Dollhouse

Comic-Con: Joss Whedon wows ’Dollhouse’ fans with a never-aired episode and season two teasers

Proof that it pays to come to Comic-Con: On Friday, rabid Joss Whedon fans got to see an unaired 13th episode of Dollhouse that takes place 10 years into the future. Positioned as a veritable road map for the fledgling series, the episode tries to address the apocalyptic outcome of the Dollhouse world - i.e., what happens when too many memories are wiped and everyone becomes, well, zombies. Shot on video for about $1 million less than what a typical episode costs, according to one source, the episode features mostly new characters discovering a deserted dollhouse, but Eliza Dushku’s beloved Echo makes a cameo appearance. Sound confusing? Well, relax — it’s not going to air and potentially upset the show’s mojo (though it will be included in the Dollhouse DVD). But Whedon did promise this to his fans at Comic-Con: "We intend to honor what you saw here."

That’s true: Moving forward, Whedon plans to save Fox some cash by only shooting Dollhouse on video (trust us, it still looks good). Here are some other promises for season two: Angel alum Alexis Denisof and The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ Summer Glau will make appearances. And Whedon will "continue to deal with the abuse of power and what it brings out in the characters."

That prompted one fan to inquire about Whedon’s obsession with big corporations. "Have you been in America?" Whedon replied. "I consider myself a great documentarian... There is power and manipulation [everywhere]. That’s why I like this show so much."