I’ve found it. I have found an Alias substitute!!! Can you believe it!?
The FX Network has a new original series that debuted on July 24th called Damages, starring Glen Close, Rose Byrne, Tate Donovan and Ted Danson.
Meet Ellen Parsons (Byrne), a twenty-something lawyer fresh the bar examine. Ellen is a good lawyer, so much so, that she has several offers, from several different firms. We first meet Ellen wondering the streets of New York, barefoot, in a trench coat covered in blood. Yeah, got your attention, huh? She stumbles into a police station and WHAM, we back track 6 months to reveal how such a promising young litigator winds up in a murder mystery (oh Alias, how I love flashbacks!)
Meet Patty Hewes (Glen Close)- New York’s most revered and most feared litigator. She runs her firm with an iron fist and she has it in for Art Frobisher (Ted Danson). Frobisher is a billionaire and when he asks his employees to invest in company stock, he ruins their lives when he sells his own shares. Patty is determined to make Frobisher pay, but her clients are getting antsy to settle. Meanwhile, as Ellen is getting settled at Hewes & Associates, she learns that her fiancés sister, Katie is employed by Frobisher and may have the information Hewes needs to finally put Frobisher away. Now Ellen begins to think that Patty hired her just to get her hands on Katie- but when Katie’s dog is murder as a threat to keep quiet, Ellen runs straight to Patty.
In grand Alias tradition, nothing is as it seems- as Patty did know about Ellen’s connection to Katie and it was actually Patty who hired someone to push Katie into testifying, by killing her dog.
Flash forward-the episode ends in a police interrogation room- where a disheveled Ellen asks for a lawyer- as the police have just found her fiancé murdered- in a bathtub. IN A BATHTUB!! I nearly fell out of my seat! This show is fantastic. It’s fast paced, it’s well directed, well acted, beautifully shot. Glen Close is, well, Glen Close. She’s superb as the cunning and unfeeling Patty Hewes. Tate Donovan puts on a good show as Patty’s wielding sidekick, who is used to getting fired for show. Ted Danson, I’m usually not a fan, but man, he kicked it up a few notches for this one. Tons of slimy go-to-guys, tons of backstabbing, tons of law bloody and guts. I am in people, I am totally in!
Check the show out at FX! They will be re-airing the pilot today at 7pm EST. If you missed it, get on that and then get back to me. I think we have a winner!
PS. In my YouTube euphoria, I finally watched Catch & Release. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be- very sweet actually. Also- have you noticed the little video reel on the sidebar? Super cool huh? Now, to watch Alias scenes and fan music videos, just click click click. Enjoy!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Who Cut This?
Seriously- who cut this scene!? What a great way to introduce Dixon. What a great way to show us Sydney's approach to the CIA. And its a great set up for Sydney and Dixon's playful relationship!
I know, I know, I am totally YouTube Alias scene crazy right now. But man, they have some good stuff over there. Go check it out!
PS. This scene was meant to appear in season 5, Reprisal, in which Sydney has several flashbacks. It looks vintage Alias to me, so nice work on the crew's part for making it look old school Boo on Film Editors Julius Ramsay and Heidi Scharfe who cut the scene in the end. HAHAHA!
I know, I know, I am totally YouTube Alias scene crazy right now. But man, they have some good stuff over there. Go check it out!
PS. This scene was meant to appear in season 5, Reprisal, in which Sydney has several flashbacks. It looks vintage Alias to me, so nice work on the crew's part for making it look old school Boo on Film Editors Julius Ramsay and Heidi Scharfe who cut the scene in the end. HAHAHA!
"Okay, Vaughn, the backpack is getting ridiculous..."
You know what else is ridiculous? How this show never seizes to amaze me. Seriously, in this short clip we can completely grasp, understand and appreciate Sydney and Vaughn's relationship- while at the same time, Sydney submerges us in the spy story. Oh, and Vaughn doesn't have a shirt on. Bonus!
