The Barbara Biltmore

One of the happiest times for Syndey and Vaughn revolved around the planning of a weekend in Santa Barbara. Vaughn finally made the reservations the night Sydney went head to head with Evil Francie and disappeared for two years.

JJ was always good at placing the gang in real settings- a restaurant, a famous location, a book store, a coffee shop. In an episode, Vaughn mentions the Biltmore Hotel- and folks- it actually exsists. Here is the lovely Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel, located beach side in sunny Sanata Barbara, the very one Vaughn booked for the couples romantic getaway...

I love looking into the blurbs mentioned on Alias. I wonder if the giraffe at the Santa Barbara Zoo really has a crooked neck?

PS. Blogger Tammy did a little recon on her own and found this... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Barbara_Zoo

Turns out Vaughn was right! Crooked neck and everything!

Box Set Special Extras

Hi All,

I found that www.jen-fans.com has posted the extra features from the box set which include interviews, behind the scenes with cast and crew, a piece on all the villians of Alias and much more. Go check it out!

PS. I know I may have been a little harsh in judging season 5- the episodes, the bloopers, etc. It is merely because I love the show so much and there is a certain standard- an Alias standard- that I base much of my opinion on. We all know the ball was dropped. We all know it wasn't handled fairly- it wasn't given the send off it deserved. However, I am happy that there was even a season 5 to begin with. They could have simply left us with "My name is not Michael Vaughn..." but they didn't. They gave us Syd in all her pregnant glory and tried to tie up as many loose ends as possible. Maybe I still am a little bitter. Maybe I am still waiting for an apology of some sort. Or to wake up and find that really, all of this cancellation nonsense was all a bad a dream- a horrible bad dream. Now, go forth my friends and enjoy the last season- every last drop. Ever last spine-tingling, over the top moment.

DVD Yipee?

I hope everyone had a happy holiday this last week. I had a lovely turkey day with friends and family and I am so excited for snow and Christmas. So...

I recieved my Alias DVD last week and I raced upstairs to watch the bloopers even before I had it unwrapped. I always watch the bloopers first. If you haven't seen the bloopers for season 5- spoiler warning....

Um, I was kind of disappointed. Though I thought it was rather brave of JJ and Jennifer to skit about how exactly she got the job and to mock both ABC and the overall comic book feel of the show- the bloopers were not funny, or unlike anything else we've seen- and BY GAWD- they filled it in with bloopers from other seasons!! OTHER SEASONS! No preggo bloopers, which is what I was really looking forward to- come on Jennifer Garner doing stunts with a huge belly- there had to be some funny moments- however, they were not shown in the bloopers.

The other bonuses were interesting- behind the scenes with Rachel Nichols was great- great scenes with Sark and how the show is shot and cut. I loved that. But for some reason I thought it would have been more appropriate- in the final season- to have a piece with Jennifer. Five long years we have watched her as Sydney Bristow- we saw Jennifer burst into tears while filming the season 2 finale- it seemed only right that they sit down with her and do a retrospective on the ending of the show that made her one of Hollywood's many sweethearts.

The season 5 DVD also did not come with a booklet- like season 4. The booklet lists the episodes with a brief synopsis and a note to whether or not the episode has bonus commentary. I suppose I need to scroll through all 16 episodes to find out whether or not their is commentary. I'm not impressed.

I haven't watched any of the episodes yet- which I do plan to do. There is something about watching the episode back to back without commercials that makes a stronger impact. If all goes well with the weather, I will be snowed in for a few days and I can catch up. I really, really, really, hope there is commentary and that its not with nameless nobodies- like the Kraft table lady or the grips.

What do you think? Have you watched the bloopers? What are your thoughts? Opinions? Let's get rolling....

Anyone have the box set yet?

PS. I watched MI3 over the weekend! YAHOO for Alias on the big screen. I didn't even mind Tom Cruise, but I was disappointed that Keri Russels characters died so early on in the film. I smell another mission coming. Perhaps that is what JJ is working on now... come on Jaj- cast JG, I dare you!

Episode 6.1 “MI3”

Thank you to blogger Jennifer for this great piece. Enjoy! And enjoy your DVD's and turkey. I know I will.


This weekend I watched episode 6.1 “MI3.” In this extended episode Sydney has to stop a dangerous weapon from being acquired and sold on the black market. It’s action packed and filled with emotion as Syd…

What? You haven’t heard of episode 6.1? Actually, I’m not surprised. I think the Covenant had something to do with the cover-up. Most of the general public believed the movie was about an agent named Ethan Hunt, not Sydney Bristow. In fact, the Covenant was so complete in their cover-up they even had a male actor play Sydney and other actors play Dixon, Will and Vaughn. Only true Alias fans know the truth.

