Episode 3 - Stage Fright

cabri · **Episode 3 - Stage Fright -** 02-28-2009, 02:39 AM

Because gossi forgot.

TraceyMush · 02-28-2009, 03:26 AM

Ah, that was interesting. The warning to the other active at the end to not acknowledge their friendship. l wonder how long she/they have been remembering things. And what it means that she pretends so well not to. The other, Seira?,she picked up that cue pretty quick.

l think it's quite charming how Echo's handler is feeling so fatherly already.

The FBI guy (takes me a long time to get names) is hot! l finally realize who he reminds me of - Sam from Ghost Whisperer.

OK, was l seeing wrong? FBI guy's informant is an active? What a hoot!

cabri · 03-01-2009, 12:22 AM

FBI guy (Paul) is also Helo from Battlestar Galactica. Perhaps you've seen him in the ads.

Seems to me that it's possible when Echo interrupted Sierra's initialization it may have caused Sierra to imprint a little bit on Echo, although that shouldn't have affected Echo. Echo's end is probably part and parcel of her own imprinting going all wonky on her. Perhaps before Alpha left he fiddled with Topher's computer? If Echo starts bonding with other Actives (maybe Victor is next in line? just a guess), then it has to be something specifically with Echo or specifically with Topher's software. Or, of course, it could be something completely different because I've been known to be fooled by Joss before.

It's funny about Victor turning out to be an Active. He was originally cast as an Active, then Joss et al started saying after they revamped the first couple of episodes that they couldn't use him in the Dollhouse and they wanted him as this Russian mob guy instead. So a little bit of misdirection. Joss so sneaky!

Overall I enjoyed this episode but it was obviously lesser quality than the first two. One of the dressing room scenes was exceptionally clunky and it was obvious that Jaime Lee Kirchner (who played Rayna) isn't as good an actress as Eliza. She was much better on the stage sequences, she just couldn't handle all that angst she was supposed to be feeling. Or maybe it just wasn't written well enough. This is probably going to be my "The Message" episode, the one where the suspension of disbelief is nearly impossible.

thirdpoliceman · 01:31 AM

I've been having discussions online with some friends about the episode and being able to like the characters seems to be a big issue with some people. Personally, I already like Topher, he is moraly corrupt, but he does show some reprehension when something goes wrong.

As for the episode I was impressed. Using the Russian as a red herring/ambush goes to show that the Dollhouse is very capable of keeping itself off the radar. Not that that will stop the FBI agent, it will probably drive him harder, but thats just another part of the plot that is going to develop.

I also liked the interaction between Echo and Sierra. One of my friends was commenting about how this show lacks the group comraderie of Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. I'm guessing we will see that in full, but its just going to take longer to develop within the paramaters of the Dollhouse.

Overall I liked the episode, but I'm not much of a negative critic, I watch Charmed and admire the overly cheesey bad guys and think of it as an endering quality rather than a horrible, horrible, intrusion on suspension of disbelief

Lazycrockett · 03-01-2009, 07:51 AM

This is the first episode that I think actually started to set up the rest of the season. Sure Alpha, who is the first big bad, was already mentioned earlier, this episode showed the beginning of the scooby gang. While Echo is no way going to be buffy, she is going to be the first to realize her past and start drawing the other Dolls towards her.

Good episode for plot development n I didn't mind the "pop star tool" idea. Glad to see that Joss is still fighting the good fight bout how women are seen as just "tools" in the industry, though in today's industry its men as well.

Oh n I'm a newbie here, so hello all.

shadine · 03-01-2009, 01:19 PM

Maybe the whole think bout stepping out of order and remembering others has something to do with the fact how many times you have been imprinted.
I mean i totally agree with siera remembering echo because of the time she interrupted her imprinting. so thats clear.
There are so many comparisons drwan between echo and alpha and i speculate there the ones who have been there the longest and had been most requested so they both ought to have had the most imprintings.
maybe theres just a limit of how many different personae can be programmed into one persons mind ?

The thing with the russian boy was really great i mean who would have guessed!

