Dollhouse/Characters

The Dolls
"Did I fall asleep?

"For a little while."

"Shall I go now?"

"If you like.""

Dolls are people who have effectively sold themselves to the Rossum Corporation for a period of five years. During this time their memories and personalities are wiped clean and then rewritten in order to cater to the needs of Rossum's megarich customers. All Dolls qualify as Blank Slates in their unimprinted modes.

Echo/Caroline Farrell

"I have 38 brains, and not one of them thinks you can sign a contract to be a slave."

"Played by: Eliza Dushku"

One of the Los Angeles Dollhouse's most popular dolls. Echo has begun to develop a self-awareness independent of her original personality.


 * Action Girl: A frequent imprint, and a defining trait of her integrated personality.
 * Action Survivor: When not imprinted with combat skills she's still dangerous.
 * Badass
 * Blessed With Suck (or Cursed With Awesome, depending on point of view): The emotional isolation Echo's ability to retain imprints and be anyone imposes on her, especially
 * Chronic Hero Syndrome
 * Crouching Moron Hidden Badass: At some points in the series.
 * Granola Girl: her original personality as Caroline.
 * Magnetic Hero: Specifically cited by Bennett for her ability to get people to obsess over her or do what she wants even after her mindwiping.
 * Many Spirits Inside of One
 * Meaningful Name: She's one of the few Dolls who remembers fragments of her previous personality- perhaps we could call them echoes?
 * Ms. Fanservice: Her other most common imprint.
 * Obfuscating Stupidity: Once she becomes self-aware.
 * Spoiled Brat: Even Eliza Dushku agrees Caroline is this.
 * Took a Level In Badass
 * Waif Fu
 * Well Intentioned Extremist
 * Wide Eyed Idealist: at least her original personality.

Sierra/Priya Tsetsang

"I love him so much more than I hate you."

"Played by: Dichen Lachman"

One of the newest additions to the Dollhouse.


 * Action Girl: As with Echo, this is a frequent imprint.
 * Action Survivor: As Priya.
 * Break the Cutie: Broken before the Dollhouse, and then again as a Doll
 * Determinator
 * Hot Scientist: Three important imprints.
 * Ms. Fanservice: In her unimprinted state.
 * Ship Tease: Between her and Victor.
 * The Chick

Victor/Anthony Ceccoli

"Played by: Enver Gjokaj"

One of the most popular male dolls of the Dollhouse. His love for Sierra survives even in his unimprinted state.
 * Fridge Horror:.
 * Making Use of the Twin: done with Enver Gjokaj's non-actor twin, Demir Gjokaj, in "The Attic."
 * Scars Are Forever: Averted. They're notably gone by "Vows" (2x01).
 * Shell Shocked Veteran: He originally entered the Dollhouse to be cured of his post-traumatic stress disorder.
 * Ship Tease: Between him and Sierra.
 * Eventually promoted to OTP.
 * Mr. Fanservice
 * Mr. Fanservice
 * Mr. Fanservice

November/Madeline Costley

"When someone's free they get to make mistakes. Am I free?"

"Played by: Miracle Laurie"

November is another female doll in the LA Dollhouse.


 * Hollywood Pudgy: Somewhat subverted. She on occasion makes reference to her weight. Others (particularly Ballard) do not treat her as anything other than the attractive woman that she is.
 * Hollywood Pudgy: Somewhat subverted. She on occasion makes reference to her weight. Others (particularly Ballard) do not treat her as anything other than the attractive woman that she is.
 * Hollywood Pudgy: Somewhat subverted. She on occasion makes reference to her weight. Others (particularly Ballard) do not treat her as anything other than the attractive woman that she is.

The Dollhouse staff
Adelle DeWitt

"Illusions aren't worthless. They're at the heart of most relationships."

"Played by: Olivia Williams"

The Dollhouse's 'madam,' in charge of the Los Angeles branch. Outwardly cool, stoic and very British, in her private moments she has revealed a melancholy and loneliness she would die rather than show to her employees.

""You have made me an accomplice in something vile... and it ends now.""
 * Anti Villain
 * Batman Gambit:
 * Broken Bird
 * The Chessmaster
 * Drowning My Sorrows: She seems to do this a lot.
 * Even Evil Has Standards
 * Heel Face Revolving Door
 * Hey Its That Guy: It's Dr. Malcolm Crowe's wife!
 * I Am Very British: Trope Namer
 * Kick the Dog: In both "Meet Jane Doe" and "A Love Supreme".
 * Lady Drunk
 * Mama Bear: Toward the Actives in general and, eventually,
 * Manipulative Bitch
 * More Deadly Than the Male
 * My God What Have I Done: A minor one alongside Topher, when she realises what they inadvertently did to Priya.

