Mere minutes after the episode went off the air, Anne posted this cheer: "I think it has to be the best episode of the season. It was really good how they worked the background information into the episode for the new viewers and Syd and Vaughn finally kissed. The suspense, the intrigue, the surprise at the end. Wow! I just loved it so much! I can't wait for the next episode." Katie wrote in: "Wow, can Alias be any more incredible? Seriously? It is by far the best hour of television, and it never ceases to do anything less than amaze me. Although I have so many questions and thoughts and opinions about the show, the one thing that stands out in my mind is, where was Lena Olin? Did they purposely leave her out of the episode to avoid confusing those who don't follow the show or what? Oh, and how about Syd and Vaughn? Can we say perfect timing? Can't wait to see what happens next!"

These reactions reinforce my opinion that even in the midst of this reality craze, there is still such great value to be attached to shows, like Alias and 24, that keep you breathlessly waiting for the next episode. (Unpredictability is also one of the great selling points of reality TV, it should be noted here, so I'm not branded a complete reality curmudgeon.)

As for Lena Olin's absence, I can only speculate that J.J. Abrams was crunching so much story here, that to insert her enigmatic presence into this epic episode would have been too much even for avid fans of the show to digest readily. How she will fit into this new Alias — and what we will learn of her true loyalties in a post-Alliance landscape — remains to be seen.

There were some doubters. Dan S. wrote: "I can't help feeling a bit cheated. Alias fans have waited patiently for two years, enduring the mounting tension and hanging on every plot twist, only to have the whole thing unfurl in a ball of flames. It's not that the episode wasn't entertaining — it just wasn't the same show that I'm used to watching. The new plot lines look interesting. I just wish they weren't rushed upon us so soon in an effort to grab ratings." And Marta found it "a bit of a disappointment. I felt like I was watching a pilot episode of a new show and not Alias. Everything was different, and I think they got rid of all the SD cells a bit too easily. The kiss between the two characters looked fake and I'm very upset about Francie. (I would have been happier if she was just bad and not some Mission: Impossible look-alike.)."

All interesting and mostly valid concerns — although the kiss looking "fake" I can't relate to — but I was thrilled by this bold and explosive episode. I can't remember watching an hour of such volcanic change. The Francie twist completely stunned me — in a good way. I do worry that Alias may lose a layer of tension now that Syd and Jack no longer have SD-6 looking over their shoulder. But it may also be liberating (that's how Abrams sees it, anyway). If Alias had to adapt to survive, this was the way to do it.

Cindy wrote that the episode "has me worried that it's becoming a little far-fetched, and has me confused about what's to come. The whole look-alike story for (the murdered) Francie seems so over-the-top. I don't know. I pray it gets picked up for season three."

A little far-fetched? The show is complete and total escapist fantasy. Reality has nothing to do with it. As for the future, I'm convinced (don't ask me why) that ABC will renew the show, no matter what. It's so brilliantly produced and it enjoys the kind of media buzz that will last long after Bachelorette's Trista takes her final bow.

ABC may have blown it by starting the episode too late, but the show still enjoyed about double the audience it usually gets, and if a percentage of these viewers come back (why wouldn't they?) then it won't have been a totally lost opportunity. Everyone wishes the ratings were higher, but the demographics are solid. And unless ABC chooses to go with wall-to-wall reality (shades of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire overexposure), the network is better off with Alias than without it.

And finally, I know many questions were raised by the revelations in the episode's final act. But I'll wait to see more before I address any specific concerns. I'll leave Alias with this exuberant reaction from Arianna: "How amazingly wonderful was Alias's latest episode? I was like, "J.J. Abrams is a genius.'' Seriously, Syd and Dixon's scene? Emmy anyone? Carl Lumbly made you almost feel Dixon's pain. Francie's evil clone? Sloane and Sark? The long-awaited kiss? What else can we expect? Can J.J. Abrams top himself and write something even better than this?"

We can only hope so.

© TV Guide 2003

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