we have a black president.” “I’m ready to rinse and spit.” “I think that’s strange.” Paul’s Costly decision, which actually brought a tear to my eye.

What’s not so good?

Instead of “Epitaph One” next week? You get an expensive final episode of Brett Ratner’s “Prison Break.”

Does “Omega” feel like a season finale?

It does. We get a series-altering turn.

Does “Omega” feel like a series finale?

No. It does not provide closure enough for that, and it feels like there are many more stories untold.

Is “Dollhouse” cancelled?

The show’s ratings are abysmal, but I don’t know what Fox was expecting to happen when it consigned the series to its Friday Death Slot. There’s been a "Save Dollhouse" campaign in place since the day Fox announced the Friday destination. Fox announces its 2009-2010 schedule in 10 days.

How does it end, spoiler boy?

“Caroline.”

9 p.m. Friday. Fox.