Monday, July 23, 2007
The In-between
I wouldn't necessarily say it starts in episode 2.5 "Indicator," as Sydney's struggle between wanting to trust her mother and wanting to be a good agent starts the minute Irina wakes into the CIA- but this episode sure does start the dominos a fallin'.
Irina has just given Sydney and Vaughn the location of her organization's operations manual- a hut in the middle of nowhere. Jack is so frustrated by Irina's ability to coax Sydney, that he sets up his wife by rigging the building with explosives. This, of course, threatens her deal with the CIA and Irina is sentenced to death. Meanwhile, Sydney can't believe she fell for her mother's lies and comes running back to daddy. Though Vaughn isn't a huge fan of the woman who killed his father, he still doesn't buy that Irina set them up. Vaughn digs a little deeper and finds that Jack was indeed the one who arranged to have the building wired.
Sydney is then sent on a mission to track down 12 new-generation weapons- which turn out to be 12 children at what looks to be a camp for spies. Sydney recognizes a puzzle at the home of the operation's leader and discovers that she was subjected to invasive tests by Jack in order to protect her from deceit. So, in other words, Jack fought fire with fire- using Irina's deceit as an excuse for his own. Sydney gives Jack what for and writes a letter to save Irina.
Here is Sydney, sitting between her own curiosity about her mother and her duty and loyalty to her country. Her father complicates the situation with his lies and his unstable past with Irina. Jack's bitterness and anger towards Irina only binds Sydney more. I am still trying to figure out how this girl turned out half way normal and with a smile on her face.
We have talked about the Bristow family dynamic numerous times. Jack questions Irina at every turn, Sydney questions herself at every turn- who should she believe? The father she never knew or the mother she never knew? Despite everything, Sydney still does everything in her power to have her father released from prison and her mother's death sentence reversed.
Aside from this game of back and forth- Sydney struggles with her feelings for Vaughn when he becomes sick with the bloody fingernail disease. She watches Vaughn in a vulnerable state, forcing her to recognize her feelings and her relationship with Vaughn. In the end, Sydney risks everything- her position at SD-6 and the life of her enemy, Arvin Sloane to save Vaughn. Does Sydney never get over this in-between? I don't think so. Even in the end, it is implied that Sydney and Vaughn continued to work for the CIA, even after starting a family. This puts Sydney in a position to play back and forth, between spy and parent. Will she morph into the person her father was- using to lies to protect Isabelle and Little Jack? For the hell she gave Jack in the first episodes of the show- it would seem Sydney would be opposed to keeping her children in the dark. However, I think patterns repeat themselves, especially in families and I think after seeing all she has seen, Sydney would be the first to subject her daughter to the same tests in order to protect her.
But alas, we shall never know. Perhaps Isabelle will live a happy normal life- and become an agent on her own.... ha! Right!
Irina has just given Sydney and Vaughn the location of her organization's operations manual- a hut in the middle of nowhere. Jack is so frustrated by Irina's ability to coax Sydney, that he sets up his wife by rigging the building with explosives. This, of course, threatens her deal with the CIA and Irina is sentenced to death. Meanwhile, Sydney can't believe she fell for her mother's lies and comes running back to daddy. Though Vaughn isn't a huge fan of the woman who killed his father, he still doesn't buy that Irina set them up. Vaughn digs a little deeper and finds that Jack was indeed the one who arranged to have the building wired.
Sydney is then sent on a mission to track down 12 new-generation weapons- which turn out to be 12 children at what looks to be a camp for spies. Sydney recognizes a puzzle at the home of the operation's leader and discovers that she was subjected to invasive tests by Jack in order to protect her from deceit. So, in other words, Jack fought fire with fire- using Irina's deceit as an excuse for his own. Sydney gives Jack what for and writes a letter to save Irina.
