I think it’s a well known fact that many romance writers are fans of Joss Whedon’s Buffy, Angel and Firefly. How do I know this? Well, I’ve asked around. Anyway, I’m not here to debate whether he has fans or not. He does. His latest creation, Dollhouse, just premiered on FOX and I of course tuned in to every second. Did I like it? Considering I generally have so many opinions it was odd that I’m on the fence about this one. Frankly, I felt like I was missing something. Perhaps that’s because the premiere episode was never intended to air as the first episode, so as a viewer I felt like the fast forward button was mistakenly held down and I couldn’t catch up – there were too many sections that left me feeling like I’d missed something.
In Dollhouse, Eliza Dushku plays Echo one of many ‘Actives’ whose mind has been erased, and then reprogrammed to become anyone, complete with a new personality, childhood memories and new abilities. The incredibly rich can hire an ‘Active’ for an ‘engagement’. In the premiere episode Echo became a hostage negotiator for a wealthy man who’s daughter was kidnapped. Once the ‘engagement’ is complete, her mind is erased and she remembers nothing. She becomes innocent and is only aware of her surroundings in the Dollhouse, where she’ll receive a massage, take a shower, and go to bed.
It was a bit too close to prostitution for my taste, with the prostitute not knowing she sold herself.
What’s your take?
