Alias (TV Series) The Getaway (2003) User Reviews

The danger of relationships

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 28 March 2012]

When Sydney learns that Vaughn knew of the SD-6 investigation into her father and did not tell her she is less than pleased and it looks as though it could damage their professional relationship. Sydney is still undertaking missions for SD-6 of course and the latest takes her to Nice where she ends up going on a date with Vaughn; clearly the tensions between them weren't professional after all! It would have been a romantic evening out if Ariana Kane hadn't sent a couple of goons to follow Sydney; it looks as if Sydney and Vaughn are going to be captured but the managed to escape and neutralise their assailants before they inform Kane what they saw. Meanwhile Jack is still trying to prove his innocence and the only way for him to do that is to find the person who really took Sloane's wife and blackmailed the Alliance... his trail leads to a surprising revelation followed by a much bigger twist.

This was a fun episode which finally saw the mystery of Sloane's wife resolved; I won't spoil it with details bit I thought it was a great conclusion to that plot arc. In resolving it Jack had to go into a brain storming session with his wife; Victor Garber and Lena Olin were great in these scenes. It was nice to see Sydney and Vaughn finally go on a date although it doesn't look like they will be having another for a while considering how this one ended. The episode had some great action scenes including a fatal fight during the showing of a classic movie and a gun battle in a Nice restaurant. As so often happens Sydney has to don a disguise and her purple-haired punk look is both sexy and provides a laugh when she sets off the airport metal detectors with her assorted studded bracelets and collar.

A close call (or two)

[gridoon2024 · 8/10 · 3 November 2009]

Sydney is sent to Nice, France to recover a gyroscope with missile guiding capabilities, but the growing affection in her relationship with Vaughn puts them both at great danger. Meanwhile, Jack continues to be hunted down by Ariana Kane and her posse, and they're beginning to suspect Sydney as well. So he turns to Irina to help him re-evaluate the whole situation and find the clues that will lead him to the mysterious blackmailer. Opening with a exciting car chase (which mirrors a sequence from the Pilot of the show - this time it's Sydney rescuing Jack), raising the stakes in the middle (there are at least 2 occasions when Sydney is mere SECONDS away from being exposed as a double agent), and closing with a twist that gets the viewer thinking just how much of what he or she saw in the second season so far was "real" and how much was fabricated, "The Getaway" also benefits, once again, from the incredible chemistry between Victor Garber and Lena Olin - those two can tell a lot just by looking at each other. And the writers prove that their plans for the series are long-term, by turning an almost forgotten event from a late Season 1 episode into a major plot point now. *** out of 4.

a defining moment in TV

[A_Different_Drummer · 10/10 · 7 June 2015]

If you pick up any of the many bios on JJ Abrams they all mention how it was shows like Alias that helped launch him to icon status.

But that is not enough information. Too many gaps.

The fact is that JJ has a knack for taking shows that start with a simple premise -- almost as if he understands the Hollywood money boys have a weakness for funding "simple stupid predictable" pilots -- and then, once in actual production, raising the stakes every few hands, until you suddenly realize that you have a show that is nothing like what you started watching.

This episode is a case in point. Connected in name only to the original premise of Season 1, you have complex relationships inter-weaving with complex relationships.

Not only do you get here a last-minute, Hail Mary, "save" but also a tiny clue tossed to the audience which (if you were paying attention) sets up the second (and surprise!) final climax.

And this episode also shows the signature JJ casting acumen, which is arguably the most astute in the business. Backing up Garner (as if she needs backing up) are three of the greatest actresses (and greatest faces) of the late 20th century: Dunaway, Olin, and Irving.

A perfect episode, and ready for the TV Hall of Fame.