Dollhouse: Man on the Street. Do you think it delivered?
POSTED BY: Haken
UPDATED: Thursday, March 26, 2009 07:41
VIEWED: 17007
PAGE 4 of 8
Originally posted by pachelbel:
Quote:I think that's it and maybe a tip-off to the media from Ballard. He had a self satisfying smirk across his face when he was watching it.
The closest I can come to an explanation is the video of Caroline in the cult from the previous episode. But that's a week connection.
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2) When did Ballard and his neighbor get to be so chummy? He hadn't given her so much as a second look, and now they're hanging out sharing Chinese food?
Well on two seperate occasions now she has shown up with an ALMIGHTY plate of food. Trust me nothing makes a man take notice more than food (well maybe cleavage, but she has that too!) So yeah he most certianly would take notice. Anyway aside from that the 'impetus' that you speak of was in the dialogue exchange between he and the internet mogul guy. Also she's often at her door asking questions about his work when he returns home I don't think it a huge leap to consider them having dinner together.
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3) Echo got away a little too easy. I know Ballard was busy disabling the security guys, but here is this "ghost" he's been obsessively trying to find, and she's quite literally within arms reach. Yet, Boyd just strolls in and takes Echo out of the house. I believe at the time that Ballard was busy strangling one of the security guys on the kitchen island, so he easily could have stopped and cut off Boyd and Echo.
I don't know, he would have been awfully busy to attempt that given his predicament. I loved the way Boyd just strolled in and waltzed her away, something we've come to expect now. I thought that worked.
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I have to say, Ballard is one tough mother! He gets shot in the stomach (and we all know what a stomach wound can do), but manages to take out 6 guys. He gets tasered and still manages to beat the crap out of several security guys.
I'm running with the idea that Ballard is Alpha. It's the only way to explain his strength. Also was it episode 3? where he took out the guys in the basement - he held the exact same pose that Alpha held over Echo when we went to flashback. (I'm just saying... keep an eye out)
As has been said- THE BEST EPISODE so far. Written by Joss and Directed By David Staiton. I find Joss' writing works best if he doesn't direct. This one was the case.
Anyone else itching for a showdown between Ballard and Boyd?
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Originally posted by Ziggo:
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Ballard's answering machine now has the trigger phrases for mellie on it, not to mention dewhitt's voice. (sp?)
I should think that intentional no?
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Does anyone think there might be more to Topher than there seems to be? I'm still trying to figure out how even Alpha could have gotten the frequency for the wipe a couple episodes back... And the only thing I can come up with is help from someone in the know on the inside.
He comes across as completely arrogant and immoral. That seems like someone Joss might give an entirely unexpected twist later on. There's no evidence for it right now, of course, Topher would have to be an extremely good actor to pull this off if it were true.
I'm just not sure I believe all the glitching with the actives recently, both imprinted and in their blank slate, could be all coincidence. Nor do I fully understand why Alpha might have gone haywire. The only connection between Alpha and the glitching is Topher.
Was Echo telling Ballard about Alpha? Why would DeWitt want to tip Ballard off about Alpha's existence? Was she off program (or maybe, depending on this Topher theory, on program)?
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Originally posted by Bytemite:
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Does anyone think there might be more to Topher than there seems to be? I'm still trying to figure out how even Alpha could have gotten the frequency for the wipe a couple episodes back... And the only thing I can come up with is help from someone in the know on the inside.
I'm not getting that from Topher I must admit, but as to who else it could be... It's tricky. Hard to determine just who this person on the inside might be, it could all just be a smoke screen to keep Ballard away. However upon the revelation that there are many other Dollhouses it now opens up the possibility of one of those as being capable. They would have the technology to tap into frequencies etc. Maybe they have a better genius than Topher tucked away somewhere or better still they have his abilities implanted into an active with a little extra thrown in... The posssiblities are infinite. Guess that's why the show is coming alive now. It's great!
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I'm just not sure I believe all the glitching with the actives recently, both imprinted and in their blank slate, could be all coincidence. Nor do I fully understand why Alpha might have gone haywire. The only connection between Alpha and the glitching is Topher.
That's true Topher is the link I guess.... Hmmm Is he not too obvious though. Could he really pull it off, he is in such a precarious position were things to go wrong, and what would his motivation be...?
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Was Echo telling Ballard about Alpha? Why would DeWitt want to tip Ballard off about Alpha's existence? Was she off program (or maybe, depending on this Topher theory, on program)?
I'm inclined to think it's a diversionary tactic, to make sure Ballard doesn't persist with things too much. i.e. interupt engagements and therefore cost the Dollhouse money and cause unwanted exposure.
