A futuristic laboratory has erased the identities of lost young people, and now imprints them with the temporary identities they need to fulfill assignments for clients.
Even as he feeds us gory fistfights and pretty girls in thigh-high stockings, Whedon is also tackling the deeper, thornier issues behind the titillating images.
It's clear from the premiere episode that the convoluted Dollhouse is not your typical drama series, and that it will take some getting used to. But based on Joss Whedon's track record, viewers who stick with it will probably be rewarded.
Whedon and his writers have opened up some intriguing possibilities, both in terms of characterization and the philosophical ramifications of the show's central premise.
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.
