I really enjoyed Dollhouse even if it was a bit uneven and was sad to see it go. Echo played by the beautiful and talented Eliza Dushku was the main protagonist in Dollhouse. One of the problems with writing an article involving such a fandom icon as Eliza is that you can easily spend more time browsing and selecting pictures than writing. The show was also created by iconic writer-director Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog) which doesn’t make it easier.

When we first meet Echo she is a ‘doll’ or as they say in the Dollhouse an ‘active’ as opposed to the passive state all the dolls are put in when they aren’t on missions. In either case she has no memories of her former life (at least not to so begin with) or the previous missions she has been on. But as season one develops she starts to remember previous missions. First it is only manners and short quotes but later it is even skills and whole careers and as she is sent on rather qualified missions she becomes quite formidable as the show continues.

The Dollhouse is a secret organization which on the surface hires out reprogrammed humans to wealthy clients for whatever use they have for them, such as escorts, fake girlfriends, hostage negotiators, mercenaries, cat burglars and other high risk endeavors. But the show unfolds that they have bigger plans than that. But their goals can have devastating repercussions on humanity as shown in the first season’s bonus episode Epitaph and in the series finale Epitaph 2.

The Actives serve for a five year period while their original memories are stored on hard drives in exchange for a vast amount of money and a solution to any other pressing problem they might have. Echo, however, is unique in remembering small amounts even after personality “wipes”, and gradually develops an increasingly cognizant self-awareness and personality. This emerging personality is even distinct in some ways from that of her original identity, college graduate Caroline Farrell.

I loved when Echo or one of the others actives took on a kick-ass personality. It do get a bit cheesy at times. Some of the roles were really memorable like when Echo where programmed with her boss’ dead friend’s personality;

or when she was a hostage negotiator;

that episode when she was this athletic tom-boy on a hike with her competitive boyfriend/client and it turned out he wanted to hunt her;

The dominatrix outfit was fine but I don’t think they made an episode on that;

When she is a backup singer is also a good episode.

The whole story line with Alpha the crazy ‘boyfriend’ was twisted but entertaining.

The other ‘boyfriend’ story with Paul was all over the place but was kind of compelling. What killed the series was in my opinion the lack of a clear path; this probably had something to do with too many chefs. The future world after the Dollhouse tried to take over was worth a series in itself.

Name: Echo
Portrayed by: Eliza Dushku
Show: Dollhouse
Original channel:  Fox
Original run: 2009-2010
Status: Cancelled after 2 seasons

Eliza Dushku

I enjoyed Eliza Dushku in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and in Tru Calling.

Eliza was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, to an Albanian father and Danish mother, and raised in the LDS Church (though she is not actively practicing). She has three brothers, Aaron, Ben, and Nate, the latter of who is also an actor. Dushku lives in the Los Angeles area.

I did not know she played the teenage daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies.

After completing high school, Eliza returned to acting with the role of Faith, a Slayer much more troubled than the main character Buffy. Though initially planned as a five episode role, the character became so popular that she stayed on for the entirety of the third season. She has also made guest appearances in Buffy’s spin-off, Angel.

In 2003 she also starred in a new Fox TV series, Tru Calling, where she played the main character, Tru Davies, a medical student whose grant is pulled out from under her, forcing her to take a job at a local morgue. There, she discovers that she has the power to “re-live” the previous day over again, an ability she used to right wrongful deaths. She also attempts to help her troubled family – a drug-addicted sister and a gambling-addicted brother.

Related Posts

Other posts on Female Protagonists on SciFi TV

  1. Olivia Dunham in Fringe
  2. Max Guevara (X5-452) in Dark Angel
  3. Erica Evans on V
  4. Molly Anne Caffrey on Threshold
  5. Wendy ‘Dub-Dub’ Watson on The Middleman
  6. Jane Vasco on Painkiller Jane
  7. Æon Flux on Æon Flux
  8. Dana Scully on The X-Files
  9. Myka Bering on Warehouse 13
  10. Dr. Helena Magnus on Sanctuary
  11. Sarah on Chuck
  12. Echo on Dollhouse
  13. Amy Pond on Doctor Who
  1. Pictures after the break

Continue reading »

I have really enjoyed Dollhouse. It is sad to see it go.

