Dollhouse

(S02E02) So, um, what happened? Dollhouse came back last week and posted its lowest ratings to date. It’s a shame, because the show continues to find its footing. What was impressive this time was that the episode was compelling and dramatic, and it had virtually nothing to do with the overall story-arc for the series.

Just like some of the best episodes of The X-Files were "monster-of-the-week" installments, this "imprint-of-the-week" chapter was simply brilliant. It explored the full capabilities of the Dollhouse technology, where we got our first hint that Topher’s genius can sometimes push him to doing things he shouldn’t. At least not without testing. It’s this character flaw that led to his failures in "Epitaph One."

By doing so, however, it allowed us to perhaps get a better understanding of what the Echo 2.0 experience is for what mind is left there in her Doll state. I thought she remembered everything that had happened from every one of her imprints, but it may not be that simple.

The explanation she gave to Paul at the end of this episode, where she explained that it’s more than remembering what happened. She feels everything they’ve done to her. She feels the loves she’s had, and in this case, the love of a mother toward her child. In fact, it was the strength of that maternal bond that overwrote the wipe in the first place.

It’s crazy to think that Topher can push the mind to the point where Echo was able to lactate and breast feed her child. We know the power of suggestion in our minds is staggering, but as he said, the implications of this advancement are mind-blowing. It’s a wonder the military isn’t already using this technology to create soldiers in this world.

I wonder if that’s why Perrin (Alexis Denisof) wants to take down the Dollhouse. I know he says something about his mother’s life and all that, but he’s a government man. Imagine what it would do to his career if he could out this kind of technology and bring it into the hands of the US Military.

I know, that’s painting him as some kind of opportunistic monster. So far, we’re supposed to believe that he’s a good man and that he’s working on the side of right. But we all know how Whedon likes to switch things up.

Speaking of that, I’m not sure what the reason was for pulling November back into the storyline. I know it was just for a check-up, but the fact that we got to see her, and Paul got to see her, tells me that Whedon isn’t done with her storyline.

Whatever his intentions, he’d better get to it. FOX only has a 13-episode commitment and 2.56 million for that premiere isn’t exactly screaming for a full season pick-up. Hopefully, if things don’t turn around and the series does wind to a close sooner rather than later, Whedon will see it coming and hook us up with a satisfying conclusion. Or we can look forward to Dollhouse: Season Three from Dark Horse or IDW Comics sometime next year.