Alias

jason_penopolis_renf · January 24, 2003, 7:15am

Great article, Dave. My hat’s off to anyone capable of describing Alias’ premise in 1000 words or less.

micah_robinson · January 24, 2003, 8:17am

I tried watching this show twice now - the two parter with Tarantino, and the very first episode Lena Olin appeared on - and I just can’t understand what makes this different from La Femme Nikita, the TV show, aside from the Garibaldi facet.

Rival intelligence organizations, disguises, complicated love triangles, and “cool” action…seems identical.

I’m not really into either show consequently, tho I wish Peta Wilson was the star of Alias because Garner bores me to tears.

jason_penopolis_renf · January 24, 2003, 8:59am

La Femme Nikita is quite possibly the most boring, routine “action” series ever created. The fight scenes always looked like they were choreographed and shot within ten minutes. The storylines were embarrassingly simplistic. And Peta Wilson has all the charisma of a used tampon.

Alias on the other hand, has:

Complex plots with no shortage of unexpected twists and surprises.
An (incredibly) attractive heroine with serious screen presence, who actually looks convincing in her fight scenes. (Garner rarely uses a double)
Better actors (Carl Lumbly, Lena Olin, Ron Rifkin…)

And…uh…the woman who played Stevie’s mom on Malcolm in the Middle.

dave_davis · January 24, 2003, 5:59pm

Micah’s not gonna be convinced the show is worth watching. that’s cool. different strokes, that’s all. onward

micah_robinson · January 24, 2003, 6:26pm

It’s funny, Ren…I agree with you on most of your points - with the exception of the Peta Wilson eval, which is absurd - but since I don’t see much difference between Alias and that, now you know why I don’t watch Alias.

HOWEVER, Davis may have a point in that it’s a show that needs to be watched all the way through to really enjoy. Maybe if they do a DVD set that’s reasonably priced, I’ll trade for it when I’m getting rid of some old DVDs and CDs…

captain_supermarket · January 24, 2003, 7:39pm

I don’t know about having to wait for the DVD set, Mikah. I first got into the show watching the Tarantino episode as well, and I was hooked from the get-go. Tarantino as an evil villain, people getting their fingers chopped! Does TV get any better? Well, outside of Buffy, I would soon realize it doesn’t.

I think by this point, if you still haven’t really appreciated the series, I’d say just save your money, or DVDs, in the future, and go in for a rental of the series, or even just borrow it off a friend. I’ll admit, I’m usually pretty good for getting into show in a somewhat late manner, but I thought the Tarantino shows were a great place to jump into the game. If that didn’t turn you on, I don’t think the show has a chance with you.

black_vw · January 25, 2003, 12:17am

Once in a while, ABC Family will run all of the eps. back to back. They did this the weekend before season 2 started. It was great to tune in right before the new ep. to catch up…

micah_robinson · January 25, 2003, 12:49am

Quote:


captain supermarket: I don’t know about having to wait for the DVD set, Mikah. I first got into the show watching the Tarantino episode as well, and I was hooked from the get-go. Tarantino as an evil villain, people getting their fingers chopped! Does TV get any better? Well, outside of Buffy, I would soon realize it doesn’t.

Maybe I’m not really a genre TV show fan. All the shows that people “geek out” over:

Buffy
24
Alias
Farscape
Angel

I just find them all tremendously uninteresting. Come to think of it, I don’t watch ANY TV show regularly these days except whatever HBO has on Sunday nights and WWE Wrestling, and I’m quickly losing love for the latter.

I’d trade 'em all for some 80’s/early 90’s style genre show like Airwolf, Automan, or The Flash.

dave_davis · January 25, 2003, 12:51am

ironically, it was the prophet Micah who said “Thou shalt eat, but thou shalt not be satisfied.”

otisthecat · January 25, 2003, 1:26am

I lost all interest in this show a few weeks back. I saw every episode of the first season and loved them all. I just don’t care about anything that is going on anymore. It seems like there are about twenty different plot lines running at any given time, none of which will ever be resolved.

imported_t_m · January 27, 2003, 8:46am

Damn, this new episode is taking forever to make it to the air, thanks to the post show. Sigh…

donald_wiskerando · January 27, 2003, 9:16am

You’d think with a show with as much acclaim as this one, they wouldn’t have to use Garner T&A to sell it. Not that I’m complaining mind you.

micah_robinson · January 27, 2003, 9:29am

Good news.

I decided to check out this post-Super Bowl episode because I read it, too, was a good “jumping on point” meant to snare in viewers unfamiliar with the show. Oh, and knowing Rutger Hauer was on snared me in too, having just seen him in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Anyway…

Like it lots. Her wearing the black lace thigh-high/bra (my favorite uniform a woman could ever wear) didn’t hurt.

Seriously, tho…very entertaining. Well-written. Cool characters. Good.

casey_moore · January 27, 2003, 10:04am

OH MY GOD!!! please tell me i wasn’t the only one to be totally knocked out by that ALIAS?!?!

damn that was a good episode. pretty smooth layout for new viewers to jump on. plus a whole new stroy line for everyone.

only dissappointment is nothing about Rambaldi. I have to wonder how they are gonna bring new viewers up to date on that.

but , wow. I am blown away by that one.

imported_t_m · January 27, 2003, 10:05am

*SPOILERS*

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The twist ending - oh yeah. That was the real highpoint there, next to Garner T&A. I’m hoping the show has actually snagged some more viewers. It deserves it.

Anyway, Francie. She’s dead and yet she has clone. Confsuing but hopefully it’ll be explained some more.

Liked Rutger Hauer as Geiger but Sloane is still the main baddie.

dimitril · January 27, 2003, 10:10am

My friend and I were IMing each other expletives at each commercial break as they kept ratcheting it up…and holy SHIT, it never stopped. It was a great ep, but for anyone watching it for awhile…

/faint.

adverb · January 27, 2003, 10:10am

Ah, so thats what that annoying phrase, “jumping the shark,” means.

Lets re-invent our show in a really half-assed and unconvincing manner!

dimitril · January 27, 2003, 10:12am

Quote:


Adverb: Ah, so thats what that annoying phrase, “jumping the shark,” means.

If that’s jumping the shark, pass me the chum. I want MORE. MORE. MORE.

michael_rabattino · January 27, 2003, 10:17am

I couldn’t really get into it, although that plane sequence was incredible.

I’m hoping a season 1 DVD comes out soon so I can try to get into it.

And Garner really is fucking hot…photos/video of her off of the show really don’t do her justice IMHO.

casey_moore · January 27, 2003, 10:24am

I gotta say I like the way they reshifted the show. Its about time they took down the Alliance. Hell once they had all the info there was nothing else they could do, but take them down.

Now we get to see what Arvin and Sark get to do. Which is kinda funny/strange cause after the last episode I told my wife I could see them at the end of the season destroying the Alliance only to have Sloane create something else. Wish I had placed a bet on the game now with my limited psychic powers.