Here is Sydney, sitting between her own curiosity about her mother and her duty and loyalty to her country. Her father complicates the situation with his lies and his unstable past with Irina. Jack's bitterness and anger towards Irina only binds Sydney more. I am still trying to figure out how this girl turned out half way normal and with a smile on her face.
We have talked about the Bristow family dynamic numerous times. Jack questions Irina at every turn, Sydney questions herself at every turn- who should she believe? The father she never knew or the mother she never knew? Despite everything, Sydney still does everything in her power to have her father released from prison and her mother's death sentence reversed.
Aside from this game of back and forth- Sydney struggles with her feelings for Vaughn when he becomes sick with the bloody fingernail disease. She watches Vaughn in a vulnerable state, forcing her to recognize her feelings and her relationship with Vaughn. In the end, Sydney risks everything- her position at SD-6 and the life of her enemy, Arvin Sloane to save Vaughn. Does Sydney never get over this in-between? I don't think so. Even in the end, it is implied that Sydney and Vaughn continued to work for the CIA, even after starting a family. This puts Sydney in a position to play back and forth, between spy and parent. Will she morph into the person her father was- using to lies to protect Isabelle and Little Jack? For the hell she gave Jack in the first episodes of the show- it would seem Sydney would be opposed to keeping her children in the dark. However, I think patterns repeat themselves, especially in families and I think after seeing all she has seen, Sydney would be the first to subject her daughter to the same tests in order to protect her.
But alas, we shall never know. Perhaps Isabelle will live a happy normal life- and become an agent on her own.... ha! Right!
ROCKIN'
Look what I got...
Yes siree, I got me my first blog award, nominated by my dear friend and loyal blogger Sarafu!! How nice!! Can you believe I have been doing this for going on 3 years?? I have posted 464 posts and more than 100,000 people have stopped in. I think its safe to say there is no end in "site" for me. I'll be blogging until the day I die.
Check out my other endeavors...
The Anatomy of Grey's (Under Construction)
Private Practice (Under Construction)
Pick Me A Plum (On hiatus)
Okay, okay, so some are a work in progress and the other is taking a break- that's because I am trying to re-light the fire over here at Let's Talk!! Stay tuned for more on all of these blogs- including a possible new blog dedicated to the Bionic Woman.
Thanks again Sara!!
Yes siree, I got me my first blog award, nominated by my dear friend and loyal blogger Sarafu!! How nice!! Can you believe I have been doing this for going on 3 years?? I have posted 464 posts and more than 100,000 people have stopped in. I think its safe to say there is no end in "site" for me. I'll be blogging until the day I die.
Check out my other endeavors...
The Anatomy of Grey's (Under Construction)
Private Practice (Under Construction)
Pick Me A Plum (On hiatus)
Okay, okay, so some are a work in progress and the other is taking a break- that's because I am trying to re-light the fire over here at Let's Talk!! Stay tuned for more on all of these blogs- including a possible new blog dedicated to the Bionic Woman.
Thanks again Sara!!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The Formula
The guts. The insides. The bare bones. The heart, the core, the life force. I have been spending a considerable amount of time thinking about the raw and rare center of Alias. It seems to be a perfect marriage of drama and action, a unique combination of literary story telling and the advancement of modern technology and television. I said before, and I will say it again, JJ Abrams is a genius. But why? Why exactly are his show and movies so, so, damn good? It’s the formula.
The formula is a point, a specific idea that is driven home each and every scene, each and every episode, which makes the show familiar and understandable. For example- for has crazy and outlandish as the Rambaldi storyline is- all we really need to know is that Sydney is involved, Ramabaldi is bad, and she is going to do everything in her power to stop it. Who cares about the prophecies or the artifacts- it is really about Sydney, her reaction to Ramabaldi, her ideas about him and how that is carried throughout the show. The formula works in the same way for Sydney as a character. Three of Sydney’s main traits are her loyalty, sense of patriotic duty and her ability to still show a vulnerable and naïve side. Each episode drives these traits home. Perhaps not directly or as plainly, but we certainly walk away feeling as if Sydney is a good friend, someone we understand and know. That is part two of the formula- the ability to relate.
