Gray Hour
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN UNSPOILED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS DURING EACH EPISODE, READ MY OVERALL REVIEW OF THE SHOW, WHICH WILL BE POSTED SOON
Before I get into the main storyline of the episode, can I just ask: who would pay the Dollhouse the ridiculous sum they charge for a midwife?
Up to this point in the season I would say this is my favorite episode because it moves past the basic “engagement of the week” set up, and we get to learn a lot more about how a doll’s mind works after Echo gets remotely wiped in the real world. When this first happens Echo acts like the confused child she usually is, but once she gets over that hump we get to see her thought process past the repetitive “I think I will go swim” and “I try to be my best.” She might not be a prodigy or anything, but it was still interesting to hear her relate to a Picasso painting. And though it is evident that she was learning about her environment while in the vault, it did not go to far. For one thing, it would have been too much if she had been able to open the vault door from within in that state of mind, even if she did have her “imprint” talking her through it. Speaking of this imprint, another first for the series is having two dolls imprinted as the same person. Sure, it would have been cooler if they met while both like this, but for now this will have to do.
And finally, though this was an intense episode, the writing, especially concerning the dialog, was brought back to the level at which it should be. In this episode Topher gets a lab assistant, and their interactions are pretty humorous. Plus, there were a lot of great one-liners. When Topher is comparing the actions of the dolls as animalistic in the sense that they are instinctual, Boyd says that they aren’t bison, to which Topher responds, “They’re a little bit bison.” And then later when Echo is in the vault she says: “I don’t like this room anymore. Where are the better rooms?” I know that this is a high concept drama, but the thing I always liked about Joss Whedon’s shows were how easily comedy is laced in even when the show leans towards the melodramatic, and this reminded me of that.
Final Grade: A
Quote of the Episode: Topher - "Being wiped is not unlike being born. It’s traumatic. I mean, in here, we minimize the trauma with throw pillows and perfectly crunchy lettuce. There’s no conflict. But out there it’s all…Fluorescent lights and forceps. Right now, Echo is experiencing extreme sensory overload. That could lead to a coma state. Or it could turn her into Carrie at the prom."
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