Lets do a short recap of the cool stuff that happened  lately in the show. The Epitaph recap is at the end and contain spoilers, you have been warned.

A Senator is mind controlled and sent after the LA Dollhouse (2.05). Echo kicked ass in that episode. But thats when the Disruptor  was developed. Summer Glau is introduced as the glitchy doctor Bennett of DC Dollhouse. Her comment to the captured Echo ‘Caroline, you always promised you come back to me. Lets play.’ before starting to torture her is mentionable. Bennet really have issues with Echo/Caroline blaming her for her injured arm and leaving her to be captured.

Dushku and Glau is a striking pair. (2.06) Thoper comes across as rather juvenile when Adelle and he has to deal with Lipman, the head of the DC Dollhouse (Ray Wise played the devil in Reaper). Ray has sinister down pat but Adelle has him literary by the balls.

Victor dolled up as Thoper as a stand in while the real Thoper is in DC was a real highlight.

It’s also the episode Echo looses her chip. But Bennett and Thoper work out a way to use the Disruptor without the chip (Brave new world here we go). Bennett use it to send a kill command to the senator to kill Echo.

Pity Thoper that really had it going with Bennett. Then he had to go and hit her. At least we learn that Echo is a very special little doll, with powers of her own to get people to like her.

The senator covers for the Dollhouse but Echo wanders off aimlessly into DC.

Street-lady Echo is also memorable (2.07). Three months later she is a perky nurse, all by her self, rescuing an illegal immigrant she put into jail by an act of kindness. Paul and Echo have some sexy moments there while on the run.

Echo starts to go totally Rain Man, all her personalities decide to help each other out. This is when Echo gets her training before going back into the Dollhouse.

Meanwhile Harding is in charge of the Dollhouse with Adelle waiting on him hand and foot. Boyd and Paul is conspiring to help. Thoper invents Remote whipes. The countdown has started. The revelation of the centers’ long time goal to remotely take control over peoples minds with the technology developed in separate parts at different centers didn’t surprise. And Thoper had already invented it and Adele betrays him and give it to the corporation, she is a cool heartless bitch again and in control of the LA house.

Adelle doesn’t buy Echos return and put her in a straightjacket(2.08) and look for something she suspects. When they finally decide to imprint her again, Topher finds out to his chock that he is obsolete, Echo can change into any of her previous imprints at will.

Alpha comes back and hunt down and kill Echo’s past romantic clients one by one . Hes trick with Sierra and the bomb vest is epic.

He unleashes the violence of the future in the Dollhouse so he can kill Echo’s last romantic interest, Paul Ballard. Alpha and Echo’s fight turns very emotional when Alpha turns on the then believed dead Paul’s personality. Echo can’t kill him so Alpha escapes.

Victor’s love for Sierra surpasses imprinting, which Adelle finds out to her chock when she lonely hearts him. That’s the last mission before Victor is released from his contract. Sierra and Victor’s love story has been a delight to us viewers for the duration, it’s a beautiful thing. No one is surprised when Victor still misses her even when he got his real memories back.

He is slightly interrupted by the company’s hive mind soldiers kidnapping though. Victor is implanted with a hive mind device and recruited into Rossum’s  private army. Echo have to download an army to break him free and restore Sierra to Priya. Echo puts in a hive chip and broadcast all her personalities to the hive and distract the hives so Victor and Sierra can escape. Priya and Victor’s smalltalk during the fight was amusing, so you are from Australia?

Adelle goes totally bonkers and decide to throw Echo into the Attic(2.10). Caroline Farrell (Echo) escape the Attic and frees Sierra and Victor only to see them die in the attempt, it all takes place in her mind, the endless nightmares. Echo has to fight a very personal battle.

Meanwhile Thoper is patching Paul’s mind together again, they need a new Victor.

Ivy is worth a mention, I like her as that agent in NCIS, here she has a smaller role as Thoper’s assistant, but one I quite enjoyed anyway.

