Solo (10 Nov. 2005)

After Sydney and the APO team infiltrates a formal party at the Chinese embassy in India to locate a fugitive arms dealer, named Janos Vak, Rachel is chosen to begin very first solo mission... See full summary »

Director:

Jeffrey Bell

Writers:

J.J. Abrams (creator), Jeffrey Bell

Stars:

Jennifer Garner, Ron Rifkin, Carl Lumbly

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Garner	...	Sydney Bristow
Ron Rifkin	...	Arvin Sloane
Carl Lumbly	...	Marcus Dixon
Kevin Weisman	...	Marshall Flinkman
Rachel Nichols	...	Rachel Gibson
Élodie Bouchez	...	Renée Rienne (as Elodie Bouchez)
Balthazar Getty	...	Thomas Grace
Victor Garber	...	Jack Bristow
Mía Maestro	...	Nadia Santos
Tyrees Allen	...	Gordon Dean
Amy Acker	...	Kelly Peyton
Ron Bottitta	...	Janos Vak
Darcy Shean	...	Sales Clerk
Purva Bedi	...	Fiancée
Boyuen	...	General

Storyline

After Sydney and the APO team infiltrates a formal party at the Chinese embassy in India to locate a fugitive arms dealer, named Janos Vak, Rachel is chosen to begin very first solo mission by infiltrating an off-shore oil platform, with com-links from Sydney whose pregnancy now limits her role in missions, to steal some computer software from Janos to gain the location of a new weapon. Meanwhile, Sloan, now back at APO, is in frequent contact with the elusive Gordon Dean who wants him to keep close tabs on APO, leading to Dean sending his lethal right-hand assassin, Kelly Peyton, to recover the computer software before APO does leading to a hand-to-hand fight between Peyton and the field-inexperienced Rachel.

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Plot Keywords:

heroine

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Mandarin

Release Date:

10 November 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 4, Walt Disney Studios, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, US

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bad Robot, Touchstone Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

42 min

Did You Know?

Trivia

When asked how he's doing as he's hacking into the Chinese general's safe, Marshall responds that he's "5 by 5". This is a very recognizable line to fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel, as it is the trademark saying of the character Faith. Episode writer and director Jeffrey Bell wrote, directed, and/or co-produced 61 episodes of 'Angel', and even appeared as an extra in the first episode of its final season.

User Reviews

Sloane vs. Dean and Rachel vs. Peyton

The APO team manages to locate a software specialist who has designed a system for re-targeting missiles at will; because only a woman can approach him for "company" in the oil rig where he's about to complete his work and then sell it to a Chinese official, and because the pregnant Sydney does not fit the bill, Jack picks Rachel to carry out the mission of getting hold of the software "solo". Sloane promises Dean that he will swap the discs after Rachel's return and give him the real one, but Dean does not trust him and sends Peyton to the same oil rig, to do the job on her own. It's fascinating to watch Sloane's transformation throughout the years - now he's again deceiving the people he's working with, but this time he does it reluctantly, with a feeling of shame: there is no joy in it (he also has one of his most badass lines in the history of the show here. Dean: "What would they do to you if they found out that you are betraying them?" - Sloane: "The same thing I'm hoping to do to you one day". Ouch!). Rachel also continues to develop as a character; inexperienced in field action, she reacts with - realistic - panic at her first difficult situation, then gradually gains self-confidence. Peyton also has a GREAT little moment in this episode - it's the look she gives to Rachel when, despite everything that's happened between them, Rachel saves her life from enemy fire. In fact, most of the characters (Sydney, Dixon, Renée, etc) get some great little moments in "Solo"; it's a very well-written and at times surprisingly funny episode. The only disappointment is that Mía Maestro's "return" is nothing more than a 5-second shot of Nadia's face while she's still in a coma; on the other hand, that IS Michael Vartan's (uncredited) voice that you can hear at the end. *** out of 4.