Whedonesque : Comments on 20287 : Dollhouse DVD details revealed.

It appears the commentary is not on Omega, but rather Epitaph One. And awesome. A Joss-alone commentary. Been too long since one of those.

Jobo | May 12, 21:16 CET

I really wish Jane had a commentary on Briar Rose... :(

Knuckleball | May 12, 21:17 CET

No other actors in the commentary besides Eliza? :(

Sunfire | May 12, 21:19 CET

Sounds awesome. Too bad there aren't more commentaries though, especially more from Joss. I'd also loved to hear Alan talk about Omega.

LOUiE | May 12, 21:22 CET

Thanks Jobo, I misread that.

I would've liked to see more commentaries too. We're all aware Tim Minear did a commentary for True Believer, right?

J.I.G. | May 12, 21:25 CET

I wish Alan could be on one of the commentaries for one of his episodes, and a commentary on Omega would be good, too. I'm happy we're actually getting Echo, though, that's a really nice extra.

I hope that the dvd cut of Omega is the full version, though, not the aired version. While I'll take deleted scenes, I feel like the flow of the episode was interrupted, and we don't find out why they imprinted November and Sierra, how Alpha gets away, and why Echo returns to the Dollhouse - all fairly essential to the continuity of the episode.

AnotherFireflyfan | May 12, 21:25 CET

Me too wants commentary about Briar Rose, and Alan talking about Omega!
But the thing I want the most is more episodes, I'm hysterically waiting for Epitaph One!!!

JotheCat | May 12, 21:26 CET

I'm afraid it will be the aired version, AnotherFireflyfan.

J.I.G. | May 12, 21:26 CET

There can never be too many commentaries IMO, we should pressure Joss to do commentaries on each of the episodes, and all of the deleted scenes, and why DID he chose the color red?
(and no, I'm not being sarcastic, it is what I want)

embers | May 12, 21:28 CET

Just wondering, what's your source for it being the aired version, J.I.G.? We do know that critics got to see the full version before it aired. *sigh* We need the extended version of the finale on the dvd!

AnotherFireflyfan | May 12, 21:29 CET

Oh no I just assume it because they usually put the aired version on the DVD and the deleted scenes as an extra, just for the sake of it being an extra. And extras are what sell the DVD's.
Again, just an assumption, I have no source! Maybe we should ask someone who has more knowledge about these things.

J.I.G. | May 12, 21:40 CET

J.I.G., maybe the PTB would consider the full episode to be an "extra" that would help sell the DVDs. It would certainly encourage me to buy...if I hadn't already pre-ordered. :)

ActualSize | May 12, 21:55 CET

Regarding putting the shortened version of Omega on the DVD:

I'm OK with a director saying 'this is the way I wanted it, and oh, BTW here are some scenes I shot but decided not to use.'

However, with Omega this seems to be the opposite case as the critics got the "full" episode. So masters of the DVD mastering... Restore the vision!! Please.

::sigh:: and let me say before I climb down from the podium, I really appreciate the inclusion of the original pilot.

Loose Deckplate | May 12, 21:55 CET

Not all the stuff in Omega was dropped for time. But there will probably be some deleted scenes, anyway.

gossi | May 12, 22:00 CET

OK, that's the cryptic, gossi. What other than time.

dreamlogic | May 12, 22:07 CET

That sounds like a deal.

Of course, with my hearing problems I don't do commentaries but the extra visual stuff sounds good.

DaddyCatALSO | May 12, 22:09 CET

That's somewhere I can't and won't go. Also, got confirmation today that ep 13 definitely won't be airing on FOX, despite Joss's request.

gossi | May 12, 22:10 CET

Whatever it is you mean, gossi, it sounds exciting. Somehow...
Is it something we can read in the script that leaked a few days ago?

J.I.G. | May 12, 22:12 CET

Well, that sounds even more cryptic and ominous, gossi.

Now, I'm going to have to go and read all kinds of stuff into that.

Septimus | May 12, 22:14 CET

Er, don't read anything into anything I type. I've dropped pizza on my shirt as I'm typing this.

gossi | May 12, 22:16 CET

Weak sauce on the commentaries. No point in pretending otherwise. Compare to "Firefly". Of course, they already knew "Firefly" was one-and-done, but still, they don't know "Dollhouse" isn't, so I would rather see them loading up on commentaries. I need Tim Minear to explain he hates commentaries that are radio with faces for the 15th time during "Omega". I need Jane, Harry, and Tahmoh to chortle their way through the fight scene in "Briar Rose".

KingofCretins | May 12, 22:20 CET

I'm very excited about seeing the unaired pilot!

Ronald_SF | May 12, 22:21 CET

Well they can always bring out a superspecial Dollhouse DVD boxset next year with brand new commentaries. It worked for Serenity.

Simon | May 12, 22:23 CET

Any idea, gossi, if the decision not to air Epitaph One suggests anything about DH's future?

Jobo | May 12, 22:28 CET

gossi, fine, blot your shirt with cold water and rub some soap on, it might not set. Unnecessary teasing might constitute a stain on the soul, however.