"Dominic: You played a good hand, ma'am.
 * Screw the Money I Have Rules: Always true but specifically demonstrated.
 * Spot of Tea: She tends towards green tea, though.
 * The Stoic: She took a bullet and refused treatment until it was over.
 * Sugar and Ice Personality
 * Xanatos Speed Chess: To quote the woman herself, any good battle plan must be fluid.

Adelle: I played a bad hand very well. There is a distinction."

Boyd Langton

"We're pimps and killers, but in a philanthropic way."

"Played by: Harry Lennix"

Echo's gruff but kind handler. An ex-cop, he has serious reservations about the work the Dollhouse does, yet constantly shows unswerving loyalty to Echo. Acts as the moral lodestone of the Dollhouse. Later promoted to head of security.


 * Badass Normal
 * The Handler
 * Knight in Sour Armor
 * Morality Chain: He serves as this to Adelle. Or at least he tries.
 * Nice Guy
 * Papa Wolf: In regards to Echo.
 * Positive Discrimination:
 * Revolvers Are Just Better
 * True Companions:
 * Knight in Sour Armor
 * Morality Chain: He serves as this to Adelle. Or at least he tries.
 * Nice Guy
 * Papa Wolf: In regards to Echo.
 * Positive Discrimination:
 * Revolvers Are Just Better
 * True Companions:
 * True Companions:

Topher Brink

"If I think I can figure things out, is that curiosity or arrogance?"

"Played by: Fran Kranz"

The Los Angeles Dollhouse's genius head programmer. He creates and implants the personalities used by the actives, but has little regard for the morality of what he is doing... at first.


 * Adorkable: So very much.
 * Affably Evil
 * Bunny Ears Lawyer
 * Dating Catwoman: With Bennett.
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Even Evil Has Standards: Topher is horrified when he realises what really happened to Priya
 * Might have been helped by
 * For Science: This appears to be his primary motivation.
 * Heel Realization
 * Heel Face Turn: As of.
 * Heroic BSOD: After  is killed right in front of him. He has a milder one earlier after
 * Hollywood Nerd
 * Ho Yay: With Boyd.
 * Insufferable Genius
 * Jerkass: In first season, gradually evolving into ...
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold: As of the second season.
 * Mad Scientist
 * My God What Have I Done: By Epitaph One, due to his role in creating the tech.
 * He has a smaller-scale one earlier when he realises that, instead of helping Priya by curing her psychosis, he was
 * Omnidisciplinary Scientist: A computer expert and neuroscientist. Though both are essential for his job.
 * Ship Tease: Mostly with Ivy, but also with Claire, Echo and even Adelle in "Echoes."
 * And with Boyd.
 * Why Did It Have To Be Rats?
 * Why Did It Have To Be Rats?

Laurence Dominic

"It's easy to be attached to your assigned active. In fact it's necessary, but don't think of them as children; think of them as pets. When your child starts talking for the first time, you feel proud. When your dog does, you freak the hell out."

"Played by: Reed Diamond"

The Dollhouse's original head of security and DeWitt's number two. He takes his job very seriously but is contemptuous of the dolls themselves. Saves a special dislike for Echo, whose autonomy he considers a security risk.


 * Badass:  Mr. Dominic is a total offscreen badass.
 * Badass Normal:
 * Deadpan Snarker: 90 percent of his dialogue post Spy In The House of Love counts as this.
 * Devil in Plain Sight
 * Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: Shoots eight rounds at his target from point-blank range and doesn't hit her once.
 * Jerkass
 * Knight Templar
 * Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: Shoots eight rounds at his target from point-blank range and doesn't hit her once.
 * Jerkass
 * Knight Templar

Dr. Claire Saunders/

"My entire existence was constructed by a sociopath in a sweater vest; what do you suggest I do?"

"Played by: Amy Acker"

Chief medical officer at the Dollhouse, she was attacked by Alpha during his composite event and left with bad facial scarring. She is the Dollhouse employee with the most concern for the emotional well-being of the actives.


