Was it right to axe 'Dollhouse'?

bing - kent -uk on December 24th, 2009
you cant sell a book with the last few pages missing.

Karmer, London, UK on December 19th, 2009
No - it wasn't right to Axe Dollhouse. Fantastic show - rating system should be changed.

Emerald Elsewhere on November 28th, 2009
Personally I think Joss made a Dollhouse a show primarily based of what Grace & Tricia did as minor roles on BSG (Hot Avatars or multiple persona's in the same package) in a current day setting. The most memorable episodes for me where the ones with Dichen featured: Haunted, Epitaph & Belonging. I hope the rumors about her getting on the Star Wars TV series are true and Tahmoh is successful in the Riverworld remake. Thank you to all of the cast crew.

Ann, Cincinnati on November 18th, 2009
It was pretty good, but it was definitely no Buffy or Angel. I love Josh's work, have all the Buffy Angel Comics, but it didnot grab my interest like his previous projects had. I hope the next will be better.

Derek117, San Luis Obispo on November 15th, 2009
Joss never got it right with this series. It only came to life with the last few shows of the First Season. But all along, it was obvious nobody knew where the show was going. And you had to be a blind, Joss Whedon groupie to believe there was any quality in the scripts. Tossing in the aborted "Epitah One" episode on the First Season DVD, and at Comic-Con, was also ill-conceived. That storyline is a cheap rip-off of the "Terminator" movies/TV series (tha Joss is now trying to become involved with), and was even more confusing that most episodes in the First Season. The last mistake, and reason the show should definitely have been canceled, is they failed to capitalize on landing Summer Glau for a few episodes. Not only does her character (from the stills available) seem bland at best, but they didn't sequence her story arc until mid-way through the Second Season, when they needed her in the first episodes to start off the season with a Bang! Now, the series has been canceled and the Summer Glau arc hasn't even aired yet! My only sympathy is for the very talented cast: especially Eliza, Amy, and Dichen Lachman, all of whom should rebound with better shows in the future.

David, Albquerque NM on November 14th, 2009
I am a big Whedon fan. Well, to be specific, I -love- Firefly and Serenity. Big time! But I loathed Dollhouse. I tried, I really tried. I watched half of the pilot and got so incredibly bored that I turned the channel. Mid-way through the first season I tried watching Dollhouse again. Again, it was so bad and uninspired that I turned off the TV. Too bad as I like Whedon's writing in comics also. Thankfully, Fox put this uninspired show out of its mercy.

JKL, UK on November 14th, 2009
Eliza was great in a show that had been poorly concieved and was based on a truly disgusting premise. 1. First you have a pretty disgusting concept, coerced men and women being brainwashed and then repeatedly raped for the entertainment of rich men and women. I mean how many times is Echo screwed by people in Season 1? People who have control not over her body and but her sexual preferences. If that's not a show to turn people off, then I don't know what is. Yeah, she looked sexy in the dom outfit, but what if Caroline wasn't part of the scene? 2. Second you have an ill-thought concept. How do you make a profit from such a tiny niche market, when your overhead is so high? How do you avoid detection, when your ‘dolls’ are not just meeting rich guys in sequestered getaways, but are appearing with them at gala events–or in some cases, joining the entourages of major celebrities? How can a FBI agent, even one as dumb as Ballard, not find the place when all these rich people manage it? How do college professors afford an Active? Why would you spend so much money on what accounts to a hooker? Why hire a girl to be your child's mother, why not get a nurse? How would the deceased woman's family and friends not notice this weirdo thinking she was this kid's mother? The show was not thought through at all. 3. Third you have Caroline. Now, I admit she's probably a hero to liberals such as Eliza (who I love) and Joss (who I certainly don't), but to me and Middle-America? As you know, my gran and auntie died of cancer this year. My dad died of it when I was 8, my cousin's got it now. If killing a few thousand bunnies could have stopped all that, big whoop. But Caroline on the other hand. If she's into animal activism, fair enough, she's allowed her opinion and I think it's barbaric to test make-up on them. Going around handing out leaftlets, waving placards, and campaigning with petitions, fine. But breaking into a lab? In other words, she thinks her political beliefs are more important than the law of a democratic nation? She's not only arrogant, but she's pretty much akin to an anti-abortionist who breaks into a clinic or a Klu Klux Klansman who terrorises a black family. Does she deserve the Dollhouse? No, but it's hard to feel sympathy. 4. I also read the show's built on her assignments 'glitching'. Surely it abuses sense of disbelief that she'd glitch so much and they wouldn't send her to the attic? The cast were fine (except that BSG cast-off), but the writing and planning awful. All blame should go onto Whedon's shoulders but I imagine the teflon man will shift blame onto someone else. When instead, he should be sent to the attic.

