Dollhouse, Part Deux: Sociopathy A-Go-Go

[roo_ster]

***Possible Spoilers***
















I have watched the episodes, the last being the episode with genius-boy, Topher Brink (Fran Kranz), playing laser-tag with the aussie chick, Sierra (Dichen Lachman).

What strikes me is the monumental inhumanity and immorality of the entire setup. 

Even the "numinous negro," Boyd Langton (Harry J. Lennix), acting as the conscience of the organization, has all the rectitude of a Josef Mengele.  Dr. Claire Saunders (Amy Acker), barely rises above that low moral bar. Frankly, her concern seems akin to that of a farmer & his livestock.

The rest of the non-doll characters are even less sympathetic.  They have all the emotions and reactions one would expect in a human, but are lacking the ability to see the monstrosity they are part of. 

It is "sociopaths a go-go." 24/7/52 at the Dollhouse.

This leaves me very cold toward Dollhouse, even as the episodes are improving from "poor" to "pretty good," quality-wise.

What say you?

[AZRedhawk44]

I was wondering how on earth they could have a meaningful plot that would hook me... when the main character(s) have different personalities and memories every episode and are empty at their core in between.

It hooked me over the last 2 episodes, though.  Really liking it now.  The premise that ALL of the dolls voluntarily sign themselves over for a messed up form of indentured servitude is really interesting.  Especially since the Dollhouse organization is empowered to give them:
1.  Oodles of cash when they leave;
2.  Fake resumes including education accreditation or career history;
3.  Any tangible skillset they could desire;
4.  They can wipe their memory of any painful events prior to Dollhouse, or "program" them to be "over" the experience.

Makes for a VERY interesting bargain.  Especially if you don't remember your actual work while employed as a doll.

[roo_ster]

Here is a commentary for another show that could be mine on Dollhouse (bold face mine):

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OGRkNjUzZGIxZGE2YTQ2OWEyYjkyMDcyMjdhYjUxNzg=

After your praise of Breaking Bad, I went to watch both seasons. I just finished Season 2. It strikes me that this is the darkest show I have ever watched. It seems much darker than the Sopranos. There really are no good guy protagonists. I think there is a stronger sense of hating the main character while hoping he succeeds for the sake of his family than even in the Sopranos. The show just reeks with evil, the evil caused by drugs and the web of lies it ties together. A person doesn't watch this show to be entertained. He really needs to just have a psychological fascination with the main characters.

[AZRedhawk44]

Man, I love Breaking Bad.

Now that Walt is out of his death-dance with cancer and is flush with oodles of drug cash, divorced due to all his secrets he kept from his wife while cooking meth, and spiraling down to a dark place mentally... next season will be really good. 

I'm itching for him to start cooking again.  And to rub elbows with some even darker parts of society than he has so far.