However, as unsatisfying as Dollhouse may have been at the beginning of its run, it definitely began to pick up a good pace after episode six, "Man on the Street." The episodes prior to this one did have a standalone, detached feel to them; but after Man on the Street they all tied into the main story arc, albeit some significantly more than others.
One thing I think this series lacks is classic Joss Whedon comedy. I think a lot of fans watched Dollhouse expecting a drama, but also expecting the one-liners that Whedon became famous for in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Due to the show’s setup and overall plot, there isn’t much room for this sort of comedy however, and it was really only used through the character of goofy, semi-evil genius Topher. However in episode seven, "Echoes," most of the characters find themselves infected with a mysterious drug, which lowers their inhibitions and, in the dolls’ case, brings back their original memories. This allows for some classic Whedon humour with Dewitt and Topher, also showing a more relaxed, human side to Dewitt, who had previously been one of the more rigid characters of the show. "Echoes" also provides some much needed information on Echo’s true persona, Caroline, who is explored in even greater detail in the following episode, "Needs."
Personally, I found the first episode of Dollhouse, "Ghost," to be the weakest. I felt like the characters weren’t introduced to the extent that they should be in the first episode of a new series, and I don’t think the concept was explained in enough detail. I felt like I was watching the second or third episode of a new series, where the premise has been put forward and the characters have been introduced to the audience. "Ghost" could have possibly put a lot of people off the show, which is disappointing as it really does improve after this.
Whilst watching this first season, I found myself comparing it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’m not sure that Dollhouse will ever reach the cult status that Buffy the Vampire Slayer has achieved, but I think it holds the potential to be just as good, if not better. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was so successful because it was the first popular television show to put women in a position of power and it also had characters that everyone could relate to. In Buffy’s world, life had its downfalls, just like it does for everyone, but with Buffy the downfalls were always slimier and more demonic than real life downfalls. It was the ability to reach millions of viewers on a personal level that helped Buffy achieve its cult status.
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