Dollhouse: Epitaph 2: The Return

January 22 at 9:00 on Fox

Picking up from the events depicted in “Epitaph 1,” the “lost” episode of DOLLHOUSE, and set in the year 2020, Echo and her surviving Dollhouse crew attempt to restore order to a devastating future world before mankind is eliminated in “Epitaph 2: The Return,” the series finale episode of DOLLHOUSE, airing Friday, Jan. 22 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (DOL-213) (TV-14 D, L, V)

Cast: Eliza Dushku as Echo; Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Ballard; Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt; Harry Lennix as Boyd Langton; Fran Kranz as Topher Brink; Enver Gjokaj as Victor; Dichen Lachman as Sierra

Guest Cast: Amy Acker as Dr. Claire Saunders; Summer Glau as Bennett Halverson; Miracle Laurie as Madeline Costley/November; Reed Diamond as Laurence Dominic; Alan Tudyk as Alpha; Adair Tishler as Caroline; Maurissa Tancharoen as Kilo; Felcia Day as Mag; Zack Ward as Zone; Nate Dushku as Clive; Noah Harpster as Matthew; Christian Monzon as Romeo; Brandon Dieter as T

©2010 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Michael Yarish/FOX

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Dollhouse: The Hollow Men

January 15, 2010 at 9:00 on Fox

Sacrifices are made when Echo leads her crew to Arizona to dismantle the Rossum Corporation’s mainframe in the all-new “The Hollow Men” episode of DOLLHOUSE airing Friday, Jan. 15 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (DOL-212) (TV-14 D, L, V)

Cast: Eliza Dushku as Echo; Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Ballard; Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt; Harry Lennix as Boyd Langton; Fran Kranz as Topher Brink; Enver Gjokaj as Victor; Dichen Lachman as Sierra

Guest Cast: Amy Acker as Dr. Claire Saunders; Summer Glau as Bennett Halverson; Miracle Laurie as Madeline Costley/November; Reed Diamond as Laurence Dominic

“The Hollow Men” airing Friday, Jan. 15 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Carin Baer/FOX

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Dollhouse: Getting Closer

Air Date: January 8, 2010 on Fox

Topher races to reconstruct Echo’s original personality and memories when Adelle realizes they are the key to adverting a devastating future. Meanwhile, Echo and Bennett’s shared past and the identity of the Rossum’s Corpration’s mysterious leader are revealed.

Cast: Eliza Dushku as Echo; Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Ballard; Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt; Harry Lennix as Boyd Langton; Fran Kranz as Topher Brink; Enver Gjokaj as Victor; Dichen Lachman as Sierra

Guest Cast: Amy Acker as Dr. Claire Saunders; Summer Glau as Bennett Halverson; Miracle Laurie as Madeline Costley/November; Reed Diamond as Laurence Dominic; Philip Casnoff as Clive Ambrose; Liza Lapira as Ivy; Rick Otto as Gabe; Jay Malone as Young Man

Photo: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Michael Desmond/FOX

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Here are a couple of promo photos to get you in the mood.

Bennett (guest star Summer Glau, L) is brought in to help Topher (Fran Kranz, R) restore Echo’s original personality and memories in the DOLLHOUSE episode “Getting Closer” airing Friday, Jan. 8 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Michael Desmond/FOX

Echo (Eliza Dushku) is captured when she leads her crew to Arizona to dismantle the Rossum Corporation’s mainframe in the DOLLHOUSE episode “The Hollow Men” airing Friday, Jan. 15 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Carin Baer/FOX

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Air Date: December 18 at 8:00 on FOX

VICTOR’S PAST IS REVEALED AND ECHO IS TRAPPED IN HER WORST NIGHTMARE

As his contract with the Dollhouse expires, Victor is released back into the world, where his military past threatens his future with Sierra. Meanwhile, Echo is deemed too dangerous and is sent into her worst nightmare in the all-new “Stop-Loss/The Attic” episode of DOLLHOUSE airing Friday, Dec. 18 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Cast: Eliza Dushku as Echo; Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Ballard; Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt; Harry Lennix as Boyd Langton; Fran Kranz as Topher Brink; Enver Gjokaj as Victor; Dichen Lachman as Sierra

Guest Cast: Liza Lapira as Ivy; Michael Kin as Hagan; Reed Diamond as Laurence Dominic; Vincent Ventresca as Nolan Kinnard; Adam Godley as Clyde Randolph; Tzi Ma as Matsu; Keir Thirus as Myers

©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Carin Baer/FOX

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It’s called “The Public Eye (Part 1 of 2) / The Left Hand (Part 2 of 2)” and you’ll see both parts tonight, December 4, starting at 8:00 on Fox.

