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“Dollhouse” fans who may have complained that Sierra (Dichen Lachman) hasn’t been given enough screen time this season should be especially pleased with “Belonging.” Not only is Sierra the central figure in this particular episode, but the show also uses her story to drive the Dollhouse’s continuing descent into chaos.

As the episode opens, we discover that a dangerous man from Sierra’s past has become one of her regular clients at the Dollhouse, and when Echo (Eliza Dushku) notices that Sierra – who was an aspiring artist named Priya prior to becoming an Active – is exhibiting strange behavior after these engagements, Adelle (Olivia Williams) attempts to pull the plug on this particular client relationship. Meanwhile, Boyd (Harry Lennix) investigates Echo’s discovery.

“Dollhouse” works best as an ensemble so the fact that all the marketing and a bit too much of the narrative focus has been placed on Echo throughout makes no sense. However, in “Belonging”, the entire cast – with the notable absence of Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett) – is given plenty of juicy material with which to work.

What makes “Dollhouse” such a compelling series is the moral ambiguity involved in its very existence and the various ways in which its employees rationalize their way out of their ethical responsibility.

What Worked

Nowhere is this moral grey area as clear as it is with Topher.

Though the character initially served as a way to inject comic relief into the dark themes of “Dollhouse,” Topher has evolved tremendously since the start of season two, and Kranz’ performance brilliantly reflects this.

As we already know, Topher’s obsession with his own genius inadvertently results in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of “Epitaph One,” but for the first time, Topher demonstrates remorse for his actions. He is a walking embodiment of the show’s most complex themes and therefore has become its most intriguing character.

Adelle’s admission that she chose Topher to run the Dollhouse because of he’s devoid of a conscience is a standout scene in “Belonging,” as is his grisly assistance to Boyd later on. These are likely turning points for the character’s overall arc.

Aside from Kranz, Lachman delivers her best performance since the series began. While Sierra is typically relegated to a supporting role and limited screen time, she gets a chance to show off her emotional range here. Equal parts strength and vulnerability, Lachman balances these two sides perfectly, especially when it comes to the Victor-Sierra love story.

It’s gratifying to see subplots such as this come to fruition, especially since the series will likely be cancelled following the conclusion of this season. Whedon and his team seem to be accelerating their plans for the show, developing stories at a faster pace and delving deeper than ever before into its characters.

As Echo points out to Boyd, a storm is most definitely on the way. In every successive episode, the Dollhouse is starting to slip apart a bit more at the seams. In “Belonging,” we get a glimpse at the Rossum execs that Adelle answers to, and likely they will continue to exercise their authority over her Dollhouse operation, as it falls apart.

What Didn’t Work

While the clear focus in “Belonging” was Sierra’s story, Echo’s storyline here could have been a bit more developed. She has seemingly been taking notes – including on the glass in her sleeping quarters – as she continues to fight against the many personalities she’s been imprinted with.

Though the first few episodes of the season implied that Echo would team with Ballard to bring down the Dollhouse, “Belonging” complicates matters by bringing Boyd into the fold of this conspiracy. This is not a weakness by any means but an unanticipated development that will surely play out in interesting ways throughout the remaining episodes. However, “Belonging” could have benefited from a bit more, especially since the series will likely be starting to wind down soon.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

“Dollhouse” stars Eliza Dushku, Harry Lennix, Fran Kranz, Tahmoh Penikett, Enver Gjokaj, Dichen Lachman and Olivia Williams. “Belonging” was written by Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen and was directed by Jonathan Frakes.

“Dollhouse” airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on Fox.