Episode 11 – Briar Rose – Finale part 1 of 2
So, what did you all think?
This episode was written by Jane Espenson (Buffy, Firefly, Battlestar), and really starts to connect the dots, from Paul to the Dollhouse to Caroline. There will be spoilers in the comments!
38 Responses 
Dollverse (c) 2007-2009 Kevin Beaumont. Dollhouse (c) 20th Century Fox.
outfknstanding …. awesome to see Alan Tudyk cast and omfg what a role!!!
loved the "connecting dots" style to this story – made for excellent watching
keep up the great work … I'm desperately hoping this series gets to Season 2! <3
Fantastic episode, and it was awesome to see Alan again. The fight between Tahmoh and Harry Lennix was excellent.
My only criticism is that the fairytale thread was used too much and was not at all subtle.
Yeah, fairytale had the anvils of doom.
However, I loved everything else. In particular, Enver knocked it out the court again as Victor (as Dominic). Also, every week should be Miracle (Mellie) week.
And Alan. You’re brilliant, you are.
Wonderful episode. It was the first time I’ve ever found myself to be afraid of Alan Tudyk!
He played such a mellow character in Firefly, and the actor himself is pretty mellow…but that scene between Alpha and Dr. Saunders scared the crap out of me.
In a good way, though.
I was bored up until the last 5 minutes.
I want Alan Tudyk to father my children. Right now.
I loved the fact that we had Alan from Firefly, Amy from Angel, and Eliza from Buffy all on one Joss Whedon show! He’s brilliant for picking talent
“I want Alan Tudyk to father my children. Right now.”
Who can top that comment? But wow, way to save a show. I’ve not liked Dollhouse at all, despite loving Dushku, and suddenly it’s a different show. If I saw only this episode I’d think it was the best show EVER and be raving about it – Tudyk is amazing.
i simply love this show… and itg’s getting better episode by episode.
fox really shouldn’t cancel it as you can already feel that joss’ concept for it is EPIC !
This episode was amazing. Normally shows don’t surprise. I never even gave it a fleeting thought that Steven was Alpha. I really hope Dollhouse gets picked up for another season. I haven’t been this excited over a show since Bones, and before that, Buffy.
An amazing episode and one that leaves so many questions still.
Is Ballard fixated on Echo/Caroline because he sees in her a kindred spirit – naive and well-intentioned, but ultimately tripped up by his own naivete?
What about the little girl? She won’t have adult Susan’s support anymore. And WHO PAID for that engagement?
Alpha is not a good guy. He’s slashing and killing innocent people – like himself, like the dolls and Victor.
Anyway, fantastic, bravo Joss and crew!
Oh, and also, we need more Alpha backstory. Can’t wait to get that. It’ll help with all this ambiguity and lack of context that viewers are facing when trying to get a grip on how to respond to Alpha… whether to pity him or consider him a usefully complex guy with violent, “bad” tendencies.
Alpha’s interest in Echo is no surprise if you understand the sub-basement reality level of the Dollhouse. Things that seem inscrutable suddenly make sense. Such as:
Dr. DeWitt is to Topher as Echo is to Alpha.
If you TRULY understood the Dollhouse, you would know why that is correct.
"In particular, Enver knocked it out the court again as Victor (as Dominic)."
Agreed, agreed, agreed! <3 And am I the only one who didn't mind seeing him strapped down in that chair? *cough* And I'm really pissed that Alpha had to go slicing up his face like that! Bad Alpha! Leave poor Victor be! *wags finger*
Speaking of Alpha–ohmygod. The personality change was amazing. A lot of people who mention Alan Tudyk was on Firefly have given me a second reason to finally get that series. (Nathan Fillion in "Dr. Horrible" was the first.) He was so funny at first, and then he got so creepy! I thought for sure he'd end up killing Dr. Saunders, and I'm glad he didn't.
