Fox hopes geeky ‘Dollhouse’ will stay on viewers’ minds

Joss Whedon is the man to his many fans. He dazzled them with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and continued to inspire with “Angel,” “Firefly” and “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.”

His new series, “Dollhouse,” raises hopes and a slew of questions. The biggest: Can this mind-bending thriller survive?

The pilot was reworked to make it more accessible. Fox has slotted “Dollhouse” at 9 p.m. EST Fridays, starting this week —- not a cushy space.

Still, the show has a formidable asset. Eliza Dushku of “Buffy” plays Echo, an agent who performs risky tasks. Dushku fiercely exhibits her versatility and excels at playing sultry or strait-laced, rattled or vacant.

“Dollhouse” asks viewers to accept an elaborate setup. Echo works for an illegal, underground group arranged like a corporation. The high and mighty clients hire “Actives,” such as Echo, who are programmed to kill, rescue hostages or negotiate crises.

When their “engagements” are done, the Actives return to the swank Dollhouse, where their minds are erased.

In this murky world, problems are cropping up. Echo’s mind isn’t being wiped clean. Her handler (Harry Lennix) frets about her. His bosses are feuding. An FBI agent (Tahmoh Penikett) is scrambling to learn about Dollhouse and bring it down.

On the plus side, “Dollhouse” is not another crime or medical show. The stellar Dollhouse set, with its innovative sleeping quarters, resembles a swank spa. The premiere ends with a knockout sequence.

In the fine supporting cast, Fran Kranz stands out as the geeky programmer, who could be Whedon’s stand-in. The grim bosses are played vividly by Olivia Williams and Reed Diamond. Dushku is the lure, though, to keep viewers hooked through the complicated drama.

Can she and Whedon make “Dollhouse” linger in the memory? Whedon’s track record offers reason to hope.

ON TV

“Dollhouse”

Debuts at 9 p.m. Friday on Fox.

Parents’ guide: Violence, coarse language, sexual themes.