Season two episode one – Vows – your thoughts please!
Whattya thinking, Dollhousers?
I’m thinking Claire and Topher totally made me cry. So many issues.
I’m also thinking Echo wants find out about the other Dolls. And I want to know why.
In other words, I loved it.
41 Responses 
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enjoyed it, but not as much as i would have liked, so amy driving off is because she has another show to do? also, what exactly is relationship between topher & whiskey? also, what will be lead in show now that TSCC is gone? Is Alexis potentially long term?
The lead in is both BROTHERS and TIL DEATH. Which, errr, I’m not going to comment on.
Amy is on a show called HAPPY TOWN on ABC. She should be back on DOLLHOUSE, though, at some point. It’s not a surprise to me she’s got work – how awesome was she in that episode? Answer: very.
Alexis has so far filmed episodes 1, 2, 5 and 6. His part is insanely cool.
Solid opening.
Aside from the lack of Sierra and Victor, the episode did a great job of giving every character some screentime and really felt like an ensemble.
The Saunders scenes were bloody fraktastic. Amy was phenomenal.
And the visual direction of the show is greatly improved. It feels so much more intimate and cinematic.
While the credits are certainly better, I’m pretty dissapointed they once again only feature Eliza.
Loved it! Soooo awesome! Exactly what I wanted it to be.
So many twists and turns … such a roller-coaster season opener! Echo’s tuning in to who she is (or who she’s been), Whiskey’s finally found the inner strength to break on through to the outside, Sierra and Victor still look a bit too friendly. Sounds like Topher’s chair needs adjusting …
GREAT season opener!
Very interesting. I don’t trust Adelle’s intentions with Ballard as Echo’s handler. I wonder how much she knows exactly about what HE knows. I didn’t understand how Ballard had the idea to “trigger” Echo, and then later seemed surprised when she said she remembered everything.
I can answer this I think! I believe it’s because we all knew Echo is glitching during engagements, but in this case Topher had just wiped her, and she was supposed to be in only Doll state at that point. Instead of going “I try to be my best”, she was talking to Paul at length about wanting to know the other Dolls histories and such. That has gotta surprise him.
It seemed to me that Echo wants to know the histories of all of the people she was imprinted with, not the histories of the other dolls. Maybe I’m mistaken, but I guess we’ll see as the season unfolds!
Consider this: do we know that Echo’s interaction with Ballard at the end of the show was genuine? What if Adelle had Topher program Echo to address him that way in the Dollhouse (i.e. he was not supposed to restore her to tabula rasa but rather was supposed to open her to multiple imprints or at least to act as if she had multiple imprints.) That proved to be an effective way to get Ballard exactly where Adelle was trying to put him.
What is Ballard really trying to do in the dollhouse, anyway? What does Adelle think he is trying to do?
Along with everyone else, I loved the Saunders/Topher stuff. Last season, the major ethical dilemma revolved the around obvious issue of erasing someone’s personality. Now, Saunders asks us to the question whether an imprint might deserve moral consideration as an imprint. She argues that the imprint is as much a person as the original “volunteer.”
Or this simply could be the same thing that began to happen with Alpha. A major glitch in the system, in which the barriers of the brain have begun to deteriorate. There were indications in the first season that Echo was seeing glimpses of her imprints in her doll stage.
I just had another thought. What about the big picture? Rossum Corp must have their hands in this as we still do not know their “intentions.” Though DeWitt has been known to fight against her superiors, she still is an employee of Rossum.
I thought the Saunders/Topher subplot was excellent. The main plot of Echo’s engagement had a great premise and was executed fairly well, but could have been developed a little better. Overall, I’d give this episode an A- or B+.
Im very content with season 2 so far .
It’s exactly what i was hopeing for in terms of character developement. We finaly get to know topher and claire on another level.
But was boyd really asking claire out ?
or was he just beeing nice?
( it seemed a bit like they had a thing in epitaph one so i’m not sure)
Excellent Opening episode. Thought Eliza’s acting was much improved. Liked Paul a bit more than usual. But let’s face it, Amy Acker stole the show; she was simply amazing. One thing I am very sad about is the lack of Acker during the next 12 ‘sodes. Saunders is easily the best character in the House. But, yea, Vows rocked.
It was everything I hoped it would be, and several things I never even expected. Fantastic start to the season! Let’s hope for many more.
I freakin’ loved it, and doing a “watching with half the country tweet-a-thon” was far more fun than i thought it wold be, i never got it, now its like having a watch party with thousands of ppl.
