Writers: Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters
Grade: A-
This episode wasn’t as compelling as the premiere, but it was still damn good for an “engagement episode.” If only the show had been this good last season…
I was a little bummed that Topher was seemingly back to his mildly annoying nutjob self in the opening scene, but a) it would take a lot more than that to make me un-love Topher, and b) this episode was originally intended to be number three of the season, and thus Topher’s attitude might have a been a bit less jarring in the original order.
Dushku’s performance was believable and compelling yet again, both as the mother imprint and as Scary Mommy Echo. This is the kind of acting growth I had hoped to see in the first season, but I guess better late than never. I’m curious whether her acting improved because she took some lessons, or at least really worked at it, or if she’s just more invested in the material. The engagements so far this season have seemed more personal and emotional than in the past, so maybe she just has more to sink her teeth into?
I definitely think that seeing most of this engagement from the Active’s point-of-view really helped me to empathize with her. I was even sort of rooting for her to get away from the creepy guys in the black van, even though I knew logically that it was just Paul and some other Dollhouse employees. (And okay, so Paul and the Dollhouse are creepy in their own right, but you know what I mean, right?)
I also have to give special props to Kristoffer Polaha, who was quite good as Nate (also, very cute, and apparently he’s been in four episodes of Mad Men as Francine’s cheating husband Carlton, and I didn’t recognize him at all? WTF, me?!). He was particularly wonderful in the climax scene where he had to convince Scary Mommy Echo to give the baby back. Nate’s honesty with her was actually an act of compassion, which I’d think would take some skill to play correctly, so bravo on that. Nate is one of the few clients I didn’t completely loathe, because even though he was afraid of Echo, he also clearly felt empathy for her. He let that empathy override his fear and was brave enough to tell her the truth.
Miscellaneous Stuff
-I’m going to guess that Sen. Perrin’s wife is a Doll, or at least mildy brainwashed. If she isn’t now, she will be…
-I have to assume that Madeleine was expecting Adelle’s visit. I hate to think of her putting on pretty dresses and doing her hair and makeup just to sit and stare out the window all day… I’m also curious as to whether she’s a typical example of a post-Active, because if that’s the best they can do, the Dollhouse is even more of a sham than I thought. Being emotionally dead is worth giving up five years and letting people have their way with your body while you’re not in it?
-Echo with a knife in one hand and a baby in the other would have been even more disturbing if they’d aired the episode in the original order, with the “Echo gets a serial killer imprint” episode airing first.
Quotes
Echo: “So… can I be his mommy?”
Nate: “No. I’m sorry, you can’t.”
Echo: “They make is so real. Every time, they make it so real. Why do they do that?”
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