[ edited by dreamlogic on 2009-05-12 22:30 ]

dreamlogic | May 12, 22:29 CET

Let us all speculate on why stuff got cut from Omega, other than time. Didn't make sense with where they wanted to go in the second season? Not happy with someone's performance? Content too graphic for the network? Umm... what other non-time reasons could there be?

bonzob | May 12, 22:45 CET

There can never be too many commentaries IMO

Yeah. I've been so spoiled with the consistently hilarious (and informative!) Futurama commentaries, which they did for every single episode.

Joss gently mocks this trend in "Heart, Broken", but it really does add depth to the material. And if Dollhouse doesn't get renewed, there will be a ton of unanswered questions about what we've seen and where it might have gone. Doing commentary (with minimal preparation) is a great way to provide those answers.

[ edited by nasarius on 2009-05-12 23:02 ]

nasarius | May 12, 23:02 CET

Yeah, The Simpsons do commentaries on every ep too. Matt Groening is a big fan. I love them, but I think every episode can border on overkill. On The Simpsons ones they sometimes run out of insights. Still, I would adore a Jane/Alan commentary on Briar Rose, a Tim/Alan commentary on Omega, and, in true pipe dream land, I would have loved to hear Patton Oswalt join Joss on the MOTS commentary.

Heck, Tracy Bellomo and Andy Chambliss wrote my two favorite eps of the series, just as the young writers on Firefly wrote some great ones (Cheryl Cain's War Stories, Jose Molina's Ariel). Let the neophytes have a commentary!

bonzob | May 12, 23:16 CET

I know the first thing I thought at the close of the episode was, "Where's Sierra?"
Would it be possible that something happened to Sierra that would have jeopardized the possibility of her returning in a second season? And by removing that footage it left the door open for her to return?

CrazyKidBen | May 12, 23:17 CET

Umm... what other non-time reasons could there be?

Dichen stole Tim Minear's lunch money?

AnotherFireflyfan | May 12, 23:22 CET

Looking forward to this DVD set. Although, yes, I too was hoping on more commentaries and more actor involvement on the disc and the complete version of Omega (or at leas the deleted scenes). But I'm still pretty happy with the package we're getting.

As for the rest: gossi really is a tease, isn't he? Shame on you, man ;).

GVH | May 13, 00:13 CET

I don't like the suggestion that 'Echo' and 'Epitaph One' weren't 'okay enough to put on the air'

Let Down | May 13, 00:14 CET

I think they were being sarcastic there, Let Down. At least, that's the way I read it.

GVH | May 13, 00:26 CET

How I read it too... I have a feeling that Echo is going to be fantastic, as if Dollhouse started from Man on the Street...

Vortigun | May 13, 00:34 CET

gossi's a he?

daylight | May 13, 00:47 CET

I don't see the sarcasm but it's possible

Let Down | May 13, 00:48 CET

I think that not airing "Epitaph One" is better for the season 2 hopes anyway -- just based on what's generally known about that episode. Unless you plan for that to be the setting for a Season 2.

KingofCretins | May 13, 01:00 CET

I have a feeling that Echo is going to be fantastic, as if Dollhouse started from Man on the Street...

I'm really interested to see how I'll react to 'Echo'. I really loved the script to bits and have often said here that the show would've gotten off to a much better start, had that episode been used as the pilot. But there's always been quite a few people who disagreed (because they felt that the episode, among other things, was too confusing) and who said they actually prefered 'Ghost' to the script of 'Echo'. I wonder if seeing the actual episode will change my mind on it and if I'll still feel that it would've been superior to 'Ghost' then.

Whatever's the case, I'll at the very least enjoy discussing the episode and that question here on the black once we all have the DVD's, as oppossed to with just the couple of people who'd read the script :)

GVH | May 13, 01:09 CET

daylight: "gossi's a he?"

It's a fact!

I too am looking forward to seeing the original "Echo" - having also read (what I believe is) the original script, which I thought was richer, more layered, scintillating, fragrant, and a tad presumptuous, with just a touch of vinegar and the merest whiff of pine, and containing 100% more Whedonian nutrients than episodes 1-5, I'm interested to see how it holds up in the flesh.

Since I'm not ComicConning this year *sigh* I will be waiting like a little patient thing for this to head my way via mail after July 28th. (Although if someone was able to somehow snag me a copy, I'd probably give them something really nice. With bells on it.)

QuoterGal | May 13, 01:29 CET

I dunno, I've never seen the aired version of the Veronica Mars pilot, because the DVD shows the extended version by default. I think that would be a cool default, with an option to see the aired version.

jclemens | May 13, 01:32 CET

the merest whiff of pine

PINE SPOILERS!!!

The One True b!X | May 13, 01:35 CET

We've gotta pick. pick. pick it apart....

BrownCoat_Tabz | May 13, 01:43 CET

{{PINE SPOILERS!!!}}

STROBUS - white or soft pines. They only have one fibrovascular bundle per leaf. Strobus pines grow mainly in North America, Central America, Europe and Asia.
Common species are: Mexican White Pine, Limber Pine, Sugar Pine, Chinese White pine, Western White Pine & Blue Pine.