Echo is sent to stop Senator Daniel Perrin (guest star Alexis Denisof) before he can expose the Dollhouse’s secrets, and Adelle and Topher travel to the Washington, D.C. Dollhouse to meet its genius programmer, Bennett Halverson (guest star Glau), a woman with a mysterious past connection to Echo.

In the second hour, Echo and Bennett have a shocking meeting as Adelle goes head-to-head with the ruthless head of the Washington, D.C. Dollhouse (guest star Ray Wise). Meanwhile, Topher sees double when he involves Victor in his espionage, and Perrin finds a surprising witness to testify against the Rossum Corporation.

Cast: Eliza Dushku as Echo; Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Ballard; Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt; Harry Lennix as Boyd Langton; Fran Kranz as Topher Brink; Enver Gjokaj as Victor; Dichen Lachman as Sierra

Guest Cast: Summer Glau as Bennett Halverson; Ray Wise as Stewart Lipman; Miracle Laurie as Madeline/November; Keith Carradine as Matthew Harding; Alexis Denisof as Senator Daniel Perrin; Stacey Scowley as Cindy Perrin; Nelson Franklin as Burt Styne; Maurissa Tancharoen as Kilo

If that’s not enough for you, just wait — one of my favorite Dollhouse guest stars is returning for next week’s episode and you won’t want to miss it.

Dollhouse may be down, but it’s not out yet.

Cr: Carin Baer/FOX – Cr: Greg Gayne/FOX

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But before they go, here’s a quick look at where I stand with the current crop of futuristic, non-realistic, ghostly, ghastly, makes-you-wonder, shows on TV.

Read Part One here.

Dollhouse

What can I say about this one? I’d like to rename it Whedon’s Folly as I feel that the Joss-meister got too wrapped up in his own fantasy and forgot he had an audience to feed.

Dollhouse started off with an interesting concept, a kick-ass set and some great guest stars but even with Joss behind the wheel, this monster kept veering off course. The show was built around two kinds of episodes, the mythology and the fantasy of the week. The mythology was too complex to follow and the fantasies were aimed at men -  that worked wonders for my husband but left me cold. I quickly tired of sexy costume of the week storylines — like a weekly Halloween party at a frat house we had Eliza as a sexy nurse, as a sexy babysitter, as a sexy spy, and let’s not even talk about the dominatrix outfit.

Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind the fantasy sex play if there was some real angst and story to go with it. I simply never saw any except in the finale of last season.

I came into this season hoping for more. I heard about all the great guest stars and I thought they’d pull it off. They didn’t. Two weeks in, I stopped watching. The show is heading for cancellation and I want to miss it, but I won’t. (Cr: Carin Baer/FOX)

Fringe

Fringe is an example of how you properly balance mythology with monster of the week. They’ve been doing a great job handing out morsels of backstory along with juicy monster bits in every episode. I’ve been very pleased to see Peter (Joshua Jackson) step up and take a more proactive role, Walter (John Noble) still cracks me up and manages to make me misty when he slips into remorse and sadness. I like Olivia (Anna Torv) but she’s not why I tune in week after week.

What I didn’t like this season was the shapeshifter assassin storyline that ended in the demise of Charlie. There were plot holes and it all came off a little too neat and then bam, it’s over. Are the shapeshifters all gone? Did I miss something? I do like bowling alley guy and the unique way he has of making Olivia see what’s around her. I still dig Astrid and I hope she gets her own episode soon. She’s a smart cookie and I’d like to see her save Walter or Peter’s life.

