Comments on Lisa Says: No Prince Charming: Dollhouse Episode Eleven Revie...

@butterfly Thanks for commenting! I find your...

2009-05-03T15:31:00.000-07:00
@butterfly

Thanks for commenting!

I find your framing of Mellie as 'attainable' to be odd considering that she's a construct (and that Paul knows that). She's not attainable, because she isn't real.

I realize she isn't attainable in that sense. I guess I should have been more clear about that. I meant that as a victim who needed his help, she was more attainable. Does that make sense? She was right there. He could have helped her, but he decided to play along, knowing that this way he could be led to the Dollhouse, where he could save Echo. It is pretty clear that he doesn't care about saving anyone else when he is there.

but he was actually trying to move on to a real, attainable girl in Mellie... only to find out that she's not only an active, but that the Dollhouse will make her kill him if they find out he knows the truth.

I guess I think that's a risk he should take.

I'm not sure that I could look with love and awe onto my potential executioner.

But Echo could have as easily been his potential executioner, and indeed kicked the crap out him that one time. This is a woman that he slept with. It just seems wrong that he should be so cavalier about her fate. She is just as much a victim as Echo.

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree there ;)

Something that struck me as impressive, plot-wise, is that Ballard's entire obsession with Caroline was set up by Alpha in the first place (by sending him the picture and the video and making her 'real' to him), probably in hopes of just this outcome -- using Ballard's break-in to 'save' Caroline as a distraction from Alpha's break-in to imprint and escape with Echo.

That is very true! I hadn't thought about that. But Alpha is a genius. I can't wait for more of him!

Really good review. I do have to agree with girly...

2009-05-02T18:48:00.000-07:00
Really good review.

I do have to agree with girly_scribbles about Ballard -- I find your framing of Mellie as 'attainable' to be odd considering that she's a construct (and that Paul knows that). She's not attainable, because she isn't real. November may be real and the original woman that we met in "Needs" was real, but Mellie is a construct deliberately made to love Paul and nothing else (to go to another Jossverse show -- she's April from "I Was Made to Love You").

I mean, I don't think that Ballard's obsessiveness over Caroline shows him in a good light, but he was actually trying to move on to a real, attainable girl in Mellie... only to find out that she's not only an active, but that the Dollhouse will make her kill him if they find out he knows the truth. She's not only a construct, she's also his potential executioner. I'm not sure that I could look with love and awe onto my potential executioner.

Whereas he knows that Caroline is in Echo because of the phone call from "Needs". He doesn't have that assurance with November. All he has is her telling him that she could easily be ordered to kill him. He tried to find out who Mellie/November really had been in "Haunted" and got nowhere. He literally can't see a person when he looks at her because all along, he's been thinking of Actives as the murdered, brainwashed bodies of real people (much like Buffy couldn't see Spike as good without a soul, because it would shake her view of her relationship and love for Angel).

Something that struck me as impressive, plot-wise, is that Ballard's entire obsession with Caroline was set up by Alpha in the first place (by sending him the picture and the video and making her 'real' to him), probably in hopes of just this outcome -- using Ballard's break-in to 'save' Caroline as a distraction from Alpha's break-in to imprint and escape with Echo.

Mellie, is the face of all of the Dollhouse's g...

2009-05-02T18:25:00.000-07:00
Mellie, is the face of all of the Dollhouse's games and manipulations to him.

But see, this is just another way of saying what I said: that she is not a human being to him. Furthermore, I don't think Caroline is either.

I like my men to be morally conflicted, believe me. But Paul has crossed the line for me into downright creepy and disturbing.

That's just me, though.

Great review! I agree with you in the main, the s...

2009-05-02T08:31:00.000-07:00
Great review!

I agree with you in the main, the show was definitely A grade and Alan's performance as the neurotis developer was a riot! Though I think you are being a bit harsh on Paul... yes I stated in my review that Paul was dismissive of Mellie, but I don't necessarily think that makes him a scumbag, not when you look at his character arc and how the dollhouse has played him.

Mellie, is the face of all of the Dollhouse's games and manipulations to him. Whilst she is a doll, it must be very difficult for the character to be able to put that logic into place.

Can't wait for the next episode - Alpha and Echo!! wooooot!