hjermsted, Seattle on November 14th, 2009
Joss needs to abandon broadcast tv and go to a netlet (AMC, for example) or a premium channel (HBO or Sho) with his next project.

Ed, New Jersey on November 13th, 2009
Joss is a smart guy who makes smart TV shows for smart viewers. That is a recipe for disaster nowadays. DOLLHOUSE episodes have layers of meaning and the oft-maligned Eliza Dushku gives a solid performance. But all these traditional shows are built to fail. You either have to be a neurotic vampire cop doctor or a "real person" waltzing while eating live worms. I think Joss needs to find a non-network world and rule it.

Jen, Liverpool on November 13th, 2009
So Eliza has a contract with fox & thats why Joss worked with them, Thats depressing! I mean as an actress wouldn't you want freedom to audition for roles you liked the sound of, like stuff on HBO or other less likely to wind up naked networks?? such a shame that she's limited to that one station, what a horrible situation to be in. I'm still looking forward to seeing Summer & the final episodes of Dollhouse :)

AE in Texas on November 13th, 2009
Overall, I liked the concept and the direction in which the show was heading. I think that there were several issueswhich kept it from gaining a wider audience. 1.) the Friday-night Death-slot. 2.) Lack of an appropriate lead-in after TSCC was cancelled. ('Til Death? Really?) 3.) Delays and premptions. I wonder if how different the ratings would have been if the show was on a better-performing night and paired with another genre show. Personally, I would have loved to see a Dollhouse-Fringe lineup and with Bones back next to House.

MrM, Harrow on November 13th, 2009
The show is based on a fascinating concept and at its best is both thought-provoking and moving. The main problem, in my opinion, has been the overexposure of Eliza Dushku. She simply does not have a broad enough range to carry a show of this complexity. The most effective shows have been those where her appearances are reduced to a minimum, The supporting cast, on the other hand, has been almost universally excellent. They completely outclass Dushku and expose the show's main weakness even more. Finally, although Dushku is supposed to bve the "hot" character, Amy Acker blows her away in terms of class and sexiness when she appeares as Whisky.

amaranthisasin on November 13th, 2009
The show started with the job of the week which was interesting but meaningless. Then at the end of the first season caught fire with actual story and plot movement. Then we came out with a bang in season two with more job of the week which wasnt working the first time....oh right. Im sorry but Whedon works when he moves his story. If he's not then nothings happening.

Chester - London on November 13th, 2009
Flashforwards is excellent I'm sad to see this go but it was likely as the network treated it like rubbish

dave, manchester on November 13th, 2009
got too confusing for me and i stopped watching last month so its no surprise in my opinion. at least theres always Chuck to look forward to when the new season returns!

Tom, Surrey on November 13th, 2009
I'm sad that another Joss show has been unceremoniously axed. However, it was no Firefly, and I can't say I'm that shocked by it's axing. The show's okay, but it is no great loss to the world.

Wil, Virginia on November 13th, 2009
TSCC wasn't canceled to make way for anything. It was canceled because it's ratings were terrible and it was too expensive to produce. You Terminator fans need to stop scapegoating Dollhouse just because it was renewed. Besides, you guys got a full 22 episode second season so quit your whining already.

Ian, Leeds on November 13th, 2009
Your poll is a bit biased. It's either, Fox was right to axe because I didn't like the show. Or Fox was wrong because the show is amazing. I feel the show is brilliant but Fox were right to axe it as the show was under performing.