It shows Joss is getting comfy in the show with his writing, Buffy was kinda awkward in the beginning, as was DH, tot he point it disappointed me at first and i couldn’t get into it til mid-season. But, i stuck it out, and was addicted by season end.
i discovered Buffy at the end of its run, but, watched the reruns on FX everyday for years, that’s how i found it, getting up early with my ex before he went to work, I can quote dialogue on b oth Buddy and Angel as a result of the early morning epis, lol
I’m a budding screenwriter, and i have a difficult time enjoying movies and tv as a result, i tend to just see tings from a writers point of view.
Joss takes me out of that mode, no one else does, i hope if i can get the screenwriting off the ground i am at least HALF the writer as he is, and make movies at least half as good as he makes tv.
Loved the Claire and Topher stuff. Wanted blood when the husband hit Echo, i am way up on fighting in domestic violence situations, like i did.
Tho; can anyone explain to me if Caroline is back in Echos head? I font know if i just forgot, or was it explained in Omega? I also can’t remember id Alpha is dead. Also, will Miracle Laurie be back? I LOVED her.
- Miracle Laurie will appear this season. (And my friend and I loved her, too! Miracle DMed me once on Twitter about ukuleles. It made my day.
)
- Alpha’s not dead; he managed to escape at the end of “Omega”. Somebody actually asked Alan Tudyk recently if he would be back and it sounds like we might be seeing Alpha again, but we’ll see…
- I think it’s…possible that parts of Caroline are in Echo’s head? I wasn’t too clear on that, either.
as i understood it caroline is the only one not in echos head .
its like in omega when in echoes body were all the old echo memories and …. “carolines soul” but carolines personality and memories are not there
great episode, loved the topher/claire scene, wondering what role this politician guy will play over the course of the season. does anyone else hate the way fox is advertising this show? even with the scenes from the next episode thing? they make it look so uncool in all of their commercials.
I really enjoyed the episode. In regards to the caroline bit, it is being connected to the very end of “Omega” when echo “remembers” her encounter with Alpha before the scene goes black. We are being shown a more lucid Echo, who is questioning her own existence, just as the rest of the characters.
Boyd and Ballard are both struggling with their rolls in the dollhouse and Topher is realizing he is just a depressed shell. Topher, is brilliant, but as with most geniuses he is extremely flawed. We see him in his most vulnerable state, sleeping in the dollhouse, not really having a life outside of his work.
The episode was well done, and as one of the previous posters noted, is proving that Joss is getting more comfortable with the show.
I have read all over that people do not like Paul Ballard, why is that? He is, thus far my favorite character.
I can’t speak for everybody, but I know that my major issue with Paul last season was the way he got just so… I don’t even have the word for it, and that might be due to the fact that it’s 2am here, but I’ll try the best I can. XD
Perhaps it was in part the manipulation of the Dollhouse, but it seemed like he was wanting to be the badass hero but ending up looking (and even behaving) street-corner-crazy. He was so obsessed with finding the Dollhouse and with bringing it down that I think he might’ve become a danger were it not for the Dollhouse carefully controlling him through the Lubov!Victor and Mellie!November.
Something else I personally didn’t like: The way he handled the whole “OMG Mellie is a Doll?!” thing. It felt like the minute he found out she was a Doll she became just another tool by which he could get to the Dollhouse. Adelle might have made a really good point in “Vows” concerning why he might have had November liberated instead of Echo/Caroline, though I like to believe that he freed her because Ballard’s a decent fellow who still had some feelings for the Mellie personality.
And I mean, he DID bring Alpha into the Dollhouse, did he not? XD But I think he’s got the potential to turn around and redeem himself in the eyes of those who found him a pain last season–though we’ll see, given the way he was in “Vows”…
WOW. That pretty much sums the entire thing up. Wow. Amy was phenomenal in this episode, she nailed everything that was handed to her in such a professional way. Topher was amazing too and you can start to see the cracks forming that lead to his state in Epitaph One. They were both top notch tonight. Loved Victor’s C Plot with Adelle and Sierra touching his face. Echo’s plot had a great ending with her remembering everyone, but the lead up to it felt weird and out of place next to Fran and Amy’s dominating performances. I also think that Echo and Paul shouldn’t have had the last scene, they should have gone before the other (silent) scenes. I think it would have worked a bit better. None the less, an amazing start to season two.
while the montages were very pretty, the final scene pretty much set up what we’re expecting in the coming episodes. I think the editing style/choices were dead on structurally
Without a doubt the most emotionally intense Dollhouse episode ever. I watched it twice and enjoyed it even more the second time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the premiere episode. I had to catch it (along with every TV show, because of work) on DVR, and just watched it this afternoon.