Am I the only one who sees this new development with Alpha and Echo in a Bonnie and Clyde sort of light? Kind of reminds me of what Echo says as Taffy in "Gray Hour".
"Alpha's interest in Echo is no surprise if you understand the sub-basement reality level of the Dollhouse. Things that seem inscrutable suddenly make sense. Such as:
Dr. DeWitt is to Topher as Echo is to Alpha.
If you TRULY understood the Dollhouse, you would know why that is correct."
…great. I'm gonna have to have myself a mini-Dollhouse marathon now.
Heather: I think it’s implied that Topher paid for the engagement. I don’t remember the exact dialogue off the top of my head, but that’s what it seemed like to me.
Ah, it WAS Topher? That’s why he said he was proud! Thanks for the confirmation, saturnangel. I second guessed it bc I was surprised that Topher would have that much money to pop, although considering he practically lives in the Dollhouse, he doesn’t really incur expenses. Also, what’s Topher’s connection to Susan? How’d he find out about her?
Anonymous, I don’t think there was ever any doubt as to Alpha’s fixation on Echo. And I don’t think it is necesary to challenge’s anyone’s understanding of the Dollhouse.
Oh, and I think you mean Dr. Saunders and Topher? Not DeWitt and Topher. Although they haven’t really fleshed out Topher’s relationship to Dr. Saunders much this season.
im totally confused by wat anonymous said: “Dr. DeWitt is to Topher as echo is to Alpha”?
i mean even when u put in dr. Saunders (thx heather) it still doesn’t make sense to me….
can anyone help me out?
o and btw i loved that part of Man on the Street with Topher and Sierra. really sweet. i can kinda connect with topher sometimes idk im kind of a geek myself lol
Interesting episode. I knew from casting that Tudyk was playing Alpha, but when he looks out of the appartment I am like “No way is he Alpha. I must have misread.”.
As for Echo, I feels I really need to see who she is now before I pass final judgement.
I loved the Echo perspective on the Boyd/Ballard fight. Ballard is the “good guy” but Echo doesn’t know that. She knows Boyd is a trusted friend while Ballard is a stranger. Of course she will side with Boyd.
My bet on the season finale is that Alpha programmed Echo to be his girlfriend, and it will end with her waking up from that and kill him.
Am I the only one really disapointed with this episode and with Alpha???
It didn´t worked for me…
Hm, are there elements of Alpha that are kind of relative to Frankenstein being a scientific experiment, breaking free and then wanting a “bride”? These are somewhat broad and universal storylines, but still, very comparable in this context.
Oh, and after thinking on it some more, assuming Topher was the one who paid for the engagement with the little girl, what’s his connection to her? How’d he find out her story? And how’d he get a brain scan of her 11-year-old self?
omfg, this episode was bamf! if felt lulled into security as it appeared to be a traditional story line only letting a bit of information out about the dollhouse, and how everybody is intertwined and their personalities driving their decisions… and then WHAM! alpha! wtf?! after a totally wash (firefly/serenity) rambling about “carrots” he turns out to be a total bad ass certified crazy killer person, like fruity oaty bar river. there’s nothing like watching a show and just smacking the person next to you as if to say “what the! did you see! the, but, oh. my. fug.” only, you know, the words won’t come out.
DAMN YOU JOSS WHEDON! why must you create purely addictive, well-written, superbly acted shows with believable, lovable (and hate-able) characters?! *humpf* if i were to meet you, i would have to slap you and then make out with you… and then run from your wife. but it would be worth it.
Medicinal carrots! They were here when I got here! I’m holding them for a friend!
I loved this epsiode, but there were a couple of plot holes for me, which other people have pointed out.