Sydney works for the CIA. She is defusing bombs and wielding weapons and kicking serious bum- and perhaps none of us can really relate to that. What we can relate to is being a working student, with roommates, a boyfriend, a father, a crazy mother, a daughter. Sydney’s “real life” struggles are familiar, identifiable. And we don’t necessarily become detached from her when she is whisked away on a mission- we live vicariously through her. That is part three. Who wouldn’t want to have the fast action life of a super spy? Who wouldn’t want to defend their country behind the scenes, stopping bad guys and saving lives?
So, we have 1. A point 2. Ability to relate and 3. Vicariousness. Next up, number four, that little marriage I spoke of before- Drama and Action, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What a successful relationship! And no one does it better than JJ Abrams. We meet Sydney with her head under water- her red wig floating, her face frantic and scared. Not five minutes later, she is standing in the lawn at UCLA, her boyfriend on his knee singing “Build Me Up Buttercup.” And it works. We believe it. Why? Because of number five- Suspension of Disbelief. I have talked about this little literary device before. It is our ability to believe that Sydney and the gang can do whatever they want, whenever they want, because in TV land, there are no boundaries. They are the CIA for gosh sake!
I bring all this up because we have been searching for a show with this same formula. We want something that has a strong point- a strong story that is hammered home each week. We want to relate and live vicariously- we want action and drama and we want to let go of all rational thought. Hence why I think Bionic Woman might be exactly what we are looking for.
Now, I have talked enough. It’s your turn! What well plays into the success of a TV program? The actors? The directors? Talk to me people.
The formula is a point, a specific idea that is driven home each and every scene, each and every episode, which makes the show familiar and understandable. For example- for has crazy and outlandish as the Rambaldi storyline is- all we really need to know is that Sydney is involved, Ramabaldi is bad, and she is going to do everything in her power to stop it. Who cares about the prophecies or the artifacts- it is really about Sydney, her reaction to Ramabaldi, her ideas about him and how that is carried throughout the show. The formula works in the same way for Sydney as a character. Three of Sydney’s main traits are her loyalty, sense of patriotic duty and her ability to still show a vulnerable and naïve side. Each episode drives these traits home. Perhaps not directly or as plainly, but we certainly walk away feeling as if Sydney is a good friend, someone we understand and know. That is part two of the formula- the ability to relate.
Sydney works for the CIA. She is defusing bombs and wielding weapons and kicking serious bum- and perhaps none of us can really relate to that. What we can relate to is being a working student, with roommates, a boyfriend, a father, a crazy mother, a daughter. Sydney’s “real life” struggles are familiar, identifiable. And we don’t necessarily become detached from her when she is whisked away on a mission- we live vicariously through her. That is part three. Who wouldn’t want to have the fast action life of a super spy? Who wouldn’t want to defend their country behind the scenes, stopping bad guys and saving lives?
So, we have 1. A point 2. Ability to relate and 3. Vicariousness. Next up, number four, that little marriage I spoke of before- Drama and Action, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What a successful relationship! And no one does it better than JJ Abrams. We meet Sydney with her head under water- her red wig floating, her face frantic and scared. Not five minutes later, she is standing in the lawn at UCLA, her boyfriend on his knee singing “Build Me Up Buttercup.” And it works. We believe it. Why? Because of number five- Suspension of Disbelief. I have talked about this little literary device before. It is our ability to believe that Sydney and the gang can do whatever they want, whenever they want, because in TV land, there are no boundaries. They are the CIA for gosh sake!
I bring all this up because we have been searching for a show with this same formula. We want something that has a strong point- a strong story that is hammered home each week. We want to relate and live vicariously- we want action and drama and we want to let go of all rational thought. Hence why I think Bionic Woman might be exactly what we are looking for.
