Alias: Taken

[vaznetti]

What number are we up to, anyway? Well, never mind. You know the drill. Spoilers ahead.

There was a lot to like in this episode, despite the usual random acts of stupidity.

First of all, Sark in a straitjacket still managing to free himself, kill everyone else on the plane, and escape. Whee! In fact, this episode gave good Sark: there need to be new icons in my future. I liked it--especially when Lauren scolded him for being so uncaring and evil, and he was all, "yeah, whatever, spare me your issues." I liked Lauren, as well--she was conflicted, but only a little, and I loved the moment when she appeared to be helping Sydney and Dixon--so that Sark could make the trade safely!

Second, Dixon! I was so afraid that there would be no good Dixon here, but there was! He was back in action--it was almost like season one! I was so pleased--by that and by Sydney's loyalty to Dixon. Yes, she really is willing to die for him. I missed that about her--I think it combats the sense I sometimes get that Sydney doesn't really care about other people. It was a relief to see her show emotion that was so wholly unselfish.

My love for Sloane grows ever greater. My belief in the Jack/Sloane 'ship grows ever greater. Jack arrests Sloane, and then they work together. Judy Barnett doesn't understand you, honey--stick with Jack. You have so much in common! like, say, Irina and possibly Sydney In fact, Sloane helping Jack figure out the Covenant's real game--priceless. Suddenly one remembers all their years of working together, and that their friendship wasn't some kind of delusion of Sloane's.

I leave the deep "fathers and daughters" theme to others--it felt a bit overdone to me, to be honest. But it led nicely to the gratuitous Sarkney moment, so I'm not unhappy about it. I loved watching Sark think Sydney's offer over. He just amuses me, because of course he's going to go put the collar of doom on Sydney. Duh.

And finally, Jack. Jack is too smart and too hot--he even looks good in slow-motion. What is he going to do to Lauren, and when is he going to do it? I can't wait to find out.


Dumb things:

I don't think you can land an airplane on autopilot. In the middle of the desert with not a control tower in sight, especially. And why did they use such a big passenger plane? Why not a military transport? That was just stupid. Serves them right to lose Sark.

Also, when Jack went to Switzerland to arrest Sloane, and then brought Sloane back to LA--that's about 24 hours of flying time, right there, and yet it all seems to have occurred in a few hours. Switzerland, unless I'm much mistaken, is not actually in the Valley.

Given that it only took Jack about fifteen seconds to undo Sark's failsafe collar of doom, I'm not sure I see what the point of that was. Can't they just hop right into the car and go racing after him?

And finally--Jack knows that something is up with Lauren, and still (judging from the trailers) gives Vaughn time to break up with her? What's that all about?


And finally--happy birthday to maidenjedi!

Comments

[darcydodo]

I don't think you can land an airplane on autopilot.

Apparently, you can. My parents and I were talking to two United pilots once while sitting in Buena Vista near Ghirardelli Square and drinking Irish coffees, and they were commenting that everyone thinks that landing must be the hardest part, but apparently it can (if necessary) all be done pretty much automatically. The hardest part is actually taking off, it seems.

And, um, maybe Jack gets proof of Lauren's, ah, two-timing, and tells Vaughn to break up with her?

[vaznetti]

Hunh. I stand corrected. (Even without air traffic control, though? and I still don't understand why they needed such a big plane...)

[chele74.livejournal.com]

And finally--Jack knows that something is up with Lauren, and still (judging from the trailers) gives Vaughn time to break up with her? What's that all about?

They must be unrelated events unless a trip to Switzerland is somehow involved. And yes, Switzerland *is* now located in the Valley (high rents in Europe drove them out), but their press release announcing this fact got misplaced by the various news media.

[vaznetti]

They must be unrelated events unless a trip to Switzerland is somehow involved.

Ah. I see. Vaughn takes Lauren to Switzerland to break up, and Jack is stuck in time-warp traffic on the way to the Valley. Now it all makes perfect sense.

[nestra.livejournal.com]

Given that it only took Jack about fifteen seconds to undo Sark's failsafe collar of doom, I'm not sure I see what the point of that was.

My husband, whom I suspect of watching MacGyver back in the day, said, "Couldn't they just put something between the needle and her neck?

He had a point.

Also, the fact that the CIA apparently only has three agents capable of going in the field is starting to wear a little thin.

[vaznetti]

My husband, whom I suspect of watching MacGyver back in the day, said, "Couldn't they just put something between the needle and her neck?

Well, if he'd really been watching MacGyver, wouldn't he have suggested duct tape?

I don't really mind the "only three CIA agents in the whole world" thing--it's just another bit of narrative flim-flam to me.

[nestra.livejournal.com]

I don't really mind the "only three CIA agents in the whole world" thing--it's just another bit of narrative flim-flam to me.

I think it really only bothers me when there's an obvious reason why sending one of them is bad. Hey, we need someone to shadow Sark? Let's send Vaughn, who he'll recognize in an instant, instead of someone who might actually be covert! (Although the boyfight in the cargo hold was totally hot.) Dixon's kids have been kidnapped? Oh, just let him go on the mission. I'm sure his judgement isn't *that* compromised!

[vaznetti]

Dixon's kids have been kidnapped? Oh, just let him go on the mission. I'm sure his judgement isn't *that* compromised!

I think that from my POV the irritating moment was when Dixon stands up halfway through the episode and announces that he's too closely emotionally involved to be in charge of the search. Hello? Shouldn't he have done that AT THE VERY BEGINNING?

It may help that I see Alias as occurring in some strange fantasy dimension where the usual laws of physics and politics don't apply.

[rez-lo.livejournal.com]

Jack is too smart and too hot--he even looks good in slow-motion.

Good God. The man needs to wear a billowy coat and walk that way all the time, except for when he's all with the commando gear. Or the black turtleneck. Sheesh.

[vaznetti]

Billowy coats, sadly, remind me too much of Angel in his "Mr. Billowy-Coat-King-of-Pain" phase (which he's always in), and that involves more ang, soul-searching and regret than I generally associate with Jack. But give me a clean-lined charcoal gray suit and I'll be licking the TV screen right there with you.

[maidenjedi]

Thank you!!

:-)