“Dollhouse” Melody
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Artist:
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Track:What You Don't Know
I was reminded of a few debates on MOG about TV themes - the good and the bad - as I watched an episode of Joss Whedon's latest series, "Dollhouse," on Friday night. (For the uninitiated, Whedon is the cult-adored creator/mastermind behind the genre shows "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel" and "Firefly.") "What You Don't Know" by ephemeral art-folk singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke is the theme to "Dollhouse," and it's a keeper, although it's truncated under the opening and closing credits. I decided to find a full-length version of the song, and below, you can access a promotional video of the entire number - which is even better than the excerpt played during the credits suggests.
"Dollhouse" is a mix of sci-fi, espionage and interpersonal drama. (In other words, just my cuppa tea!) It centers on a high-tech cross between a black ops facility and a brothel that recruits agents willing to be mind-wiped and reprogrammed with different identities and skills in order to serve the needs and desires of various wealthy clients. In particular, it follows the adventures of an attractive young woman (the well-toned, easy-on-the-eyes Eliza Dushku), codenamed "Echo," whose programming is starting to glitch.
As you might surmise, I'm a fan of Whedon, Dushku and "Dollhouse," and I surely relish Brooke's sweeping, atmospheric theme. Try it out - and scope out the series (Season One on DVD or VOD and the second and current season on FOX and hulu.com) if the premise intrigues you.
Comments (9)
Wait till dermahrk hears this - he's huge on Jonatha. We caught her together a year or so, when she was last in Phiadelphia. I gotta admit, the craftsmanship of this is working pretty well for me....
ivy: It's lovely - and a wee bit phantasmal.
Not only a fan of Jonatha, but of Joss Whedon as well, having devoured all of his series / movie(s?) within the last year or so on DVD.
I really like this song. I am not so sure about Dollhouse. I went through the first DVD of Season One and it seemed to fluctuate wildly in quality - some were very good, then there was that cringe-worthy one about her being a backup singer for some kind of Beyonce-clone.... I plan to resume with DVD #2 - after I get through Dexter and Dr. Who.
Some of them have been quite mediocre, but the last one of the first series was really good. It must be great fun for Eliza though, getting to act out loads of different personalities in the disguise of her character.
dermahrk: "Dollhouse" isn't up to the new iteration of "Dr. Who" or "Dexter" - or, for that matter, "Buffy," "Angel" and "Firefly." But what is? I've liked enough eps that I'm inclined to give the series more time.
Jonh: I believe that the one you're referring to is "Epitaph One," which didn't air in the U.S. It's just on the DVD set, and yes, it kicked ass! That said, the Season One finale on FOX, which wrapped the Alpha storyline for now, was pretty good, too.
Season 2 is just starting. Will have to compete for attention though - 'Flash Forward' and 'True Blood' are the required viewing at Castle Ingham right now.
I never watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel" and "Firefly so I am pretty sure I will not be catching this
Didn'd Johnatha work with another woman, way back when, as a group called "The Story?". (I'm being too lazy to google).
I haven't had a chance to catch Dollhouse yet. (I used to be a Buffy watcher, but not an insane Joss fan). Thanks for the Hulu mention. I don't have a TV anymore, so I gots ta catch all my TV online.
Jonh: Wouldn't argue with watching "True Blood," although I have yet to sample "FlashForward," regradless of the presence of your talented countrymen Joseph Fiennes and Jack Davenport. That said, "Dollhouse" is must-see viewing for me, even if it hasn't hit the heights of last season's final four eps.
Rawk: I can understand your reluctance to watch "Buffy" and "Angel" - too soapy, too seemingly teen-skewed. (Not that those things stopped me from diggin' the shows. But "Firefly" was unreservedly cool stuff, unless you have an aversion to wry sci-fi.
L.M.I.: Her Story-time partner would be Jennifer Kimball. And do that Hulu, gal!