Comments on: Discuss DOLLHOUSE Season 2 Episode 4 – Belonging

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:28:13 +0000

Personally my favourite episode to date! Brilliant to see Topher, Victor and Sierra get so much screen time and do such a wonderful job of carrying the show. Awesome work by the writers and cast!

By: MikeR

MikeR — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:09:00 +0000

An awesome episode. Adelle’s interview with Kinnard was stupidly-well written and acted; especially her line:

‘given you’re a raping scumbag one tick short of a murderer – do you take sugar?’

To have the tables turned on her quite so brutally a few minutes later was even more effective. It’s some time since she’s been anything other than in control.

Now a quick question – anyone know the name of the song being played right at the end of the episode?

Many thanks,

By: Rainfly_X

Rainfly_X — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:19:16 +0000

I too am intrigued by the whole “moral indescretion” element. Thinking about it from that angle, Adelle’s protectiveness and, for lack of a better term, “morality,” seems very much like a sort of attempt at self-redemption, I get a real “I will never fail them again” vibe off of her.

By: Rainfly_X

Rainfly_X — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:15:07 +0000

There’s a saying that goes something like, “If you’ve got nothing to say, don’t say it.” I think they made a good choice applying this to Paul. He really wouldn’t have anything to contribute to this ep anyways except maybe some detective work. Really, until we get more character revelations about him (maybe some backstory that wasn’t revealed in early Season 1 or something), I can’t bring myself to care about him all that much.

By: Rainfly_X

Rainfly_X — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:11:16 +0000

Well, that wouldn’t be the end of the world for a lot of the fans. I like her, but even I was starting to seriously burn out on Echo by the time Belonging came along. It had just the right amount of Echo, and sets a good template in that regard for the episodes between here and the finale.

I think the best course of action would be to have Echo leave the show in a sudden blaze of glory at the end of the Season, hopefully in such a way to redeem her to the highly prevalent Dushku-haters in Dollhouse fandom. Of course, I haven’t seen Epitaph One yet (argh, wanna wanna wanna), so I don’t know if this strategy messes up anything integral to the long-term plot.

By: Rainfly_X

Rainfly_X — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:05:43 +0000

It’s okay, everyone can pretty much figure out what you mean. If you want a “corrected” version to compare with, though:

This episode was so great!!
I liked it so much. It took the show to a whole new level! Sorry for my English, I’m Spanish.

I, personally, agree 100% with what you’re saying. Frakes is a brilliant director and I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing more of his work on Dollhouse in future episodes. It was also a well-needed and refreshing break from the plot-driven and imprint-of-the-week storylines with Echo, who isn’t unentertaining, but definitely doesn’t have the kind of weight to pull a whole show.

By: InkGypsy

InkGypsy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:30:21 +0000

The episodes are increasingly awesome! but what the heck with pulling the show off air during sweeps?!

It seriously feels like Fox are contractually obligated to run the show but are doing everything possible to sabotage it. Is it payback for Joss’ continuing success after the last fallout? Fox certainly aren’t making a good impression as a network to want to work with. (Back-to-back shows are nice to look forward to, sure, but it’s hard for people to free up that much time during the last month of the year!)

If they’re truly concerned about ratings they should count TiVo recordings too. I’m one of those that can’t watch it live but make sure I TiVo and it’s a “keep until I delete” show.

Fox needs to swallow whatever prideful thing is going on, acknowledge they have a way-above-average show (at least once past the 5th episode, 1st season. The 9th episode kicked the show into the realm of awesome and there it has stayed, only getting better)and start supporting it – they’re doing all the things you learn NOT to in ‘Marketing 101′ for goodness sake!

Personally, I’ll aim for optimism and hope for Dollhouse (and the awesome team under it’s banner WITH Joss attached) to survive these ridiculous odds against it and prove to be a show that strengthens and grows. Not only is it excellent entertainment but it’s good for the brain too. A good show that makes you think? Not many of those out there. This show could make Fox look really good – if they let it.

By: shadine

shadine — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:09:07 +0000

I think you might be right because im certain as well that Mr. domnik wasn’t the one who programmed echo to talk to ballard.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:33:09 +0000

I don’t think Boyd fits the ‘we’re here cause we don’t have morals’ motif of the others. Clearly Topher had to be of questionable morals to be willing to erase peoples brains, and Adelle as well to be so willing to rent out human beings, ostensibly acting as a pimp for a customizable line of people. And Sierra’s old handler… well he clearly had no moral qualms about how he felt about dealing with the dolls.

Boyd’s… well he’s different. When we got that look at his introduction in season 1 (through flashbacks) he seemed rather … uncomfortable with the whole thing. But ever since he’s been fiercly protective of Echo. I mean, this episode he catches her in a rather ‘lucid’ moment, and knows that she’s learning to read. But, rather than have Topher rewipe her, which would seem the correct thing to do, he just tells her to be careful.

I think Boyd’s an undercover agent and that he was hired by the dollhouse under false pretenses. I’ve felt this way ever since he distracted Topher while he was imprinting Echo to go beat the tar out of Ballard. I know that story of the ‘mole’ inside the dollhouse outed the old head of security, but it doesn’t really jive. I mean the man tried multiple times to kill echo, he thought her unstable. Why use her to entice Ballard to stay in the game?

No no, Boyd’s not of questionable moral fiber, he’s an undercover government agent there to investigate the dollhouse and possibly bring it down from within.

Well, I think anyway.

By: bobby

bobby — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:15:54 +0000

what strikes me about this episode is that it just felt like we were watching a movie, and it was only 43 min wow lol but what i also notice is that every critic that has seen that episode and even that crapfest Ign.com is actually saying this was the hands down best episode. It just tells me one thing, Fox dropped the ball. Im surprised that Joss and co actually got to write these amazing stories within just a few weeks after the renewel. Thats amazing!! As for Echo, i love her, the fact that she is getting more interesting is actually liberating in a sense. She is trying to save herself and everyone else. As for Sierra, i have always loved her character as well as Victor.