Dollhouse really dropped the ball last week. Two weeks ago, Dollhouse took a huge turn  for the better and began to move the plot forward in ways that where compelling. Though last week we saw Echo’s origin story, it generally was a mismatched set of plots and silly dead ends. This week, Dollhouse looks primed to bounce back.

Five actives awaken in their pods. Though they aren’t sure who they are or what happened to them, they do know that they want out. Though it appears the Dollhouse higher ups have planned their attempted break out, there are serious risks. As the actives escape, their memories begin to emerge. Much of the episode is an elaborate chase scene but despite that, it works well and tension builds. Just as they’re able to escape, Echo decides that she can’t leave. She feels compelled to return to the Dollhouse and try to save the other actives.

After Echo returns, the Dollhouse believes they’ve got Echo under control until the house goes dark. Now in the dark, Echo takes Topher hostage forcing him to explain the  Dollhouse process. Topher explains that he can give her her memories back, but Echo insists that Topher get the treatment first. Just as she’s about to fry his brain, Mrs Dewit show up. She and Echo discuss the conditions of the actives. Echo forces Dewit to let all the actives out en mass like kids in the sunshine. Suddenly, the revolution ends and the actives are returned to the Dollhouse.

We discover the true reason for the Dollhouse’s subversion. Dr. Saunders decides that the best way to get the troubled actives under control is to give them just a little bit of what their inner consciousness is searching for. The whole scenario allowed them have closure on their internal conflicts.

Though the episode was entertaining and suspenseful, I couldn’t help but feel slightly cheated by the ending. It was clear the Dollhouse had planned this, but I was really hoping that the Dollhouse prison break would have a more substantial impact. Regardless of that complaint, Dollhouse felt like it righted the ship this time around.