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I have two theories as to who the mole could be. First is Dr. Saunders, who has an understandable beef with the workings of the Dollhouse. The second, with less revealed motivation but greater means, is the cute lab assistant, Ivy. It could be neither of them, but they're the only ones I've been able to think of. Boyd might be in cahoots, but clearly wasn't the one tinkering with the program.
The most fantastical part of my brain suspects it might be DeWitt herself. I'm still puzzling over some of her motivations...
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Originally posted by Ziggo:
It was by far the best episode, but I better not have noticed a big potential plot hole.
Ballard's answering machine now has the trigger phrases for mellie on it, not to mention dewhitt's voice. (sp?)
Yes that will be... entertaining.
As for Alpha, I think its Starbuck. After all, she did die and reappeared then disappeared, like Jesus. Wash is just a red herring?
"Arrrg! He's gonna go drain the seamonster."
-Pirate Wash, Dodgeball
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I have two theories as to who the mole could be. First is Dr. Saunders, who has an understandable beef with the workings of the Dollhouse. The second, with less revealed motivation but greater means, is the cute lab assistant, Ivy.
My first pick is Ivy. She's easily overlooked but clearly involved in the tech. And how is Topher supposed to notice anything she does when she runs around in lace stockings?
My wife favors Dr. Saunders, who I must admit is a strong candidate.
"Some things stay with you, 'til the day you die."
On the Drift: Music Inspired by Firefly and Serenity, now on sale at
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bedlambards/from/celtic
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If Ballard doesn't start to question how Mellie took out a trained professional assassin who had been sent to kill her, I will really start to question his intelligence.
DeWitt is also a possible candidate, if only because some of her decisions seem so inscrutable and because, being that she's in charge of the dollhouse, she seems least likely to want to sabotage it, and would be the most surprising reveal. I guess it's all about what's the best story to tell, and that's the one no one ever sees coming.
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Originally posted by pachelbel:
1) Where did the impetus for this investigative report come from? Last we saw, no one believed anything Ballard had to say. Next thing we know, channel whoever is doing a "man on the street" investigation into the existence of a dollhouse? The closest I can come to an explanation is the video of Caroline in the cult from the previous episode. But that's a week connection.
When the technical knowhow for something like Dollhouse becomes available, it's not just born out of thin air. Which is to say, scientists all over the world must have been working on manipulating thought, the brain, memory imprints, and what not; and must have been very close, too. It's not like boy-wonder Topher just took mankind's technology a century forward by his own self alone. So, when something is that close to being invented (or has already been, but in secret), you can bet the world is already talking about it, with ethicists speculating about all its possible ramifications, etc. Just like on the show. So, a cunningly clever tip-off from one very persistent mofo called Ballard could certainly spike a news item.
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2) When did Ballard and his neighbor get to be so chummy? He hadn't given her so much as a second look, and now they're hanging out sharing Chinese food?
'Next episode' doesn't necessarily equate to 'next day.' She keeps catering to his ego; and as an Active, she may either be programmed with the knowledge how to get to him, or was simply chosen because they know she's his type, and they are likely to get it on. At any rate, I don't have an issue with leaving some developments to the imagination: like how they got better acquainted.
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3) Echo got away a little too easy. I know Ballard was busy disabling the security guys, but here is this "ghost" he's been obsessively trying to find, and she's quite literally within arms reach. Yet, Boyd just strolls in and takes Echo out of the house. I believe at the time that Ballard was busy strangling one of the security guys on the kitchen island, so he easily could have stopped and cut off Boyd and Echo.
In earnest, you have a point here. When they were emptying that vault, Echo got away a wee too easy as well. Perhaps 'plausible extraction of an Active' is something that still needs a little work. :)
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I have to say, Ballard is one tough mother! He gets shot in the stomach (and we all know what a stomach wound can do), but manages to take out 6 guys. He gets tasered and still manages to beat the crap out of several security guys.
Well, unless his stomach is mysteriously located to the right-side of his body, that weren't his stomach. :) And it's not like he didn't get medical treatment (like Mal).
All-in-all, lemme just take the opportunity again to express what a brilliant show this was! The dialogue was superb, really. Nearly every other line was quotable; remind you of something? :) It had so many subtleties, like Adelle telling the rapist, "You may even consider it something of a promotion; after all, this one will probably struggle." You think she's being sarcastic -- and that's the irony, as Mellie really does struggle! And then some! Speaking of struggle, I also thought the fights were among the best I've ever seen.
Best ep of 'em all. And it does indeed make you wonder what the point of the first 5 was.
--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam
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Originally posted by asarian:
it does indeed make you wonder what the point of the first 5 was.
Network pandering.
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