Dollhouse (TV Series) Vows (2009) User Reviews

One of the most well written episodes

[The_Melancholic_Alcoholic · 8/10 · 27 September 2009]

After the excellent futuristic episode of Epitaph One, it's a bit of a let down, coming back to the day to day woes of Echo and company, in the mere old present.

This was predominantly a Whisky/Claire Saunders episode, and I'm just more than a little miffed that Amy Acker STILL isn't a regular cast member. It must be hard for Dushku to have Acker acting next to her, knowing that she can be upstaged by this excellent actress at any time if she doesn't give her very best, which, luckily for Dushku, she does. The scenes that Acker has with Lennix, with Kranz and with Dushku herself (classic female glancing! ;)), are rife with drama, about wasted lives and missed opportunities. This is, dramatically speaking, one hell of an episode! Especially if one considers the dialogue, this next exchange builds on the one Claire has with Boyd Lenton before:

Topher: "Why didn't you find out who you really used to be? You had your chance. Maybe DeWitt would even re-imprint your old identity. You've earned it.

Claire: "Because I don't want to die. I'm not even real. I'm in someone else's body, and I'm afraid to give it up. I'm not better than you. I'm just a series of excuses."

Topher: "You're human!"

Claire: "Don't flatter yourself."

The episode has it's usual suspension-of-believe moments (or rather plot holes?), like why didn't Echo's handler see the spike for what it was? And Ballard, 'jumpstarting' Echo by hitting and getting hit by her, seems really a far-fetched prospect, risky and thus lame. Especially for someone who has 39 personalities stuffed inside her head. Even so, this episode lacked in showing clearly and explicitly how Echo operated as highly efficient killing machine: The action scenes looked heavily edited to hide the lack of credible fight moves by either Dushku or her stand-in.

I can really recommend this episode to fans of great dialogue. There's some action too, but John Woo ... it's not. Which is what this show would need to be considered great. With Buffy, Whedon could vary between drama, comedy and action, (BtVS was thé quintessential action-dramady...) and with Dollhouse he doesn't have the luxury of the comedy angle anymore, let alone the musical one, so he really needs to develop the action side of Dollhouse. He can't re-make Gunslinger Girls, but he can come close.

PS The previous reviewer so clearly shows her ignorance, when wondering about Victor and Sierra, and about DeWitt and Victor's face? OMG! If you can't be bothered to watch every episode, then DON'T review this! And excellent writing won't decide Dollhouse's fate, merely viewer numbers.

The Melancholic Alcoholic.

Echo gets married and Dr Saunders is conflicted about who she really is

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 13 January 2019]

This episode returns us to the present, rather than the future depicted in the final episode of the first season. DeWitt is trying to recruit Ballard; to this end she has let him use Echo in an attempt to bring down an illegal arms dealer. This is a long term operation that involves Echo marrying the man. Things could get dangerous when she starts having flashbacks of previous engagements. Meanwhile back in the Dollhouse Dr Saunders is conflicted now she knows that she was previously a doll and her personality is just something given to her by Topher. As a hint at a season long plot arc it is reported that a senator is investigating the Rossum Corporation.

This was a good start to the second season. It provided a good standalone story; introduced a potential series long arc and gave us good character development. The main story provides elements of danger and some decent action; it also serves to explain Ballard's actions given that he spent the first season trying to bring down the Dollhouse. While these scenes are fun I preferred Dr Saunders' story the most as it gave an insight into her character; there was a touch of poignancy as she simultaneously dislikes Topher for what he did to her and wishes to continue being the person she is now rather than getting her 'real' personality back. Amy Acker was on top form here. The introduction of the plotline involving the senator investigating Rossum might not add much to this episode but it nicely hints at things to come.

Dollhouse 'Vows' Review

[maine_310 · 7/10 · 27 September 2009]

'Do You Promise To Love Honor and Cherish Each Other For as Long as You Both Shall live' Well do you? A lot of people seem to get asked that question on a regular basis these days. The answer is sometimes hesitant especially the 'For as long as you both shall live' bit.

It wasn't long before Echo's engagement involved getting married - or so far we've seen. I wonder how many times has Echo been married? I actually believed this guy was crazy enough to fulfill his life long fantasy of being married to the love of his life and that he was actually part of the Dollhouse, but it turned out to be all Paul Ballard's plan to bring down a mercenary by making Echo believe she was a cop partnered with Ballard for three years.

