TV's 25 Scariest Episodes - #7 - Dollhouse: 'Epitaph One'

October 27, 1:22 PMClassic TV ExaminerDoug Krentzlin

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Amy Acker in "Epitaph One"
(Fox)

Epitaph One (never broadcast in this country, but aired on June 17, 2009 in Singapore) was officially the thirteenth episode of Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse series’ first season. A stand-alone story directed by David Solomon and written by Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon (Joss’ brother), the origin of Epitaph One is as unique as its premise.

According to Whedon: "The decision had to do with the studio saying, 'We need another episode for our [DVD] package, and we can't afford one. Can you do a clip show? Can we show the unaired pilot?' I'm like, 'No, you can't. It wouldn't make any sense. Besides, we cannibalized it for parts. Most of it's in other episodes.' And they were like, 'Well, we really have to have 13 for foreign.' And I said, 'I'll tell you what. I'll shoot a post-apocalyptic thriller that's all on our sets in six days with a cast of four other people, then we'll pepper it with different bits from our regular cast, and we can do it all during the schedule. It'll cost you half. I can do this.' And I was so in love with the idea that I just came up with off the top of my head, and that's what it turned into. It's one of the best episodes we've ever made."

The episode takes place in Los Angeles, circa 2019. Something has brought about the end of civilization (as we know it) and it’s vaguely hinted that it had something to do with the Dollhouse Corp. A band of survivors makes their way through the streets looking for shelter. They are Mag (Whedon regular Felicia Day), Lynn (Janina Gavankar), Griff (Chris William Martin), Zone (Zack Ward), 12-year-old Iris Miller (Adair Tishler) and her father (Warren Sweeney).

Going underground in search of the subway tunnels, they stumble across the deserted Dollhouse headquarters. As they investigate the technology, someone (or something) is prowling the hallways bumping off the team one by one. Eventually, they discover one of the “dolls,” Whiskey (Amy Acker), but she doesn’t seem to be the mysterious assailant. Could it be one of them…?

The series’ regular characters, Echo (Elixa Dushku), Paul Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett), Adelle DeWitt (Olivia Williams), Topher Brink (Fran Kranz), Boyd Langton (Harry Lennix), Victor (Enver Gjokaj) and Sierra (Dichen Lachman), all put in brief appearances in memory flashback that may or may not be accurate.

An amalgamation of Night of the Living Dead, Alien and Resident Evil, Epitaph One is, by far, the most frightening episode of Dollhouse to date.

Dollhouse: Epitaph One is available from Netflix (Season One, Disc Four) and Amazon.