DUCAMPOPINUS - This species may be related to Strobus and Pinus and lies somewhere in between the two. It has only one fibrovascular bundle per leaf and articulate seed wings. Common species are: Pinyon, Lacebark Pine, Rocky Mountain Bristle Cone & Nelson's Pine.

PINUS - Yellow, hard pines, mostly growing in Europe and Asia. Common species are: European Black Pine, Red Pine, Scotch Pine, Chinese Red Pine & Tropical Pine.

QuoterGal | May 13, 02:42 CET

Okay, I just had a weird 'wait, am I in the matrix?' moment (it also doesn't help that I'm currently reading Nick Sagan's 'Idlewild' ;))

Also: QuoterGal wins this topic.

GVH | May 13, 02:48 CET

I'm really looking forward to seeing the finale. Wish there were more commentaries.

I'm a little less interested in seeing the original pilot. I read it a long while ago, and I've just been re-reading it today, and I'm amazed at how much of it HAS been on the show since then. They really did canabilize it.

rabid | May 13, 03:06 CET

Disappointed by the amount of commentaries, but I suppose 3 is enough. Also, count me as one of those that preferred the original 'Echo' script to 'Ghost', and wishes it could have started that way instead.

Racoon Boy | May 13, 04:16 CET

I really wish Jane had a commentary on Briar Rose... :(

I'd also loved to hear Alan talk about Omega.

I would've liked to see more commentaries too.

I wish Alan could be on one of the commentaries for one of his episodes, and a commentary on Omega would be good, too.

Me too wants commentary about Briar Rose, and Alan talking about Omega!

I need Tim Minear to explain he hates commentaries that are radio with faces for the 15th time during "Omega".

Still, I would adore a Jane/Alan commentary on Briar Rose, a Tim/Alan commentary on Omega, and, in true pipe dream land, I would have loved to hear Patton Oswalt join Joss on the MOTS commentary. ...Let the neophytes have a commentary!

Although, yes, I too was hoping on more commentaries and more actor involvement...

Wish there were more commentaries.

I'm working on some things. That's all I'll say, just in case things fall through. Give me time, though. Still trying to get the podcast back on its feet since my Motherboard died back in March. But, I can say with relative confidence that Tim and I will be recording commentary for Omega, because he told me we would. :)

So, I'm doing what I can, but I can't do it alone. It's up to you folks to help make it happen. Find Tim on Facebook and tell him what you want. Perhaps you could send him a link to this very thread?

Fingers crossed, kids. :)

kungfubear | May 13, 07:13 CET

I'm a bit concerned about having five episodes on each disc, especially since Dollhouse eps are quite a bit longer than usual. It's the equivalent of having six episodes per disc, and most DVDs don't do well with that sort of compression :\

I dunno, I've never seen the aired version of the Veronica Mars pilot, because the DVD shows the extended version by default. I think that would be a cool default, with an option to see the aired version.

Pretty similar to the DVD version, just minus the scene at the motel at the start - it kicks off on Veronica at school saving Wallace. At least that's the only difference I ever noticed.

MattManic7325 | May 13, 09:00 CET

Finally watched Omega yesterday and while awesome it did indeed feel a bit rushed towards the end (as you all propably have been pointing out for weeks now, have to scroll through all that later), so an extended version would be really nice.

And a commentary with Tim on Omega would be equally awesome, kungfubear! I was just checking your site yesterday to see you had done an Omega commentary with Tim and found out about the death of your PC. Loved the commentary you did with him on True Believer. Will check out the rest of your podcasts someday soon.

MattManic7325 That finally explains why that scene was cut from the broadcast here (Netherlands). Wondered about that, but never made the link with the extendedness of the DVD version.

the Groosalugg | May 13, 09:35 CET

I'm a bit concerned about having five episodes on each disc, especially since Dollhouse eps are quite a bit longer than usual. It's the equivalent of having six episodes per disc, and most DVDs don't do well with that sort of compression :\

Yeah, I was wondering about that too, since the DVD set was announced as 4-disc box, and Blu-Ray as a three piece. Maybe this is the content of the Blu-Ray. Also, two featurettes that were announced earlier are missing in this list.

[ edited by wiesengrund on 2009-05-13 13:40 ]

wiesengrund | May 13, 11:49 CET

Hmm, that's a good point, weisengrund. The picture with the article does show a blu-ray box, so perhaps the DVD is 4 discs after all.

AnotherFireflyfan | May 13, 17:09 CET

The DVD is four discs. The Blu-ray has 3 discs.

TamaraC | May 13, 17:58 CET

The third disc... is green.

*click*

*kill*

The One True b!X | May 13, 18:02 CET

I LOL'd.

And then I killed my neighbour.

zz9 | May 13, 18:12 CET

LOL, bix.

Thanks for the confirmation, TamaraC.

I was about to preorder mine, but then I realized that by the time these are out my address will have changed (I'm moving) so I'll wait until I get the new address and my billing info updated to that address before preordering this.

AnotherFireflyfan | May 13, 18:13 CET

May 12 2009