Dollhouse - 2x04 "Belonging" October 23rd 2009 - Page 2

BooRadley · 10-24-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Primal Slayer (View Post)

Best. Episode. Ever! Of DH. Its such a sad episode to end on for a month to.

Totally agree. It's so frustrating to know that the show can be this amazing but most people don't even watch or those who did watch a few eps gave up on it.

I'm sorry to say this, but the eps I've liked most have not revolved around Echo. And I didn't even miss Paul in this one. Maybe the show would get better ratings if Echo wasn't the focus?

How did Boyd know so much about dismembering someone? Topher went to med school, but Boyd?

Does anyone know why it won't be back until December? Is it the World Series? 'Cause that should be over by mid-November, at the latest.

**Hot Rod** · 10-24-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BooRadley (View Post)

How did Boyd know so much about dismembering someone? Topher went to med school, but Boyd?

Does anyone know why it won't be back until December? Is it the World Series? 'Cause that should be over by mid-November, at the latest.

I think that it`s likely Boyd learned that from his previous job before he joined the Dollhouse.

As for the hiatus until December, it`s obviously another typical move from Fox.

**DanceWithLife** · 10-24-2009, 01:18 PM

This was by far one of the best episodes of the series so far. Everything about it was just amazing.

The entire Sierra backstory is one of the saddest ones I find. And I really enjoy the Sierra-centric episodes the most.

Topher developing a conscience is also one of the great aspects of this season. I am seriously loving that about his character.

Wild Pikachu · 10-24-2009, 03:29 PM

Wow.

This episode is a serious testament to Joss Whedon's masterful storytelling talents.

And of course the writing abilities of brother Jed and sister-in-law Maurissa. And the expert direction of Jonathan Frakes.

I've seen rumblings around about the moral implications of Sierra's forced induction into the Dollhouse...everyone should have known that Joss wouldn't have set that up just to let it lie. Adele, Boyd, Topher are all shown to be individuals struggling to maintain a sense of decency in what deep down they know to be a fundamentally immoral situation. And Dichen absolutely outdid herself as Sierra.

And Topher! Man, when he gets a conscience, he doesn't kid around...going rogue, defying Adele's orders and imprinting Sierra with Priya's original personality... And Boyd, doing his bit to cover it up. I think Adele suspects something happened, but just decided to wash her hands of it. Boyd giving Echo the security key...he knows the storm is coming, too, and that Echo will be the one leading them when it does. And where was Paul, anyway? It seems the former FBI agent would have some sort of role to play.

Yes, Sierra and Victor are becoming less and less doll-like. Over the long term, the process is breaking down in all the actives—it just happened in Echo faster than the others.

I do think that Joss has realized that, barring a miracle, it's highly unlikely that the series will survive past this season, so he's accelerated the timeline for the overarching series story in order to wrap everything up by the end of the season.

P.S.: Okay, maybe it's just me, but I really don't see what the big deal is with Summer Glau.

**only dreaming** · 10-24-2009, 04:11 PM

I think it depends what you've seen her on before, I know, personally, I love her on Firefly, River was my favourite character and she is insanely popular from T:TSCC.

The promo looks intense, not much from Summer which sucks but I know she'll kick butt when we actually get to see her. I really hope they have Alan and Summer in a scene together at some stage.

Wild Pikachu · 10-25-2009, 12:31 AM

I'm pretty sure I've never seen her in anything.

Haven't gotten into T:TSCC yet.

Have I mentioned that the choices for the coda music have been exceptional this season?

I agree that besides Dichen, Fran made this episode. Topher is consistently one of the most interesting characters around. And his relationship with Adele is fascinating. In the flashback, after Topher's done imprinting Echo and he eyeballs her walking off, the look she gives him is priceless.

…

Boyd: Is that where your hunch came from?
Topher: It's Sierra's. Echo brought it to me. She was going on about a "bad man." He's the blotch here, is what I'm getting.
Boyd: Echo brought it to you.
Topher: She's always been Mother Hen about Sierra.
Boyd: You should look into that.
Topher: I am! And so far, Echo's given me way more than you have. I need a connection. A pattern.
Boyd: Saunders.
Topher: Saunders? She's gone, Boyd. You need to stop…mooning.
Boyd: Saunders didn't work engagements. She looked after the actives here. She would have seen.
Topher: Seen what?
Boyd: A pattern.
…

Topher: Echo was right. I wasn't looking hard enough. Neuroleptics—he's an expert!
Boyd: You mean Kennard.
Topher: Neuroleptics are anti-psychotics, right? Like Haloperidol, or good old Chlorpromazine. Most of them block D2 receptors in the dopamine pathways of the brain.
Boyd: I'll take your word for it.
Topher: Look, this is a brain. A normal, boring brain…like your brain. This is a brain on drugs. Or more specifically, anti-psychotic medication. You see the inhibited mezolymphic pathway, hmm? The partially-blocked serotonin receptors? And this is Priya's original scan. It's similar, right? But why the 5HGE flux in the striatum? And looking closer…increased conduction of cloride ions! They're at odds!
Boyd: You lost me at "brain."
Topher: Priya wasn't psychotic despite her heavy medication, she was psychotic because of it.

