Joss Whedon is really, really lucky. He has devoted fans that will stick with his shows through thick and thin - and these days, internet buzz might just be enough to keep another “Firefly” alive. Which isn’t to say “Dollhouse” is necessarily another “Firefly.” But it’s on the right track. Finally.

This is the first episode of “Dollhouse” that has really stuck in my mind. Where do I begin to ponder? The sordid revelation about Sierra? The internet mogul’s heartbreaking past? The potential of Actives to bring people true happiness? The sense of superiority that allows those who run the Dollhouse to exploit the Actives and still punish those who exploit them in different ways?

Dollhouse perhaps feels a little uneven because we never know who to root for. If, in fact, the Actives volunteer for this life, surely they are running away from some even greater exploitation in their “real lives.” Why does the well-meaning FBI agent get to decide for them that they should be “set free?” Who was Echo, really, before this life?

The biggest problem with the Dollhouse is that the Actives are not capable of ceasing to exist during their time off. Although they are in a blank and childlike state, they still feel pain. They still want to socialize, and get a massage, and, of course, mate. The Dollhouse bigwigs’ insistence that they are “not supposed” to have sexual desire doesn’t make sense. They have all the requisite parts: they have to, for their jobs. Why wouldn’t they want to use them any other time?

The “Man on the Street” segments in this episode serve to highlight various aspects of the Dollhouse, voicing all the same questions and concerns that the viewers might have. There are no answers yet, but I feel they’ll be forthcoming.

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