V
verdantheart
Guest
[Sorry that this column is so very late. It has been a very busy week.]
“Solo” begins as Rachel's family is taken into witness protection.
Sloane reports this development to Dean and emphasizes that he is not prepared to “hurt these people.” Dean tells him that he's not telling him to . . . not yet, anyway. Then he orders Sloane to locate one Janos Vak. Dean reminds Sloane that he's betraying his friends on a daily basis—something he hopes to do to Dean someday, Sloane reminds Dean.
At the ensuing APO briefing, more is revealed about Vak. He is the creator of “lasso technology,” which can redirect a launched missile toward a new target. Vak disappeared after a meeting with an arms broker in the Algerian underworld—something notoriously difficult to crack. Conveniently enough, Sydney has a contact: Renee Rienne.
After the meeting, Sloane thanks Sydney for her support. He confesses that he can't bring himself to enter Nadia's room when he goes to visit her because of his responsibility for her condition. He says he'll do whatever it takes to find a cure for her.
In Marseilles, Renee crashes a mah jong party to locate Vak.
Back at APO, Rachel is working out when Tom enters. He prefers working out alone, but she wants pointers. His advice: fight dirty.
Rienne's information places Vak in a meeting with a Chinese General who is, as it turns out, scheduled for a party to celebrate his engagement to an Indian woman. The team heads out to crash the party. Unfortunately, the bashful fiance sequesters himself upstairs. Dixon and Sydney quickly change their mission plans. Dixon falls upon his knees before the surprised bride-to-be, professing his eternal love, as Sydney slips upstairs. She demands to see the General, pretending that he is responsible for her condition. She tranquilizes him with a dart from the watch (taken from Dixon) and heads for the safe. They need a signal boost, so Rachel heads out to take care of that. As the team is pulling out, Rachel is caught by a guard and panics. Tom knocks out the pursuing guard.
After the mission, Sydney buys a rocking chair, watching a father and daughter with wistful envy. When a clerk mentions how involved fathers are nowadays and asks about Sydney's situation, she describes the ideal rather than the reality.
Sloane meets with Dean at a tailor's shop. Dean is angry that Sloane didn't tell him about the Chinese General, but Sloane had assumed that they wanted APO to do “the heavy lifting.” He says that he'll relay Vak's location once the data has been decrypted.
At APO, Dixon reports that Vak has been located on an oil platform in the South China Sea. Sydney is angry when she discovers that they are sending in Rachel solo. However, Dixon explains that they have suspended shore leave and that no one is allowed on or off with the exception of female companionship. Jack points out that only Rachel is available to do the job and they can't wait. He claims that it is no different than when she returned to SD-6. Sydney claims that it is different: when she returned to SD-6, she had Vaughn. And Rachel has you, Jack says.
Marshall gives Rachel knockout lipstick and a hairbrush with a spike—if all else fails. Rachel tells Dixon that she practiced very hard with a gun—now she can't take one in. Dixon reassures her that Jack wouldn't send her in if he didn't have confidence in her. Rachel says that she knows what everybody's thinking: she panicked last time, so they're wondering if she can do it. She has to prove it to herself.
Sloane meets with Dean and gives him the details. The plan is for APO to get the info and swap it out. But Dean doesn't trust Sloane. He sends Peyton to get the goods.
As Rachel arrives on the oil platform, she flashes back to her preparation with Sydney. Once again, Sydney reminds her that she's not being herself, she's playing a part. When Rachel finally meets Vak, she feels awkward and drops her lipstick. Sydney tells her that she's in control and she slaps Vak, which inspires Vak to respond, “Has baby been bad?” Sydney tells Rachel, “This is going to be too easy.”
