Alias (2001–2006) 7.4
Sydney Bristow is an international spy recruited out of college and trained for espionage and self-defense. Creator:J.J. Abrams |
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Alias (2001–2006) 7.4
Sydney Bristow is an international spy recruited out of college and trained for espionage and self-defense. Creator:J.J. Abrams |
|
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| Series cast summary: | |||
| Jennifer Garner | ... |
Sydney Bristow
(105 episodes, 2001-2006)
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| Ron Rifkin | ... |
Arvin Sloane
(105 episodes, 2001-2006)
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| Carl Lumbly | ... |
Marcus Dixon
(105 episodes, 2001-2006)
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| Kevin Weisman | ... |
Marshall Flinkman
(105 episodes, 2001-2006)
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| Victor Garber | ... |
Jack Bristow
(105 episodes, 2001-2006)
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| Michael Vartan | ... |
Michael Vaughn
(95 episodes, 2001-2006)
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| Greg Grunberg | ... |
Eric Weiss
(55 episodes, 2002-2006)
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| David Anders | ... |
Julian Sark
(55 episodes, 2002-2006)
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| Merrin Dungey | ... |
Francie Calfo
(47 episodes, 2001-2006)
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| Bradley Cooper | ... |
Will Tippin
(46 episodes, 2001-2006)
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Sydney Bristow is a young, athletic, college graduate who was recruited her freshman year as a secret agent for SD-6, a top-secret branch of the CIA. After a few years -- after Sydney confides her lifestyle to her boyfriend, the evil head of SD-6 -- Arvin Sloan, has him killed. Sydney learns that SD-6 is part of a rogue international agency called the Alliance of 12, out to rule the world. She becomes a double agent, working with the real CIA to bring down SD-6 with the assistance of her handler, Michael Vaughn, and her estranged father Jack Bristow -- also a double agent. Along the way, Sydney fights various rival agents, rival terrorist groups, and traitors all the while keeping her cloak-and-dagger lifestyle a secret from her friends. (Season 1) Written by Matt Patay
Since all the other reviews are at either end of the spectrum, I'll throw myself into the middle. Alias is entertaining, but I wouldn't call it great TV. Especially not in the vein of Law and Order, or even Buffy. Those are two of my favorite shows, so take my review with that in mind. Alias, while inferior, does have strains of both of these, which leaves me liking it.
This is James Bond-ish; with spies living in an almost completely fantasy world with lots of gadgets and always looking (too?)incredibly polished. But where Bond is full of self mocking humor, Alias has little to none; which is a good thing and a bad thing. I'm not quite sure how seriously this show is taking itself. If it gets the joke, then it is brilliant. If it thinks we're buying all this, well then, that bumps the show down several notches. I mean, come on, this is from the makers of Felicity, not exactly experts in espionage. But neither am I, so it doesn't bother me. Many of the episodes feel somewhere in between a cartoon and a soap. Don't get me wrong, I love the show, but reality it ain't.
Alias is all about the willful suspension of disbelief. But it does, on occasion, go too far. The ridiculous notion that Sidney is still in school really drives me nuts. As I'm just about ready to swallow it all down with a smile, everything comes choking back up when her "classes" are referred to. Even SNL latched onto that for a classic bit of lampooning.
Basically, if you like silly action movies, this is a bright shiny object to entertain you for an hour. If you like your TV gritty and real-life, it is sure to drive you nuts!