Ep 7. Echoes

Echoes is the seventh episode of the first season of Dollhouse. It aired on March 27, 2009 on Fox. The episode was written by Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon, and Andrew Chambliss. It was directed by James Contner.

The episode begins with Echo attending a remote Healing retreat on the request of her client, Richard, who wants to rediscover his true self. Once there, Echo begins to experience terrifying flashbacks and hears haunting whispers that lead her on a path to uncovering a dark truth. Meanwhile, Agent Paul Ballard continues his obsessive pursuit of the Dollhouse and its activities. His investigation leads him to a former client of the Dollhouse, who provides him with a clue that brings him closer to finding the truth.

As Echo delves deeper into her flashbacks, she discovers she has a connection to the retreat's founder, Margaret Bashford. She was once a troubled teenager who was seeking help from Margaret but apparently died while undergoing the treatment. Echo realizes that Margaret's unusual healing method is responsible for her and other people's deaths. Echo finds a videotape that reveals that Margaret has been implanting her patients with a persona, which she believed was their true selves.

As Echo tries to leave the retreat to inform the authorities, she is confronted by Margaret and her followers. Margaret tries to convince her that she has unlocked her true self and that she should accept her role as a higher being. Echo's handler, Boyd, manages to find her and saves her from getting brainwashed.

Meanwhile, Agent Ballard continues his search for the Dollhouse. He meets with one of the Dollhouse's former clients, an ex-senator who reveals that the Dollhouse erased his memory after using his body for a political assassination. He gives Ballard a lead on Richard Connell, the client who hired Echo to go to the retreat. Ballard tracks him down but is too late as Richard has already committed suicide after discovering the truth about the retreat. However, Ballard finds a DVD that reveals that Echo was sent to the retreat by the Dollhouse.

Echo returns to the Dollhouse but doesn't remember anything that happened during the retreat. Topher, the Dollhouse's resident genius, discovers a glitch in Echo's programming that resurfaced during the retreat. It turns out that the glitch was caused by memories of Caroline, Echo's real persona, who was erased before her time at the Dollhouse.

Overall, Echoes is a gripping episode that explores the themes of identity, manipulation, and free will. The episode reveals more about the Dollhouse's operations, its clients, and its ethical implications. It also adds depth to Echo's character, who is slowly starting to develop an awareness of her true self. Fans of suspenseful sci-fi dramas will certainly enjoy this episode.