Dollhouse: True Believer Rewatch

October 6, 2020 11:58 AM - Season 1, Episode 5

Echo is programed to go under cover as a blind woman at religious cult in Arizona after a corrupt senator recruits Dollhouse to assist the ATF in the breakup of the cult. But with Boyd watching from a distance, he soon learns that the Jonas Sparrow cult may be more difficult to handle, and the ATF agent in charge has an ulterior motive as does Dominic when the situation takes a turn for the worse. Meanwhile, Agent Ballard continues his relentless quest to look for Echo while his neighbor, Mellie, continues to harbor a crush on him. Also, Topher and Dr. Saunders monitor Victor when he begins exhibiting primordial behavior whenever he's around Sierra.

AV Club: B+

posted by Kyol (2 comments total)

So, I don't think I put it together on the initial viewing, but are we supposed to think that Dominic is the one leaking the information about Caroline to Ballard through Mellie? It would make sense if he's trying to get her out of the Dollhouse before the same thing happened to Alpha happens to her.

We're on the cusp here - although the cult infiltration was kind of blah blah whatever, it's getting to that point where you can tell that the plots are going to invert - all the missions will start to be the B plot, while the dollhouse intrigue will become the A plot. Could we have gotten here quicker without network interference? Should we have? Hrm.
posted by Kyol at 12:05 PM on October 6, 2020

Dominic is definitely leaking, but I'm pretty sure not to Ballard. Dominic is getting paid by two employers and he's afraid that Ballard is going to spoil his "good thing" by busting the House.

Also, not entirely sure that Mellie is one of Ballard's sources.

I'm surprised the ATF is letting some complete unknowns help them, even if they've been vouched for by a senator. Jurisdiction and liability and all that.

The cult storyline and the portrayal didn't do anything for me.
posted by porpoise at 7:50 PM on October 7, 2020