--- title: "Dollhouse: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/dollhouse/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/dollhouse" critics_score: 61 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Dollhouse (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 61 from 10 reviews: 6 positive, 1 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics agree on the shape of the thing: a slow, procedural start that improves once the larger story about Echo and the Dollhouse emerges, and a premise about memory, identity and control that is the main reason to stay. Those who write after seeing the full run tend to lean positive, praising the twists, the moral murk and Joss Whedon’s storytelling. The supporting cast draws warm words even from doubters. The split is wide and depends almost entirely on when the review was written. Critics who see only the pilot find it convoluted and uninvolving; Variety and Digital Spy both struggle to care about the central character, and Eliza Dushku’s range is questioned more than once. The Times, having sat through the whole run, still finds the finale derivative and humourless. Den of Geek, writing years later, argues the series deserves far more respect than it got. ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 26 August 2009. The series improves markedly in its second half after an initially slow, procedural start, delivering a creepy exploration of identity and control through mind-wiping technology. The critic singles out the evolving central character Echo and the promise of stronger storytelling ahead for praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/dollhouse-season-1-review/) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating B-. 13 February 2009. The critic sees potential in the premise of memory and identity but finds the pilot episode generic with a contrived subplot. Dushku's performance shows limitations, though the supporting cast is strong and the long-term thematic possibilities are promising. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/dollhouse-ghost-1798205808) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2009. The critic welcomes the full season of Joss Whedon's series as a satisfying and complex experience once the larger story arc emerges after initial episodes. They single out the moral questions around the dolls' service and origins, noting it is not always clear whom to root for. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/sep/05/dollhouse-dvd-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2009. Early episodes show ambition and strong production values but struggle to create audience attachment due to the personality-shifting premise and soulless feel. The critic singles out Joss Whedon's storytelling skill and Eliza Dushku's performance as reasons it could improve with time. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/tv-review-dollhouse-92894/) ## The Times — Andrew Billen Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2009. The reviewer notes that Dollhouse improved over its run but finds the finale episode derivative and humourless, drawing from films like Mad Max, Terminator, Psycho and The Exorcist. They suggest the box set is only worth buying if ill. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/edinburgh/the-autistic-me-neighbourhood-watched-dollhouse-96lsk2rd8hg) ## Variety — Brian Lowry Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 9 February 2009. The premiere struggles with a convoluted mix of plot threads and fails to make viewers care about the central character, resembling other short-lived shows. The critic singles out the uncreepy design of the dollhouse facility and the hollow emotional core for complaint. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/tv/reviews/dollhouse-3-1200473773/) ## Den of Geek — Stefan Mohamed Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 March 2014. The critic argues Dollhouse is a brave, idiosyncratic and thrilling series that deserves more respect, comparable to Whedon's best work like Buffy and Firefly. They single out its fearless exploration of uncomfortable themes like identity, technology and voluntary slavery for praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/in-defence-of-joss-whedons-dollhouse/) ## Collider — Cal Kemp Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 August 2009. On rewatch via the Blu-ray set, Dollhouse proves much better than initially thought, evolving into a strong mythology series with great twists by season's end. The unaired 'Epitaph One' is particularly standout and worth the price alone. [Read the review](https://collider.com/dollhouse-season-one-blu-ray-review/) ## Paste — Josh Jackson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 December 2009. After a slow and uneven start hampered by network notes, the series finally hits its stride in season two with compelling twists, moral depth, and high stakes around identity and corruption. It proves Joss Whedon doesn't create duds, even if Fox canceled it too soon. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/joss-whedon/high-definition-joss-whedons-dollhouse-finally-hit) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 22 February 2009. The pilot episode is an uninvolving mess that fails to establish the premise or create any compelling dramatic hook, leaving viewers as passive bystanders. The show looks like little more than an excuse for Eliza Dushku to play dress-up, lacking the wit and punch of Whedon's previous work. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a147383/dollhouse-the-verdict/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/dollhouse.md