(originally posted on pinkraygun.com)
Ahh, Dollhouse. How you enjoy toying with our fragile emotions. I had so many conflicting feelings while watching your first few episodes (you’re created by JOSS FRICKIN’ WHEDON!! But I’m confused by this plot!! Faith was like, my favorite character on Buffy! But why do I find Echo so unconvincing??? I’m glad there’s an Asian-looking female main character!! But what’s up with all these sexual engagements?? OMG, Fred’s a doctor, and she has a face-scar!! But why is Helo so surly?? EXCLAMATION POINTS and QUESTION MARKS!!!??!). Anyway, somewhere down this emotional journey, it became stunningly clear that you KICK SERIOUS ASS (Briar Rose and Omega were quite possibly the best TV episodes of this year), and it was kind of at this precise moment we had reason to fear that you’d meet a Firefly-like demise. Oh the despair and heartache that would come. But then!! Fox actually renewed you!!! The joy! The rapture! The gift of a Whedon Season 2!
*Spoiler alert regarding Season 2 guest stars and plot developments from Season 1.
7. Joss has promised that there will be less self-contained episodes in season 2 . Which means that we’ll have less episodes like That One Where Echo Was a Back Up Singer, and more room for substantive conspiracy-plot and character development.
6. Umm, it’ll be like a frickin’ Battlestar Galactica and Everything Joss reunion up in here! Jamie Bamber, aka Lee Adama, is set to star in tonight’s season premiere (man I hope he’ll have his British accent), while Michael Hogan, aka Colonel Saul Cyclops Tigh, is reported to come through this season’s second episode. Meanwhile, Alexis Denisof (OMG Wesley!! How I’ve missed you so) will be donning his native American (not Native American) accent as a U.S. Senator, while Summer River Glau will play a Dollhouse employee who shares a past with Echo. Thankfully, Amy Acker will be reprising her role as Whiskey slash Dr. Saunders, and Alan Tudyk, aka The Awesomest Guy Ever, is rumored to continue to scare the bejeebus out of us as the hauntingly psychotic Alpha.
5. Meanwhile Dexter’s Keith Carradine is set to star in at least two episodes as a high powered business man, while RAY WISE (he effortlessly exudes badassery, and was easily the best part of Reaper) will be guesting as the head honcho of another Dollhouse.
4. Aren’t you kind of totally curious what’s going to happen to Victor?? What kind of engagements will he be able to participate in? Will gender biases become apparent if he’s treated differently from Whiskey?? Enver Gjokaj blew me away last season (especially his Dominic impersonation), and I’m so looking forward to what’s in store for his character.
3. And Whiskey! I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that Amy Acker is unbelievable. I need to know what her story is, and how she adjusts to her knowledge of her prior active status. She hates Topher! Like, REALLY hates him! I kind of love that, because it’s also awesome to see Topher all sad-like and multi-dimensional.
2. Hasn’t Eliza really grown into her role as Echo? I used to have to make an effort not to cringe when she’d wake up in The Chair and recite, “Did I fall asleep?” but now…I don’t know. I’m suddenly so fond of her, and find her individuality as an active so compelling. What makes her so unique and special? Has she been able to retain all of those personalities??
1. Have you seen Epitaph One? No? Really? Um, can you watch it now? Like, this minute? It’s available on DVD and itunes. I’ll wait. I have time. Seriously, it’s pretty much an amazingly done episode. Apparently Joss was “bitter as hell” that Fox never aired it, but he promises this season will definitely touch upon some of the mind-blowing things that happened in Epitaph. And really, doesn’t that in itself warrant an obsession that induces you to Google Alert any and all updates of the show? Not that, you know, I do that or anything.
Dollhouse season 2 premieres tonight, 9 PM on FOX. Who wants to go out on a Friday night, anyway, when you could be chillin’ at home with these hot peepos?
-jaykay
