Amy Acker: Firefly creator Joss Whedon's new mindwiped super-agents show Dollhouse will introduce two characters for the first time in its second episode: the Actives' personal physician, Dr. Claire "The Phantom" Saunders (Amy Acker) and November, an Active who specializes in personal missions instead of criminal ones. But we'll glimpse Dr. Saunders in the pilot.

Also, among the characters that Eliza Dushku's Echo will become early on are a world-weary alcoholic, helping fellow addict Danika make it through a rough patch, a man's stunning date to his ex-girlfriend's wedding, and a Spanish-speaking thug who intimidates a gang of fellow criminals.

Adelle, who runs the Dollhouse, tells a client: ""This will be the purest, most genuine human encounter of your life. And hers. It is a treasure. One I guarantee you will never, never forget."

After a mission, Echo feels compelled to return to the Dollhouse, and we follow her through the memory-scrubbing process administered by uber-nerd Topher (Fran Kranz). During downtime, she's childlike and empty, having conversations like: "Echo: I swam thirty laps today. Sierra (Dichen Lachman): Good for you. Echo: I'm tired now. Sierra: It's important to exercise. I try to do my best."

Topher realizes Echo, Victor (Enver Gjokaj) and Sierra always seem to herd together — which may indicate they're starting to keep some memories. He tells Boyd, the Actives' handler. Boyd (Harry J. Lennix) and Topher the programmer share this exchange: "Boyd: If this isn't the second coming or giant bats I'm gonna kick your tiny boy ass. Topher: Giant bats would be awesome." Boyd is worried Adelle will have the three Actives killed if she suspects they're retaining memories, but Adelle is too preoccupied with throwing FBI agent Paul Ballard (Battlestar's Tahmoh Penikett) off the Dollhouse's scent, using Echo as bait.