Dollhouse has come, and Dollhouse has gone. As things stay the same, so do they change. As some pass away, others come to be.
“Epitath Two: Return” could very easily be seen as an interesting finale that leaves such a gap between our last episode of the season and the events that took place in Epitath Two that I wouldn’t be surprised if Joss Whedon starts up a comic book to cover the time gap.
I’ve seen conflicting statements on this issue. Joss first said, no, the no, then maybe. But then he was quoted of late to saying “… that once Dollhouse is over, it’s over. There won’t be any Dollhouse comics or web series.” You’re guess, or hope is as good as mine. (Dollhouse Comic?)(On Dollhouse Ending)
It’s a shame that somehow, Fox never aired the first part of this finale, Epitath. They sorely missed out on some serious fan appreciation, but it is what it is. But anything a network does that already has an image of how they handle sci-fi just doesn’t surprise me. Though I’d like to be.
Another aspect I think about is how Joss could bring such brilliance to a few episodes and let the majority of 2 seasons of a project languish in confusion.
It has to be confusion on the part of the viewers. Viewers that just didn’t feel comfortable with the premise that Joss tried to demonstrate or they didn’t get. Despite being a rather fervent fan, Dollhouse did not drag me in and make me want to get completely involved. But I stuck it out.
I’m glad I did stick it out because there were moments that to me, were classic Whedon-genius. Like the Eptitaths.
Now that would make a great television event – a 2-hour pre-cap, that would show us Rossum and the Dollhouse in the first 2 seasons and where it all leads – the final few hours of TV Apocalyptic Epitath.
I know it won’t happen, but I can dream, can’t I?
But no network is going to tackle this show that puts the idea of transferable souls on a plate (or hard drive platter) and try to tackle it. It’s too far ahead of what the generic, reality-TV brain-soaked television viewer is ready for.
In the end, we see resolution for our cast. Whether you liked it our not.
Paul Ballard, Alpha, Victor, Sierra, Adelle, Topher and Echo are all given closure to some form or another.
I’m betting there were spots that some may find … I’m going to use the word interesting, just to keep this neutral, but all in all, great.
Now had Fox stepped up and said, “Joss, instead of this season 2 that you have in mind, can we instead have a full season of lead-in / build-up to this Apocalypse you have in mind?”, I think that season 2 would have been such a ratings winner that it would have left Fox and Whedon in a bind in how to capitalize on it.
So tell me, now do the Dollhouse Finale pictures I put up in the beginning of January make more sense?
Cinema Static says Thanks:
Dollhouse wrap lunch party – photo courtesy Eliza Dushku TwitPic account
Thanks. I do have to say thank you to everyone who brought this to us. From the guilt-ridden Fox execs who backed it and let it run its course, to the gang who we watched week in and week out.
Thanks to who ever came up with and for the short while, maintained the viral websites that backed the Dollhouse mythos. (Ditch the Tech Video and Wesbites)(Dollhouse Viral Website and Info)
To the regular contributors / writers, Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Andrew Chambliss, Tracy Bellomo and Maurissa Tancharoen.
Even thanks to the writers who only worked on a few episodes: Jane Espenson, Tim Minear, Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain, Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas.
Thanks to the regular cast: Eliza Dushku (Echo), Harry Lennix (Boyd Langton), Fran Kranz (Topher Brink), Tahmoh Penikett (Paul Ballard), Enver Gjokaj (Victor), Dichen Lachman (Sierra), Olivia Williams (Adelle DeWitt), Miracle Laurie (Mellie), Reed Diamon (Laurence Dominic) and Amy Acker (Dr. Claire Saunders)
Thanks for dropping in on the series: Alexis Denisof, Summer Glau, Alan Tudyk, Keith Carradine, Mark Sheppard & Felicia Day.
And Now We Wait.
We wait for others to plagiarize and create something more edible for the Nielsen families.
We wait for the Nielsen families to catch up to the idea the Science fiction is just as palatable as reality TV.
We wait for Joss Whedon’s next project. Nothing has been said or announced, but I suspect a possible FX Network backed project. (See the article on Joss having lunch with the FX exec.)
In the end, it was a fun piece of work that filled sporadic hours (IE: When Fox wasn’t pulling the show) and what not.
