Believe it or not, I didn’t watch last night’s series finale of Alias, choosing instead to watch some of the seven-episode backlog that’s been clogging Read the full post.
May 23
2006
10:00 AM ET
Adios, 'Alias'
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A strong series finale. Hated to see “Spy Daddy” bite the dust. Was hoping Irena would have ended up being a “good guy,” but alas, that was not to be. The opening scene in Sydney was a nice touch; still wanted to see a more pronounced denouement of Syd as the Chosen One. The final scene with Isabel putting together the puzzle was another nice carryover from Syd’s experiences. One major disappointment, the absence of J.J. Abrams and Ken Olin as integral parts of the finale (writer and/or director). Perhaps they wanted the final season’s main production staff to get the kudos.
Overall, the wrap up was satisfying and left the door open for a movie or special down the road. (Nice cameos by Francie and Nadia, but one last appearance by Will Tippin would have been cool.) Farewell to “Alias.” It was an exhilerating five years; you gave us a good ride. Hope to see Jennifer Garner enjoy a long career — she and her fellow cast members stepped up to the plate, both during the great (Season 1 & 2), the good (3 & 4), and the underappreciated (5). J.J. and the production staff also deserve credit for having the courage to take a few chances by trying to reinvent the show to keep it fresh. Their decisions didn’t always work, but the creativity was appreciated.
Alias is 24 without balls or forward movement.
Alias is basically my favorite show ever. Even when I was irritated by some of Season Three’s slowness, I kept watching. I always had faith that the show would lead us somewhere great. These final episodes were a perfect finish to the last five years. It was good to see that Sydney and Vaughn were happy, and that Sloane got what he deserved (kudos to Mia Maestro, who was excellent as the ghost of Nadia). It was sad to see Jack go, but he went out with a bang. And Syd and her mother’s final fight was a great capper (though the Evil Francie-Syd battle remains the best fight of the entire series). I’m sad to see Alias go. I think this season was not the best, but it was better than the last two. It’s a shame the show didn’t get the same response in the end as it did in the beginning. I’ll miss it though.
So after 5 years Alias just kept going in one repeating loop. Lost fans should be weary since Alias started out with much the same gusto, and ended with a lousy whimper. Huh… thinking back Abraham other series, Felicity, pretty much followed the same routine. By the way, series finale, was at least consistent with the last few years of the show, mediocre.
I love Jennifer Garner and the cast, and stuck with this show through thick and thin. I was satisfied with the ending but not blown away, the way I was with the first two seasons.
For those wondering, the Horizon was eternal life, duh! If anything I loved the way Sloan’s story ends. The fact that Little Sydney Jr (Isabelle) could build the tower was WAY too cliche. And the fight between Irina and Sydney was disappointing. Nadia as a ghost as a sign of Sloan’s demency? Too sixfeetunder-esque. I’ll stop now or I will realize I liked it less than I thought. But hey, this was Alias. And Alias is like pizza….RIP
Agree the show developed huge problems (especially JG’s pregnancy-pun intended) and that it was never the same after Seasons 1 & 2 but, that said, I liked the finale overall: especially that Syd and Vaughn get to finally live happily after. Was a little sad that so many years passed before the final scene because I wanted to know more of their lives in between but love that they got each other and a happy family – even little Jack! Alias was always about family (re someone’s comment, I think for many of us, Season 2 was AT LEAST as much about Syd and Vaughn as the Family Bristow): Jack & Syd, Syd & Vaughn, Irina, Jack & Syd (I too so wanted Irina to be good), Dixon’s family, Marshall’s family, the family of friends (APO, Will, Francie, WEISS!-he needed to be on that beach, too!!), but who knew one of the major family units was Jack and Sloan!! It didn’t hit me at first but the end was tragic beyond words when you think of Jack & Sloan being like brothers from their early years as patriotic CIA agents before the evil, addictive Rambaldi came between them and stole Sloan’s soul. All the references last night to Syd’s childhood were heartrending in so many ways, and one big one was the role of Sloan and Emily and Jack wanting Sloan to raise Syd if needed. “And so it ends” with the friends-like-brothers entombed together forever. Kills me.
Nitpicky points: 1)Wanted to see Katya too. 2)Really wanted Vaughn and Jack to have some family and mutual gratitude words, shared love for Syd, a “hand-off” of Syd to Vaughn from Jack, something – I don’t think Jack and Vaughn had a word of conversation since Vaughn came back from the dead! 3)I can’t figure out the point of the missiles either. 4)I think Irina wanted power from eternal life like Sloan – wasn’t that the point of the Horizon? 5)Also wanted desperately for Jack to be finally a part of a loving family again as he was robbed of in his marriage. HATED to see him die. 6)But got what I wanted most: Syd and Vaughn happily ever after. 6)Agree with those asking why EW is dissing the finale – I could see if they had not brought Vaughn back (LOVED Alynda Wheat’s brilliantly witty comments around the fall premiere and, later, her Alias capsule comment “dead to me — and cancelled”) but, hey, TPTB listened to us and raised him from the dead, giving us back our beloved Vartan. How long ya goin’ to hold a grudge?
just incredible. best. show. ever.
Season 5 redeemed seasons 3 and 4, but it was too little, too late. The characters of Rachel and Tom were great; they should’ve been introduced long ago.
Another problem the show had was delving too deep into Rimbaldi mythology. Too much BS on a on existent subject.
A little bummed that Grandpa Jack didn’t make it.
One of the best lines EVER? Jack Bristow to Sloan: “You can beat death, but you can’t be me.” What a great, just ending for Sloan to be entombed forever. It was kind of a letdown when Syd just shot him, but the encore death was fabulous! I didn’t watch Seasons 3 and 4, but Season 5 was pretty good. It was just nice to see women kicking a$$ instead of simpering and whining like most of the stick-figured morons on TV (exception: Veronica Mars). RIP Alias.
(and Slezak, I love you and all, but Alias deserved a better eulogy than “I missed the finale”)
BEAT me, I mean. Sorry.
While we’re all mourning, I was shocked to hear a Jennifer Garner quote on E!News the night of the finale (5/22/06): “I feel very much like a college senior, ‘When will this ever end?’” It’s supposed to be a mixed feelings quote (more follows) but to me it’s like “‘Nuff said” re the rumors about her.
Other interesting thoughts about the finale: 1)Over the course of the series and the finale EVERYBODY DIED! even though some didn’t stay dead. Even Syd – remember, Vaughn said “Remember you died last night” after he resuscitated her in the ice cave. I guess Dixon and Marshall didn’t die. But still very interesting for deep thoughts about Alias mythology and deeper metaphysical meanings. Also, what about the fact that all three “good” girl spys (except Rachel) died (died in quotes in Sydney’s case) from a huge gash in the neck. Any thoughts?
I love “Alias” and thought the finale was great, but it seems to me that people are missing the fact that Irina lived through it.
When she falls through the glass, she has the Horizon. We see her dead on the floor, with some liquid spilling onto the floor around her. Blood? Maybe, until we see the Project Christmas puzzle in Isabelle’s room. Sydney wouldn’t allow that near her family, who else could have put it there? It only makes sense if that liquid was the Rambaldi water, thus giving Irina immortality. So Irina’s alive and knows where Sydney is.