[Review] Dollhouse 1.12: Omega

[tmbreck]

Writer: Tim Minear
Director: Tim Minear
Actors:Eliza Dushku, Tahmoh Penikett, Olivia Williams, Fran Kranz, Harry J. Lennix, Enver Gjokaj, Dichen Lachman, Miracle Laurie, Amy Acker
Guest: Alan Tudyk, Natalie Avital, Joe Howard, Ryan Alosio, Mark Sheppard, Ashley Johnson, Angel Desai

Alpha's reign of terror continues as his obsession with Echo endangers Caroline's survival; Ballard must make a life-changing decision; and one Doll is permanently deactivated while another's shocking past is revealed.

My Thoughts:

As much as I love Echo, this episode made her out to be the Sue-iest Sue in a house of Mary Sues. More on that later.

I adored the reveal of Claire/Whiskey as the woman dancing in the smoke. Alpha was scary, Whiskey was sexy, and together they were sexybadwronghot. Yummy. Bobby and Crystal are my favorite imprints, EVER! However, if this were written as it should be, given the history that they said these two dolls have of going off script together, Alpha should have been obsessed with Whiskey. Instead we get a Mary-Sue self-insert fanfic trope, where MS comes in and suddenly the main male(s) of the story are all falling head over heels, and she's usually taking the place of another female. In this case, she's going to become the obsession of the main guy [where story-telling would lead you to believe Whiskey was before] who will slice her up because he thinks Whiskey is holding back his obsession, Echo. All this could have been avoided by just not having Whiskey be in that spot or have such major interactions with Alpha.

And how did Alpha get changed and downstairs so fast while Adele was talking to Caroline? That's just freaky. Of course, most of the stuff concerning the Echo/Alpha storyline is freaky. It's supposed to be.

What was done right, was Alpha's plan for Echo. It made sense given what he went through. I do have to give the writers props for having it be more than just 'kidnap the girl and take her back to the evil lair for sexytimes'. Somehow, though, I feel a bit let down by everything that happened after Alpha imprinted Echo with all her personalities. It seems to have gotten a bit preachy and heavy-handed. However, it does help explain some of what Echo is going through when she has her memory moments.

The gun shot? That should have slowed her down, at the very least. Well, I guess it did, just not until it could make her conveniently knock the wedge off the beam. Whatever. And hey, jackass got to save the girl.

I absolutely hate that Ballard is all obsessed with Echo. Not only because everyone and their doll seems to be obsessed with her, but because it makes him less and less of a decent person. He becomes skeevy in my mind. However, he is a bit redeemed in my mind by using his reputation as an obsessed crazy in order to get the FBI to clear out. That little smirk at the security camera made me squee.

I choose to believe that Topher has a serious man-crush on Boyd and feels that Ballard's presence in the Dollhouse would threaten the Topher/Boyd friendship. My proof?

"Why is there a tall, morally judgemental man in my imprint room besides him?"

Yes, I choose to see that as proof. Hey, you pick your own evidence, I'll pick mine! I also choose to see his reaction to Boyd agreeing with Ballard that they needed to get Alpha's history as one of jealousy.

I feel the need to talk more about Claire. I loved her interaction with Victor after Alpha sliced his face. You see a lot of self-hate coming through there. Also, when she gives him a sucker later, I wonder if that's supposed to be a sign that maybe she's come to terms with everything. I like the antagonism she has toward Topher. It makes sense.

I mourn the potential loss of Mellie. Even if she comes back, I fear I won't get my ship. Damn you, Joss!

When all is said and done, the episode is okay. It leaves me wondering about what brought Boyd to the Dollhouse, if Ballard will continue to try and bring it down from the inside, if we'll see Alpha again, if we'll see Madeline again, if Claire will get imprinted or anything again. It actually leaves me eager for next season, just not in the way you'd expect it too.