The Plane Truth
Alias
(9 pm/ET, ABC)
The best thing about this show? Its sense of history. And humor.
How else can you explain an hour that dares revive the electra-red wig Jennifer Garner sported in the pilot and casts The Office's Golden Globe winner, Ricky Gervais, in a deadly serious role?
Not that the wig is such a big deal. After all, over three seasons we've seen Syd in countless costumes, most involving leather, latex or low-cut somethings (really, give those wardrobe people an Emmy!). Tonight, the punky look comes back as Syd tries to pass herself off as a steely Covenant killer to win the favor of an unsavory sort with a knack for building bombs that tear whole towns apart. How she ropes him in is crafty fun for sure, though pretty much par for the course for our heroine of hotness.
But for devotees of Gervais, the chance to see him away from The Office and playing so gravely against type is a cause for celebration. Thankfully, as with most guest turns on this still-fabulous spy drama, the new face doesn't overshadow the old business of CIA white hats trailing international baddies while fighting to keep their personal lives from imploding.
Which nearly happens, once Gervais's Irish explosives expert Daniel Ryan agrees to help set up an in-flight meeting between one of his associates and Vaughn (Michael Vartan), posing as the elusive — and still sort of attractive — Sark. After the real Sark (David Anders) shows up in first class, however, it becomes very clear that Ryan has hoodwinked Syd for reasons fans should already suspect. All it takes is a flashback to her lost time under the sway of the Covenant to realize that Ryan has trapped Syd's true love in a midair version of Speed where the friendly skies are not going to stay that way for long if he doesn't act fast.
On the ground, more down-to-earth action is going down, as Syd confesses her worst crime to the worst possible person; Jack (Victor Garber) adds to his growing list of ethically altered actions; and Sloane finally proves to be trustworthy. Perhaps it has something to do with the new lady in his life — I know, ewww — but whatever the case, it's nice to see Ron Rifkin in a less mustache-twirling light.
And speaking of light, there are moments of levity thanks to Gervais, who probably can't help but be a bit cheeky. Syd's gothy getup draws a reaction so subtle that folks who need a laugh track to know when to smile may miss it. The same goes for recurring guest Griffin Dunne, whose Russian defector Lisenker gets in a well-timed jab at two of America's more deadly luxuries: cigarettes and '80s television.
Overall, though, this is about tying parts of the past to the present. The bomb angle is apt, given how certain things we thought we knew are blown to bits by the end of the hour. And though it may take some time for the emotional dust to settle, it's a sure bet that someone's going to be history very soon.
And I, for one, am wigging out over who it will be. — Damian J. Holbrook
