ALIAS - There's Only One Sydney Bristow

Sydney: You want me to be your best man?
Will: Well I did, now I'm not so sure.
Sydney: How would that work exactly? Would I have to wear a tux?
Will: You don't have to worry about it...cause you're not invited.


Those silly Alias geniuses and their double talk...only one Sydney Bristow. hehe So, as a 100th...up to par? I think so. It had the drama, the comedy, the best friend, and the arch-nemesis. Not to mention the fact that we meet "the twelve" (speaking of the twelve, did anyone notice that the one that talked a lot is the dirty doc from the OC?) and the arch-nemesis ultimately turns into Sydney. I'd say altogether pretty nice. I liked that we got to see the doubling process that has been such a big part of the show and how painful it actually is, and I think I'm on the same page with basically everyone else in thinking that P5's reason for doubling Anna as Sydney is to have her fulfill Rambaldi's page 47 prophecy. Sloane's comment, "That's right Sydney, you have a point; without you that page is worthless," seems very signficant, as in, sure, but not if we make another her. Its like taking what The Covenant was trying to do in season three to a whole new level. Why kidnap the real Sydney when you can just make your own? I'm not ignorant enough to not realize I could very well be way off base, but it just seems to be the consensus for now. I don't, however, think that's why they wanted the page, they already know what it says and what the prophecy is, otherwise they wouldn't have come up with this scenario in the first place...I think they needed the page for the medical anomalies that match Sydney's on that page...heart size, platelet levels, and DNA sequencing...specifically DNA sequencing. It just makes sense that they would need that info for the doubling process when they didn't have a willing participant or one in captivity. Its unfortunate for Sydney that that info is written down somewhere like that. I have a feeling seeing the page burning in the previews might have something to do with that line of thought.

As far as the comedy goes...this one was full of it, just like the old days. This season has seemed especially lacking in comedic value, something Alias has always been good at balancing, and this episode brought that back in full. I think Will added to that significantly, but the CIA-trained baby-sitters didn't hurt...they were hilarious. The whole episode seemed like a flashback to old-school Alias...shining moment? Anna kissing the glass of course. Having Anna and Will there coupled with our knowledged that Vaughn is alive and Sydney does know about it sort of makes everything seem back to normal. When there's a scene with Jack, Sloane, Sydney, Dixon, Marshall, and Will...it almost makes you forget about the weird newbies.

Negatives: not about just this episode but about the season in general that my sister brought up so she gets the credit for...but I'll use this episode as an example. This season there have been a couple times where it was just a couple people on missions, but for the most part its the entire team, and its completely unnecessary and just seems like they're trying to use the actors. Rachel has become completely pointless. I guess that might change, but I don't see how. Take the mission to rescue Will in Moscow for example...having Tom and Rachel there, what was the point? They walked around looking for the same thing Sydney was looking for, something she would have done solo in the past, and as soon as she went after Will we never saw them again. At the most she needed Dixon...having 112 people on every mission is just overcrowded and stupid, especially when its with characters that its impossible to care anything about. But I've already made my position on that clear. For four years it was Syd and Dixon, Syd and Vaughn, Syd and Nadia, Syd and Weiss, and maybe some kind of extra support team that faded into the background...these five and six people missions are messing with the structure and dynamic of the show. Again, props to my sis for bringing up an excellent point.

This is what I don't get...I understand the need for timing the seasonal arc and what not and the reality when Sydney just had a baby, but I'm assuming that Sydney's ultimate motivation right now is bringing P5 down so Vaughn can come out of hiding...and while I know her dad is all over that as much as he can be, its very un-Sydney to just sit at home for 5 weeks doing nothing to bring her fiance home. I wish they would have explained that away a little more...like had Jack and Sydney have a conversation about Jack continuing the work or something.

Overall, great episode...love it, love Alias. Counting down till the next episode is like a double edged sword...on one hand, I can't wait, but on the other, it means it will all be over soon...so sad!