Time, I think, for a third-episode verdict on Dollhouse. Should I be withholding my verdict until later? Well, Eliza Dushku reckons the show only gets out from Fox’s interference and becomes great from episode six, but I’m not entirely sure I can stick with it that long.
See, in many ways, Dollhouse is a very bad show. It has a few redeeming qualities: mixed martial artist Tahmoh Penikett is always good for a fight scene; and the over-arching plot shows some signs of intrigue – indeed in the abysmal third episode, the five seconds of quality TV come from a reveal related to that plot, and the second episode was lifted to a far greater high than the other episodes by focusing on the Dollhouse itself, rather than the typically daft as a brush secret agent A-plot with that bloke from The Middleman.
But for the most part, it’s been really bad, mainly for all the reasons I listed in my first episode review. Eliza Dushku ain’t a great actress, Echo isn’t a character you can root for yet and neither are the ancillary staff – not even Amy Acker. And the “secret agent story of the week” has been invariably awful.
But, as young Eliza mentions, the episodes are going to become less self-contained from episode six onwards, so maybe it’ll be worth sticking with from then. I’m just not sure I want to be there.
Carusometer rating: 4
Prediction: Will be cancelled either before or at the end of the first season
