Joss Whedon: His TV Shows Ranked From Worst To Best

3. Dollhouse

Dollhouse had an atrocious start and landed itself with an unconvincing protagonist in Echo, which led a number of critics at the time to label Dollhouse as Whedon's first real miss. Since it was cancelled after its second season, opinions have softened towards it, and those who re-watch it now may be surprised at the depth of its characters and themes. The idea of mindless human shells implanted with the memories of other people is disturbing, but Dollhouse initially seemed oblivious and chose to be Alias with more obvious science-fiction influences. It gradually realised just how creepy it could be and began to play with its premise, establishing that failed operatives are 'sent to the Attic', which is a neat euphemism for locking them inside their own heads, and later that the doll technology could be used to remotely control human beings in a post-apocalyptic world where nobody is themselves. It's paranoia at its best. The stable of characters also seemed clichéd in the beginning; icy boss Adelle DeWitt, kindly Boyd, tech whizz Topher, and medic Dr. Saunders. Topher in particular was grating rather than witty, but his obvious loneliness and later guilt over his part in the Dollhouse endears him to you anyway. There's also the former doll turned serial killer Alpha, to whom we are unknowingly introduced while he poses as a mild-mannered engineer; Alan Tudyk then ensures that he will haunt our nightmares. Dollhouse's flaws exceed those of any other entry in this article, but its scope is unrivalled, even by the next show on the list.