The dollhouse is essentially a high class escort service, a military resource and many other things, how exactly does a doll doing few hours of community service fit in with that? and how did topher get the scan of the young girl to work with initially? who would have authorised him to spend that much time working on a non-profit exercise?
argh, anyway, no way did i think alan tudyk would be alpha, from the shot we had of him before from the back i thought he was too skinny to play alpha, then he changes into the actives clothes and BAM! GUN SHOW! holy moly, I’m still recovering.
also, I now LOVE LOVE LOVE Miracle, for one, she’s beautiful and such a great actress.
Did anyone else catch the 2 references to FSM when they used the greek alpha symbol to decrypt the spy document?
Maybe I'm just a geek, but I immediately think of pirates when I think of the great FSM, his noodly apendages & all. Of course, since I'd heard the rumors, my mind then went to Steve the Pirate and I KNEW Tudyk was playing Alpha.
What did y'all think? Did you catch the FSM references? Am I just seeing things that aren't there? If not, what did the FSM references mean?-Kristie S
The Dollhouse you perceive is two levels of reality smashed into one. Topher created DeWitt and the Dollhouse. Alpha created Echo. Alpha took his creation away, as is the right of every creator. Topher stole Echo back and, to make it up to Alpha, portrayed Alpha on national television as a sadistic maniac.
Topher not only stole Echo, he ruined her. Alpha’s Echo was not only sexy, she was funny and she didn’t need to be programmed, she fought evil on her own even though she knew she was outnumbered. Topher reduced Echo to a cipher, thinking millions of people would tune in to watch the Dr. Dewitt Show.
Topher was wrong, on so many levels.
You think I’m messing with you. This is beyond spoiler material. This is something Eliza Dushku doesn’t know about her own show.
The show you watch is a twisted reflection of the real Dollhouse. If you know the real Dollhouse, you can see things coming.
Needless to say, the post above me is a load of bollocks. (But nice try!) (You’re a Doll!).
In the original (unaired) pilot for Dollhouse, it was made clear they do some jobs for free. It’s to try and balance out the ‘evil’ feel of the place. This is what was happening with the girl in the last episode – although, obviously, it’s not very clear.
I am so sucked into the entire season. It took two shows to be hooked. It took an entire season of Buffy, but Angel was natural in transitioning over. When do we know if fox is cancelling it? I say we do like what the Jerricho fans did and fight to keep it on. An above person said Joss Whedon is known to be EPIC and I completely agree. I still TIVO Angel twice a day and have seen every episode at least 5 times. I agree too, that Sanctuary was quite possibly the best Angel episode.
You know guys… thinking about Alpha, betrayal and Alan Tudyk, a certain quote comes to mind:
“Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!”
[corrected version of my comment. Remind me not to post comments past 10pm, yawn]
Dude. Joss just pulled a Joss on us. I don’t believe for a minute that the Echo who was smoochin’ Alpha in the elevator is her real personality, or that Alpha’s ultimate goal was to get Echo out. He could have taken her the first time he went all slashy, and he could have gone back to get her any time. (Why does he need Ballard? If Ballard could finally track A FLEET OF BLACK VANS to the Dollhouse, Alpha could have done it in a snap).
I think Joss already told us what we should be focusing on. Not “What is the Dollhouse?” “Why does the Dollhouse exist?” Alpha’s been playing the long game with all of them. If he wanted to go Rambo, he didn’t need to wait for anyone. He needs Echo for something. I bet it has to do with the Dollhouse’s myseterious raison d’etre.
Oh. And does anyone think there will be anything redeemable about Alpha? I mean, even if he’s all traumatized and revenge-y after having been dolled, why would he kill the dolls and their handlers and some random environmental engineer and leave DeWitt, Topher, and Saunders in place. If on some level, we were supposed to root for the doll who became a man, I just can’t do it. He looked too happy to be scaring the shit out of Saunders.
And he slashed up Victor’s pretty face, for which I will kill him myself. In less than 12 seconds and with more than surgical precision.
I have no idea what show you all have been watching, I’ve watched everyone and its a “crappy world full plot holes and spelling errors”. Just because its Joss doesn’t mean you can’t call him on crap.”OH no how can I get into the Dollhouse, oh I just open this grate.” Plus as far as killing Victor, way to get rid of the only actor who tries.
