Lent- Day 18: The sea of forgetfulness is better than the valley of the dolls.

Over the weekend I started watching the cancelled Fox show “Dollhouse”, available for streaming on Netflix. It came highly recommended by my brother Joe, who didn’t even have to “Sherlock” me into watching it. If you’re unfamiliar with it, here’s a quick primer from Wikipedia:

The show revolves around a corporation running numerous underground establishments (known as “Dollhouses”) around the globe which program individuals referred to as Actives (or Dolls) with temporary personalities and skills. Wealthy clients hire Actives from Dollhouses at great expense for various purposes. The series primarily follows the Active known as Echo, played by Eliza Dushku, on her journey towards self-awareness…

 

The story follows Echo (Eliza Dushku), a “doll” or “Active” for the Los Angeles “Dollhouse”, one of several fictional facilities, called “Houses”, run by a company which hires out human beings to wealthy clients. These “engagements” range from romantic interludes to high-risk criminal enterprises. Each Active has their original memories wiped and exists in a childlike blank state until programmed via the insertion of new memories and personalities for each mission. Actives such as Echo are ostensibly volunteers who have surrendered their minds and bodies to the organization for five-year stints, during which their original personalities are saved on hard drives, in exchange for vast amounts of money and a solution to any other problematic circumstances in their lives.E-1 Echo is unique however in that she remembers small amounts even after personality “wipes”, and gradually develops an increasingly cognizant self-awareness and personality. This concept allows the series to examine the notions of identity and personhood.

Hope that description wasn’t too heavy, but it really does a good job of laying out the show’s premise. What fascinates me about the show is the mind swipes. Well, not just the mind swipes, because the moral and ethical questions of having people lease their bodies out, shelving their minds (and souls?) is very thought provoking. But it was those mind swipes that initially hooked me. Getting blank slates repeatedly and the chance to live completely differently every few days… honestly, there is something really appealing in that.

There have been times I wished I could go to sleep, only to awake to real newness. The stupid things I said or did one day, would all just disappear. No living with feelings of guilt, bitterness or regret. Yes, there’s something alluring about being able to get some eternal sunshine to disinfect the darker corners of the mind.

Of course, life isn’t a Joss Whedon show (sorry, Joe). My oh so many, many, many fails remain very much real. However, I take great solace in knowing that with sincere repentance, forgiveness from God is available. 

“You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” –Micah 7:19

 

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” –Psalm 103:12

Reflection for the day: Thank you God, for continually forgiving me.