I absolutely loved the bits with Whiskey and Topher. It was setting up the future of Epitaph One perfectly. “I know what I know.” – Definitely brought me back to the broken Topher in DeWitt’s arms.
The scenes with Boyd were a little weird, though. If I remember correctly, he (like Whiskey said) never seemed to like her before. Until he found out she was a doll, too. But, I guess we’ll see where that goes (as it clearly goes somewhere later).
It was really weird to have Paul use Echo the way he did, considering everything he did to save her and all. And, how’d he get the money to hire the Dollhouse? Or is he just blackmailing them into letting him use her?
I wonder if we’ll see more of Apollo, later.
And, if Mr. Lampkin will return.
They’ve done an incredible job setting up the season, and I can’t wait for the next episode.
Looks like no more Fred for a while, but Wesley’s here, now!
My guess is that Ballard probably made a deal with Adelle or something? But it’s Ballard. You can’t really tell where he’s going except crazy (I say that in the nicest way possible, because Ballard has the potential to get interesting) so maybe he has a nice nest egg from working for the FBI?
The episode was strictly okay. To be honest, it felt like a bit of a come down after the truly awesome Epitaph One. In fact, a friend suggested that Epitaph One would have made for a better S2 opener.
I think the season will definitely steadily improve as it goes along. As it stands, this gives it something to build on. I felt a lot of DeWitt’s dialogue seemed a little stunted, some of the scripting felt somehow awkward. It didn’t quite flow right to my ears.
Nice to see more BSG alumni but Jamie Bamber’s British accent was pretty damn poor. He came off like he was doing his very best Gaius Baltar impression.
I did however, really enjoy the Topher / Saunders scenes, but it felt like a bit of a jump with little to support it.
I’ll keep watching, cause no doubt it will keep on improving. Now it just needs to reach the consistency level of Firefly (god, I’m still angry about that being canned!)
You do know that Jamie Bamber is actually British, right?
I loved every second of the episode, and thought it sets up this season really well. I went and watched Epitaph One again last night, and the two episodes are meshing perfectly. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I loved it, so intense and dramatic! Does anyone know what the ratings were like yet?
M: Jamie Bamber is British. That is the way he speaks.
Heh, my bad. Didn’t realise that. In that case, he did a damn fine job in BSG. However, the accent he’s using is close to his own but isn’t his natural accent. He wasn’t exactly great in his role, the accent still seemed strained and very ‘put on’.
Just watched a few Youtube interviews and that isn’t his natural tone / accent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J75tjuHWwvI&feature=related
I agree – the Topher and Claire situation was really sad. My friend thinks that Echo was programmed to say those things to Ballard in the end as a way of coercing him into becoming her handler. I don’t think I believe that – especially since Joss said in a recent interview that because Echo’s becoming self-aware, she knows she’s going to need help and is going to look for others to join her side. I think that’s what that scene was all about.
I’m glad that character got out of the Dollhouse (don’t want to spoil it just in case someone hasn’t seen it); I think it’s a necessary step in their self-discovery. I think Topher needs to breathe some fresh non-Dollhouse air himself – he seems like the next person ready to pop.
The show had a pretty strong opening. I’m irritated that new viewers didn’t help with ratings, but I don’t know how much I trust Nielsen ratings anyway. I’ll make my judgment call once I see the TiVo/DVR viewing results.
All in all, I’m just glad Dollhouse was back. Can’t wait for more episodes and more guest starts
If dollhouse gets cancelled I think we should all boycott fox, anyway vows was kickin. Question: how can Dr. Saunders/Whiskey leave? Don’t all the actives have like gps positioning and whatnot? Wasn’t that mentioned in the episode where the rich lady gets to come back from the dead? I don’t know, seems kind of loose to me, but even as I write this I’m sure that the dollhouse team will buy it back legitimately. serieously though, we fans need to get a pre-emptive strategy going lets hear some suggestions to keep this show going because honestly I think I’ll have to give up on film if joss gets cancelled again
I think that as Dr. Saunders, Whiskey had her status changed from “Active” to “Staff” in some way – enough for her to be granted privileges as would befit a staff member.
If you recall, in episode 9 last season (“A Spy in the House of Love”), when Echo-as-investigator interrogates staff to ferret out the mole/leak, she refers to Whiskey only as Dr. Claire Saunders, personnel file and all. And she asked her why she had never left the Dollhouse, why she doesn’t seek to balance DH life with “real” outside life.
