Joss Whedon be still my heart.

The creator of “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel” and “Firefly” has a new critically acclaimed show on television this season you probably haven’t heard about. It’s in trouble.

“Dollhouse,” starring “Buffy” alumna Eliza Dushku, is a smart, captivating drama that follows the members and pursuers of one of Los Angeles’ most secretive and illegal organizations and it needs your help.

The Dollhouse is a, literally, underground organization that provides its clients with something no other business can — programmable people, imprinted with the client’s specifications to be whoever they want and do whatever they want.

In the show, Dushku stars as Echo, a member of the Dollhouse whose former personality and memories have been wiped. Each week at the client’s behest, Echo and the house’s other dolls are imprinted with different personalities that suit the house and its very wealthy clientele.

Whedon’s story delves deeply into the problem of human trafficking, corrupt corporations and the dangers of technology among many, many other themes (it is a Whedon show, of course).

But that’s not all! “Dollhouse” also stars “Battlestar Galactica” vet Tahmoh Penikett, who is easy on the eyes and believable, wonderful even, as the FBI Agent intent on finding the Dollhouse. Each member of this ensemble cast — including Harry Lennix, Olivia Williams, Fran Kranz, Dichen Lachman and Enver Gjokaj — is perfect for his or her own part.

So, can you wipe away a soul? Or, perhaps more importantly in this case — can you get a second season for a critically acclaimed show with a dedicated audience when Nielsen ratings are low because Fox has stuck it into the 9 p.m. Friday time slot of doom?

The sad truth is (for “Dollhouse,” not the soul), probably not. At Tuesday night’s Paley Panel for the program, Whedon told reporters that, while the show’s fate is still technically in limbo, renewal is unlikely. In step with Whedon’s comments, “Dollhouse” is currently ranked on E! Online as critically endangered in the Web site’s annual “Save one show” polls.

While the show’s ratings have been lower than motherboard Fox would like … Whedon, the story and the content itself should not be blamed.

Fox scrapped Whedon’s unaired pilot before “Dollhouse” premiered and told him to write a new, more viewer-friendly episode. This was in the middle of shooting the first season. The eighth episode quickly became the second after Fox decided they wanted someone with a crossbow on the show, and fast. Also, the first five episodes were ordered to be more stand-alone than building.

It became clear when the sixth episode, “Man on the Street,” aired that had Whedon been allowed the room to create and develop as he pleased, the show would have picked up at a much faster pace, could have built up a larger, enthusiastic audience and, possibly, had a much better chance at renewal.

Not since “Buffy” has a TV show pulled at my heart strings so much — and only nine episodes in.

I’m not saying that the show is without its flaws, but Fox should at least give it a second season to realize its potential, because there’s a lot there.

So help save “Dollhouse”; watch the show! I made my roommates agree to watch one episode last week and we ended up watching all eight, they were so hooked. Since then I’ve been getting texts, e-mails and wall posts with theories and reactions. It’s easy to become a fan.

The next new episode airs Friday, April 24 at 9 p.m. on Fox. Episodes are also available on Hulu.com and iTunes.