SciFi TV Rewatch

The tale of Sleeping Beauty provides the basis for the season one penultimate episode as heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Echo's engagement centers on her attempt to help a young girl overcome emotional trauma, and Paul Ballard finally finds his holy grail. Alan Tudyk's Alpha immediately sends the narrative in a frightening direction. Episode Grade: A

In order to solve a close friend's murder, Adele DeWitt has Topher bring the woman back from the dead and place her consciousness in Echo's body. Boyd is bothered by the moral and ethical ramifications of providing life after death and sees this as "the beginning of the end." The physical and emotional toll that working at the Dollhouse takes on the staff are explored through Topher's "diagnostic" with Sierra. Episode Grade: A

Topher discovers that someone has been tampering with his imprints, and Mellie delivers Paul Ballard news that he's longed to hear. A while there is a spy within the Dollhouse's walls, it's the reveal of Laurence Dominic's true purpose that stands as a real game changer. How will Boyd handle his new responsibilities, and is Adele DeWitt really finished with her secret lover? Episode Grade: A-

Adele DeWitt takes a risk running an experiment to see what Echo and her followers might be capable of doing with a bit more awareness. Is she afraid Echo might turn out to be another Alpha, or does she suspect something even more insidious? We learn some key details of Mellie/November's life before the Dollhouse and begin to understand what life events led some of the actives to sign over five years of their lives. Episode Grade: A

Caroline Farrell's backstory and the events that led her to the Dollhouse comprise the bulk of this episode. This week's engagement provides a bit of a twist as the actives take control which even includes Mr. Dominic who experiences a brief lapse of judgement as the result of the experimental drug at the heart of the story. Will the Rossum Corporation continue to play a role as season one progresses? Episode Grade: Dave A+  Wayne A

In this episode penned by Joss Whedon, we move away from the standard engagement-of-the-week approach and examine some of the moral and ethical issues related to the Dollhouse. While it's been common knowledge that the dolls are routinely sent out on sexually explicit engagements, the physical and emotional abuse taking place within its own walls becomes painfully clear. Agent Ballard takes his relationship with Mellie to the next level, but we also learn a startling fact about his lasagna making neighbor. And it's always great to feature Patton Oswalt. Episode Grade: Dave A+  Wayne A

The season's fifth episode brings to light the far reaching impact the Dollhouse wields as a United States senator and the ATF enlist Adele DeWitt's help in bringing to justice the head of a religious cult. Sending in Echo as a blind woman drawn to the cult's leader, she provides the government eyes inside the compound and information that leads to a search warrant. Of course, things don't go smoothly, and we see that Topher's mind wipes may not be as complete as he contends. Episode Grade: Dave B+  Wayne B

Echo, aka Taffy, leads her crew on an Ocean's 11 style caper to steal a piece of the Parthenon for a wealthy collector (Tony Amendola), but as usual, the op goes sideways. Though Boyd successfully comes to the rescue, it's the speculation that Alpha is somehow involved and Adele DeWitt's (Olivia Williams) bosses are displeased that really drive this episode. Agent Ballard's dogged pursuit continues, but he's ramped up the pressure on Lubov (Victor). Episode Grade: A

Echo signs on as a backup singer on the Rayna Russell (Jaime Lee Kirchner) tour after a series of near fatal accidents occur during shows and rehearsal. As it turns out, the singer is working hand in hand with an obsessed fan bent on giving the star what she wants, freedom from the emotional pain that appears to be at the heart of her anguish. However, the increasing conflict between DeWitt and Dominic regarding Echo's value to the Dollhouse continues leaving little doubt that a showdown can't be too far behind. Episode Grade: Dave B  Wayne B-

SyFy presents its newest genre fare, and it is most certainly not for the faint of heart. Grace D'Argento (Christina Ochoa) and policeman Arthur Bailey (Alan Ritchson) team up in the Blood Drive, a cross country automobile race in cars fueled by human blood. Set in a near term dystopian future, viewers are treated to evil androids, sexual situations, a blood spattered femme fatale, and awesomely cool cars. Grindhouse television has arrived. Are audiences ready for it?