Did Fran Kranz get hit with the Adorable Stick between seasons, or was I just blinded by Enver all through season one?
Silly shallow questions aside, I could not be happier to have Dollhouse back on TV. I could only melt my brain so many times with my Season One DVD! XD
First of all–whoa, Amy Acker. Can that girl act or what? I love her more and more each time she comes on screen. The way she just owns the role and plays it full tilt. If it wasn’t clear last season that this isn’t Fred 2.0 we’re watching, “Vows” should’ve made it even more obvious.
Although that “flashback” with Echo? A bit odd, but it makes me wonder how often they were sent on engagements as a pair, because it would sort of be an interesting…foil(?) to the way Echo and Sierra get sent on engagements together.
Speaking of Sierra, I had a really good laugh during her scene. Poor Ivy! XD
Definitely loved me some Adelle as well. Plus the haircut suits her!
Ooohh… I was left wondering a few things. Namely, how long had Echo been on the prolonged engagement? It sounded as if it had been quite a while, and that she had courted Bamber the “normal” way. I also wonder exactly what Paul was doing all this time. I mean, if he was a client, what was his payment? Clearly, occupying the house’s best doll would have cost the house a lot of money. Also, its been established that prolonged missions can cause instability, and with Echo the way she was initially, I’m not sure why Adelle was willing to take that risk.
Anyways, it was a stunning episode, leaving me intrigued for next week, though the trailer killed some of my excitement. I can’t wait to see what exactly the major arc of the season is going to entail. Also, I’m curious how self aware Echo currently is during missions themselves. I’m hoping to see some more Victor/Sierra action as well
Adelle says herself in “Vows” that she’s interested to see how far Echo can go or what Echo can do despite all of the wackiness that was the Alpha situation, even though protocol says to send her to the Attic, so… *shrug*
Another great episode, but I had one off topic question. It sounded to me that Echo uses the F-word when she meets up with Ballard after the wedding, talking about her sore feet. Is my hearing a bit off on this one bit, or did the FCC miss a little something?
I like the show. Better enjoy the show while it lasts. Sadly the ratings were anemic and I’ll be shocked if the show makes it into the year if ratings don’t tick up.
Well, I was really disappointed. I know this goes against the general run of opinion here but I honestly think this was a terrible opener. I speak as someone who was quite hopeful after last season’s mostly excellent closing run of episodes. But Vows just seemed to repeat some of last year’s most egregious errors and move us forward very little. Firstly, the wedding should have been the teaser. Even the most basic TV writer would have known that (was the padded nature of the plotting caused by Whedon moving the Epitaph One segments into later episodes?). But – worse, the wedding was completely dramatically redundant: who thought they were going to stay married or that Jamie Bamber’s cardboard cutout bad guy *wasn’t* going to turn on Echo in a violent scene where he bashed her about? That’s NONE of you, right? Still, at least it achieved the required aim: shots of Echo/Caroline removing her wedding dress to reveal her underwear ten minutes in before she’s raped again. Whedon – the great feminist. Hurray! Also, I don’t buy that Paul Ballard would be allowed to indulge himself in this way – especially when, according to Whedon, hiring an Active costs “in the low millions” – for FOUR MONTHS without Adele being sent to the attic. Awfully directed fight scene that “zolves” the jeopardy plot? Please, no. Intercut with this boring nonsense were scenes of sixth-form philosophy back in the D-house – how exactly is Whiskey smuggling rats’n'stuff into Topher’s cupboard again? Anybody? Lame. And, again, signs that Adele can’t manage her staff, setting up tensions between Topher and Whiskey which are goiung to be totally wasted as Acker is only in three episodes anyway. Fundamentally, I don’t care about any of the characters, the dialogie is workaday and the plotting is all over the shop. Whedon has always struggled with season openers but this was the worst I’ve ever seen from him – in fact, I couldn’t believe he’d written and directed it – it would have been medicore for JJ Abrams. God only knows what any member of the general viewing public might have thought. Arrogant, lazy stuff, inexplicably praised on the fansites. Things had better pick up very quickly.
i loved the episode where victor and echo’s inprints switched. victor was flawless with the terry inprint and the kiki inprint were seemless at first it was difficult to tell the difference between the orginal terry and the inprint terry in victor but a little less confinsing when echo was terry comeon how many men wake up in a womans body wearing heels and not notice and or be able to walk steadly in high heels with out woobling . the kiki seane with victor with him dancing was so funny i laughed so hard i cried .