I began watching this show not knowing what to expect after hearing about and reading mixed reviews stating its lack of popularity and untimely demise. I was surprised to find that every episode I watched made me want more at an exponential rate. The premise is well thought out and big on ideas. Each episode is exciting, being its own cohesive whole impressively put together with cleverly presented themes, while at the same time continuing and adding to the overarching plot development of the series. At no point in its fifty minute per episode run time does the story or dialog seem like filler or unnecessary to the plot development, and the story telling format is also often modified for extra effect and variety. The show doesn't regress into boredom or run out of ideas the longer the series continues, as some concept shows with high potential have been known to do in the past. In fact, the more you watch, the better it gets. I believe if a show written this well doesn't get the credit it deserves, the problem is likely to lie elsewhere in the execution process. Usually this is the result of subtle aspects in the way the show is presented; there is often a disconnect with the audience- either it's unsuccessful at adequately engaging them emotionally or appealing to them on some level. I personally believe that this show's shortcomings stem from the fact that it wasn't framed as a modern show. Despite coming out in 2009, the look and feel of the show makes it seem like it was shot in the early '90s; From the camera work to the sets, soundtrack and special effects, flashback hues and lack of closeup or reaction shots, even down to its cheesy intro and music. It all doesn't appear to be congruent with or complement the writing, making the acting seem transparent and the story seem at arms length to the audience. Often the character development in regard to the science fiction goes beyond what is plausible, but if you are willing to look past that the plot generated because of and despite this is engaging. At no point will you be asking yourself "Did I fall asleep?". Just for God's sake- don't watch the unaired pilot!! They chose to take a different plot direction, and some scenes are re-used in the later episodes for different story lines, making it confusing for those who do watch it. I also don't understand the criticism that the series is in some way misogynistic. The show is led by a strong and complex woman (in fact, the show has several strong female characters) striving to make the best of her situations, and ultimately trying to overcome and conquer the obstacles placed in front of her in ways that resonate to her very core. The premise of the Dollhouse may be morally aversive, but that's the point. It's not condoning or glorifying anything; and while the protagonist is female, the dolls are of both sexes. A sexual encounter may be part of someone's larger fantasy, but for most clients the experience is about recreating something meaningful, nostalgic or emotionally fulfilling. Despite what the show is lacking, it's still very, very worthy of being looked into. So go seek out Dollhouse, because it's time for your treatment now.PS- Don't listen to the person(s) below who apparently wanted to write a scathing review so badly after watching a total of three episodes, that he didn't bother paying attention to the exact parts of the show he was mocking. For those interested in clarity, ***Spoilers** for S1 Episode 2 follow: Client hires doll for outdoor adventure- rafting, rock climbing, hunting- and therein lies the greater risk to the doll's safety and the reason for the price increase. He also didn't complain about the price. The house had no knowledge of his other intentions. It is later explained that everything about this man was a fabrication, made up in order to pass the security evaluation and hire the doll. The question isn't "Why did he spend so much money just to kill someone for sport knowing he would only be exposed later?" but "Who was willing and capable of fabricating this man's personality and setting up these shenanigans (ie the fourth party who killed the remaining evidence), and what was so special about said doll that made her the target?" -although given the intricately fabricated personality, the first question would also be plausible if he was looking to create a worthy adversary for himself and had the money to spend. Together with a very relevant intro at the beginning of the episode, this is all further explained, in detail, near the end in case there were some who didn't understand it completely as it was happening. These events tie in to the bigger picture and overarching story which, surprisingly, keeps developing beyond the first three episodes of the series.There's nothing wrong with disliking a show, but if the only reason behind this and calling the creator an idiot in a heated rage of emphasis caps is that you can't adequately follow the plot, then you risk making yourself look like a fool on the internet.

Before reading the rest of this, please understand that I'm a huge Whedon fan. We have nearly everything he's done on disc and currently watch Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D with enthusiasm. With that out there, here's what I think of Dollhouse....Meh.The story line is actually interesting (a hi-tech sex slave ring, with a little bit of the ick factor), and Whedon writes a strong female lead, which I always appreciate. Here you have Echo who eventually works to bring the institution down and save herself and the other women enslaved. The writing wasn't bad, and it has Amy Acker whom I adore. For what it's worth, I think Amy should have been given the lead role also. Amy is versatile while Eliza is...Eliza. Amy's change from Whiskey to Dr. Saunders was credible. However, with Eliza, I half-expected her to say "5 by 5" no matter which character she portrayed. I'm sure Eliza is a lovely person, but this role was beyond her acting skills.So, again. Meh.

I have to be honest I was worried about this one. I knew the basic idea behind the show, and I didn't think it allowed for much development, so I assumed it would get boring after a bit. But typical Joss Whedon made it work!! I absolutely love it, the first few episode were a little confusing, but once you work out what Dollhouse actually is it is amazing!!!The acting is also superb! Eliza really show off her versatility, while Fran Kranz shows his lovable side (I think I did fall in love with him)! It is not often that a twist can actually surprise me, but Dollhouse is full of them. It is not only a great show to watch, but a great show to watch over and over, so you can pick up more of the clues!!!

I love Dollhouse. It's one of the smartest, deepest sci-fi shows I've ever watched. It explores themes of identity, memory, free will, gender, and the very essence of humanity, while keeping you entertained with lots of awesome spy-fi geekery.However, the show has some significant flaws: The first 5 episodes are mediocre at best, but since the show is heavily serialized, you can't really skip them. Eliza Dushku doesn't have quite the range or the presence to fully convince as the main character. The show never quite looks or feels as sharp as it should, especially compared to "Alias" or "Fringe". As it nears its endgame, Dollhouse reveals a major plot twist that barely makes sense on a plot level and certainly doesn't make any sense on an emotional level.Despite all those flaws, Dollhouse is still a great show if you bring just a little good-will and patience. Dushku's shortcomings as an actress are actually balanced out by a truly fantastic supporting cast (Dichen Lachman, Enver Gjokaj, Olivia Williams, Amy Acker, Summer Glau, Tahmoh Penikett, Alan Tudyk etc...)In a way, Dollhouse has similarities to spy-fi shows like "Alias" and "Nikita", bit it has much more on it's mind. It explores some seriously deep issues instead of being just mindless entertainment. I would compare the show most to "Fringe", "Orphan Black", and the old 60es cult series "The Prisoner". I recommend Dollhouse to anybody with a taste for cerebral sci-fi.