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Season 1 – Dollhouse

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Dollhouse Feb 2009 Drama Action Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
A secret facility, the Dollhouse, erases the personalities of Echo and her fellow "actives" so they can assume any relevant personas they may be assigned in engagements that cater to the wealthy, powerful and well-connected. After each assignment, the actives are subjected to another personality wipe so they can enter the next scenario with no memory of an earlier one. At least, that's the plan -- but as the series unfolds, Echo's memory begins to return, and she slowly starts piecing together her true identity.
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Dollhouse — Season 1

Dollhouse — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Joss Whedon's provocative procedural poses troubling questions about autonomy and consciousness, but repeatedly hitting the reset button on Eliza Dushku's character makes Dollhouse feel dispiritingly empty.

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Critics Reviews

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Michelle Dean Bitch Media Dec 22, 2020
I only managed to stick it out through its initial rough patch on faith alone. Go to Full Review Juliana Tringali Bitch Media Dec 18, 2020
If anyone's up to taking this so-so show to the next level, it's Joss Whedon. Let's just hope Fox gives him time to do it. Go to Full Review Scott Tobias AV Club Sep 19, 2019
B-
The themes of memory and loss are unique to Dollhouse and should yield a lot of surprises and rewards down the road. Go to Full Review Kelly West CinemaBlend Sep 19, 2019
3.5/5
While I can't honestly rave about Eliza Dushku's acting abilities in this series, good writing and excellent character development compensate. Go to Full Review Billy Grifter Den of Geek Sep 19, 2019
The performances were generally acceptable, and I even warmed a little to the rather obvious and predictable charms of Eliza Dushku, but there was no spark evident in anything that went on. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sarah N @RT28388607 Oct 6, 2025 I watched this in 2009-10 and thought it was bloody amazing. Still holds up all these years later. It has mini flaws but it’s in the top her of this kind of tv. See more LL S @RT94144845 Mar 30, 2025 Fun high-concept series that takes the underlying premise in creative directions, even if somewhat limited by the network TV format. See more Jacob B @RT89309114 Apr 23, 2024 Possibly the most obscure Joss Whedon show due to the premise's disturbing nature, Dollhouse gets off to a very weak start* since it mostly deals with villains-of-the-week and you'd be forgiven for being unable to engage with the story due to how Eliza Dushku has to play a completely different person. However, everything changed when Patton Oswalt attack- I mean showed up. By this point, Whedon was given more breathing room to tell the story the way he wanted to and the show improves quite a bit (albeit not to the same extent as what would happen with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., though I don't really consider it a Joss Whedon show since his involvement amounted to coming up with the idea and directing the pilot and that's about it) with stronger acting, more compelling narratives, dealing with the more thought-provoking aspects head-on and some genuinely shocking moments. Can't say I anticipated the direction the DVD-exclusive season finale would end up going. If you can get past the unsettling premise, Dollhouse is pretty good cyberpunk television, even if the first 5 episodes are pretty average. *Makes one wonder how different things could've been if we got the original unaired pilot instead which was pretty good though I do feel some of the twists there worked better when they were individually spread out in the series proper See more Toms c @tomscove Jun 4, 2023 Great premise and acting. See more Nov 19, 2021 I hate Joss Whedon but I love this show See more steve d @RT35616104 Aug 11, 2020 Morally complex but absolutely brilliant, and like nothing else on tv, with a bunch of powerful performances. See more Read all reviews
Dollhouse — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Joss Whedon

Director

Eliza Dushku

Echo

Tahmoh Penikett

Paul Ballard

Olivia Williams

Adelle DeWitt

Fran Kranz

Topher Brink

Harry Lennix

Boyd Langton

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Feb 13, 2009 Ghost A businessman hires Echo to be a negotiator when his daughter is abducted; FBI Agent Paul Ballard's search for the Dollhouse puts his career at risk. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 20, 2009 The Target Echo becomes the female counterpart to an outdoorsman; Agent Ballard is encouraged when he receives a clue to Echo's true identity. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 27, 2009 Stage Fright Echo goes undercover as a backup singer to protect a pop star from an obsessed fan; Agent Ballard is led down the wrong path in his investigation; Lubov has a secret. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 6, 2009 Gray Hour Echo becomes a safecracker so she can perform a dangerous art heist; Ballard challenges Lubov; Adelle makes a shocking confession. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 13, 2009 True Believer Imprinted as a visually impaired woman, Echo must infiltrate a cult to rescue a woman being held against her will. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 20, 2009 Man on the Street Agent Ballard comes face to face -- and fist to fist -- with Echo for the first time, making a surprising turn in his investigation. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 27, 2009 Echoes A deadly outbreak on a college campus sends Echo back to school, where pieces of her past come into focus. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 3, 2009 Needs When Echo, Sierra and Victor wake up with most of their original personalities and memories, Echo organizes an escape from the Dollhouse. Details Episode 9 Aired Apr 10, 2009 A Spy in the House of Love Echo and Sierra are programmed as spy hunters when a traitor is discovered inside the Dollhouse; Ballard gets surprising news from Mellie. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 24, 2009 Haunted Echo is imprinted with a murdered woman's memories; Ballard checks out Mellie's past. Details Episode 11 Aired May 1, 2009 Briar Rose Ballard finds the designer of the Dollhouse (Alan Tudyk); Echo helps a girl deal with her painful past; Adelle searches for answers. Details Episode 12 Aired May 8, 2009 Omega Alpha's obsession with Echo puts Caroline in danger; Ballard makes a life-changing decision; a Doll is permanently deactivated. Details Episode 13 Airs undefined Epitaph One Echo plants clues in an attempt to save the world from the Dollhouse. Details

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Dollhouse — Season 1

Dollhouse Dollhouse Dollhouse Dollhouse View more photos

Season Info

Director
Joss Whedon
Executive Producer
Joss Whedon, Tim Minear, Elizabeth Craft, Tara Butters, Sarah Fain, Michele Fazekas, David Solomon
Network
Fox
Rating
TV-14 (S|V)
Genre
Drama, Action, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date
Feb 13, 2009
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