…

Topher: How can you expect me to do this?
Adele: You'll do it because you must. The cold reality is that everyone here was chosen because their morals have been compromised in some way. Everyone…except you. You, Topher, were chosen because you have no morals. You have always thought of people as playthings. This is not a judgment. You always take very good care of your toys. But you're simply going to have to let this one go.

…

Adele: Is it done, then?
Topher: Yes.
Adele: Good.
Topher: If you say so.
Adele: If you have actually managed to develop some pangs of conscience, you may rest in the knowledge that in this matter, you…you had no choice.
[Adele walks away]
Topher: …no, I didn't.

…

Boyd: Echo…when did you learn how to lie?
Echo: Am I in trouble?
Boyd: Not from me. But there are people who would be very upset if they knew what you were doing.
Echo: Reading?
Boyd: You brought the painting to Topher. You're pushing…the actives, the staff… What you're doing could have consequences you can't predict or control. Some people are not ready to wake up.
Echo: I don't care. Something bad is coming. Like a storm. And I want everyone to survive it. They need to wake up.
Boyd: Echo, you stir things up, you might bring the storm on yourself.

…

Priya: Am I allowed to have beer in here? Or is this my last one?
Topher: No, you're allowed on…special occasions.
Priya: And are we happy here?
Topher: I…you…most of you… I have no idea.
[Priya sees Victor]
Priya: That's him. What's his name?
Topher: Victor.
Priya: I love him. Is that real?
Topher: Yes. Yes, it's real. He loves you back.

…

Priya: If you wake me up again, put me back to where I was a year ago. Skip this day, ignore it, or delete it, or whatever… I don't ever want this back, okay?
Topher: Okay.
Priya: This secret we have… Can you keep it?
Topher: I can keep it. But I don't know if I can live with it.
Priya: I know I can't. But I don't have to.

…

[Echo opens her book. Inside is a folded piece of paper with an All Access card key. Written on the paper: "For the storm."]

**naturellebella** · 10-25-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

P.S.: Okay, maybe it's just me, but I really don't see what the big deal is with Summer Glau.

She's really big in the sci-fi genre because of TSCC, Firefly\Serenity and The 4400. Because she was previously on two Fox shows, they're hyping her up especially and because Firefly\Serenity are Joss projects.

LuckyRabbit · 10-27-2009, 11:11 PM

summer seems like a good character to throw in there. so why not. it could bring in more fans of her. who knows. anything is good for the ratings for the show^_^

& the episode was my fav yet. sierra is my fav character so this was all great. lol. plus i ship sierra/victor & sierra/topher & i got full from the great treats they brought in, hehe.

**only dreaming** · 10-28-2009, 02:57 AM

ITA anything to get our ratings up.

It was definately a fantastic episode for us Sierra fans.

*Megs* · 10-28-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BooRadley (View Post)

Totally agree. It's so frustrating to know that the show can be this amazing but most people don't even watch or those who did watch a few eps gave up on it.

I'm sorry to say this, but the eps I've liked most have not revolved around Echo. And I didn't even miss Paul in this one. Maybe the show would get better ratings if Echo wasn't the focus?

How did Boyd know so much about dismembering someone? Topher went to med school, but Boyd?

Does anyone know why it won't be back until December? Is it the World Series? 'Cause that should be over by mid-November, at the latest.

I just got into this series about 2 weeks ago and I am addicted, but it did take me about 3 eppisodes before I really did get into it, I almost felt like I was making myself watch because I know what Joss can do with his shows, now I am completely addicted but I agree, I don't think that it's a well known show.

stumps101 · 10-29-2009, 08:47 PM

Well, I finally just finished watching this episode and man was it good !! I love all of it - the acting was great, the tone was dark and I loved that we got to see Adella's and Topher's humanity.

So there's no new episode this week ?

**only dreaming** · 10-29-2009, 11:40 PM

No new eps til December

stumps101 · 10-30-2009, 04:36 PM

Wow, no new episodes during sweeps huh ? I guess we just need to enjoy whatever they give us now, which sucks because this show can be really awesome.

own worst enemy · 11-01-2009, 04:58 PM

This episode proved to me that despite what I've felt about Dollhouse so far, the show can have this amazing moments and give you a source of clarity. This was a remarkable episode. The parties involved - delivered. Truly. Excited for the return of the series (I was close to removing it from my Season Pass list). I think the winning formula for the episode was the unmatched chemistry between Victor/Sierra and the ability to show Topher in a vulnerable light. Just, well done Dollhouse. Brilliant episode. If I ever decide to get the DVD's, this is an episode I no doubt will watch over and over again.

**only dreaming** · 11-02-2009, 02:21 AM

Yeah ITA, I think the key to success is using more of the cast instead of just having Eliza at the front all the time.