Alias

Cipher

Season 2, Episode 3, Aired 10/13/02

Episode Summary

Sydney must outwit Sark in order to find a crucial piece of intel. Meanwhile, Jack faces Sydney's mother for the first time in almost 20 years. Will finally meets Vaughn and Sloane is haunted by his wife's death.

9.1

EPISODE RATING: Superb

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Cast & Crew

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Kevin Weisman

Marshall J. Flinkman
Jennifer Garner

Sydney Anne Bristow
Merrin Dungey

Francine 'Francie' Calfo

Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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What a great adventure episode

8.0

"Great"

By Parricida, Feb 01, 2009 Report Abuse

This one really had that exciting motion, fast turning storylines and lot of happened. From the satellite launch to the Seberia. And I most say they really had that kind of stunning scenery there - that ice gave and under the ice in the end..

And ofcourse this episode marked that Sydney's mother and father saw each other again. And that wasn't too bad..

Anyway, the episode was exciting, the music box was brought in again and Will - he is somehow part of it too. Using him to get the names.. and how Syndey felt they are using him.. and he should be able to move on.moreless

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Bad one

9.0

"Superb"

By napen, Dec 19, 2008 Report Abuse

El enemigo vuelve a mostrar su cara. Sloane? S y la muerte que lo persigue y juega con su mente. Irina? Tambin, con ese juego que te quiero tanto hija y qu fue de tu vida en todos estos aos entendeme por favor no soy tan mala como parece al menos no con vos te quiero. Pero hablo de Sark y de su incesante bsqueda por Rambaldi. Rambaldi y esa msica tan siglo XV y ese aire tan actual. Sidney luchando contra el mal con los tan buenos de la CIA que qu van a hacer con semejante tecnologa? Salvar al mundo? Administrarlo como el bien supremo que son? ...moreless

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Review

9.5

"Superb"

By cavanagh15, Jul 26, 2007 Report Abuse

I liked seeing Sark brought back into the big picture, he was one of the primary bad guys at the end of season 1 - basically ever since the episode where he killed the head of K-Dirrecterette to make sure thta he had his place where he needed to be. The ending when he got capped in the knee and Sydney fell into the water was the best ending so far this season. Very cliffhanger quality Alias that I am used to seeing out of this show. Ending the episode with action means you start the next one off with a bang, which is always a good way to start an epsiode. I really enjoyed Wills dream sequence that gave them the information that they needed - I thought it would have been bad writing had they just gone to Sydneys mother for everything they needed from now on. Jack Bristow and Lauras meeting for the first time was pretty intense. The ending "You still havent told her..." line is classic Alais that I hope is expanded on in future episodes with a nice flashback story or something. Fantastic episode all around.moreless

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At last the return of Rambaldi Rambaldi while being mentioned in the previous two episodes finally comes back into the picture. The artifact of the day is a music box whose song holds the formal for zero point energy.moreless

9.6

"Superb"

By KevinMR223, Jun 24, 2007 Report Abuse

Now you are either a hater or lover of the special effects on this episode. I thought they did a great job the tunnel scene was very cool and the look at the rocket from below was exceptional. Sydney walking along the plank could have been better but still looked pretty good for T.V. and the scenery inserts were well done. A lot of people criticized the snow I didn't think it was horrible. I mean the computer-generated snow was pretty bad but the fake paper snow was fine by me and I didn't have a problem with the caverns either. Altogether the amount of effects and what I think was a good execution of them still gets them a high grade. The acting was once again amazing with Lena Olin once again being a major contributor. Her scenes with Sydney are great and her scene with Jack was simple and quick but given the situation it only makes sense and adds to the scene. However one of the best scenes in the episode is between Will and Vaughn. They obviously both like Sydney and I'm pretty sure they both know it. Also having Sark back is a pleasant surprise.

The episode once again greatly expands on Sydney's relationship with her mother. For Sydney's entire attempt to keep her relationship wither her mother from getting personal, that is exactly what is happening. Irina is a tricky one and is using events of Sydney's life that not even she remembers to get close to her. Sydney is of course curious as well and finds out the information and ends up telling her mother defiantly giving her mother an in into her personal life. Jack sees this and warns Irina to stay away from Sydney, which I'm sure, she wont listen to. Their scene was the first time they have met in a long time. It is short and to the point which really only makes sense because Jack doesn't want to make it personal however that is exactly what Irina wants to do. The Rambaldi piece was pretty isolated and to itself but either way it was a very cool story with a very cool artifact. Writing continues be on its game. As previously mentioned the scene between Will and Vaughn was a great scene. The talk between Jack and Irina while short felt just right and they included a lot of nice action in this one.

Finally the episode has a very fast paced style that remains me a lot of the first season. Including two missions and ending in a cliffhanger also reminiscent of season 1.

Special Effects: 10
Acting: 10
Direction: 9
Writing: 9
Style: 10

Final Rating: 9.6moreless

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Will is jealous of Vaughn!

9.3

"Superb"

By aussieforgood, Mar 07, 2006 Report Abuse

Sark is now in control of Irena's organisation, and SD-6, the CIA & Sark are all trying to locate another Rambaldi artifact, a music box.

Jack finally faces Irena for the first time in 20 years but the conversation wasn't what I expected. Ireana is starting to win Sydney over, but she didn't get anywhere with Jack.

Will & Vaugn meet for the first time and you can see right away that Will is jealous of him & knew that Vaughn had feelings for Syd. And did I detect a hint of Jealousy from Vaughn too.

My favorite part of the episode was when Syd told Sloan that Emily's death wasn't his fault. It must have taken a great deal of self control to say that directly to Sloan with a straight face.

The ending was cool with Sydney trapped under the ice

And what did Jack do to Sydney after Irena left?
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Goof: When Sydney is under the water and uses the tank from the dead man to get air, you see her white headband slip off her head. But in the next scene it is back in a snug position over her head. Obviously this is a goof, because at the time of trying to preserves ones life, the concern is hardly fashion. Edit
- The list of Russian authors on Sark's laptop, Will saw during his hypnosis: 1) Dostoevsky 2) Nabokov 3) Tolstoy 4) Chekov Edit
- Goof: The luge sled is capable of speeds of up to 150 mph and she needs to go two miles in 12 seconds. At 150 mph, it would take her 48 seconds to go two miles. Edit
Notes
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- This episode won the 2003 Excellence in Production Design Award for "Television - Episode of a Single Camera Television Series". This episode was nominated for the 2003 C.A.S. Award for "Award Outstanding Sound Mixing for Television - Series". Edit
- Music from this episode includes: "Spanish Moss" by Saint Low Edit
- While Sri Lanka is a good spot for launching satellites, the location may be a nod to science fiction writer Sir Arthur C. Clark who first predicted (some say invented) communications satellites and has now famously made his home in Sri Lanka. Edit
Quotes
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- (Jack visits Irina in holding) Jack: I want to make something very clear to you. There are people here who believe you can repay the debt you owe this country, through your continued cooperation... I am not one of them. And if Sydney in any way becomes victim to your end game... I will kill you. She spent most of her life believing you were dead... She'll get used to it again. Edit
- Irina: You know, you haven't yet asked me how I could shoot my own daughter. Sydney: No, I haven't. Irina: I assume you wouldn't need this combination so urgently if you didn't know where the music box was. Sark won't hesitate to kill you. I don't want to lose the chance to explain myself someday. Edit
- Marshall: (to Sydney) ...if you're stuck in the ducts when the rocket launches, then, well, boom. And I'd miss you. Edit
Allusions
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