So, I skipped Intro to Evil, or whatever

[dipenates]

It is self-evident (textual, even) that Dollhouse can be read as an extended metaphor for, or is even a straight representation of, prostitution and trafficking. The way that the dollhouses work, in wiping the personalities of individuals and replacing them with synthesised, or actual personalities of other people, at the behest of clients who pay

Comments

[stormwreath]

I just rewatched that episode yesterday, coincidentally, and got rather a different impression. I actually thought the way the camera kept cutting between the professor and the sociopath was making a very pointed and deliberate comparison between them

[dipenates]

I actually thought the way the camera kept cutting between the professor and the sociopath was making a very pointed and deliberate comparison between them.

It did seem like it was supposed to be heading in that direction, but the payoff left the comparison with nowhere to go. (And it started badly, with Ballard talking about the fact that the prof needed to pay for a doll, because he was too unattractive to get his students to put out otherwise, which very much misses the point.)

You're right that the conclusion is chilling, but it's chilling because Creepy McPsychopath is now in Echo's head. (It also completely threw me that we were expected to believe that the three remaining kidnapped women were so readily persuaded that their kidnapper was now inhabiting Echo's body.)

[stormwreath]

we were expected to believe that the three remaining kidnapped women were so readily persuaded that their kidnapper was now inhabiting Echo's body.

I'm not sure they were actually convinced; but they could see with their own eyes that this stranger was being violent and abusive just like their kidnapper had been, and had injured one of them badly, and then thrown down the mallet and told them they had to kill her. I'm actually quite surprised only one of them agreed to do just that, and another had the presence of mind to restrain her.

I did wonder if putting the Kiki imprint into Victor was meant to be making some kind of statement about how we perceive the same sexualised behaviour differently depending on our social preconceptons, but I suspect it was just meant to be a comedy scene and opportunity for Enver Gjokaj to show off his skill...

[dipenates]

I suspect it was just meant to be a comedy scene and opportunity for Enver Gjokaj to show off his skill...

Which he did very well.

[phoebesmum]

The male Dolls are utilised and victimised as much as the women; the show focuses on Echo because it's a vehicle for Eliza Dushku. A lot of fan reaction to the show only emphasises the viewers' own social conditioning.

[dipenates]

You're right that in theory the male dolls are treated in a very similar fashion to the women, although Victor (I've only seen up to 2.04) seems to function primarily as love interest for Sierra. Although, interestingly, the show does give us a few female clients for Victor's sexual services, which doesn't really parallel real life, at least, not in the UK. (There is, of course, a (Western) female market for men's sexual services in other countries.)

I haven't read any fan reaction to the show, except a few snippets about the decision to cancel it, because I've been trying to avoid spoilers. This seems like something I wouldn't want to know the plot of ahead of time.