2.
So, I just finished watching the Season 2 premiere of Dollhouse this morning. If I had to sum up my thoughts on the episode in one word it would be: Solid. If that’s all you’re interested in knowing then you can skip the rest of this ramble.
My thoughts on Dollhouse and pretty much any show created by Joss Whedon is that I’d always prefer it to be good rather than popular. Last season, with some small exceptions, Dollhouse was neither of those things. The second half was stronger, and there was some great acting by most of the supporting cast but the best episode was the one never aired – Epitaph One. So while I was secretly hoping for Joss to return to form this season, I wasn’t about to hold my breath.
‘Vows’ changed all that. It was vastly superior to the Season 1 pilot and good in its own right as well. Eliza upped the ante in the acting department, the storyline managed to weave the back-story from Season 1 and the ‘unaired 13th episode’ together well, not to mention the new camera work, which I appreciated greatly. All in all it felt like a much smoother and tighter version of a show that we’d been shown before.
What really stood out for me though were the scenes between Topher and Claire, played by Kranz and Acker. These highly charged scenes were emotional, poignant, stressful and most importantly – delved deeper into these characters in a way I was used to with Joss but that hadn’t been explored in Dollhouse. I look forward to seeing these character arcs develop further as the season progresses.
Last thoughts – I was happy to hear they had changed the opening credits. Season 1 credits were dismal in my opinion – aside from the actual theme song, they were cliché, schlocky and focused way too much on Echo when this show should be touted as an starring an ensemble cast. Sadly, they didn’t change that but at least the images used seemed to canvas a broader spectrum of what Dollhouse is really about. Here’s hoping that Season 2 can pay that promise off.
September 29, 2009 at 9:12 am
I was really hoping those opening credits would be, y’know, better, and they are, I guess. I’m not really one of the peeps that is asking for the credits to include the whole cast, but the show is really about much more than Echo, so it seems not quite right to have her aaaall over them. I preferred the original sections of the credits with Echo in front of the mirror and whatnot. Arty and mysterious. The “Active Engaged!” parts, though, were just… puke.
The Topher/Claire stuff really stood out for me too. Hardcore character stuff. Something the show is severely missing thus far. Let’s hope, judging by the solidity of this episode, that there is more of this in store.
Also, you’ve inspired me to blog about Dollhouse! Coming soon…
October 20, 2009 at 5:54 am
I still don’t know if solid would be the word I would use to describe the show yet. It still feels a bit perfunctory. Episode… 4? was it? That was good. This one wasn’t. I’m overall shrug.