Alias (2001 — 2006)

Alias (2001–2006), a popular American action thriller and science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, aired on ABC for five seasons from September 30, 2001 to May 22, 2006. It received praise from critics and was listed in the American Film Institute’s top ten television programs of 2003. The show also garnered numerous awards and nominations, including recognition for its strong female characters. Along with other shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, Xena: Warrior Princess, La Femme Nikita, and Dark Angel, Alias is considered to be part of a trend in late 1990s and early 2000s television.

Season 1 (2001–2002). Sydney Bristow, an undergraduate student, was approached by a man claiming to work for the CIA. The man offered her a job as an agent and she accepted. She was then assigned to a secret section of the organization known as SD-6, or ‘Black Ops’. As a field agent, Sydney reveals her true identity to her fiancé Danny Hecht, resulting in his murder by SD-6. To her surprise, she also discovers that her father Jack Bristow is an SD-6 agent and that it is actually part of the Alliance of Twelve, an enemy of the United States. In response, Sydney offers her services to the real CIA as a double agent. With the revelation that her father is also working undercover for the CIA, Sydney embarks on a difficult mission to take down SD-6 from within.

Season 2 (2002–2003). The second season starts with the arrival of Irina Derevko, Sydney’s mother, who quickly becomes a significant character in the show. Around the middle of the season, there is a sort of ‘reboot’ as Sydney successfully dismantles SD-6 and transitions to working as a regular agent for the CIA. She continues her mission to bring down Arvin Sloane, his accomplice Julian Sark, and retrieve Rambaldi artifacts. Her colleagues at SD-6, Marcus Dixon and Marshall Flinkman, are brought into the fold and recruited by the CIA after learning about Sydney’s double life. Additionally, with their safety no longer at risk, Sydney and Vaughn are able to pursue a romantic relationship.

Season 3 (2003–2004). In the third season of Alias (2001–2006), two years have passed since the events of season 2 and Sydney has been missing and presumed dead. Her family and friends were convinced of her death after DNA evidence from a badly burned body was found. However, the reality is that she was abducted by a terrorist group called The Covenant. They attempted to manipulate her into believing she was an assassin known as Julia Thorne. Eventually, Sydney chose to have her memories of those two years erased in order to forget the actions she was forced to carry out as Julia. She also wanted to ensure that one of Rambaldi’s most dangerous artifacts would never be discovered. As Sydney recovers, she looks into her disappearance while adjusting back into life at the CIA. In this new environment, she has to come to terms with the fact that Arvin Sloane had been pardoned and became a celebrated humanitarian, as well as the news that Michael Vaughn had married NSC agent Lauren Reed.

Season 4 (2005). As season 4 commences, Sydney delves further into the shocking revelations of the classified ‘S.A.B. 47 Project’ document she uncovered at the end of season three. It authorizes Jack Bristow, her father, to eliminate her mother, who had previously placed a contract on Sydney’s life (a plot twist potentially necessary due to actress Lena Olin’s absence). Within its pages, Sydney is referred to as the ‘active’ subject of a ‘project’ that began in April 1975, possibly linked to Project Christmas and suggesting connections between Jack and both the Covenant and Rambaldi himself. To make matters more complicated, Sydney now finds herself working alongside her former enemy Arvin Sloane in a CIA black ops division modeled after SD-6 and called APO: Authorized Personnel Only. The members of APO are personally selected by Sloane and include many familiar faces from past seasons.

Season 5 (2005–2006). In season five of Alias, Vaughn is kidnapped. Sydney discovers that he’s suspected of being a double agent and the crash was a cover for his extraction. After escaping, Vaughn confesses to Sydney that his true identity is André Michaux. He discloses that he’s looking into Prophet Five, a covert operation involving his father. While on a mission to retrieve a Prophet Five book, Sydney receives an unexpected call from her doctor – she’s pregnant. (This plot twist was incorporated to address the actress’ real-life pregnancy) Later on, Vaughn is shot and seemingly killed by Gordon Dean, a member of Prophet Five acting under orders.