Rachel proceeds to restrain Vak with duct tape and pilfer the program, after which she sabotages the computer. Meanwhile, however, Peyton has arrived and scuttled her boat. Both make for the helideck where they collide head-on. Rachel is surprised to see her—“Not dead?” Peyton suggests, but “evil” is more what Rachel had in mind. Peyton says that if Rachel gives her the software she'll let her live—and Sydney encourages her to do that if she believes Peyton—but Rachel doesn't believe her and uses the hairbrush, knocking the gun away. A struggle ensues, interrupted by machine gun fire from the men on the oil platform. Dixon arrives to take them out, Peyton escapes, and Rachel is successfully extracted along with the software.
Sloane meets with Dean but refuses to hand over the software as punishment for his lack of cooperation. Dean responds with a vague threat against Nadia.
Back at APO, Rachel debriefs with Jack and comes back to Sydney with the conclusion that, on her first solo mission, (to paraphrase) “We done good.”
A montage of agent family values ensues: Sloane with an unresponsive Nadia, Rachel with pictures of her absent family, Sydney playing a tape of her lost Vaughn for her baby.
Comments . . .
First, the “agent family values.” Something seemed to be missing in all of that . . . the family. They were all “gone” in one way or another: in a coma; in witness protection; “dead” (I'm sorry, but I can't believe that Vaughn isn't coming back). In Alias, does being an agent mean family tragedy? Maybe. Perhaps Marshall should get out while he's ahead?
Meanwhile, Sydney watches a dad with his daughter at a store. When the clerk asks her about her own situation, she paints an idealized picture. Is she just tired of being brutally honest with unsuspecting strangers? Or are the producers playing head games with us?
Sloane is upfront about his intention to betray Dean if he has the opportunity. Dean is right to distrust Sloane, but seems overly ready to call in an opposing mission. This might provide great cover for Sloane, but it might be counterproductive to his own cause, as Sloane's reaction demonstrates.
Sydney and Jack argue over Rachel's readiness. Jack argues that sending her on this mission is no different than when the CIA sent Sydney back into SD-6. Sydney replies that she had Vaughn; and Rachel has you, Jack says. It is different for Rachel, but Sydney isn't using the right argument. Sydney was a field agent before she went back into SD-6; Rachel wasn't a field agent until a couple of weeks ago. That's the difference. Rachel is far less prepared than Sydney was for the mission that she is undertaking. That said, you have to stop preparing and get into the field at some point.
Virtually everything else revolves around Rachel's struggle to become a field agent and believe in her abilities and in herself—and the plot telling that tale. I don't want to minimize it, but it's a very simple story, one we've seen many times: Girl panics, loses self confidence. Girl picks herself up, gains support. Girl faces her fears, triumphs over adversity, regains self confidence. Rachel has become a field agent, or at least is well on her way.
Quibbles . . .
Just a small one. I've been wondering why Peyton talked to Rachel instead of shooting her right away and taking the software from her body. After all, she was assigned to kill her. Was she worried that she'd damage the software? (A head shot?) Or that Rachel would drop it somewhere Peyton couldn't retrieve it? She could have really gotten the drop on Rachel . . . But I guess the way it happened, it really services the story . . .
Random thoughts . . .
“Your father's kind of scary.” You don't know the half of it, Rache.
“Why? What have you heard?” Just thought that was funny.
“Ours is a forbidden love!” I love Dixon. Why did it take losing Vaughn to get him back?
Speaking of which, Marshall trying to impress Rachel behind the scenes was pretty amusing too. The whole “I can improvise . . . ever hear of a spork?” thing . . .
Now, if we can only give Jack something to do . . .
Discuss . . .
Do you think Dean was wise to call in his own op? Would you have done the same thing? At this juncture?
Do you identify with Rachel's situation? Do you like the new kids on the block (or not) now that you've gotten to know them a little better? Explain.
When Sloane doesn't hand over the software, Dean brings up Nadia. What do you think he can do?
Next:
APO meets up with Dean at the racetrack . . . looking for a little luck to pick him up?
I apologize in advance because the next column will be delayed because of Thanksgiving vacation. Keep your fingers crossed that my VCR and Dish work properly!