Now, I have talked enough. It’s your turn! What well plays into the success of a TV program? The actors? The directors? Talk to me people.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Sydney's Iconic to Jamie's Bionic
Nearly three years ago when I started this little slice of Alias wonderment, I signed myself up to receive TV Guide. I figured I needed to have THEE magazine dedicated to the ins and outs of TV and it’s programming. I also began receiving weekly e-mails from TVguide.com, which is great now that my subscription to the magazine has expired.
This morning I received such an e-mail and this week’s cover story? The Bionic Woman. And what did TV Guide have to say about The Bionic Woman? Tons of good stuff! Like this…
“So while Jamie Sommers will still have supersonic hearing and speed, the new bionic babe will feel more like a character out of 24 or Alias.”
YAHOO!! I’ve been missing Alias a lot lately- the fast action genius of such a fantastic drama/action with all the characters I love and want to be friends with. So, seeing this little line of happiness made me, well, happy! I know we’ve all been looking for something to fill the void- clinging to the return of our favorite actors to TV (Ron Rifkin, Michael Vartan, Victor Garber, David Anders) hoping we can taste a little bit of what we crave so much. Perhaps this new show- that looks and feels very much like Alias to me- will be the extension of Sydney Bristow and her gang of do-gooders. Perhaps we will connect with this Jamie Sommers as she discovers that her doctors have made some fairly important decisions regarding her future without her and that she must adapt and cope with the changes. Maybe we will become increasing interested in her love life. Maybe, just maybe, we will dig in and root for this girl has she uses her new physical powers to take down the bad guys.
I don’t want to get our hopes up- because you know, Alias can never be replaced- but I would like to have hope again, wouldn’t you?
Check out the article here at TV GUIDE and check out The Bionic Woman at NBC.com.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Can't Get No
Thanks to DLove, I watched the final episodes of Alias last night. As satisfying as is was to watch Sydney Bristow raise her gun and empty her clip into the chest and head of her most hateful enemy, I am feeling the same as I did the first time I saw it- unsatisfied. Argh!
What a horrible feeling to have after 6 years. What a terrible way to go out- on a low note. I still have so many questions! I am still so utterly confused by Tom Grace’s role on the show- why bring him in if you were just going to throw the Cardinal at us and then have the character commit suicide for no apparent reason- especially after he made a connection with Rachel??!!!
And for the love of all things, after 5 years do not try to convince me that Jack Bristow was not in the car with his wife when it went plunging into the river! He told Sydney in season 1, they were in the car on their way back from a movie and the car went off the road. Sydney blamed him once she found out about FBI Agent Collier and the possibility that Jack night be selling secrets. There is never a conversation about Jack not being in the car- yet, the flashback seen in Reprisal shows Jack at home with the police, telling Sydney about her mother. At that point in time, Jack still didn’t know about his wife, not until they arrested him and Sydney had to go live with the Sloane’s.
AND THAT’S ANOTHER THING! I know I have babbled on and on about this- but how could Sydney Bristow FORGET she lived with Sloane and Emily!!!??? When we first meet Sydney and Sloane in season 1, there is no evidence to suggest the two knew each other before hand. Of course later we find out that Sloane and Jack have been friends forever and that Sloane was well aware of Sydney- but at some point Sloane tells her that he knew her, but that he was away with Emily (where they lost Jacqueline) and that he checked in “in his own way.” So, season 5 roles around, Jack tells Dixon he sent Sydney to live with Sloane, and in an icy cavern on Mt. Subasio, Sydney vaguely remembers this as Sloane tells a story about drowning stuffed animals. WHAT?
For 2 hours, everything felt rushed. Everything felt limp and fake- even the fight scene between Irina and Sydney. Gosh, don’t even get me started on Irina. She was always cool and calculating and in the final season, she looked like she had been bit by a rabid dog!