I also realy like the storyline evolving with the FBI Agents neighbour ( sorry I'm no good with the names) and the agent.
I hope that she will bring in the normal human sight of things into the show.
you know kind of xander like,
some one who cant fight five armed bullys with nothing but a piece of wood .

and isn't the ex- cop such a giles ?
funny how in the jossverse things like to reverse.
You know behind every strong female stands a reliable guy ?

cabri · 03-02-2009, 04:42 AM

Heh, you're right, he is a Giles. I think reliable as in father figure. I'm kind of hoping lasagna girl doesn't turn out to be an active, they need at least one person who is not on either side, who is the innocent bystander who gets kidnapped.

Rthmothr · **Stage fright -** 03-02-2009, 07:30 AM

Hey, does anyone know the name of the song Echo sang as a tryout? Or is it even a real song. Get back to me if you can. Thanks

cabri · 10:02 AM

It's possible it was written for the show, although they do call it a gospel song so maybe it's just not easily findable online.

I've gotta find the freedom that's promised me
Freedom from our struggles and our misery
Freedom is all we need
To heal the pain of history

Each day when the sun shines upon my eyes
It fills me with love, makes me feel alive
I'm saving it up for a rainy day
When there's no light to guide my way

I've gotta find the freedom that's promised me
Freedom from our struggles and our misery
Freedom is all we need
To heal the pain of history

JalsAbortedBaby · 03-03-2009, 03:45 AM

I thought it was a great episode. what i like about joss and dollhouse is that they surprise me. when she hit the singer with the chair, i was like damn. and when Lubov turned out to be a active, it was crazy.
I have to say that Sierra's character was not to pleasing. I mean why would they put her in? She didn't have the urge to protect that singer girl like Echo. No hidden ninja skills, so i was just a little unsure on why they had her there.
I like the friendship that Echo and Sierra are forming and how each episode Echo progresses a little more inside the dollhouse, and you can see that the show clearly has a direction. unlike some of the "demons of the week" buffy and angel episodes. im hoping that it will stay on the air.

JalsAbortedBaby · 03-03-2009, 03:48 AM

I thought it was a great episode. what i like about joss and dollhouse is that they surprise me. when she hit the singer with the chair, i was like damn. and when Lubov turned out to be a active, it was crazy.
I have to say that Sierra's character was not to pleasing. I mean why would they put her in? She didn't have the urge to protect that singer girl like Echo. No hidden ninja skills, so i was just a little unsure on why they had her there.
I like the friendship that Echo and Sierra are forming and how each episode Echo progresses a little more inside the dollhouse, and you can see that the show clearly has a direction. unlike some of the "demons of the week" buffy and angel episodes. im hoping that it will stay on the air.

shadine · 03-03-2009, 08:11 AM

yeah they really keep you guessing !

as for sierra, it's not even a guess, but when i first saw her appear in this episode i thought well maybe she's the one who will jump in front of the bullet you know,... it would fit , i mean your right she wasn't programmed to fight or be smart or cool, she had no clue she was undercover, so that makes her cannon food. Bet thats why her "watcher" ( not letting go of the buffy terms here) said shes only supposed to interfere when thing get out of hand.

and as for the monster of the week .
Im a buffy fan since the very first episode. I like the monster of the week i mean it can work you have monsters of the week up to season 7 !!
And these tend to be some of the most fun epsisodes.
You have to have a inner and an outer plot , its simply necessary.
And if you dont have a monster of the week or the month or whatever everybodys just fighting one another and the term for that would be .... daily soup?

nickinickerbocker · 03-04-2009, 05:07 PM

I am a part of the dollhouse group on facebook and everybody that way is saying the story isn't what Joss usualy gives us because echo isnt a strong charactor. I have to say it is refreshing to find I'm not the only one who can see him building her up, not keeping her down.

Also this isn't a spoiler just my own speculation, but does anybody else think maybe Alpha (was that his name?) was whoever was beind that video camera in the college yearbook video????

shadine · 03-05-2009, 12:08 PM

That's an interresting thought,
That would also explain a lot .... if they were old friends..