“Solo” begins as Rachel's family is taken into witness protection.
Sloane reports this development to Dean and emphasizes that he is not prepared to “hurt these people.” Dean tells him that he's not telling him to . . . not yet, anyway. Then he orders Sloane to locate one Janos Vak. Dean reminds Sloane that he's betraying his friends on a daily basis—something he hopes to do to Dean someday, Sloane reminds Dean.
At the ensuing APO briefing, more is revealed about Vak. He is the creator of “lasso technology,” which can redirect a launched missile toward a new target. Vak disappeared after a meeting with an arms broker in the Algerian underworld—something notoriously difficult to crack. Conveniently enough, Sydney has a contact: Renee Rienne.
After the meeting, Sloane thanks Sydney for her support. He confesses that he can't bring himself to enter Nadia's room when he goes to visit her because of his responsibility for her condition. He says he'll do whatever it takes to find a cure for her.
In Marseilles, Renee crashes a mah jong party to locate Vak.
Back at APO, Rachel is working out when Tom enters. He prefers working out alone, but she wants pointers. His advice: fight dirty.
Rienne's information places Vak in a meeting with a Chinese General who is, as it turns out, scheduled for a party to celebrate his engagement to an Indian woman. The team heads out to crash the party. Unfortunately, the bashful fiance sequesters himself upstairs. Dixon and Sydney quickly change their mission plans. Dixon falls upon his knees before the surprised bride-to-be, professing his eternal love, as Sydney slips upstairs. She demands to see the General, pretending that he is responsible for her condition. She tranquilizes him with a dart from the watch (taken from Dixon) and heads for the safe. They need a signal boost, so Rachel heads out to take care of that. As the team is pulling out, Rachel is caught by a guard and panics. Tom knocks out the pursuing guard.
After the mission, Sydney buys a rocking chair, watching a father and daughter with wistful envy. When a clerk mentions how involved fathers are nowadays and asks about Sydney's situation, she describes the ideal rather than the reality.
Sloane meets with Dean at a tailor's shop. Dean is angry that Sloane didn't tell him about the Chinese General, but Sloane had assumed that they wanted APO to do “the heavy lifting.” He says that he'll relay Vak's location once the data has been decrypted.
At APO, Dixon reports that Vak has been located on an oil platform in the South China Sea. Sydney is angry when she discovers that they are sending in Rachel solo. However, Dixon explains that they have suspended shore leave and that no one is allowed on or off with the exception of female companionship. Jack points out that only Rachel is available to do the job and they can't wait. He claims that it is no different than when she returned to SD-6. Sydney claims that it is different: when she returned to SD-6, she had Vaughn. And Rachel has you, Jack says.
Marshall gives Rachel knockout lipstick and a hairbrush with a spike—if all else fails. Rachel tells Dixon that she practiced very hard with a gun—now she can't take one in. Dixon reassures her that Jack wouldn't send her in if he didn't have confidence in her. Rachel says that she knows what everybody's thinking: she panicked last time, so they're wondering if she can do it. She has to prove it to herself.
Sloane meets with Dean and gives him the details. The plan is for APO to get the info and swap it out. But Dean doesn't trust Sloane. He sends Peyton to get the goods.
As Rachel arrives on the oil platform, she flashes back to her preparation with Sydney. Once again, Sydney reminds her that she's not being herself, she's playing a part. When Rachel finally meets Vak, she feels awkward and drops her lipstick. Sydney tells her that she's in control and she slaps Vak, which inspires Vak to respond, “Has baby been bad?” Sydney tells Rachel, “This is going to be too easy.”
