The transformation is amazing, and you have to keep watching just to see what he will do next. A few nice moments offset his nastiness, which helps. He takes words from a handler (in charge of keeping Actives safe) literally, with amusing results. A kissing scene with Amy Acker also makes for fun viewing.
Not to be left out, Tahmoh Penikett, who plays former FBI agent Paul Ballard, has his own romp with Sierra (Dichen Lachman) once she turns into a bounty hunter to capture a thief. What gets stolen? Actually, it's who. Echo (Eliza Dushku), and it happens right under everyone's nose ("Briar Rose"). Penikett, who has taken on the role of morality as Ballard, wants to know how anyone could become Active without being forced to. As he hears about his role in Echo's abduction, the look on Penikett's face is pure shock. One's heart goes out to him in the moment.
A few long time questions are answered in the finale, too. Yes, someone is shown as a new Doll. This may or may come as a surprise to regular viewers. Technically speaking, there are two new Dolls, it just depends how you add things up. Since the first person is intended to be a major twist, I'll leave the name out. You really should watch to get the story straight anyway.
Could Ballard be joining the Doll world in a bigger way? It's possible, but only a new season can answer that for sure. Since Penikett came to Dollhouse off Battlestar Galactica, he probably could take on other parts now too. However, I enjoy seeing him as the man who knows far less than he thinks he does.
Now, I'd like to turn to a list of folks I'd like to see on the show. For one reason or another these actors and actresses have caught my eye in a way that I think would help them fit among the Actives and others who inhabit the Dollhouse universe.
From the Whedonverse, Adam Baldwin is near the top of my list. The Firefly alum is adept at both the drama and quirk required for this show. Come to think of it, he might even play a woman well. Granted, this is stretching things a bit due to his height. However, television is not supposed to be completely accurate all the time. Fiction, is, well, not real. Other Whedon people I'd like to see are Gina Torres, Alyson Hannigan and her husband Alexis Denisof. To be fair, there are others who could work on the show as well. Tim Curry! Talk about an amazing catch. Tina Fey. Jane Krakowski, French Stewart, Kristin Chenoweth (Sit Down and Shut Up), Timothy Omundson (Psych), Megan Mullally, and Alan Cumming are also solid actors.
Article comments
1 - Blue McGinnis
Alpha (Tudyk) wasn't kissing Amy Acker's character. He was kissing Eliza Dushku's character (Echo). And to be honest, that scene didn't make me chuckle. It made me think how fast that situation could escalate (ala, Sierra) and thus, a little uncomfortable. But for a show about using "shells" of people, I've always expected to feel slightly uncomfortable... and it's a relief, when put up against the generic shows on TV lately.
As for the "reveal" about the remaining Doll, there's been a lot of talk about why Topher would program them to hate him. I really don't think that line was meant to be taken literal. I see it as the "Doll," possibly remembering who they were before they were a Doll, and making it clear to Topher that they hate him for what he's done.
Of course, none of this will be answered until a season two (pleeeeaaassseee!) but overall, the second half of this season was simply amazing. It definitely had some faults, but all TV shows do, and for a first season... I was pretty blown away. The best thing they did was take the focus purely off Echo and made it more of an ensemble piece. But anywho, nice review.
2 - Kimba
actually he kissed Amy acker in the beginning. I didn't find it ammusing but he did. It was a little wierd because they were making out while she was sitting on some other guy's lap. They had lights flashing and it was brief. i think it was a couple of times and her hair was in the way but they did kiss.
3 - Blue McGinnis
Oooh. I thought you were talking about when they were in their Doll states, and he was continuously pecking Echo, before his Handler told him to watch his step. My bad!