Working in a family business wasn’t easy for Sydney when only her father was involved. Now, her Mum is starting to get in on the action, and it’s clear that they’re all having issues. On the surface they appear a happy group — especially when in disguise in foreign countries — but there’s always the little things that give it away. Like jumping out of planes to settle arguments, the daughter bossing the parents around, and Mr Bristow giving his ex-wife an explosive necklace.

These secret agents are crazy.

While Sydney and her folks go off to save the world from nuclear danger, there’s a cat amongst the pidgeons at SD-6. Sark quite rightly thinks that the team’s all a bit dumb for not spotting that every mission they pursue has a distinctly terrorist, arms-dealing side to it. But Sloane won’t have any of it. He probably likes to think that his team are really clever, and therefore that he’s really clever, because he’s pulled the wool over their eyes.

And in somewhere that vaguely approximates the normal world, not-really-a-drug-addict Will has gone and gotten fired from his job for the CIA. And yet he’s still doing the work, for free. I truly admire this character’s dedication to getting into episodes. On shows like Buffy, Xander hangs around for season after season waiting for some plot point or another to come for him. He must have thought he was a shoe-in for some super powers. But lazing about’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye. On Alias, Will is getting out there and demanding a plotline. That’s willpower for you.

But the main thrust of this episode remains the jolly old Bristows, so let’s say a bit more about them. I’ve been noticing something for a few episodes, but now she’s stripped down to her underwear I can’t hold back any longer. Irina is pretty hot for a 40-50 year old. But then they’re all at their best this week. Mr Bristow is smiling and telling stories, and Sydney’s giving those winsome smiles that mean she wishes she was a normal girl, with a normal life. Best of all though, is the willingness of the Alias music person to let it rip with the trumpets. How long till the next James Bond film?

This episode doesn’t manage a clear bill of health by a long shot sadly. Though everything I’ve mentioned has been absolutely delightful, things can get serious in Alias. And when at the end of the episode, it’s time to fight for their lives against indian rebels, this is one of those serious times. I’ve never seen Sydney kill before (remember, I’ve only seen the last seven episodes). And it’s never fun to kill. But it’s ever so slightly peculiar to kill minority political groups to the dulcit tones of Bono and U2. Let’s not do this again, hmmm? It’s rather on the sick side. If you want to play the episode off with music, don’t organise a hideously violent ambush. It’s only polite.

503

This entry was posted by the illustrious Tom Charman on Friday, October 17th, 2003. It concerns such pressing issues as . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.