A week ago news broke that Dollhouse was cancelled. This was greeted with much wailing (and also some dancing on its grave) but creator Joss Whedon didn’t seem too stunned.
And rightly so. Dollhouse is incredibly strange television. It’s an ensemble series populated with characters who are defined either by their blankness or their overwhelming moral flaws – you don’t see that too much. It has a fitful mission-of-the-week structure that conceals its deeply troubling premise, except when it takes a 90-degree turn right into horrific territory. Sometimes it seems to really want you to feel dirty for watching it.
It’s easily the most unusual piece of television I’ve ever seen, and it’s incredible that it got made at all. I am still dumbfounded that a second season was approved, but I’m thankful, because Dollhouse as a whole is challenging and fascinating TV, even if (and sometimes because) it fails at some core broadcast-TV responsibilities.
So there’s no wailing from me. Fox did right by Dollhouse, renewing it against all odds. They showed unusual faith.
The series will play better on DVD than on TV. It’ll make it much easier getting through the opening five episodes, which were heavily messed with by the studio and feel like a completely different show to what came after. The subtle character beats will be a lot stronger in a watching binge than strung out over months. Even the weird and claustrophobic setting should feel a lot homelier when you adjust to it in one hit. So that’s good.
And also: Dollhouse revealed the genius that is Enver Gjokaj. Guy can do anything. Someone give him his own TV show already!