Rachel proceeds to restrain Vak with duct tape and pilfer the program, after which she sabotages the computer. Meanwhile, however, Peyton has arrived and scuttled her boat. Both make for the helideck where they collide head-on. Rachel is surprised to see her—“Not dead?” Peyton suggests, but “evil” is more what Rachel had in mind. Peyton says that if Rachel gives her the software she'll let her live—and Sydney encourages her to do that if she believes Peyton—but Rachel doesn't believe her and uses the hairbrush, knocking the gun away. A struggle ensues, interrupted by machine gun fire from the men on the oil platform. Dixon arrives to take them out, Peyton escapes, and Rachel is successfully extracted along with the software.
Sloane meets with Dean but refuses to hand over the software as punishment for his lack of cooperation. Dean responds with a vague threat against Nadia.
Back at APO, Rachel debriefs with Jack and comes back to Sydney with the conclusion that, on her first solo mission, (to paraphrase) “We done good.”
A montage of agent family values ensues: Sloane with an unresponsive Nadia, Rachel with pictures of her absent family, Sydney playing a tape of her lost Vaughn for her baby.
Comments . . .
First, the “agent family values.” Something seemed to be missing in all of that . . . the family. They were all “gone” in one way or another: in a coma; in witness protection; “dead” (I'm sorry, but I can't believe that Vaughn isn't coming back). In Alias, does being an agent mean family tragedy? Maybe. Perhaps Marshall should get out while he's ahead?
Meanwhile, Sydney watches a dad with his daughter at a store. When the clerk asks her about her own situation, she paints an idealized picture. Is she just tired of being brutally honest with unsuspecting strangers? Or are the producers playing head games with us?
Sloane is upfront about his intention to betray Dean if he has the opportunity. Dean is right to distrust Sloane, but seems overly ready to call in an opposing mission. This might provide great cover for Sloane, but it might be counterproductive to his own cause, as Sloane's reaction demonstrates.
Sydney and Jack argue over Rachel's readiness. Jack argues that sending her on this mission is no different than when the CIA sent Sydney back into SD-6. Sydney replies that she had Vaughn; and Rachel has you, Jack says. It is different for Rachel, but Sydney isn't using the right argument. Sydney was a field agent before she went back into SD-6; Rachel wasn't a field agent until a couple of weeks ago. That's the difference. Rachel is far less prepared than Sydney was for the mission that she is undertaking. That said, you have to stop preparing and get into the field at some point.
Virtually everything else revolves around Rachel's struggle to become a field agent and believe in her abilities and in herself—and the plot telling that tale. I don't want to minimize it, but it's a very simple story, one we've seen many times: Girl panics, loses self confidence. Girl picks herself up, gains support. Girl faces her fears, triumphs over adversity, regains self confidence. Rachel has become a field agent, or at least is well on her way.
Quibbles . . .
Just a small one. I've been wondering why Peyton talked to Rachel instead of shooting her right away and taking the software from her body. After all, she was assigned to kill her. Was she worried that she'd damage the software? (A head shot?) Or that Rachel would drop it somewhere Peyton couldn't retrieve it? She could have really gotten the drop on Rachel . . . But I guess the way it happened, it really services the story . . .
Random thoughts . . .
“Your father's kind of scary.” You don't know the half of it, Rache.
“Why? What have you heard?” Just thought that was funny.
“Ours is a forbidden love!” I love Dixon. Why did it take losing Vaughn to get him back?
Speaking of which, Marshall trying to impress Rachel behind the scenes was pretty amusing too. The whole “I can improvise . . . ever hear of a spork?” thing . . .
Now, if we can only give Jack something to do . . .
Discuss . . .
Do you think Dean was wise to call in his own op? Would you have done the same thing? At this juncture?
Do you identify with Rachel's situation? Do you like the new kids on the block (or not) now that you've gotten to know them a little better? Explain.
When Sloane doesn't hand over the software, Dean brings up Nadia. What do you think he can do?
Next:
APO meets up with Dean at the racetrack . . . looking for a little luck to pick him up?
I apologize in advance because the next column will be delayed because of Thanksgiving vacation. Keep your fingers crossed that my VCR and Dish work properly!