Yes, I rented MI3 this weekend. I had not seen it before, as I can not claim to be a big Tom Cruise fan. In fact, if JJ had not been the director, I probably would have passed it right up. I am glad I didn’t. It was a balm to my aching Alias heart to see our favorite show on the big screen. There were so many familiar locations, plot lines and “family connections” that even my husband started calling them out. Here are just a few, in no particular order, as I’m including them as they pop into my head: (Spoiler alert if you have yet to watch MI3)

Ethan (Syd) receives a call-in code on his cell phone while he is in the middle of a party at his home. He then meets his handler in a quickie mart. They have a conversation over the slushy machine.

Ethan’s mission is to rescue an agent who has been captured. This agent, Lindsey Farris, is played by Kerri Russell, better known as JJ’s Felicity. It is well documented that JJ came up with the idea for Alias while filming Felicity. He thought it would be interesting if Felicity was recruited into the CIA while at college.

When Ethan finds the agent, he has to inject her with adrenaline so she can run and escape with him. Season 2, Vaughn, anyone?

The location in which Agent Farris is being held and where Ethan saves her is a warehouse. The same warehouse (inside and out) that is used numerous times on Alias. This is where we first meet "Sark" or Phillip Seymour Hoffman's character, Owen Davian- in the same alley way where Sydney blows up the car while wearing the red dress in the season 3 opener.

Before Lindsey can be whisked away to safety, she comes down with an excruciating headache. The bad guy has implanted a small bomb in her head and it has been activated. Fortunately for Will, Syd was able to stop his “head bomb” from being activated. In this case, Ethan could take lessons.

There is a flashback scene where we see Ethan training Lindsey. She’s training with some long sticks in combat, just like in the opening scenes in season 1. She’s also being trained while blindfolded similar to Project Christmas.

Fast forwarding somewhat, Ethan climbs a wall and rips off his coveralls to reveal a sexy party dress. Actually, in his case, he is wearing a priest’s robe, but the effect was a call-out to Sydney parachuting onto the grounds and ripping off her jumpsuit to join a party. Not to mention a nod to Vaughn’s mission as a priest.

Ethan has a fiancé who is a nurse. We see her in scrubs and in a long corridor next to a payphone. Perhaps the same phone Danny used to call Jack and ask for Syd’s hand?

There are so many scenes and references to Alias that I was tempted to grab a pad of paper and start listing them as the movie progressed. Instead, I decided to enjoy it for what it was, a long episode in which Syd and gang are in disguise and only we know the truth.

Long Live Alias!

YIPEE DVD!

YAHOO! 1 Day and the season 5 DVD's will appear in my mailbox! YESSSSS! I saw tons of Alias DVD commercials on TV last night- tons and they gave me goosebumps! I'm syked! Are you?

I am oober excited for the behind-the-scenes, the bloopers and of course the "emotional cast reunion." Be ready ladies and agents, this blog will be back in full swing by next week!

PS. Mom and Dad, if you are reading this- I would love either the Rambaldi Box set or seasons 1 and 2 for Christmas. Wink!

Shout out!!

Did you catch What About Brian? last night? Because JJ gave Alias fans a little piece of the past! Check out my recap on Primetime Princesses and you'll know what I'm talking about!

Thanks JJ!

Remember this...

Remember this... Sydney and Vaughn throw a birthday party for Weiss. Weiss and Nadia hit it off, talking about Weiss' smile. I love this real life moment between Sydney and Vaughn- gossiping about their friends. It's sweet and intimate and a testiment, not only to Sydney and Vaughn's relationship, but Jennifer and Michael's ability to be confortable in moments like this.

From episode 4.03 "The Awful Truth"

Rambaldi's Box (DVDs)

For those of you who haven't already preordered your season 5 DVDs or don't own any of the Alias box sets, I just discovered this morning they're releasing all 5 seasons in one Rambaldi Box set. Check out the official website for it, and if you can't think of the access code, just google Rambaldi. ;-)

When Sydney Fell

The moment we met Agent Vaughn in the pilot, we knew Sydney had a new love interest. JJ Abrams even states in the commentary that he hadn't even considered Vaughn a love interest until he saw that scene in edits. We knew then- that moment- but when did Sydney know? When did Sydney fall for Vaughn?