Did he really need that stick it note to remember how many years they were partners? And did he really need to listen into the 'Post-Wedding' activities? I find it strange that Ballard is working for the Dollhouse, is it all for Echo and his crazed obsession over her? We finally got to see where Topher sleeps, not that it mattered before, but it is interesting that he lives in the Dollhouse. I believed it was reckless of him to leave Dr. Saunders tweaked like that. Maybe she should have gotten a treatment to bring her back sane, she is still a doll and has a number of years to complete before her contract was up. I didn't really notice a connection between Topher and Saunders before, I didn't even pick up on any angst between them. So why the sudden urge to tease and seduce him? Was that also part of her messed up imprint? I could tell you though waking up to an nearly naked woman in your bed was probably Topher's dream come true, but the reality was too much for him to handle even if his minority vote wanted it to be real. :) Who saw that Ballard would become Echo's handler, it was obvious he was on the sidelines in the Dollhouse and he wasn't leaving without satisfying his sudden obsession and maybe he freed Madeline because it was easier to let her go.

Eliza Duschu played her new engagement with such ease that I actually believed she was another person especially when she turned to cop mode.

It took a man to slam Echo's head to a table for her to get back to picking up flashes of her old engagements. What kind of husband would slam his wife's head in a table, even if she betrayed him. She was convincing until she called him by the wrong name.

I think back to reading about Dollhouse's renewal in the news and imagine my shock. There were many shows axed this year, some were even good ones that would be missed, but Dollhouse stood strong. I understand now that it is an interesting series that shows great potential. It is unique and no one has really ever done a project like this one before, but if Dollhouse wants to keep a better poll it would have to pull off a series of back to back exceptionally flawless episodes.

As much as I may have appreciated this episode, I still believe for a season premiere it could have been better. I expect nothing but the best from this series and I wonder what would happen to Dr. Saunders and whether she has gone rogue. Would we ever see Madeline again? Are Victor and Sierra an item? Boyd was right, why would DeWitt go through so much trouble to fix Victor's face and spare Saunders nothing at all? At least we might know why?

Lexa Reviews

http://lexabuti.blogspot.com/

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Three and a half out of Five Stars

Grade C+

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She's getting married in the morning....

[Joxerlives · 7/10 · 12 January 2012]

VOWS

The good; How gorgeous is bride Eliza? May not have affected ED but made me go awwww! The Toper/Saunders relationship is fabulous. Love that way that when Khar catches Echo snooping in his desk she almost get's away with her explanation, she's very plausible.

The bad; Jamie Bamber's hair makes him looks like one of the Four Seasons, I keep expecting him to break into 'Oh what a night'. Why does Khar just fire 2 shots at Echo when he has a pistol with 15? When the limo blows up you can clearly see it's nowhere near the airport.

Packing heat; Echo uses a pistol taken from Khar's goons Echo;8 Boyd; 8 Dominic; 9 Sierra; 4 Victor; 3 Ballard; 10 November; 1

Echo kissage;3 at her wedding

Kinky dinky; One of Echo's previous clients was a TV newsreader with a splosh fetish (a desire for sex with people covered in food). We now have Dominatrix Echo in the opening titles each week, much like Buffy and Faith dancing just too damn sexy not to show again and again. Sierra's 50s Princess character likes to be tied up and spanked (so much for Adele's assertion that the actives aren't hired out as sexual submissives). Topher refers to 'deviant excitement'. I never thought Eliza could be more sexy than as the dominatrix but seeing her in her wedding night lingerie she's just stunning and you couldn't pick which you prefer, sugar or spice? (a remark you understand much better if you've seen Batman Forever). Dr Saunders puts on the lacy teddy and puts the moves on Topher. He seems to have erotic dreams about Fozzie bear which is a whole other level of kinky. Topher observes that he could easily have made a willing sex slave but Saunders counters that the real ultimate fantasy is to make someone who initially hated you love you.

Capt subtext; Note Adele stroking Victor's scarred face, remembering their Miss Lonelyheart time together. Dr Saunders keeps her scars because although she knows she's a doll her physical imperfections make her unique amongst them. Echo's handler telling Paul 'You're the client' really hit's home. Echo flashbacks to her and Whiskey done up like Ava Gardener and about to get all kissy at a masked ball. To my shame the first time around I missed the idea that what triggers this memory for Echo is Dr Saunders giving her a gynaecological exam implying they did a lot more than just kiss. Dr Saunder's assertion that the ultimate sex fantasy is to make the person who despises you love and desire you is possibly an allusion to Caroline/Echo, Rossum's greatest enemy surrendering to them and allowing them to turn her into their willing plaything, their's to use, exploit, pimp out and humiliate as they wish for fun and profit. Question is did Topher make Saunder's hate him as an aspect of his own self-loathing? Echo's remark of 'We are lost but we are not gone' may be an allusion to the whole Dollhouse situation.

Notches on the Dollhouse bedpost; Echo and Khar Echo; 4 definite, 1 possible November; 1 Ballard; 1 Victor; 1 Adele; 1 Sierra 1 possible Topher; 1 possible

How'd they get away with that? Echo's husband hitting his wife is a true 'Jeez!' moment. He may be an evil arms dealer but even he seems ashamed when she accuses him of domestic abuse. Sierra's anti-Asian racism towards Ivy is also a little much even if played for laughs.