I was okay with Sloane in the finale. Sloane has always been consistently inconsistent. You never know what he is going to do- except, you always know he is going to make alliance with someone and then somehow stab them in the back. He is always speaking about protecting the people he loves, and wanting to use Rambaldi for peace and blah blah blah- but he killed Danny, Francie, Diane (remember Diane!!??), Nadia and the list goes on. The man has no conscious until season 5, in the form of his dead daughter. Nice of Mia Maestro to hang around, but Sloane doesn’t have a conscious, never did. Why have him all the sudden be questioning his faith?
Okay, I know, I know, this post is discombobulated and totally pointless, but I just had to vent. What are you thinking about the finale now? Have you gone back and watched it? How did you feel? What did you like or not like? Are you satisfied?
PS. I will tell you- I got a lump in my throat when Jack Bristow stood, bullet riddled and nodded to his daughter. Even in the end, that old man wanted to protect Sydney from anymore pain- especially the pain of losing him. Gotta love Jack B!
What a horrible feeling to have after 6 years. What a terrible way to go out- on a low note. I still have so many questions! I am still so utterly confused by Tom Grace’s role on the show- why bring him in if you were just going to throw the Cardinal at us and then have the character commit suicide for no apparent reason- especially after he made a connection with Rachel??!!!
And for the love of all things, after 5 years do not try to convince me that Jack Bristow was not in the car with his wife when it went plunging into the river! He told Sydney in season 1, they were in the car on their way back from a movie and the car went off the road. Sydney blamed him once she found out about FBI Agent Collier and the possibility that Jack night be selling secrets. There is never a conversation about Jack not being in the car- yet, the flashback seen in Reprisal shows Jack at home with the police, telling Sydney about her mother. At that point in time, Jack still didn’t know about his wife, not until they arrested him and Sydney had to go live with the Sloane’s.
AND THAT’S ANOTHER THING! I know I have babbled on and on about this- but how could Sydney Bristow FORGET she lived with Sloane and Emily!!!??? When we first meet Sydney and Sloane in season 1, there is no evidence to suggest the two knew each other before hand. Of course later we find out that Sloane and Jack have been friends forever and that Sloane was well aware of Sydney- but at some point Sloane tells her that he knew her, but that he was away with Emily (where they lost Jacqueline) and that he checked in “in his own way.” So, season 5 roles around, Jack tells Dixon he sent Sydney to live with Sloane, and in an icy cavern on Mt. Subasio, Sydney vaguely remembers this as Sloane tells a story about drowning stuffed animals. WHAT?
For 2 hours, everything felt rushed. Everything felt limp and fake- even the fight scene between Irina and Sydney. Gosh, don’t even get me started on Irina. She was always cool and calculating and in the final season, she looked like she had been bit by a rabid dog!
I was okay with Sloane in the finale. Sloane has always been consistently inconsistent. You never know what he is going to do- except, you always know he is going to make alliance with someone and then somehow stab them in the back. He is always speaking about protecting the people he loves, and wanting to use Rambaldi for peace and blah blah blah- but he killed Danny, Francie, Diane (remember Diane!!??), Nadia and the list goes on. The man has no conscious until season 5, in the form of his dead daughter. Nice of Mia Maestro to hang around, but Sloane doesn’t have a conscious, never did. Why have him all the sudden be questioning his faith?
Okay, I know, I know, this post is discombobulated and totally pointless, but I just had to vent. What are you thinking about the finale now? Have you gone back and watched it? How did you feel? What did you like or not like? Are you satisfied?
PS. I will tell you- I got a lump in my throat when Jack Bristow stood, bullet riddled and nodded to his daughter. Even in the end, that old man wanted to protect Sydney from anymore pain- especially the pain of losing him. Gotta love Jack B!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
YAY! Mail!
Thanks to Blogger D Love, I now have in my possession, season 5, disc 4. Thank goodness! It was going to drive me mad not being able to watching the series finale.
Thanks D!!
I so love getting mail from my bloggies!
