Did you watch Dr. Horrible when it was coming out, or later? Because I know that lent it a certain sparkle, for me. I wasn't a Whedon follower, and I actually came to it out of an interest in the intersection between the internet and tv and culture and participatory media (I've taken classes), and I'd been into watching podcasts for awhile, so a lot of my excitement was just in seeing what a group of professionals would do with the same tools and set-up. And I think if you go into it thinking of it as a very well-done podcast it makes a lot more sense and is a lot more impressive. I'm not sure I would have liked it as much if I'd first seen it, say, on DVD, and I could see it seeming disappointing in the wake of all the flailing about it? It's a quirky little thing, though. If it's not for you then it's not for you *shrug*

I see what you mean about Dollhouse and Firefly. I think for me the sheer IDEAS EXPLOSION of Dollhouse overwhelms pretty much any other consideration (also: ADELLE DEWITT), but Firefly is a really cool verse to spend some time in. I want to know where alllllllll the Dollhouse meta is, though. Because. Seriously.

Plus, I mean, Eliza Dushku.
I go hot and cold on her. Some things she's just great at, and she's a nice combination of pretty/interesting to look at. And then sometimes I think she acts like a board.