Dollhouse

[iidoru]

I've just realized why I'm not completely on board and in love with the show: Where's the funny? There are no quotable lines, the dialogue is forgettable, and the characters aren't endearing. So while the concept is interesting and the plot thickens, I don't care enough about the people for it pull at my heartstrings, the way Joss Whedon's shows

Comments

"Where's the funny?"

[wwolfe]

Yes! I totally agree

Re: "Where's the funny?"

[iidoru]

"...and a general sense on my part that I don't find her quite as interesting as Joss does."

You've hit the nail on the head. That's exactly right. I like Eliza (not love, but like) but she's not a fantastic actress in my book. She does great "vulnerable trying to be tough" eyes, and she's definitely got a lot of high energy that translates well into action sequences, but I don't think her range extends that far.

Re: "Where's the funny?"

[thespice]

And, what she said. :)

Re: "Where's the funny?"

[lspooreeyorick]

Ditto this, to both of you. The writing seems so... weak. I would say "emasculated" - though, there's plenty of testosterone-fueled Fox-style stuff (Short skirt! Motorcycle race! Hunting people for sport!) But it's as though Fox removed Joss's witty teeth, leaving him to gum away at this. And, yes, the casting has not yet proved to be successful. I've never felt for Dushku like everyone else seemed to, and I don't yet feel much for anyone except her watche... I mean... handler

[funkmastermo]

I feel like if you hadn't told me Joss did this show, I would not even guess that it was a Joss show except for the presence of Eliza Dushku AND Amy Acker, and the curious design of the Dollhouse offices which reminded me of some of the Angel sets for some reason.

I'm actually okay with the relative lack of humor, provided that it's not replacing that with what I assume is completely unintentional humor in the premise of Matthew Keeslar hunting Eliza Dushku with a compound bow, or in Echo's "I'm going to take a swim" vacant-isms. Also, the geeky computer geek guy is supremely annoying and not funny in any way and needs to be killed off post-haste.

I do like the handler, he's my favorite character so far (not that he has much competition). I don't fully get what the Dollhouse is doing, exactly. Um, where did they get their funding? I'm sure that's to be explained eventually, but overall this whole thing seems to be a premise that would have been much better suited to a movie than a tv show.

It seems to me like the "dolls" in Dollhouse....

[thespice]

were given an option: Life in prison...or life in the dollhouse. Your miserable and crave suicide...or, we can erase your pain; welcome to the Dollhouse. Like La Femme Nikita, with mind rape.

The thing is, I'd rather watch The Condemned or The Most Dangerous Game or Battle Royale. Life in prison...or fight to the death on an island - winner goes home!

Yeah. I'd rather be watching The Condemned. Heh.

Re: It seems to me like the "dolls" in Dollhouse....

[iidoru]

While watching the first scene I thought, oh, is this an homage to Nikita or just a rip-off?

Re: It seems to me like the "dolls" in Dollhouse....

[funkmastermo]

Yeah, me too, come to think of it. I'm still appreciative of that recommendation.

agreed

[swersfreakshow]

I'm also wondering why I should care about a character who really is just empty space when she is not "active".

Re: agreed

[iidoru]

I guess that from now on she's not? She's just pretending to be?