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Media Life
February 20, 2003
'Alias,' in praise of spy TV done right
ABC deserves credit for standing behind this show
by Ethan Alter
ABC is guilty of numerous crimes against television, the most
recent being their rancid reality program "Are You Hot?" But one
thing you can't accuse them of is not trying their damnedest to
turn "Alias" into a hit.
Since "Alias" debuted in September 2001, the network has devoted
an enormous amount of time and energy to hyping JJ Abrams' cult spy
show. Promos for the series seem to air around the clock, and star
Jennifer Garner has graced every single magazine cover in existence,
with the possible exception of "The Nation."
Despite the network's best efforts, though, "Alias" has yet to
catch a break in the ratings. So it was appropriate that for its
final effort to save the series, ABC handed Abrams the plum post-
Super Bowl time slot.
Abrams returned the favor by streamlining the show's complicated
premise, making it easier for new viewers to leap aboard.
The plan worked, sort of. While the Super Bowl episode didn't
break any ratings records, it did attract a larger audience than
usual, many of whom (this reviewer included) were coming to the show
for the first time.
Sadly, not all of these newbies stuck around. In the weeks
following Super Bowl, "Alias" has fallen back to its underachieving
ways.
On a more positive note, however, a third season looks more or
less guaranteed. This is not only because ABC has already invested so
much in this show, but also because Abrams will need at least another
season to satisfactorily resolve all the plot points he's got hanging
in the air.
A brief recap of the story so far: For more than a year, CIA agent
Sydney Bristow (Garner) served undercover in an elite organization
known as SD-6. Although the group's boss Sloane (the terrific Ron
Rifkin) claimed they were affiliated with the CIA, SD-6 was actually
part of a global crime syndicate known as The Alliance.
It was Sydney's job to gather intel on Sloane and his cronies so
that the real feds could bring them to justice. In the Super Bowl
episode, Sydney at last uncovered a crucial piece of information that
allowed the CIA to take down The Alliance once and for all.
No longer a double agent, she's free to contemplate returning to
civilian life and can engage in some serious nookie with her fellow
agent/love interest, Vaughn (Michael Vartan).
Of course, the danger isn't entirely abated. Although SD-6 is
history, Sloane escaped capture and is still at large.
More insidiously, someone very close to Sydney has been murdered
and replaced by an evil double with dubious intentions.
If this all sounds overly complicated, it doesn't play that way
onscreen. "Alias" certainly requires a healthy amount of
concentration -- this isn't "Joe Millionaire," after all -- but
Abrams and his crack team of writers do an excellent job keeping the
action clear and the narrative compelling.
This is the spy genre done right, the kind of twist-filled, edge-
of-your-seat storytelling John Le Carre and Ian Fleming excelled in.
And while some longtime fans have expressed concern at the show's
current direction, new viewers can't wait to find out what Abrams has
up his sleeve next.
Surprisingly, the major weakness of "Alias" is its much-ballyhooed
star. Garner is a knockout, no argument there, and she definitely has
the right mix of athleticism and glamour for the part.
So far, though, she hasn't demonstrated a particular aptitude for
drama; in fact, when she's not dressing up in a variety of costumes
or kicking bad-guy butt, Sydney is actually kind of a bore.
Garner's energetic but profoundly unfunny stint as the guest host
on last week's "Saturday Night Live" and her underwhelming turn as
Elektra in the big-screen misfire "Daredevil" further suggests that
she doesn't possess much range.
To be fair, she might have had more of a chance to stretch her
acting muscles earlier in the show's run. That'll be something to
watch for when the first season of "Alias" hits DVD in September.
Ultimately, the real stars of "Alias" are Abrams and the writing
staff. It's a real joy to discover an action/adventure series that
actually respects the viewer's intelligence. No wonder it's faring so
poorly in the ratings.
© Media Life 2003
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