Dollhouse-Fest: Fran Kranz and Enver Gjokaj Play With Dolls

E!Online is having a Dollhouse extravaganza today, posting interviews with Fran Kranz and Enver Gjokaj in a one-two punch.

First up, Fran Kranz (Topher) talks about his character’s past, being obnoxious, and his relationships with the women in the Dollhouse:

Is the Dollhouse good or bad?
We see different shades of that. Ultimately we agree it’s bad, right? It’s human trafficking. It’s a place where people go to escape pain that seemed insurmountable; it provides a service, whatever the case may be. In terms of Topher, is he good or bad? That’s sort of irrelevant. He’s as much a computer as the computers he works with.

What would you like to learn about Topher in season two?
I’d like to see the backstory of Topher, before the Dollhouse. I see him as a lonely person who couldn’t relate to anyone, and I think the Dollhouse gave his life some sense. His own intellect was so out of control he couldn’t get along with parents or friends, but then he found something he could challenge and control on his level. He’s like an adolescent, like an infant. I’d like to see what happens next.

Do you feel that Topher is likable?
He’s an annoying, cocky, nerdy kid. Those aren’t appealing qualities. I wouldn’t be playing the character right if I was trying to make him all cool and suave and humble at the appropriate times. He’s not. He’s not that kid; he’s a total jerk. He has an ownership over the place the same way it does over him.

Where does Topher fit into the hierarchy?
The Dollhouse in L.A. is the nicest, but there are lots of Dollhouses, so you can infer that the L.A. Dollhouse is the original. Topher is as much a part of creating these things as Adele and the Rossum Corp. Once you write this technology down, the next guy can go do it, but Topher’s the innovative guy behind all this—or at least the technician who can crank the wheels.

Read the rest of the interview here…

Enver Gjokaj (Victor) called in from his native Albania to answer some burning questions about Victor’s past, his attraction to Sierra, and the assignment he hopes Joss will give Victor:

Have you fantasized about certain assignments you’d like to see Victor take, just for fun as an actor?
Yes. I would like to shoot a rocket launcher into a busload of bad guys from a moving car. I’ve informed Joss of that, but still no word back so I can only assume he’s looking for a way to fit it into future episodes.

Is there anything you can tease about Victor’s background, before he was a doll?
We know he has a military background and that something bad happened. Joss and I have talked briefly about that, but nothing is official.

What have you learned from working with Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku?
Wow, so much. What really stands out to me is their professionalism. It’s been a rocky road finding this show, but never once did any tension or frustration trickle onto set. I don’t know how he does it but Joss creates a truly creative atmosphere. And Eliza basically has to live on set, but I never once saw her tired or cranky or complaining. Couldn’t ask for better people to work with.

Do you have any sense of what it is that attracts Victor so strongly to Sierra?
Hmm…Pheromones? I’m not sure, but we know it’s something deeper, more instinctual than liking her personality, because we don’t really have those as dolls. I personally think Joss is asking, “What if there is such a thing as true love?” Something more than a pat psychological answer. What if two souls are attracted to each other even in the absence of memory? It’s a great question.

Read the entire interview here…