Top 10 Alias Moments
#10: And So It Begins
"Truth Be Told"
Throughout the premiere of this action thriller, Sydney Bristow is dealt one head-spinning revelation after another. First, she discovers that her fiance was murdered by the CIA for learning her secret. Then, it’s revealed that she doesn’t work for the CIA. Her organization is actually an enemy of the U.S. government. Oh, and her estranged father is a part of this group as well. That’s already a lot of twists for a single episode. In what became a signature move for this series, there’s one more unforgettable revelation. In the episode’s final moment, Sydney’s father reveals that, like her, he is also a double agent for the CIA. Together, they’re going to work to bring down SD-6 from the inside.
#9: Fake Francie Fight
“The Telling”
The audience knew long before Sydney that her roommate Francie had been killed and replaced by an imposter. She discovered the horrifying truth while sitting on the couch with the murderous doppelganger. Trying to remain calm, Sydney tricked Fake Francie into revealing herself. She offered her coffee ice cream, knowing her real roommate hated it. With her worst fears confirmed, Sydney tried to nonchalantly retrieve her gun from the bedroom. What followed was a thrilling fight between two highly trained female agents. Along with the excellent choreography, the fight made creative use of the space and props. Throughout the prolonged battle, it’s also clear that Sydney’s rage was fueled by the devastating loss of her best friend.
#8: A Dramatic Exit
“The Telling”
Sydney continually struggled to trust her mother. It’s not easy to put your faith in a former KGB agent who faked her life as well as her death. Add to it that she opposed Sydney as much as she helped her, and it’s understandable. In their final moment of Season 2, Irina is cornered on the roof of a building, perhaps considering a fatal jump. She gives Sydney a vital piece of information, tells her she loves her, and flings herself off. For a brief moment, the audience is left to wonder if the scheming mother will survive. Then, it’s revealed that Irina is attached to a bungee cord. She swings into the building to escape using a method that would make John McClane proud.
#7: Will's Revelation
"Rendezvous"
After Sydney’s fiance dies for learning her secret, she is careful to keep her friends in the dark about her agent status. As a reporter, Will is continually asking questions and poking at the edges of her secrets. Sydney is forced to reveal her identity when Will is taken hostage, and it’s a great moment. She comes in sporting a hot pink wig and flying kicks. Will’s reaction when he sees her face is priceless. It’s both a pay-off that the fans have been waiting for and another key moment for Sydney. She now has a friend who can support her in her double life. She also has to protect him the way she couldn’t protect her fiance.
#6: I Would Have Waited
“The Two”
The romance between Sydney Bristow and Michael Vaughn was a core aspect of the first and second seasons. When Sydney disappears for two years, Vaughn moves on and gets married. It’s hard for the fans to not be angry at his character. When Sydney finally recovers her strong sense of self, the indomitable agent tells Vaughn a truth he doesn't want to hear. She would have waited for him and done whatever was necessary to find him. The quiet intensity of her speech demonstrates soundly why Jennifer Garner previously won a Golden Globe Award for this character. Don’t you love it when a character tells another exactly what you wish you could?
#5: Rambaldi Mystery
"Page 47"
The mystery of Rambaldi and his creations was the overarching plotline that kept the show full of mysteries and missions. The CIA was continually trying to get the information and artifacts before SD-6. When Sydney steals a blank page from Rambaldi’s portfolio, the CIA is able to reveal its secrets with a special liquid. In a shocking twist, the 15th Century document had the sketch of a very recognizable face. This show loved ending an episode with the fans full of questions. Why is Sydney’s face on that page? What could it possibly mean? Back then, fans had to wait a whole week to find out!
#4: A Revelation & a Crash
“Before the Flood”
“Alias” loved to end a season with a cliffhanger nobody saw coming. This one starts with a rare moment of peace. Sydney and Vaughn are finally engaged. They’re on their way to a romantic weekend in Santa Barbara. Suddenly, Vaughn declares he doesn’t want to have any more secrets from his future wife. He implies that he might be considered a “bad guy.” Furthermore, his name isn’t Michael Vaughn. What? We’d never had a hint that Vaughn was a double agent, secret doppelganger, or some other unknown villain. Before he can reveal the truth, a car crashes into them and the screen cuts to black. Sydney and the fans would be left in the dark until Season 5.
#3: Time Jump
"The Telling"
Poor Sydney never seemed to get a break. By the end of Season 2, she’d dealt with the betrayal of her mother and the possible death of two of her best friends. After the fight where she takes out the Francie doppelganger, things look to be finally resolved. Maybe she could take a breather and work on her relationship with Agent Vaughn. Sadly, the next moment Sydney wakes up across the world with no idea how she got there. When Vaughn arrives to explain, he reveals that she’s been missing for two years. To make matters worse, he’s married now. Fans gasped at this horrifying revelation that set up plenty of further adventures for Sydney in Season 3.
#2: A Moment of Victory
"Phase One"
Some shows would have kept their main character as a double agent for as long as possible. So, it was both surprising and gratifying when “Alias” successfully took down SD-6 in the middle of the second season. It was a nerve-wracking lead-up, as the fans wondered who would survive the much-anticipated attack. The action sequences throughout the building were satisfyingly fast-paced and frenetic. When the mission was declared victorious, Sydney and Vaughn only had eyes for each other. Their simmering romance was no longer forbidden and so they sealed it with a kiss. Truly victorious moments were rare in this twist-loving show, so it was important to appreciate them while they lasted.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Tech Geek to the Rescue, “Tuesday”
Sydney Is Buried Alive & Marshall Finally Gets to Be the Hero
Happily Ever After?, “All the Time in The World”
An Ending That Rewards the Main Characters, but Leaves a Tantalizing Teaser
Train Fight, “Authorized Personnel Only (Part 1)”
A Brilliantly Choreographed Fight on a Moving Train
The Proposal, “Search and Rescue”
Vaughn Finally Pops the Question
#1: It Was Your Mother
“Almost Thirty Years”
For most of her life, Sydney believed her mother died in a car accident when she was young. Later, she was shocked to learn that her mother was a KGB agent who married Jack to steal secrets. Throughout the first season, Sydney pursued information about her mother and her family’s past. She was also chasing the leader of a rogue group bent on taking down SD-6. He was referred to only as “The Man,” and soon Sydney was captured and left to face him alone. As the last minutes counted down on the season finale, the identity of her elusive enemy was revealed. “The Man” was Sydney’s not-so-dead mother. Twists like this one, definitely kept fans coming back for more.
