Tonight it’s possible to spend three hours geeking out on major sci-fi shows. First, there’s the return of Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles. Then comes Dollhouse, the new Joss Whedon creation. And finally, a new episode of Battlestar Galactica. (Featuring the return of Ellen Tigh! Can you tell from the exclamation point that I’m excited?)
About Terminator, I’m curious: how many of you care? Has this series lost most of the interest it once had for you?
As far as Dollhouse goes, it gets a B- from me in the new issue of — what else? — Entertainment Weekly. But the more I think about it, and the more negative reviews I read of the show, the more it brings out the protective side of me. I want Whedon to succeed as much as possible, because he’s been so endlessly inventive in the past, from Buffy to Dr. Horrible. But is that a reason to give a higher grade to a show I think has more weaknesses than his earlier work? No. I have to be honest in my opinion. That’s what’s only fair to you, in trying to help guide you to the best stuff.
But I really want you to check out Dollhouse. And I wonder about my main worry about the show — that, as I put it in my review, if star Eliza Dushku, as Echo, portrays a different character every week, “we have to start from scratch with each installment and buy into Echo’s new personality. The result: no consistent hero to root for with each edition.”
I’m having second thoughts about that complaint. Maybe it sells you, the audience, short. The concept kept me from getting fully invested in Dollhouse, but as I watched more episodes that Fox sent, the less it bothered me. So that’s a good sign. Bottom line: I’m letting you in on one of the not-so-secret secrets of being a critic: Sometimes we doubt our original judgments. Maybe Dollhouse deserves a solid “B.”
So will you be watching Dollhouse? And how about Terminator? And Battlestar?
Comments (1-30) of 121 Add your comment
Battlestar all the way! I can’t believe it’s ending =-(
Are you kidding me, its “Battlestar” all night — “Sarah Conner” has the awesome Stephanie Jacobsen (Lt. Kendra Shaw “Razor”), “Dollhouse” has Tahmoh, and then the return of Kate Vernon to “BSG”.
To answer your question: definitely.
Duh! Of course I’m watching, but only Dollhouse and Battlestar. The actresses in Sarah Connor are awesome, but the men are dreadfully dull.
My husband asked me last week if I wanted to go out for Valentine’s Day Friday night (he’s working on Staurday). He said that the look on my face was priceless. There is no way in hell I’m going anywhere tonight. So for Valentine’s Day my hubby is going to keep the kids entertained until their 9pm bedtime, make sure there are chilled beer in the fridge for Battlestar & chips for munching. I love this man for knowing it’s not flowers & chocolates for me. He knows he married a scifi geek & loves me for it. Happy viewing all & enjoy.
Yeah, I gave up on “Sarah Connor” long ago, so no prob there. I love BSG but don’t have cable, so I have to watch it online later. I’m a Whedon fan, so I’m gonna give “Dollhouse” a shot while recording my beloved “Friday Night Lights”. The Friday-night “wasteland” is a good night of TV for me.
Yes. Yes. And most emphatically, yes.
Even if Dollhouse isn’t a great as Whedon’s other shows, it will still be better than 90% of the shows on TV. I’ve started to really want to see how John Connor begins to turn into the savior of the human race. That whole mythology has gotten pretty intriguing. And BSG is…well, it’s BSG and the awesomeness just keeps comin’.
I’m just afraid that with the Friday night time slot Fox has doomed Dollhouse and Terminator to death.
I am not that interested in Dollhouse, but I think Terminator has really improved and gotten better. I hope it still retains some audience here on friday night. And BSG has had steller shows so far this season, especially the last two weeks.
Definitely watching Dollhouse. Love Eliza Dushku – she seems like a cool girl.
My tivo is set to record all of them. It may be a sci-fi “early Saturday morning” for me, but I’m definitely going to watch them all. I love Joss Whedon & just about anything he does so I’ll give Dollhouse a long grace period. I’m still enjoying T:SCC as well. They just need to lose some dead weight ie Riley. And BSG is THE best show on tv (or tied with Lost at least) so I can’t wait to see what they have in store for tonight.
It will be Moonlight for me at 9 pm on SciFi! I know this will not be a new episode, but I have to show SciFi love for picking up Moonlight. Now, if we could only convince them to make NEW episodes!!!!!!!! Afterward, I will remain glued to the TV to watch the return of Ellen Tigh, Roslin passing the torch to Lee, and whatever else BSG has got in store of us on this last, and quite amazing, season!