Phil, Hampshire on November 13th, 2009
Dollhouse started really badly, mostly due to Fox's interference. Whedon clearly had something intelligent and fresh in mind, but Fox were mostly interested in the whole "WhoreHouse" aspect to the show, and the first few episodes were bathed in the tawdry veneer of everything Fox make. Once that was out of the way, it was a half-decent show, but it was still being hampered by the talentless Eliza Dushku. Whedon has to take full responsiblity for (mis)casting her because he can't say he didn't know what a one dimensional actress she is. Once the crew realized that the show was being dragged down by her awful performances, and started to turn the show into an ensemble piece, it picked up dramatically, and the second half of the first season was excellent. Tahmoh Penikett, in particular, was very good. I guess the damage had already been done, and you just knew that Fox were going to pull the plug, because that's what Fox always do with Whedon's work. I only hope that Joss has learned his lessons (1. Don't work with Fox. 2. Eliza Dushku can't act. 3. Don't work with Fox. ) and look forward to whatever he does next.

ash, Suffolk on November 13th, 2009
Noo! i love dollhouse and i HATE FOx! I agree with Jen - go to CW!

Tryst - Washington DC on November 13th, 2009
Why bother watching anything on Fox? They cancel everything except their reality trash.

chris on November 13th, 2009
Bring back Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles !!!

Ed, Brighton on November 13th, 2009
Dollhouse should go. The only really decent episode was the unaired 'Epitaph One'. It was too slow to get into the overall story arc. Plus "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" was much better and it got axed and "Dollhouse" was saved instead despite the latter always getting lower ratings!

Evo Shandor on November 13th, 2009
I think the problem is with Fox. They only want to keep the shows that make them the most money. They have canceled so many shows in the past few years that it is difficult to list them (although Family Guy did a good job once). No way this is the fault of the show. It is all on Fox.

Kate,L'pool on November 13th, 2009
So bummed, loved this show, beautiful, heartbreaking,creepy and thought-provoking. Felt like it was just getting in its stride. Sarah Connor wasn't canceled to make way for this show it was just Fox being as delightful as usual. Eliza did the deal with Fox studio's and then Joss came on board so it wasn't his decision although I agree he should work with another network. Maybe not the CW they'd prob want him to do Gossip Girl with vampires. As for inconsistency every show suffers from that prob the difference is Dollhouse's best eps are brilliant. Feels like there was so much more they could do, I really want to see what happens with Amy Ackers character hope its not going to be too rushed but that we get a proper finale.

pisher on November 13th, 2009
Those who say Dollhouse's ratings would have been fine on CW, or cable, fail to realize that it would have gotten smaller ratings on a smaller network. Fact is, its demo ratings on FOX were already lower than many shows on FX. It was a complete misfire--but say this much--FOX bought it--nobody else would have.

Emmy, Kent on November 13th, 2009
The last two episodes were outstanding...what a pitty the others didn't measure up to them! To be honest I think the problem was mainly Eliza herself. I loved her in Buffy but frankly the woman acts as though she reherses in the mirror. Which is fine for an OTT character such as Faith but not brilliant for Echo and the multipul personalities. Another problem I think was the dumbing down in the first season which I think was down to Fox rather than Whedon. It's as if they thought we'd switch off if we didn't get a certain quota of sex scenes. Obviously considering the nature of Dollhose sex is relevant to the plot but to have it slapped in our faces all the bloody time without any reason is just dull. This was realised in season 2 so they stopped insulting our intelligence and gave us some bloody good stories and made sex scenes relevent and in some cases quite harrowing. Dollhouse could have been great. Such a shame.

Ken, Orange on November 13th, 2009
No show has ever had 100% great episodes. Any great story needs character development and exposition, this takes time and by necessity means some episodes (chapters) have to move at a slower pace. Fox and obviously many viewers are too dull witted to understand the basics of really good story telling and only want the big flash bang without the subtleties and depth. Combine this with appalling scheduling running a show at a time when its best demographic are out for the night and so watch it later through PVRs and the like and its no wonder the short term revenues are not their. A great show that was unfortuanley on the wrong network.

Annie, London on November 13th, 2009
September 25, 2009: Dollhouse returns to its lowest ever ratings. If Summer Glau can't save the show, who can? JAMES MARSTERS!!! LOL

Davey, Aberystwyth on November 13th, 2009
In response to Jen from Liverpool. After the cancellation of Firefly Joss swore to never work with Fox again. However, he wanted Eliza Dushku to act in Dollhouse who apparently has an exclusive deal to work for Fox. It was enough to convince him to return.

chris ,scotland on November 13th, 2009
i wish this had been axed instead of terminator TSCC. not because i dont like it, i have watched some of it and found it has alot of depth, but i belive that has been its downfall. it was too complicated for its own good. much harder for some1 to start watching this show halfway through rather than terminator. sorry wheedon but fox just screwed u again for the 2nd time too.

