Dollhouse

:

Season 1
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 13, 2009
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 28
  3. Negative: 6 out of 28
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Critic Reviews

  1. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    30
    Dushku does wonderful things to a tank top, but her grasp of this vague, personality-changing character is a bit of a muddle. What's left, then, is a series with a hollow center that doesn't initially make you care about its mentally malleable protagonist.
  2. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Tom Shales
    30
    If Dollhouse, a pretentious and risible jumble premiering tonight on that most quixotic of national networks, were a piece of music, it would have to be some sort of funky-junky, hip-hop, rinky-tinky, ragtime madrigal.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    30
    Overcrowded with plotlines, high-tech gimmicks and ambition yet empty of emotional connection and purpose, Dollhouse tries so hard to be so many things it winds up being nothing much at all.
  5. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Len Sousa
    25
    Dollhouse is stuck between two worlds, unable to lead us from reality into fantasy.
  6. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    20
    In a perfect world, Dollhouse would be a good show. It's not.
  7. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    10
    To the extent this sounds interesting, it isn't: Half the dialogue seems to have been written for barking dogs, the other half for mewling kittens, and the cast performs accordingly.

Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Best TV Season of 2009
2
#2 Most Discussed TV Season of 2009
44
#44 Most Shared TV Season of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 419 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 346 out of 419
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 419
  3. Negative: 58 out of 419
  1. alisrachel
    Jul 11, 2012
    10
    I loved this show! I can see why some people may not enjoy the intense suspense, the thrilling and complicated plot-lines, the mesmerizingI loved this show! I can see why some people may not enjoy the intense suspense, the thrilling and complicated plot-lines, the mesmerizing performances and the constantly outstanding level of action, the drama, the development and overall excitement of the show...but then again, I can see why some people prefer to lead simple lives. If you liked Buffy the Vampire slayer, you'll love dollhouse.… Full Review »
  2. LJHayes
    Feb 25, 2014
    3
    I've been a fan of Joss Whedon since before my age even hit double digits but I missed out on seeing this show when it was released so I wasI've been a fan of Joss Whedon since before my age even hit double digits but I missed out on seeing this show when it was released so I was thrilled to find it on Netflix. Then came the crushing disappointment. This show is awful.
    One of the things I love about Whedon is that he brings together a collection of characters with distinct personalities and different personal strengths and weakness and we see them interact and bounce off each other as they develop. But due to the nature of this show, half the main cast (Echo, Sierra, Victor & November) don't have any personality of their own, they change to a different character from episode to episode. It is impressive on the part of the actors to show such a range of talent but it makes it difficult to relate to the character. We don't steadily build up a relationship with a character throughout the series, we have forty minutes to briefly get to know a character we're told we should care about.
    As for the other characters, the non-doll characters, they don't make much sense either. Paul Ballard and Boyd Langton are basically the same guy on different sides of the fence. Paul Ballard is a tough guy working for the police who doesn't like what the Dollhouse are doing and spends every episode (literally every episode) obsessing over how to find them but never makes any progress until the last three episodes. Boyd is a tough guy who used to work for the police who also makes it clear he doesn't like what the Dollhouse are doing, which begs the question of why the hell he's working for them but that never gets answered.
    Topher Brink can have his funny moments but his character remains undeveloped throughout. Adelle DeWitt is the only one who has any kind of depth to her which is somewhat explored in small segments between the large chunks of time spent focusing on the Drones...sorry, Dolls.
    The premise of the show is an interesting concept but there just enough here to keep it afloat. A huge let down.    … Full Review »
  3. Zonata
    Feb 25, 2013
    6
    This show had so much potential. However, for reasons I understand, the ethical concerns were not fully exploited. The result is an halfThis show had so much potential. However, for reasons I understand, the ethical concerns were not fully exploited. The result is an half action/psychological show were both side are just ok.… Full Review »
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