Sydney is instructed to acquire a code book that reveals information about her mother's organization, but Sloane is after it and so is Sark. Meanwhile, Jack believes Sydney is becoming too trusting of her mother and makes plans to end their meetings.

This isn't quite as good as the others episodes this season, partly because the set-up is getting a little old now: Sydney's mother provides valuable intel, the CIA enjoy another successful mission, Syd gets closer to believing her mum is truly a changed woman. It's reached the point now where we really do expect her to be evil and betray Syd, so the big shock would be if she was entirely honest and had handed herself over in order to make up for all her past evil deeds. Now I appreciate that these things can't happen in a small number of episodes, as Syd has to get past her initial mistrust and start to fall for her mother's charms. Too few episodes and it wouldn't convince. Now we have a better chance, as the second she discovers her father's involvement she will run to Laura's side.

It's only the predictability that's really getting to me now, as Alias has never been known for it. Then again, after the first few episodes showed Jack to be an upright and honest individual in comparison to Laura, this one shows he's still very much working for what he believes is right, and he will shift his daughter's affections if he feels it's to her (and his) good. It's good to know he's still not entirely the doting father he's seemed to be.

There are some great action sequences here, especially at the start as Sydney escapes from the ice, but her salvation feels a little too convenient. The way Sark keeps popping up is good, but the final denouement featuring Laura's book seems unlikely: just to keep his daughter on side, Jack will pay someone to blow up a hut and the book? Does he know how valuable the information in that might be? If anything he's helped Laura along, as now she is more needed to break her organization than before.

The other plots are hit and miss. Will meeting a woman at his recovering addicts class is a little forced, and she is so obvious that it becomes clear she's an SD-6 agent way too soon. Indeed, it would have been more interesting if she had simply believed Will. It's the Sloane plotline that's looking more and more interesting, however. Is Emily really dead or is someone messing with Arvin's head by leaving messages and signing her name? I can't wait to see where this is going, but some of the other elements are looking like they could use some work. This is Alias; it's not really a major problem, the stories are fine; it's just too easy to become lax.

***

Would you like to go to the Alias Season Two guide, head back to the main TV reviews page, read older reviews in the Reviews Archive or return to the front page?