AYJW010: Dollhouse, Part 1

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Welcome to our first TV-show-based episode of more “critical thinking for the entertained Christian.” We’re talking about Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse (on FOX and Hulu.com). Eve doesn’t watch Dollhouse anymore, but previous guest cohost, Chris Jones, jumped in for some great conversation. In effort to get this episode out quicker, the show notes are a bit more simplistic. What kind of show notes do you prefer?

Spoiler alert!

Our discussion may contain spoilers up to season two, episode 4, “Belonging.”

Plot summary

TV.com summarizes Dollhouse:

They can be anyone you want.

The Dollhouse is a very secret, and very illegal, place where wishes come true. Clients with the right connections and enough money can hire “Actives,” people who have been programmed to perfectly fulfill the needs, and desires of their clients. The Actives are people who have chosen, for their own reasons, to surrender their bodies and minds for a five-year stay in the Dollhouse. Now they can be imprinted with any personality, skill, or even muscle memory. They can be the perfect companion, lover, spy, assassin; and when the’. job is done they forget everything.

But something is wrong with the Active called “Echo.” No longer just a blank slate waiting for her next assignment, Echo is remembering flashes of the lives that she has lived and the games she has played, and she is starting to wonder just who she really is …

Dollhouse is a production of 20th Century Fox Television, Joss Whedon’s “Mutant Enemy,” and Eliza Dushku’s “Boston Diva Productions,”

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Glorified human trafficking and sex service?

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? (Romans 6:12–16)

Imprinting personalities

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8)

Nature of the soul

God created man in His own image. In the image of God He created them, male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)

Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

We are not only soul, but soul and spirit.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Closing

What do you think of Dollhouse? Comment on this post, email us@areyoujustwatching.com (audio feedback welcome!), or call (859) 353-4332. You can also follow Are You Just Watching?, Daniel, and Eve on Twitter. And please join our Facebook Page.

Are You Just Watching? is produced and sponsored by D.Joseph Design. The opening vocal talent is thanks to Mariah. Our theme song is used courtesy of Answers in Genesis, from their exciting vacation Bible school curriculum, Operation Space.