Thanks D!!
I so love getting mail from my bloggies!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Seeing Double
Amy Tippin. Remember Amy Tippin? You know, Will’s pink haired sister. Amy Tippin appears in 3 episodes of Alias during the first season- she attends Danny’s funeral in the pilot and she takes in the tunes of Francie’s boyfriend Charlie when he debuts as a singer.
Amy never really served a purpose to the plot- aside from being a perfect Alias for Sydney- but the actress, Nancy Wetzel sure did serve a purpose. Before the fabulous Shauna Duggins stepped in as JG’s stand-in and stunt double- Wetzel played the part of not only Amy Tippin, but Sydney Bristow. She has performed various stunts as Sydney, as well as other JG characters, including Elektra, and most recently as a double and extra on Catch and Release (remember- JG was newly knocked up during the shooting of that film).
Currently Wetzel is working on the unnamed JJ Abram’s project for HBO and has appeared in other JJ related pieces, including What About Brian.
Speaking of stunts and Shauna Duggins- what has she been up to? For those of you who watch the out-takes, bloopers and the behind the scenes material on the DVD’s, you know Shauna Duggins is JG’s number one stunt and stand-in. Duggins and Wetzel have worked together on several JG projects, including Elektra, Daredevil, Catch and Release and several season 5 episodes of Alias. Shauna has also done stunts for X-files, Kill Bill, What About Brian, Lost, Brothers & Sisters, The Kingdom (for JG) and Gone Baby Gone (directed by Mr. Garner, Ben Affleck) just to name a few. After serving as stunt double on Alias, season 1 and 2, Shauna was promoted to Stunt Coordinator- and if you can find the Easter Egg on season 4- you see that Shauna passed the Crew Member of the Week torch on to another member of the crew.
It’s always nice to know who’s behind the scenes, making sure our gal JG stays safe and that those fight scenes look killer.
Amy never really served a purpose to the plot- aside from being a perfect Alias for Sydney- but the actress, Nancy Wetzel sure did serve a purpose. Before the fabulous Shauna Duggins stepped in as JG’s stand-in and stunt double- Wetzel played the part of not only Amy Tippin, but Sydney Bristow. She has performed various stunts as Sydney, as well as other JG characters, including Elektra, and most recently as a double and extra on Catch and Release (remember- JG was newly knocked up during the shooting of that film).
Currently Wetzel is working on the unnamed JJ Abram’s project for HBO and has appeared in other JJ related pieces, including What About Brian.
Speaking of stunts and Shauna Duggins- what has she been up to? For those of you who watch the out-takes, bloopers and the behind the scenes material on the DVD’s, you know Shauna Duggins is JG’s number one stunt and stand-in. Duggins and Wetzel have worked together on several JG projects, including Elektra, Daredevil, Catch and Release and several season 5 episodes of Alias. Shauna has also done stunts for X-files, Kill Bill, What About Brian, Lost, Brothers & Sisters, The Kingdom (for JG) and Gone Baby Gone (directed by Mr. Garner, Ben Affleck) just to name a few. After serving as stunt double on Alias, season 1 and 2, Shauna was promoted to Stunt Coordinator- and if you can find the Easter Egg on season 4- you see that Shauna passed the Crew Member of the Week torch on to another member of the crew.
It’s always nice to know who’s behind the scenes, making sure our gal JG stays safe and that those fight scenes look killer.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Tequila and Ice cream
Have we talked about the ice cream/tequila scene? Have we? In the near two years this site has been up and running (100,000 hits people!!)- I cannot believe we have not discussed the ice cream/tequila scene.
Last night, due to the fact that I cannot find my season 5, disc 4, I went backwards and watched episode 1.2 “So It Begins” and 1.3 “Parity.” And now I apologize- because I made a comment about how fast Vaughn moved on after Sydney “died” and in actuality- Sydney moved on pretty fast after Danny’s death- she kissed Will. So, while Vaughn was pining away in his tiny CIA office and Sydney was suppose to be grieving for her fiancé- she locked lips with her best friend in an air of tequila, chocolate syrup and I am a sure, a bit of loneliness and desperation.