 * Broken Bird: As of
 * Foreshadowing:
 * Hospital Hottie: Despite the facial scarring.
 * Hot Chick in A Badass Suit: In "The Hollow Men", when.
 * The Medic
 * Moment Killer:.
 * Scars Are Forever:
 * The Medic
 * Moment Killer:.
 * Scars Are Forever:
 * Moment Killer:.
 * Scars Are Forever:
 * Scars Are Forever:

Ivy

"My talents go beyond asking if he wants chocolate chip or oatmeal."

"Played by: Liza Lapira"

Topher's assistant in the imprint room. She thinks she's here to use her knowledge and technical skills to work the cutting-edge imprinting technology. Topher thinks she is here to bring him snacks. The male fans of Dollhouse think she's here because who doesn't love a cute Asian techie.


 * Beautiful All Along: It's notable that by the second season, her character both gets more screen time and starts to get better attention from wardrobe and makeup and playing up her attractiveness a lot more. Particularly notable in "A Love Supreme" when she's wearing eye shadow and lipstick as well as sporting a perm/hairstyle.
 * Girlish Pigtails
 * Hollywood Nerd
 * Hot Scientist: Even if Topher won't let her play.
 * Mes a Crowd: ]
 * Screw Yourself
 * The Igor: Played with in that even though she's Topher's assistant, she's very attractive and far from subservient.
 * Only Sane Woman: easily the most stable programmer we meet.
 * Punch Clock Villain: To the point were you forget she's moaning about not being allowed to Strip people of different identities and create Sex Slaves.
 * Ship Tease: Between her and Topher.

Bennett Halverson

"Now's not the time for 'why.' I like this void. This evil, simple world. Just pain. Over and over again. No reason, no end, no in-between. You can't even pass out. We shut down everything that stands between you and blinding, searing pain."

"Played by: Summer Glau"

Topher's counterpart at the Dollhouse located in Washington, D.C. A former friend of Caroline, who was left to die by her in the past, which has made her bitter - understandable since Caroline's abandonment left Bennett with a paralyzed left arm. Extremely shy and awkward, and has a huge geek-crush on Topher.


 * Adorkable: When she's not being...
 * Axe Crazy: Just a bit.
 * Ambiguous Disorder: Poor social skills, obsessive control issues, emotionally closed off.
 * Bunny Ears Lawyer: She has her ... quirks, but it's obvious everyone puts up with her because of her genius.
 * Cold Blooded Torture
 * Bi the Way / Depraved Bisexual: Maybe. There are some strong indicators that Bennett may actually have loved Caroline, not to mention her relationship with Topher.
 * Whether Bennett was sexually attracted to Caroline or not, it's very evident that Caroline is probably Bennett's only friend and that Bennett is very emotionlly invested in the relationship. As for the depraved part:
 * Disabled Love Interest
 * Foe Yay: With Topher.
 * Hot Librarian: Lampshaded by Topher.
 * Insufferable Genius
 * Les Yay: A whole lot of it with Caroline.
 * Mad Scientist: And how!
 * Meganekko: Again, lampshaded by Topher.
 * More Deadly Than the Male
 * Pet the Dog: Advising her assistant not to question Rossum's motives, and attempts to comfort.
 * Red Right Hand: Or, in this case, Black Left Hand.
 * Revenge: On
 * Romantic Two Girl Friendship: With Caroline.
 * Shrinking Violet
 * Slap Slap Kiss: With Topher, though kind of delayed. He punched her, she returned the favor with a hell of a right hook, and cue the kissing.
 * Torture Technician
 * Slap Slap Kiss: With Topher, though kind of delayed. He punched her, she returned the favor with a hell of a right hook, and cue the kissing.
 * Torture Technician

Other Rossum Employees
Matthew Harding

"Everyone likes to take a little something home from the office once in a while."

"Played by: Keith Carradine"

Adelle's direct superior in the Dollhouse.


 * Corrupt Corporate Executive
 * Dirty Old Man
 * Foe Yay: With Adelle.
 * Jabba Table Manners
 * Me Love You Long Time: Had an Asian girlfriend in the future.
 * Villainous Glutton
 * Villainous Glutton

Clive Ambrose

"You won't give up this body. That's fine, I won't resist. Right now I'm having this same conversation in ten other bodies in ten other Dollhouses around the country."

"Played by: Philip Casnoff, and also others ? see below"

Face of the Rossum Corporation.


 * Body Surf: As of "Epitaph One," he's in at least eleven separate human bodies.
 * Corrupt Corporate Executive
 * Trademark Favorite Food: His original body was allergic to shellfish, so after that's no longer a concern, he develops a real sweet tooth for them.