We find out that all the minds of the Attic is connected. Echo finds a way to travel between their minds, but she soon get lost.

Great story twist with the Attic being the Rossum’s main frame. One of the founders of Rossum is in there killing off the cpu’s and try to stop the things to come. Caroline has the knowledge to stop it, but Echo doesn’t have her memories any more. But she finds a way out beyond death.

Echo gets ready to meet Caroline (2.11) an activist fighting Rossum. But Caroline’s memories have gone missing.

Caroline and Bennett’s (Glau) first meeting is quite cute.

They abduct Bennett. Interacting with Bennett troubles Thoper. Funny emotional moments. Bennett have trouble with restoring Caroline when she finds out.

Dr Saunders gets back. Boyd and she has been getting it on the last months, that explained a lot.

The Rossum headquarters is in Tusson. And Rossum might have found out where they are, so they come and visit. Boyd have to kill their leader and then run to draw their fire way from the rest. It’s sad when he has to leave.

Chocking when Dr Saunders kill Bennett before Thoper. They think she is a sleeper.

As the final  assault happens,  Echo imprints on Caroline and Boyd is the leader of Rossum they been looking for, THAT explained a lot more. Especially since he killed the soldier just about to kill Echo.

Sierra and Victor (2.12) returns only to discover that the Dollhouse has been raided and abandoned.

The gang heads to Rossum’s headquarter, while Victor imprints a mysterious personality, Thoper. Victor and Sierra finds out that Boyd is a traitor. Victor/Thoper turn Victor into a one man army.

Dr Saunders is Clyde Randell, the founder they meet in the Attic. She/He apprehend the gang when they arrive. Boyd drugged Caroline/Echo so the gang doesn’t know who he is.

But Caroline wakes up and goes after Boyd. Meanwhile Boyd takes Thoper to the lab where they keep Thopers remote mind control unit and convince him to fix one of them so that it works.

Echo attacks Boyd but are stopped by Dr Saunders. Those two founders are twisted! Echo’s spinal fluid is some kind of vaccine against imprinting. She is trapped and the tapping has begun when Victor comes and rescues her at the last minute.

Dr Saunders and Echo fight it out and it’s no cat fight. The final conflict between Boyd and Echo should have ended with Boyds death, but we never see him die.

Epitaph 2: Return

Epitath continued with the same people as in Epitaph 1. A group of three, Mini Caroline and two others.

They get taken prisoner in Neuropolis. Boyd and Echo are there saving them and the other prisoners. Harding is running Neuropolis, using the tech to keep alive. They kill Harding’s current body and rescue Thoper but, he is pretty far gone. He is working on a solution, making an echo (quite poetic idea considering Echo) that gives people their mind back. But he need tech from the Dollhouse. Then Victor turn up with a battle wagon (that is so Road Warriors), he has become a tech head fighting the war and Sierra is estranged from him. But they join forces and start the trip back to the original Dollhouse.

If they are to keep their memories as actives, they have to shelter in the Dollhouse for a year before coming out after they set off the pulse. But they have to kill their way down the subway. Paul is shot and Echo have to leave him there dead. That didn’t come across as believable to me, would Echo really leave him there?

When they get there Alpha is there in the rebuilt Dollhouse, with actives. He seems a nice guy they apparently parted as friends a few years back when he retreated from the war. The tech heads they brought with have a difference of opinion, they want to continue the war, stealing all the imprints from the Dollhouse and use it in the war. But Echo and Alpha convince them otherwise.

Almost out of the blue Echo have a breakdown when she realize Paul is dead, ranting about Sierra not grabbing a chance to tell Victor how she really feels while she still have it, in reality talking about herself.

Everything gets kind of beautiful and epic there at the end. Thoper is a real hero when he goes up and set off the bomb, It has to be done in person (oh, really?). Adele leads the active out so they can be reset by the pulse, fulfilling Echo’s promise from season one.

Echo imprints Paul, there is room for him in there and now he will never leave her, and walks away from the chair smiling and  lays down to sleep in the Dollhouse dormatory.

The End

I would say a decent ending, more closure than most shown, but not awesome.

