Dollhouse: Season Two - Region 1 DVD

Echo's developing self began as the season's dominant story, but halfway through the season creator Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) learned the show had been cancelled--so he decided to cram the events he'd planned for multiple seasons into the remaining episodes. The result is more like a zippy science-fiction novel than typical serial television. Some plot developments feel rushed, but overall the headlong pace revs up the excitement as the Dollhouse fights against its parent corporation and instigates what may be the end of civilization. The regular characters all develop in juicy ways and some actors from other Whedon series (like Firefly's Summer Glau and Angel's Alexis Denisof) get plum guest roles. The series has its weaknesses--some ideas seem clumsily grafted on from other science-fiction franchises--but the second season vastly improved upon the first, and Whedon's vivid characters and superb storytelling make Dollhouse a pleasure to watch. The DVD extras are substantive, particularly some deleted scenes that give additional heft to the season's developments. --Bret Fetzer