Nolan Kinnard

"Played by: Vincent Ventresca"

Highly skilled neuro-chemist working for the Rossum Corporation.


 * Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil: Adelle and Topher are both horrified by his actions.
 * Screw the Rules I Have Connections
 * Stalker With a Crush
 * Victim Falls For Rapist: The fact that he relishes Sierra saying she loves him (via brainwashing) makes his lust for her even creepier.

Clyde Randolph

"Played by: Adam Godley"

The inventor of the imprinting process and co-founder of Rossum.


 * Awesome McCoolname: Lampshaded: "I thought it sounded badass."

Others
Alpha/Carl William Craft

"I'm not kidding. He's not fooling. We're not bluffing. (I'm bluffing.) But the rest of us, we mean business."

"Played by:"

A former Active, he had 48 personalities downloaded into his brain during a "composite event." He proceeded to get slash-happy and killed his handler, Echo's handler and a dozen other people before escaping. He has an obsession with Echo. He remains a looming presence throughout the first season, and has been known to contact Paul Ballard with information concerning the Dollhouse.


 * Axe Crazy: Knife-crazy.
 * Batman Gambit: : His whole plot in Briar Rose? Oh.My.God!
 * Big Bad : For the first season he is this, even if he only appears in two episodes.
 * A God Am I
 * Faux Affably Evil: He's highly entertaining, despite being one of the few completely evil characters on the show.
 * Heel Face Turn: Hinted at in Epitaph One when tells Claire.
 * And confirmed in "Epitaph 2: The Return".
 * Hey Its That Guy: It's !
 * Insane Equals Violent:
 * Knife Nut: He likes cutting things.
 * Laughably Evil: Some of his lines would sound appropriate coming from The Joker.
 * Mad Scientist: Has built his own versions of Dollhouse tech.
 * Manipulative Bastard
 * Many Spirits Inside of One
 * Obfuscating Stupidity:
 * And earlier, when he was still pretending to be an ordinary active.
 * Phlebotinum Rebel
 * Psycho Prototype
 * Split Personality: At least 48 of them. One of which has multiple personality disorder itself.
 * Stalker With a Crush
 * Talking to Themself
 * Ubermensch: He refers to himself as this.

Paul Ballard

"The Dollhouse is real!"

"Played by: Tahmoh Penikett"

FBI agent striving to investigate the truth about The Dollhouse, a job described as "the nicest version of fired the bureau has." Like Alpha, he has developed an unhealthy obsession with Echo/Caroline, but you know, a less slashy one.


 * Badass Normal
 * Character Development: starts in 1x06, when he begins to realize the "Black and White Morality" lens he's been viewing the Dollhouse through is somewhat inappropriate.
 * Cowboy Cop
 * Determinator
 * Deuteragonist
 * The Dulcinea Effect
 * Hero Antagonist - In the first season
 * Idiot Hero: For an FBI agent, he seems hopelessly ignorant of proper procedure and constantly goes into situations without preparation or backup. Of course, it's more that no one in the FBI would be his backup or follow the leads he does.
 * Knight in Sour Armor:
 * Mr. Fanservice

Senator Daniel Perrin


 * Hero Antagonist

Loomis

"It's a good thing I'm relatively sure you're not crazy."

"Played by: Aisha Hinds"


 * Reasonable Authority Figure
 * Sassy Black Woman

Graham Tanaka

"Played by: Mark Sheppard"


 * Hey Its That Guy: What TV show has Mark Sheppard NOT been in at this point?
 * Jerkass

The Future
These are characters we first meet in "Epitaph One" and any other future-set episodes. Any characters met in the present day who later appear in these episodes go up top.

Iris

"Played by: Adair Tishler"


 * Creepy Child: The actress has the same adult-in-a-childs-body vibe Dakota Fanning had. Hearing her say "she loves it when your corny" is just weird.
 * Little Miss Badass: In this case, a Justified Trope:
 * Older Than They Look:
 * Older Than They Look:

Mag

"Played by: Felicia Day"


 * Action Survivor
 * Lipstick Lesbian: More like chapstick.

Zone

"Played by: Zack Ward"


 * Jerkass
 * Properly Paranoid: The reason he's still alive.
 * Why Did It Have To Be Tech: He seems to turn the justifiable paranoia towards broadcast tech of the others Up to Eleven.