What will I do now without all this eye candy on Fridays?

Returning and New TV this week.

No new TV shows this week, I am afraid. House is back from hiatus with a new wonderful episode though.

We will say good bye to Dollhouse on Friday this week since it got bumped last week.

Returning from Hiatus

Monday 25th
House

Remorse
House decides to take on the case of a beautiful female executive based on her looks, and the other males on the team are equally smitten. Only Thirteen is able to remain unaffected as they try to determine the cause of the woman’s illness. Meanwhile, House tries to resolve his past with a former medical school colleague he wronged

Wednesday 27th
Psych

You Can’t Handle This Episode
Abigail is disappointed when Shawn accepts a case at the Army base instead of going on a date with her, but he and Gus are intrigued by a death they believe shouldn’t have been ruled a suicide. Unfortunately it may also implicate Juliet’s brother.

Friday 29th

Dollhouse

Epitaph Two: Return
In the year 2020, Echo and the few surviving Dollhouse staff struggle to restore mankind after the devastating events seen in the first season episode, “Epitaph.”

Smallville

Disciple
Oliver’s former mentor, the Dark Archer, seeks revenge on his pupil and launches attacks on Chloe, Lois, and Mia as part of his plan. When Oliver is driven to his limits and beyond, Clark must come to the aid of his friend.

Returning and New TV shows this week.

We will say good bye to Dollhouse on Friday this week. Edit: bumped to Friday 29th

Life UneXpected
(Monday 18th)

I loved Gilmore Girls so this looks promising.

From TV.com:
Nate Bazile is astonished to learn he has a daughter. Lux is shocked to learn her Mother is Cate Cassidy a star on the local radio show. Baze feels bad after he discovers Lux grew up in foster care. He takes Lux to meet her Mother. Then a judge grants temporary joint custody to Baze and Cate and try to give Lux a loving home that she has longed for

Spartacus
(Friday 22nd)

New 300-esque Series that promises plenty of graphic violence, nudity and sex. Already renewed for a 2nd season in 2011.

It will among others star Lucy Lawless, famous from Xena – Warrior princess, nudit is said to have forced Lawless to hit the gym. “I do have to work out,” she said. “Being naked on-screen is no fun.”

Survivors
(Friday 22nd)

New Series built on one with the same name from the 70s. I remember seeing it then. I am afraid I might spoil some fond memories if i watch this.

From TV.com:
Set in the present day, this BBC drama follows the survivors of a devastating virus which has killed most of the world’s population.

Caprica
(Friday 22nd)

From TV.com:
Set 58 years prior to the events of Battlestar Galactica (2003), this prequel will explore the lives of two families: the Graystones – include father Daniel, a computer genius, mother Amanda, a brilliant surgeon and their daughter, Zoe – and the Adamas. The two families are on opposing sides of the decision to create the Cylons: intelligent robots that will one day rebel and nearly annihilate the residents of Caprica.

Returning from Hiatus

Tuesday 19th
White Collar - a great non SF show

Thursday 21st
The Vampire Diaries
Supernatural
Burn Notice
- returning after a loooong hiatus.

Friday 22nd
Dollhouse – Series Finale, bumped to Friday 29th
Smallville bumped to Friday 29th

2009 have been a year of ups and downs when it comes to TV. These have been my favorite TV past times this year. When it comes to TV I am more of an omnivore than with books.

