TV reviews

A complete archive of The Medium is Not Enough’s reviews of TV programmes since 2005

The CarusometerA Carusometer rating of 4

Third-episode verdict: Dollhouse

2 March 2009 Rob Buckley 5 Comments

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

US TV

Season finale: Leverage

27 February 2009 Rob Buckley 3 Comments

The finale of Leverage

Blimey. That was quick. Is it over already? Still time flies when you’re having fun. TNT’s Leverage might not be the most original, smartest or even edgiest of series, but if you’re looking for a piece of entertainment to keep your mind vaguely occupied – but not too occupied – you didn’t need to look a whole lot further.

A sort of Hustle-light, it’s seen Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge as a bunch of criminals who turn their talents to helping the little guy fight back against big corporations who have tried to crush them.

And now it’s over, but there’s a second season on the way this summer.

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US TV

Review: Dollhouse 1×1

19 February 2009 Rob Buckley 13 Comments

Eliza Dushku in Dollhouse

In the US: Friday, 9/8c, Fox

Ooh Joss Whedon. Ooh Eliza Dushku. Ooh Steven DeKnight. Ooh, Amy Acker…

And so on.

Because as you look through the credits of Dollhouse, Fox’s new sci-fi spy show, you can’t help but notice a few Buffy alumni in the list.

What you won’t see is Gerry Anderson’s name in the list, despite the fact this is perilously close to one of his old shows. Joe 90, although basically a bit of wish fulfilment for kids involving puppets, saw one boy become a secret agent thanks to a special gadget that gives him the brain waves of other people – and their skills to match.

Dollhouse, while slightly more malevolent, follows more or less the same plot. Eliza Dushku, plays Echo, a personality-less drone who gets given a new persona each week for various missions. One day a party girl, the next day a hostage negotiator, Echo remembers nothing (apparently) except what secret organisation Dollhouse wants her to, including all the special skills necessary for the job and a personality to match.

Ironically, Dollhouse is pretty personality-less itself; even more ironically, you might be hankering after the acting in Joe 90 by the end, too.

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US TV

Review: Heroes 3×16 – Building 26

19 February 2009 Rob Buckley 4 Comments

Heroes 3x17

After a resounding call from as many as one people, here comes the (hopefully) regular weekly Heroes reviews. Still no word from the Beeb about when they’re going to be transmitting the new episodes, so US speed it is, I’m afraid.

Bit of a duff one after the previous week’s stonkers, I’m afraid, but we can talk about that after the jump. Spoilers ahoy.

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