User Reviews

I can't figure out who is the piece of work. One sister (Heater Burns) is a lawyer and a career woman who doesn't have enough time to get an enduring relationship; anyway she flirted with her boss whose wife was succumbing of ovarian cancer; she wants so hard to be a mom at any cost. The other one (The "Showgirls" Elizabeth Berkley) is the black sheep, she neglected a sick newborn child, using him just to blackmail former lovers (30 grand each). I don't know how the parents, who seemed kind and quiet, could raise children like them.

It's an episode involving mainly family matters and the hate that sometimes comes to light; it happens when the envy takes over.

Before anybody judges, this review is coming from somebody who actually likes Logan and Barek's partnership (do much prefer Goren and Eames though) and who doesn't mind Barek generally. Logan was a lead character in the early seasons of the original 'Law and Order' and always enjpyed him in that show and don't have a problem with him either. They also did have good episodes, "Diamond Dogs" and the "In the Wee Small Hours" two parter in particular.

So no preconceived negative bias here. Really didn't care for "Dollhouse" on first viewing, too convoluted and dull despite the interesting supporting characters. As much as it pains me to say it, "Dollhouse" was not much better on re-watch. Actually really wanted to like it, as at its best 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' is a brilliant show and also because the story sounded promising on paper. Sadly, "Dollhouse" has never done much for me sorry to say.

"Dollhouse" does have good things. Chris Noth is suitably dry and gritty as Logan. Actually like Logan's chemistry with Barek, as said, it is very different from Goren and Eames with it being more serious and with more of a sense of working together equally and it works serviceably here (it's been better though). The support acting is very good and generally the supprting characters are actually more interesting than the lead ones. Heather Burns is the standout.

The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic.

However, the direction is somewhat pedestrian here and the script is more awkward, thin and too simple rather than intelligent, layered and tight. Actually don't mind Barek on the whole and have always admired how her mind works with those perceptions, but have found at times that Annabella Sciorra is too low key in the role and she is here.

Letting things down most is the story. Saying that it is very difficult to follow is an understatement in possibly one of the show's most convoluted plotlines ever, from too much of the content being far too vague and more complicated than it needed to be. A lot of it is very dull, with too many uneventful stretches, and other than the fresh take on the hidden recorder routine (seeing Logan at his craftiest) there is nothing original about it.

Concluding, really wanted to give "Dollhouse" a rating on par with the other commentators but the episode didn't work for me. 5/10