  1. True Blood
    Southern Vampires on the screen with extra spices added to make it the best tv show of the year. It is steamy, it is intense and oh so captivating. Twelve episodes is just too short, give us more Sookie!
  2. Castle
    Castle is the best new TV serie of 2009. Nathan Fillion could play anything this year and still succed. Richard Castle the Crime writer fits him perfectly. The beautiful Stana Katic plays detective Kate Becket the inspiration for Richard newest hero Nicky Heat. Nice action, good pace, snappy dialogue, wonderful actors and more. Currently airing its second season and renewed for a third.
  3. Fringe
    Season two focuses on the alternative universe threat. FBI agent Olvia Dunham and Peter Bishop continues their caretake of Peters enstranged father Dr Walter Bishop.  A fantastic season.
  4. Stargate Universe
    The starship Destiny was launched by the Ancient to visit new galaxies. The research facility where the 9th cheveron’s secret is being studied is attacked and the people there have to flee using the stargate. They end up on Destiny, billions of light years from home with no way back. They are not made for this, they didn’t sign up for this. So far it has been an interesting tale about survival. The series is Currently in hiatus. Renewed for a second season by Syfy
  5. Being Human
    Werewolves are despised by Vampires. But Mitchell, a vampire and George Sands, a werewolf become friends and decide to mainstream their lives being human. So they rent a house and move in. Unknown to them the house is already inhabited by Annie – a ghost. Second season will air in January 2010.
  6. Eureka
    Sheriff Carter and the goofy, charmingly inventive town of Eureka makes me happy to watch. This season begins with a robot replacement for Carter, which doesn’t work out. The outer-space-invaders arc with the mind-controlled towns people was a delight. Pity Zoe left for college in the last episode, hope she’ll be back for summer.
  7. Supernatural
    It is the end of the world, the Apocalypse is upon us, and Paris Hilton gets her head chopped off, and Sam and Dean are back together, and Lucifer is in comparison a nice guy. They planed Supernatural for an arc of five season, this is the fifth season – is it the end of the show? I hope not! It is better than ever!
  8. Royal Pains
    When Hank is blacklisted for saving a little boy’s life instead of an important trustee and his fiancee leaves him, his unreliable little brother decides a trip to the Hamptons might be the right medicine. Hank quickly makes himself a name as a go to doctor, and the grapevine for the rich and famous there is lightning, and they all call Hank now when ill. A beautiful local MD catches his intrest so he let his brother convince him to stay. Royal Pains is a really likable feel-good series. 
  9. White Collar
    Fresh new series about a conman Neal Caffrey blackmailed into working with the FBI. His handler is FBI Agent Peter Burke. That they brought in Wendy (Natalie Morales II)  from the Middleman was just icing on the cake. It Has just been renewed for a second season.
  10. Warehouse 13
    Great fantasy series with the most exquisite steampunky gadgets ever. Beautiful and talented cast especially the addition of Claudia.

Special mention to SyFy channels Alice. I should also mention that I save V for when the hiatus is over. Dollhouse did catch my interest at the end but it didn’t make the list, sorry Joss. We had a few good comedy shows this year worth mentioning, Better off Ted, Cougar Town, The Big Bang Theory.

Other good shows not on the list this year: House, Legend of the Seeker, Merlin, Lie to Me, Sons of Anarchy, Trauma.

When is that show coming back?

Thursday, April 1
Fringe - back from hiatus

Friday, April 2
Stargate Universe
- back from hiatus
Smallville - back from hiatus

Tuesday, April 13
Glee
- back from hiatus

Friday, May 28
Past Life – Summer premiere

Thursday, June 3
Burn Notice season 4 premiere
Royal Pains season 2 premiere

Monday, June 7
Lie to Me – Summer premiere
The Good Guys – Series premiere

Sunday, June 13
True Blood – 3rd season premiere

Sunday, June 20
Leverage (TNT) - Season premiere

Monday, June 21
Saving Grace (TNT) - 2h Series Finale

Tuesday, June 22
Hawthorne (TNT) - 2nd Season premiere
Memphis Beat (TNT) - Series premiere

July, Date to be decided
Covert Affair New Series premiere on USA
White Collar Season 2 premier
Psych Season 5? premiere
The Closer (TNT) – 6th Season premier

Friday, July 9
Haven New Series premiere on Syfy

Tuesday, July 13
Warehouse 13 – 2nd season premiere

August, date to be decided
Dark Blue (TNT) – 2nd Season premiere

Friday, September 17
Caprica - Autumn Premiere Season One

October, date to be decided
The Walking Dead (AMC) Series premiere

© 2010 Cybermage Fiction Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory BlogRankers.com Litteratur Blog Directory Cybermage - Blogged Blogg listad på 

Bloggtoppen.se Suffusion WordPress theme by Sayontan Sinha
/* ]]> */