The Attic 

Victor's past is revealed and Echo is trapped in her worst nightmare.

Director:

John Cassaday

Writers:

Joss Whedon (created by), Maurissa Tancharoen

Stars:

Eliza Dushku, Harry Lennix, Fran Kranz

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Eliza Dushku	...	Echo
Harry Lennix	...	Boyd Langton
Fran Kranz	...	Topher Brink
Tahmoh Penikett	...	Paul Ballard
Enver Gjokaj	...	Victor / Anthony Ceccoli
Dichen Lachman	...	Sierra / Priya Tsetsang
Olivia Williams	...	Adelle DeWitt
Reed Diamond	...	Laurence Dominic
Liza Lapira	...	Ivy
Vincent Ventresca	...	Nolan Kinnard
Adam Godley	...	Clyde Randolph
Tzi Ma	...	Matsu
Jeff Cole	...	Male Attendant #2
Greg Collins	...	Molester
Demir Gjokaj	...	Victor #2

Storyline

We finally enter the mysterious Attic - the secret vault where the Dollhouse keeps damaged actives and problematic employees unconscious and in a perpetual state of terror. Adelle has had Echo sent there, along with Victor and Sierra, on the grounds that her multiple imprints and their growing self-awareness are making the three a danger to Rossum. In the dream-world of the Attic, Echo and her friends forced to face their worst nightmares repeatedly, and their only ally is former Dollhouse security head Laurence Dominic, sent there earlier when he was discovered to be a spy for the NSA. Together they must confront a mysterious predator bent on killing the Attic's prisoners, as they try to uncover the mystery of the Attic's true nature and purpose. Meanwhile, Adelle forces Topher to find a way to restore Ballard's damaged brain in order to revive him - at a terrible cost.

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

As Topher is trying to figure out how to fix Ballard, he says the situation is like have a great new set of plays, except the quarterback is in jail for dog fighting essentially comparing the situation to Michael Vick.

---

Goofs

The attic worker puts probes into Echo's head through a plastic sheet, but then they remove the plastic sheet without moving the probes that should be piercing it.

---

Quotes

Boyd Langton: [after Ballard goes to confront DeWitt] At some point, he's going to figure out what we took away from him.
Topher Brink: I know.

---

Connections

References Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

User Reviews

Into the Attic

The previous episode ended with Adelle dispatching Echo, Sierra and Victor to the attic. Shortly after Echo is processed she appears to die only to wake up, kill two attic workers and try to rescue Sierra and Victor only for them all to die and this be revealed as a dream. It then starts recurring although now Echo knows it isn't real... just life in the attic. As she explores she finds an unlikely ally who tells her about the true nature of the attic and about a dangerous predator who kills the attics inmates. Back in the main part of the Dollhouse Topher and Ivy are being pressured find a way to 'repair' Ballard.

After many mentions of The Attic it was great to finally see it and learn just what it really is. The way it is depicted nicely captures the strangeness of dreams with the constant feel that things aren't quite real but are still believable to those in the dream. The truth about the nature of the attic was interesting and not too obvious. The events back in the Dollhouse were no less interesting as ideas for what to do with Ballard were discussed. The cast did a solid job with Eliza Dushku being on great form as Echo and Reed Diamond makes an enjoyable return for the first time since his character left the series in the first season. Overall an impressive episode which answers some important questions.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 2009 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, Boston Diva Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

44 min

Color:

Color