Simon, London on November 13th, 2009
'The Simpsons' asides, the FOX Network is a staunchly low-brow, 'Lowest Common Denominator' network, which courts brain-dead yokels with a slew of dumbed-down rehashed Reality Shows and extremist Republican Propaganda. How anyone thought an intelligent show such a Dollhouse, which explores what it means to have a soul, what it means to be human - via a cast of prostitutes and human traffickers, seeped in existential angst - was never going to be a match made in heaven. That FOX continually sold it as a 'Boobs & Guns' style show, illustrates what a total mismatch it was. The show itself is sensational. Rich and layered. As the Network stopped interfering, it went from strength to strength. One can only pray that another Network now picks it up. (And airs it in something other than the Friday Death Slot.)

Shawn, Utica on November 13th, 2009
Star Trek. Angel. Firefly. Sarah Connor Chronicles. Now Dollhouse. This show was continually and consistently WAY above the norm of soul-sapping, conformist junk. It added new layers of imagination and complexity every episode. Like Frost said, "Nothing Gold Can Stay." Rock on, Whedon. Everyone else, heed Plato: We all live in the frakkin' dollhouse. Who Programs You?

Kevin, Lincoln on November 13th, 2009
Joss Whedon's recent series just aren't understood by the american audiences/TV networks. The networks keep interfering with his genius trying to stifle it, and when it doesn't get the ratings they cancel it. Take Firefly and now Dollhouse. Maybe he should come over and write stuff in UK, where his style is a lot more appreciated.

TheFifthSister on November 13th, 2009
For starters, all the new additions haven't had their episodes aired yet so it's a little unfair to axe a show without seeing if they effect numbers. They could have at least waited until more than four episodes had aired to see if ratings got any better. For all those saying "why didn't Joss go to another network?", Eliza was under contract with Fox and couldn't work for another network for a few more years. Joss wanted to cast her and so he had to work with Fox. Dollhouse won't end here. Joss will find some avenue to continue the story.

Ben London on November 13th, 2009
I loved this show! It was smart, complex and it challenged its audience. FOX tried their best to tamper with the controversial parts of the story but it was always thought provoking and edgy. The cast was superb, the set was magnificent and it had a really nice indie soundtrack. Man on the Street, Vows, Belonging, Epitaph One and Spy In The House of Love are some of my favourite episodes in the Whedonverse! Epitaph One and Belonging are right up there with the best things Joss has ever created. Joss had to go with FOX because Eliza has a contract with them but I hope he moves to cable or the internet now. I'm really sad to see this show go :(

Darksyde,Our House on November 13th, 2009
It started badly and went downhill from there.It should never have got past the 'pilot' stage.....it was crap !!!!

Dizzy, London on November 13th, 2009
I think Joss Whedon's best work was the latter half of the Buffy series (season four onwards) which was mostly down to his creative collaboration with Marti Noxon who is now responsible for the brilliant series Mad Men. Now that he works mainly by himself his shows suck. Specifically in relation to Dollhouse, Elisha Dushku is just simply not a broad enough actress to carry the show which I don't think Whedon can see and so he keeps putting the same tired actors in his shows. I've seen several interviews with him where he mentions that he has brought 'his old friend...' on-board which is a bad way to cast a show as he will never be objective enough to see that they are poor actors.

Jen, Liverpool on November 12th, 2009
First off, I don’t understand why Joss doesn’t make shows for the CW as his ratings would fit in fine with that station, Fox always seem to cancel his shows so why does he continue to work with them?? Second off I love The Buffy comic so why don’t we just have a doll house one as well?? In fact just give up on TV Joss and write your own comics, you will be more appreciated and don’t have to worry about budgets and ratings

Paul in Blackburn on November 12th, 2009
Summer Glau isnt in the show yet. Those episodes will air in december.. so she didn't even get chance to save the show. This show didn't deserve cancelling, just a few tweaks maybe which I believe were coming.