Spy Bun in the Oven

Let's chat about the elephant in the room (and I am not talking about Syd or Jen)...there has been much debate over how Sydney Bristow's pregnancy will affect the plot of the show. Many say the baby will sink the ship, others say the baby will give Sydney her down-to-earth humanity back- a la Will and Francie. As it has been reported today, Jennifer Garner will play the first pregnant TV heroine in an action drama. Some could argue that writers never intended for Sydney Bristow to become pregnant, that Jennifer Garner's life decision has brought about the character Bristow-Vaughn. I am not one to disagree with this. However, my take on it is: Bring it on! It will be like no mission Sydney has ever experienced. A part of her that is still very much the sweet, innocent Sydney from season 1 will resurface. The writers and actors of Alias have dealt with a lot of death, and now they are taking a crack at life in its most raw, natural form.

Sydney has been at death's door more than any human would deem fair by God, and now she will be knocking down the door of the CIA OB/GYN. Is it due course? Let us revert back to the pilot; the scene in which Sydney and Danny are spending a lazy afternoon in their apartment. He is slouched over several medical journals and Sydney is studying ancient text and trying to decipher it. Danny joins her on the couch and in a tender moment, while kissing her belly, he mentions that "someday there will be a baby in there." We understand, by the look on her face, that Sydney might not have considered having a family and continuing with the Agency. She immediately leads Danny to the shower and spills the beans about her double life. After Danny's death, the idea of Sydney ever reproducing is forgotten, until the season 3 egg extraction and the creepy aspect of a Rambaldi baby enters the picture. But once that threat is eliminated, so is the notion of Sydney becoming a mother. Even has her relationship with Vaughn is rekindled, we never considered that the action spy duo would become model PTA material.

BUT...consider this: We have spent a solid 4 seasons rooting for Vaughn and Sydney. We prayed they would find happiness far from dead fiancees and evil ex-wives, far from Jack's disapproval and Vaughn's apparent double-agent activity. Is a bambino included in this happiness? Do you think Sydney ever considered having a family? (We all know Vaughn's take. He hadn't considered it, bringing a baby into a "messed up world" but how sweet was he? He can't wait to meet their kid. Ahhh!)

How do you think the pregnancy will affect the show? Let's focus on Sydney's pregnancy, not Jennifer's. I suppose it could be considered one in the same, but it's not. Can the show continue with a spy-mom heroine?

(There will be several threads that will deal with this topic as season and the pregnancy progresses. We'll look at it from several angles and where we think the writers are taking us.)