Dollhouse is coming

Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse” looks like it is finally making its way to the small screen. After months of rumors of various problems with Fox “not understanding” the show, and an apparent re-shoot of large pieces of the pilot. It looks like it might actually make it. But will it be the show Whedon wanted, or a dumbed down version that Fox thinks people with “get”

Promise

I am very interested to see where Whedon intends to take this concept. Its a very interesting idea, with huge potential for stories and characters. But in a bizarre way not for the main character (Eliza Dushku). If you follow the ideas along you will see she can not have a character… at least not for more than one episode. The premise that you can wipe someones mind clean and replace them in there entirely with another personality means they have no character. Eery episode they are someone new and unrelated to their previous self.

But I think this is where Whedon intends to have his fun. He seems to suggest that while you can wipe away a persons personality, memories, everything that makes them who they are. Can you truly erase the underlying individual. I want to avoid the word “soul”. Soul implies a spiritual side that can’t be touched, the true individual is there, out of the reach of maybe even themselves, but it remains non the less. I bet you any money you like over the course of the series her original personality will start to break through. Even defecting to the other side while she has control, with the replacement personality not knowing about it?

For me the interesting story is around these “actives”. The company that runs them, and the people trying to track them down. Getting close to one before they vanish. But if you did catch one what use would they be?

Seen this idea before

The idea of the person separate from the body is an idea I fell in love with after I watched “Ghost in the Shell”. I prefer their term “ghost” to soul. Beside the amazing visuals (stolen time and time again.. yes you “The Matrix”) the story is a work of genius. The premise that a piece of software can become self aware and decide it doesn’t want to work for the people who created it, and does what it has to do to get free of its controllers. In its case hacking into other people until it can find a body to escape through.

The premise that someone’s mind can be controlled like a computer, hacked into and reprogrammed, features heavily in the film and the series. To the point where an individual can transfer them self to another body or even into computers at will.

The Major herself no longer has a body of her own. The body she occupies is owned by Section 9 and has to be constantly tuned and modified. Her ghost remains, but her body is long dead.

In this regard the two ideas are very similar. In both the body and the mind are two entirely separate things that can be mixed and matches as you like. Where “Ghost in the Shell” plays with the idea other people are hacked into and controlled for others ends is very compelling. Why should a mind be any harder to control than a computer? Especially if it has been modified. Where as “Dollhouse” goes the other way, the “actives” have there minds wiped to do a specific job, then wiped again. Only their body is constant.

I have high hopes for the series. But I also hope that Fox does not play with Whedons ideas to much. We all need intelligent programs that will make you think a little. Instead of being spoon feed mediocre drivel.

“Keep that safe, it’s Listers mind”

But if you want the ultimate joy of of removing someone mind and replacing it with another. You have to watch Red Dwarf.