Liking Dollhouse was predetermined for me. From the brain of Joss Whedon (Firefly, Buffy), a sci-fi look at a shadowy organization that keeps a cadre of men and women in a “tabula rasa” state until they’re needed for any one of various missions for “clients” and then programmed with the necessary personality and skills.
It also co-stars Tahmoh Penikett, late of Battlestar Galactica, as the FBI agent who is trying to find the so-called Dollhouse to rescue all these poor innocents who’ve been forced into what he believes to be a life of prostitution.
After watching a few episodes (bless the inventor of the DVR!), I do like it, but I’m sad to report that Agent Paul Ballard wasn’t that far off when he feared the Dolls were unwilling prostitutes.
First off, we know that when one Doll managed to overcome his “programming,” he went all ninja on the staff and Dolls and killed many. He does not appear to have even tried to hurt Echo (played by show star Eliza Dushku), however. The little bit I’ve seen so far seems to make it apparent that Alpha is trying to push Echo to break out of the mold and escape the tabula rasa state.