We all love that moment when Sydney comes running home from a mission to slip Danny’s engagement ring back on her finger. We all love the song, as she soaks in a tub of bubbles and regret. She almost found comfort in the fact that her mother had died the same way- that Laura Bristow knew the truth and that had caused her death. It almost felt familiar, something shared between father and daughter. Once Sydney learns that Jack tried to save her and Danny from the wrath of SD-6, Sydney began pushing to have a real relationship with her father. What struck me about these two episodes was this-
Jack Bristow told his daughter the truth about his work- only after Sydney found herself in the same situation. He lied to her about her mother- let her believe he was the cause of her death. We, the audience, hate him for this and we love him for it- for lying to her, for upsetting her. In hindsight, we see how Sydney reacted to all this news- the news about SD-6, the news about Jack and the CIA, about Irina and her “death” and her involvement with the KGB, Project Christmas. She freaked out. There was sobbing and dry-weaving and total uncertainty in her life, her decisions. He wanted to protect her and we want to protect her, but we always felt for her in those moments where she felt betrayed. Did all of this confusion motivate her? Or make her vulnerable? And is that what we love about Sydney- the fact that she is this no-nonsense super spy who kicks ass and takes names, but has this reservoir of vulnerability for her family and friends? Do we love that her greatest weakness is empathy? Do we love that she, grieving, kissed Will, because all we wanted was for her to be happy?
I think the answer is…
HECK YEAH!
Also- question: Should I be talking about Alias in past tense or present tense? I mean, technically the characters still live in our DVD’s, but the show is over. I always wondered about this. Help me out.
Last night, due to the fact that I cannot find my season 5, disc 4, I went backwards and watched episode 1.2 “So It Begins” and 1.3 “Parity.” And now I apologize- because I made a comment about how fast Vaughn moved on after Sydney “died” and in actuality- Sydney moved on pretty fast after Danny’s death- she kissed Will. So, while Vaughn was pining away in his tiny CIA office and Sydney was suppose to be grieving for her fiancé- she locked lips with her best friend in an air of tequila, chocolate syrup and I am a sure, a bit of loneliness and desperation.
We all love that moment when Sydney comes running home from a mission to slip Danny’s engagement ring back on her finger. We all love the song, as she soaks in a tub of bubbles and regret. She almost found comfort in the fact that her mother had died the same way- that Laura Bristow knew the truth and that had caused her death. It almost felt familiar, something shared between father and daughter. Once Sydney learns that Jack tried to save her and Danny from the wrath of SD-6, Sydney began pushing to have a real relationship with her father. What struck me about these two episodes was this-
Jack Bristow told his daughter the truth about his work- only after Sydney found herself in the same situation. He lied to her about her mother- let her believe he was the cause of her death. We, the audience, hate him for this and we love him for it- for lying to her, for upsetting her. In hindsight, we see how Sydney reacted to all this news- the news about SD-6, the news about Jack and the CIA, about Irina and her “death” and her involvement with the KGB, Project Christmas. She freaked out. There was sobbing and dry-weaving and total uncertainty in her life, her decisions. He wanted to protect her and we want to protect her, but we always felt for her in those moments where she felt betrayed. Did all of this confusion motivate her? Or make her vulnerable? And is that what we love about Sydney- the fact that she is this no-nonsense super spy who kicks ass and takes names, but has this reservoir of vulnerability for her family and friends? Do we love that her greatest weakness is empathy? Do we love that she, grieving, kissed Will, because all we wanted was for her to be happy?
I think the answer is…
HECK YEAH!
Also- question: Should I be talking about Alias in past tense or present tense? I mean, technically the characters still live in our DVD’s, but the show is over. I always wondered about this. Help me out.
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