Alpha needed Ballard to provide distraction to get Echo, hack the system, and program Echo with his desired personality while also stealing her original personality, Caroline. He may have a reason to want Echo beyond just kinky escapades and emotional need, but he’s too brilliant to have gone in on his own without a fall guy like Ballard. Unlike Caroline and Ballard, he doesn’t go in blind and relatively naive. He really plans.
As for Victor, poor Victor. But never fear, he’s not dead. He’s probably gonna get stitches like Dr. Saunders. But whether he can go on engagements anymore is up in the air.
Spoilers suggest that in the next or 13th episode, one Active gets permanently deactivated and one gets a huge backstory revealed.
Personally, I think it’ll be Mellie who gets deactivated and Victor getting the backstory, but that might just be my fan-love for Enver Gjokaj and Victor talking. I love Mellie and all, but logistically speaking, she is kind of the most expendable and has no storyline right now. Unless her sleeper status keeps her valuable. Although she is known by the FBI now, too.
Having followed Joss’s work for some time now, it is unlike him to kill or “deactivate” the likely culprit. I agree… I feel Mellie has lived out her role of sleeper cell doll. It’s never going to work between her and Ballard even if they restore her (if I were Ballard, I’d never underestimate sleeper characteristics in a doll again).
Heather: Maybe they’ll use November’s sleeper status to hunt down Alpha? How sweet would that be? My money would be on November all the way!
And I’m with you on the Enver/Victor love. Even before he was revealed to be a doll, he was just fun to watch on screen.
“And he slashed up Victor’s pretty face, for which I will kill him myself. In less than 12 seconds and with more than surgical precision.”
My friend and I were talking about this (with me doing most of the fist-shaking about who got slashed up), but hopefully DeWitt still has enough of a soft spot in her heart for him to get some expert face-fixing surgery. I can dream, right?
Oh yes, saturnangel, and what a lovely dream that is. =)
Hm, that would be cool to have a November/Alpha knock-down, and with her in better shape than Boyd, who knows what could happen! Although if Alpha was tracking Ballard all this time, I wonder if he’d have seen Mellie/November around already.
I like that boom boom pow
Them chickens jackin’ my style
They try to copy my swagger
I’m on that next shit now
I’m so 3008
You’re so 2000 and late
That future boom boom pow
That future boom boom pow
Never managed to like Dollhouse (i tried to get into it, but its impossible seemingly).. Eliza Dushku is an average actress (thats being generous), and simply cannot carry a leading role like this. Past the "oh look how sexy i am", she has absolutely *nothing* to offer.
The rest of the supporting cast varies from solid (handlers, doctor, boss, November) to mediocre (Sierra & Victor), to the hysterically bad Topher (i guess someone was looking at old CSI: Las Vegas and carbon copying Greg Saunders, then put him in a computer environment).
To be fair though, the acting (except for Dushku) has improved as the episodes roll on, and Alan Tudyk really stole the limelight with his fantastic performance in episode 11.
I’m not sure who it was, but somebody brought up the possibility of Dr. Saunders being a Doll herself. I was thinking about it this morning, and running through both “A Spy in the House of Love” and the scene in “Briar Rose” between Alpha and the Doc, and thinking that whoever brought it up might be onto something.
Suppose that Dr. Saunders IS a Doll, and Alpha knows/knew this when he accosted her? He’s shown he’s capable of either being on the same level as or surpassing Topher with the tech stuff…
If you have watched 05/08 episode of dollhouse you know that Dr. Saunders is drum roll please…
A Doll! Okay so why did they use “whiskey” as Dr. saunders? was it because her face was messed up…? what did she mean when she said Topher imprinted her to dislike him? Is it not a problem that she knows that she is a doll? Shouldn’t she be wiped again? So many questions