I am quite sorry Dollhouse has to be on at 9 pm on Friday. I was planning on watching it right up until it was put on opposite Moonlight. I love Joss Whedon and was really looking forward to this latest show. Wanted to see how it compares to Dr. Horrible, Firefly, Buffy, and Angel. Oh well. I will just have to watch it on Hulu tomorrow.
Heck, yes. I’m a whore for anything from Whedon. I’ll be watching, with pizza and popcorn, and snuggled up Valentine’s Day style with my dear husband, who is cool with all of this due to his long-standing crush on Eliza Dushku.
I’m very excited to see what will happen with Ellen Tigh’s return to Battlestar. I love Buffy, Angel, Firefly and Dr. Horrible, but I’ve never been a fan of Eliza Dushku. I am interested to see her play something other than Faith.
I’m recording them all! I love Sarah Connor! Battlestar season 4 wasn’t doing it for me like previous seasons but the last 2 episodes were just superb!
I’ll be watching all of them! “Sarah Connor” is real good (Summer Glau!) & BSG needs no explanation. And, hey, “Dollhouse” is Joss Whedon, for cripes sake (anyone who creates “Firefly” is alright in my book)!
Thanks to Ken’s fervor, I finally watched Buffy, Firefly (and other non-Whedon shows, such as Alias and Veronica Mars), and enjoyed them so much I bought both series (and others).
So having said that, I must admit hesitation in being sold on Dollhouse. Why? Eliza Dushku’s Faith was my least favorite part of Buffy (and Angel, but that series had other problems). I have watched Dushku in other shows, and she does not thrill. But because of my respect for Joss (and Ken’s continued support of the show), I will give it a chance.
As for the Terminator, I would be more excited if they could kill off John Connor (or change the actor and improve the character’s development), but that’s not going to happen. The two female leads are great, but John and his uncle? Not so much…
Yes, yes and yes! Terminator is good fun despite some flaws such as overuse of time travel and the connors being the least interesting in the main cast (I love Cameron and robo-Shirly Manson). Dollhouse Ill watch all the way through before because JW has a good record of eventually getting at a good show. BG I sadly have to watch late-night when I can download it since I dont have sci-fi.
I can’t believe that FOX is giving Terminator the death knell spot of Friday nights.
I will admitt the first season was just alright, but the show has gotten so much better in story telling, acting, and action. I hope it survives and “will be back” next season.
Hell yeah! I’m very psyched to see this sci-fi triple feature, even though it will only be for a month and a half. I’m definitely looking forward to the return of Terminator, Dollhouse has always looked intriguing to me, and Ellen is back! Can’t wait for tonight!
Do you really have to ask? Any one that will or watched one of these shows is surely invested to watch all three of them. And BSG fan will be watching Terminator and and Terminator fan will be watching Dollhouse for Joss Whedon alone. In a way they are all connected. Some sort of triple cross over episode would rock!
I am so happy “Terminator” moved to a new night. It conflicted with so many things on Mondays. I’ll be watching!
IIIIII care about Terminator. It’s a great series that’s really well written and relaly well produced. You can keep all that other crap.
Watching FNL, DVRing Dollhouse and watching Battlestar. Friday night has become a stay-in-and-watch-awesome-tv night.
I admit I’m not very excited for Dollhouse based on what I’ve read, but being a fan of Buffy, Angel etc. I am of course giving it a chance! Good to hear that Terminator has improved, I may have to start watching that again. And BSG you couldn’t pay me not to watch!
I’m a Whedonite so anything new from Joss is enough to make me squee! I’ll be watching. No questions asked
Welcome back Sci Fi Friday! I’ll watch Dollhouse and BSG in real-time. I’ll be watching Ghost Whisperer in real time too and catch TSCC later online.
Sorry, like the Who says, “Won’t get fooled again.” I’m not investing in any more serialized hour-longs, only to see them get Pushing Daisie’d. I’ll watch BSG because it’s nearly finished. But otherwise I’ll stick with Batman:Brave and the Bold, Wolverine and the X-Men and Clone Wars. Childish? Perhaps. But no more unresolved cliffhangers for me.
I’m psyched for Dollhouse and I like the idea of a new personality/character each week. reminds me in a way of teh old Fugitive TV show, where the fugitive guy was a new person each episode in a way.
Hubby & I both will be watching Terminator & Dollhouse (yay Joss & Eliza back on tv). Then he’ll watch BSG. I still love Terminator. Not every ep or storyline has been great, but overall, I enjoy the hell out of the series. And whoever said “Welcome back, sci-fi Friday”, I completely agree!
Have Faith in Joss. The episodes and the mythology will build and get better all the time. In Joss I trust