Friday's episode of "Dollhouse" featured two huge revelations. First of all, we finally meet Alpha, the first "doll." And secondly, Agent Ballard finally gets inside the Dollhouse.
Up until now we have only seen glimpses or have been told in flashbacks how Alpha escaped from the Dollhouse.
Joss Whedon cleverly intertwined this reveal with Ballard's ongoing investigation, by having Ballard enlist the help of the Dollhouse's creator, Steven Kepler.
Kepler, played spectacularly by Alan Tudyk, is a paranoid, agoraphobic, pot farmer who created the environmental systems for the Dollhouse.
He and Ballard engage in an operation to rescue Caroline/Echo from the house and in the process form the funniest buddy cop duo since Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in "48 Hours."
If FOX doesn't renew "Dollhouse" Whedon should pitch them "Ballard & Kepler" as his next big thing.
Anyway, while Ballard and Langton have a kick ass fight all over the house, Kepler reveals himself to actually be Alpha. He confronts Dr. Saunders and slices up Victor before he puts Echo in the chair and gives her the personality of his lover, whom he had vowed to rescue.
They then take the elevator and calmly stroll out the front door, Bonnie and Clyde style.
While all this has been going on Ballard has been taken upstairs where he is confronted by Ms. DeWitt. She has to decide what to do with him now that he has actually discovered their secret.
This episode just worked on so many levels because it wrapped up storylines and answered questions while simultaneously creating new ones.
That is what Whedon is so good at, he keeps fans constantly engaged in the stories and the characters. And unlike other shows he creates an atmosphere where viewers really never know what will happen next.
"Dollhouse" as a series is really hitting its stride and it will be a shame if FOX doesn't renew this smart and classy show or at least give fans some closure.
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