Season 2, Episode 5:
The Public Eye
Echo is sent to stop Senator Perrin before he can expose the Dollhouse's secrets with assistance from former Active Madeline Costley, but becomes self-aware during her engagement.
Tropes present in this episode:
- Cold-Blooded Torture: Bennett's first action upon getting Echo in her imprinting device.
- Exact Words: Perrin and his wife's "white knight"/"damsel" exchange is the same every time, foreshadowing that it's actually his call-response control phrase.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Daniel Perrin seems to be modeled on George W. Bush, down to being part of a political dynasty and being a former party animal before turning to politics with a zealous streak.
- Red Right Hand: Bennett has only one usable arm, and promptly begins torturing Echo.
- The Reveal: Senator Perrin is a Doll - a Doll imprinted with himself. (Albeit an altered version of himself.)
- Tomato in the Mirror: Echo as Brie does not believe in the Dollhouse at first, but ends up glitching and realizing everything under the effect from Topher's disruptor. Daniel Perrin later has the same realization.
- Theme Naming: Different Dollhouses use different naming schemes for their Actives. While the L.A. Dollhouse uses the NATO phonetic alphabet, the Washington, D.C. branch uses Greek mythological deities.
- Verbal Tic: Bennett tends to repeat things when she's feeling stressed.