This weeks fantasy; We see Echo as a bride/undercover agent and Sierra in her Jackie O/Audrey Hepburn personality. Echo also slips back into Margeret from 'Haunted' and Alpha's 'Badland's' style girlfriend Briar Rose from the end of the last season.

Total number personalities; one more for Echo,

Bondage; we don't see any but Sierra obviously has a thing for it Sierra tied up; 1 Ballard; 1

Kills; assuming they die when she shoots them Echo kills two of the arms dealer's henchmen. Sierra; 2 kills Echo; 3 November;1

Dolls injured; Echo with a big old gash on her head and concussion

Happy hookers; Echo is an undercover agent who wins her mark's confidence by actually having sex with him, the stuff of bad erotic thrillers (Undercover Heat anyone?)something that gives Ballard great moral angst.

Fanpics; the bride Eliza image often used in manipulated pictures by 'Fuffers' to show Faith marrying Buffy (SMG in her wedding dress from The Prom)

Guantanamo; Paul no longer cares about due process

Questions and observations; Echo has a new handler but this is the only time we see him. As Joss says the lighting on the Dollhouse is very different. Topher sleeps at work which seems to be a common thing in the Dollhouse. I think I'm beginning to fall a little in love with Ivy, she's a character who keeps growing on me more and more. In reference to the Jonas Brothers do they mean they're Dollhouse clients or that customers hire the actives out to play their roles? Still weird to hear Jamie Bamber talk with his real accent. Adele knows about Echo's unique nature but wants to watch her develop. Echo's remark of the 'Honeymoon is over' may be her telling Paul that from now on things are only going to get harder for them. Shame we don't get more of Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof etc this season but not enough in the budget (perhaps why they dropped CC/Conor from the last season of Angel so that they could have fan-favourite Spike?). It seems Joss' favourite series is BSG. I love Adele's new hair. Everyone boozing pretty hard, even Dr Saunders (whiskey?).

Marks out of 10; 7/10 good ep, Joss didn't expect to get a second season so this is a partial reboot for the show

"Wait....who did they make me this time?"

[gridoon2024 · 7/10 · 21 October 2010]

An OK second season premiere, but (despite being written and directed by the show's creator, Joss Whedon) nothing very special, apart from one long scene where Topher and Dr. Saunders, after a humorous introduction, discuss the theological implications of the show's premise ("I made you question, I made you fight for your beliefs, but I didn't make you hate me. You chose to"). The main story (Echo on a long-term undercover mission as a rich arms dealer's new wife) seems almost like an afterthought, though at least we get to see a big car explosion, and Echo's various memories from previous engagements getting more and more jumbled (clearly Topher's memory-wiping process is not working so well on her). Meanwhile, Paul Ballard becomes her new Handler - as Topher puts it best, the Dollhouse's new frienemy! I also loved the little moment of Adelle touching Victor's face. *** out of 4.

Old episodic format, dusty story and unexploited secondary characters but emotional Dr. Saunders's arc and Amy Acker's charming talent

[igoatabase · 5/10 · 9 January 2010]

Even if season 1 finale, Omega, convinced me that Dollhouse had potential I hesitated a long time to give its second season a chance. In fact the summary I read of this episode sounded boring and episodic when Joss Whedon said the new format would be arc-y. Now that I have seen Vows I'm sure of one thing, that the show deserved to be canceled. First the format was as episodic as in season 1. Echo had a new engagement and that arc was boring and unoriginal. We had already seen her as a beautiful bride and the story was as old as the one from episodes like True Believer and Haunted. I'm surprised they picked such a predictable and linear plot for a season pilot. However even if I was generally disappointed by it I have to admit that Vows had its own share of pros. Of course Topher was annoying but I found his scene with Dr. Saunders quite interesting thanks to Amy Acker's convincing performance. So for once the writers focused more on some secondary characters and it was a pleasant surprise. However it only lasted a few minutes and the story went back to the engagement. The other element I relatively enjoyed was the relationship between Paul and Echo. It's far from perfect but it could lead to some interesting scenarios. But in the end what ruined the episode, and probably the whole season 2, are the cons imported directly from the first. Victor and Sierra were only featured for a few seconds when their performers are good and the characters intriguing. How could we forget them after Spy in the House of Love ? The ending was predictable even if I found Dr. Saunders's decision quite inspiring. Dollhouse could be so much more if it didn't focus so much on Echo, the episodic engagements and Eliza Dushku's sex appeal. It's like if Joss Whedon decided to cook his old Buffy recipes instead of following the new books to direct his show.