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

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 357 Ratings

  • Summary: Echo (Eliza Dushku) and her fellow "actives" are implanted with temporary personalities and hired out by rich clients.
  • Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Suspense, Science Fiction
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 28
  2. Negative: 6 out of 28
  1. 80
    Dushku plows into her role with gusto. I've seen three episodes of this strange, mesmerizing show, and it has grown on me.
  2. The shows are fun and exciting, Mr. Blow, perfect for a stay-at-home Friday night, having a few guys over for beers, or recording and watching when you wake up Saturday afternoon, after all that hard partying.
  3. No doubt Dollhouse will make a good computer game, although it looks like one already.
  4. 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.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 14 out of 153
  1. I 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. Expand
  2. Dollhouse is a truly original concept which introduced a lot of intriguing and complex ideas. The first season had it's hiccups to start, showing loads of potential but the usual meddling by FOX crippled many of the early episodes into being more of the "case of the week" variety instead of building up the overarching mythology. Once the excellent sixth episode "Man on the Street" hit, it was clear that Dollhouse was about a lot more than it seemed. By the end it had becoming compelling and addictive, featuring impressively strong performances by the supporting cast. Season 1 makes up a lot of points for the strong finish, including the surprisingly effective post-script episode "Epitaph One", which deals with events 10 years after the main storyline. Dollhouse still had yet to have its best moments, but Season 1 is still very entertaining and worth watching. Overall score: 8/10


    Individual Episode Ratings: E1 "Ghost" 8/10 E2 "The Target" 7/10 E3 "Stage Fright" 6.5/10 E4 "Gray Hour" 8/10 E5 "True Believer" 7/10 E6 "Man on the Street" 9/10 E7 "Echoes" 6/10 E8 "Needs" 8.5/10 E9 "Spy in the House of Love" 9/10 E10 "Haunted" 8.5/10 E11 "Briar Rose" 8.5/10 E12 "Omega" 8/10 E13 "Epitaph One" 9/10
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  3. An interesting if not original premise but none the less succeeds thanks to Joss Whedon's quirky characters and dialogue. Season 1 is slow to start granted, however it does pick up the pace and shows itself to have more substance than you might expect. Great to see some old familiar faces from the Joss Whedon universe and whilst Dollhouse may not be his greatest work, give it some time and it can be great. Expand
  4. JaeE.
    2
    Maybe I'd like this show if I'd never seen or read any science fiction before and I got off on the idea of a hot, programmable woman, but for me this was just a waste of good talent and an hour of my life. Watch it right after an hour of BSG (as I did) and you'll really see notice this one's shortcomings. Expand

See all 153 User Reviews