She supressed her feelings for a long time- holding onto Danny and avenging his death. She remained professional- sharing only small moments with Vaughn about her personal life- even though he wanted more. Was it the moment she called him her guardian angel? Was it that night at the Pier? Or, did it take all of two and half seasons when Vaughn FINALLY confessed in the flirting corner for Sydney to say "oh, hey, he's cute, I think I love him."

When do you think Sydney fell?

I think it was right here... (Vaughn's okay, finger-bleeding disease has been cured!!)

You know why? Because Vaughn knows she knows how she feels. Hence...

This scene is in episode 2.7 "Counteragent." Song playing- Sheryl Crow 'I Shall Believe.'

PS. Speaking of love- anyone know when they first said those 3 little words?

Remember this...

I have never looked at Slushies in quite the same way.

Syd and Vaughn met millions of times- at car washes, newspaper stands, in the back of trucks, old warehouses, micro sef storage, but this little rendezous is one of the first and my favorite. Our favorite pair met at a local convenient store to exchange information for Sydney's first CIA counter-mission, Vaughn offered Sydney a Slushie. She declined- she was cold.

Speaking of...

Speaking of Brothers & Sisters, People magazine just released this little tidbit of info...

Former husband of Jennifer Garner, Scott Foley, is engaged to actress Marika Dominczyk, who plays Justin Walker's love interest, Tyler, on B&S. Weird.

Foley is the star of CBS hit The Unit (in which he plays a CIA agent). Foley is a Felicity alum, where he met Garner- Garner went on to work with JJ Abrams on Alias, along side Ken Olin, who- yes, is a producer on B&S. Funny how that all works out!

PS. They are kinda cute- but not as cute as Ben and Jen.

Shelter

Ah, last night I was watching Brothers & Sisters, the new ABC family drama starring Alias alums Rob Rifkin (Sloane), Patty Wettig (Dr. Barnett) and Balthazar Getty (Thomas Grace). The show is produced by Patty’s husband and former Alias director Ken Olin, who I adore.

Last night, as the final moment of the show came to a close, a familiar song and scene took place. The three brothers, Kevin, Tommy and Justin take a walk down a familiar path, in a park and the song- Ray Lamontagne’s 'Shelter' played, which also made an Alias appearance. The path is much like the path Syd and Vaughn take a walk on after Sydney confesses to knowing that Dixon faked his drug test. They finish their ice cream and walk with their arms around each other. The song playing during that scene was "You're All I Need to Get By" by Aretha Franklin. When I heard Ray I winced in sadness, but also smiled- perhaps it was a little hi and hello from our dear Alias producers and directors? Thanks Ken and keep up the good work. (I just love that I can feel and hear Alias in B&S, it's comforting. Not to mention to familiar faces. I heart you Ron!)

Here is a pic of Ken starring as a character on Alias. Remember, he was the computer programer that refused to give his work to SD-6. Will tracked him down when he heard SD-6 on the tape of Eloise Kurtz's death.

I am such a dork!

Guess who won the caption contest at VartanHo? ME! HAHAHA!

My caption is: "This, right here? My inspiration for the furrowed brow."

Call Backs are the Bag

I love me some Alias callbacks! I love when the writers mirror a situation, a sentence, a scene with one from the past. One of my favorite things about writing the episode recaps is being able to point out call backs and pick them apart for meaning.

The first scene- Sydney is home alone after Danny's funeral. She is listening to him on the answering machine. JJ Abrams said that he always want to shoot a scene like this. The scene is later revisited in season 5 in a different form- Vaughn's voice on a mission recording. The moments are very simple- very sad, yet seem to hold hope and faith. Sydney erased Danny's voice and replaced it with her own- moving on, being strong, but still remembering him with a "thank you." In the later scene, Sydney wants their baby to know her father's voice. It was a definite red flag for me that Vaughn was still alive and that Sydney wanted Isabelle to recognize her father's voice.

In the next scene- Syd has just made her way to the parking garage. This is right before the big garage fight scene, when Sloane's containment teams comes after her. The scene on the right is Sydney after her first ultrasound. She gets into her car in the parking garage and stares at the photo of her unborn baby. I was half expecting a SWAT team to enter and take her in- but it didn't. So how is it a call back? It's merely the angle in which the scene was shot. The car is probably parked in the same parking garage and Sydney, really is in the same position in both. Alone. She has just lost Danny and later, she is alone and pregnant. There is almost a scene of loss- a loss of direction.

What are some of your favorite call backs? Send them my way- with pictures of both scenes. www.alias-media.com is great for this!