Vows

Dollhouse Episode Review

In which Ballard makes a deal with the devil and Echo doesn't think she can be her best.

What Happened

Ballard is playing "client" at the Dollhouse. Having gotten fired by the FBI, he's decided to be a vigilante and uses Echo to get close to an arms dealer named Martin. She gets close enough to Martin to marry him, but when a picture surfaces of her meeting Ballard, Martin accuses her of being a spy.

Echo spins a pretty convincing tale of photo-shopped images. Trouble is, she's still getting flashes of her other imprints and when she flubs her own name, Martin decides that he was right the first time.

Back at the Dollhouse, Claire has gone a bit odd since learning that she used to be a Doll called Whiskey. She targets Topher, determined to make him pay for programming her. When she accuses him of "making" her hate him as part of a devious sex game, Topher protests that he needed to be sure she wouldn't just be a yes-man agreeing all the time with him. She decided on her own that she hated him.

Claire finally admits the real problem is that she knows she's fake, that she's in someone else's body, but she is afraid to "die" when the body goes back to its owner. Claire finally leaves Boyd a note saying that she's running out... of excuses. Then, she drives away.

Ballard sees that Echo is in trouble with Martin and goes in to rescue her. Realizing that she's glitching again, Ballard tries to bring one of her more kick-ass personalities to the fore. Echo gets the better of Martin, blows up his car, hits him some more, and then turns to share a Meaningful Look with Ballard.

Returning Echo to the Dollhouse, Ballard tries to apologize to her for things she doesn't remember. She tells him that she does remember (sort of) and wants his help figuring out who she is and what is going on. Ballard agrees and allows Adelle to make him Echo's handler so that he can keep her safe.

What Did We Learn?

• It's the autumn rush. Temperatures plummet to the high 60s. That one leaf falls off that one tree on Wilshire Blvd.
• Topher doesn't deal well with rodents.
• There's no judging in the Dollhouse.
• Claire's entire existence was constructed by a sociopath in a sweater vest.
• That is the minority vote.
• Be a dream and bring mommy a Vicodin.
• Honeymoon's over.

What Did I Think?

Loved Claire and Topher's showdown. Season premieres on Joss Whedon shows can be a bit slow, but this one pretty much fired on all cylinders. The danger will be the same one Pretender faced: making the supposed bad guys more interesting the main character.