The whole AU storyline is interesting, but I tune in for the monster of the week stories and they’ve been terrific this year. Season Two and Fringe is still going strong. The only thing I have to complain about is the 9:00 Thursday time slot, it’s killing my DVR and the ratings. (CR: Justin Stephens/FOX)

FlashForward

The fact that I like the monster of the week episodes on Fringe, will probably clue you in to the fact that I’ve given up on FlashForward. I watched the pilot of this series and found it really compelling, but two episodes in I walked away. I’m not a fan of shows that are all mythology based as was the case with Lost. There were too many stories, too many characters I didn’t care for and what about the kangaroo? Did they explain the kangaroo?

FlashForward is one of those shows that I know is well written, creatively directed and properly acted but I still don’t enjoy it. I’m glad other people do, because it is good TV, just not for me.

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But before they go, here’s a quick look at where I stand with the current crop of futuristic, non-realistic, ghostly, ghastly, makes-you-wonder, shows on TV.

V: The Series

We’re only a few episodes in but I’m into V for the long haul (which means waiting until Spring of 2010 for the second half of the season.) I’m enjoying the pace of the reveals, I like the characters a lot and I see Visitors everywhere I look. I think this show is so fitting for the climate we live in today, even more so than when the original was made. The idea of sleeper agents among us, living next door, ready to turn on us at any moment. No one is safe and I really feel that from Elizabeth Mitchell’s character. I’m also very intrigued by the idea of a priest as one of the story’s main heroes. Religion keeps cropping up in all of my favorite shows and that, I believe, is also a sign of the times. (ABC/JEFF PETRY) JOEL GRETSCH, ELIZABETH MITCHELL)

V gets an A

The Vampire Diaries

Damon Salvatore is the coolest, hottest villain on TV right now. His patented mixture of snark and smarm keeps me coming back week after week. It’s kind of like a modern, teen version of Dark Shadows, with Elena as Victoria Winters. I’m glad that Elena learned the truth this early in the run. She’s a bright girl and to drag it out any further would have been unbelievable. Now, how they’re going to keep a vampire story going in one town for a whole season without it getting ridiculous — that’s the big question.

The downside of this series is the teen angst portion. I can barely sit through another one of Jeremy’s pout-fests or the all-girl gossip sessions. I do like the town vampire hunting council and the fact that they’ve taken Damon under their wing. Last week’s unexpected murder of the visiting vamp was a solid stamp that this show is prepared to go for the jugular anytime they want to. (Photo: Guy D’Alema/The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.)

The Vampire Diaries gets a B

Warehouse 13

Currently on hiatus, but renewed for a second season, this series was an early favorite. Yes, I know there are plot problems and it is formulaic, but the characters make up for the flaws. Pete and Myka have that perfect relationship where they compliment each other, filling in where the other lacks. Eddie McClintock gives Pete that goofy smile and that childlike sense of wonder — he’s a character I’d love to spend the day with. . . and can we spend it in the warehouse? Like a softer version of Friday the 13: The Series which cursed objects running amuck, there’s no end to the stories that could be written. Saul Rubinek steals the show each week as Artie and paired with Allison Scagliotti’s Claudia, he’s even better.

What would I like to see in the new season? A little more danger. We got some of that near the end of last season and it helps balance out the more humorous tone of the show. I also hope they stick with objects from actual historical characters. Poe was a great one. Now let’s see H.P. Lovecraft left behind.(Photo: Syfy)

Warehouse 13 gets a B

Come back later this week as I deliver grades to Supernatural, Fringe, Stargate Universe and more.

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Fringe

Vampire Diaries and Supernatural are both airing repeats. Night of the Comet and Sympathy for the Devil.

The big scheduling news comes from Michael Ausiello once again, who is reporting that Dollhouse will be pulled during November sweeps. The series is expected to return in December but let’s face it folks, this isn’t a good sign.

©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Frank Ockenfels/FOX

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Friday, Oct. 2 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX

When Echo is imprinted as a mother with a newborn baby, she takes too strongly to motherhood as a result of Topher’s modifications. Meanwhile, Adelle pays November a visit, and Perrin ramps up his investigation into the Rossum Corporation in the “Instinct” episode of DOLLHOUSE.

Cr: Isabella Vosmikova/FOX

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