Echoes
9.0
Echoes – Familiar Faces
The first half of a two-part episode was one that a lot of people were looking forward to, for one main reason – familiar faces. Echoes marks the return of previous Alias stars David Anders and Gina Torres (aka Julian Sark and Anna Espinosa) and also incorporated the return of the mysterious prophet Rambaldi.
The episode can be summarised in the theme familiar faces, some of them were gone for a long time, others for not as long, yet all have the theme in common.
Anna
It was strange to see the return of a character we haven’t seen since season 1 and to be honest I wasn’t sure if the story could live up to the hype, the expectation – it may not have been my favourite episode ever but it certainly wasn’t bad. Anna’s character had an effect on the story, on Sydney, in a way no other could because of their history together. Having her back in the show can add to or change a story’s dynamic because of the tension and drive that she brings to the missions and to Sydney.
In a way, apart from her effect on the likes of Sydney I didn’t quite see why she would have a connection with Sark, of course they’re both bad guys yet other than that there would seem no obvious reason for them to be connected, meh it’s Alias world – things rarely make sense.
Rambaldi
After abandoning the storyline for a little while having what used to be the centre of the show back in focus was a nice touch, to have all these people return in one episode, why not bring back Rambaldi too? Surprisingly all that he was in there for was Anna’s involvement and to re-introduce the prophecy between Nadia and Sydney – rather than having him the reason behind some of the missions, I think that bringing back some of the mystery, things that effect the missions would have been nice yet the way it came about was good enough pretty much. I feel that the reason behind the return of Rambaldi’s prophecy where Sydney and Nadia fight was because the writers were like oopsie, we forgot all about some major revaluation that could effect everything, I think we better bring it back. To be honest, in my opinion something like that needs a constant build up through a few episodes rather than the speedy reintroduction that this had.
Sark
I just love this guy, seriously he’s awesome, his accent, the things he says and the things he does all rock, I seriously can’t believe that he’s not a regular. Seeing him again was awesome, everything he did was just so cool; I think I’m getting carried away here.
In all rational honesty it was about time we saw Sark again, he brings something to Alias that just makes it so good, the scene where we see Sark and Vaughn in the prison was priceless.
It was typical Sark playing along with APO’s façade just “for the bubbly” and it was a nice touch instead of the stock standard style that most people have become accustomed to
Nadia’s Return
She wasn’t quite gone for long but to the characters seeing Nadia return was seeing a familiar face, finally, after a scary kidnapping experience. Her reunion with Weiss was very sweet although I would have thought, lacked affection, for two people supposedly in love we haven’t seen any kissing or hugging going on, maybe it’s got something to do with the fact JJ knows Grunberg’s wife, lolz.
When Nadia was reunited with Sloane I was kinda creeped out by his dad-ly-ness, it was like the way Sloane talked to Sydney back in SD-6 days, gives you the feeling he might not actually care.
The only real greeting after her kidnapping was Sydney’s who looked very happy to see her and expressed her happiness in a non-creepy non-distant way, just sisterly, and that’s the way it should be.
Lauren
So technically she didn’t return but we had a mention of her, and we discover, for now, she is actually dead – you never know in Alias world. It was weird to hear Sark saying that she was the woman he loved – you always got the feeling it was just a fling thing rather than some whole-hearted committed relationship, it was kinda cool anyhoo, so it doesn’t really matter whether it was a fling or not.
Quote-Ables
Sydney: “She’s supposed to be dead”
Jack: “So are a lot of people”
(A hint towards certain people perhaps?)
Jack: “The category of force you chose to exercise will remain classified”
(Tehe)
Dixon: “There are people out there who want you dead, thankfully we’re not one of them”
Guy: “Your reputation is well earned – still I wish I were younger”
(Tehe, creepy guy though)
Anna: “One day whether you choose to or not, you will help me destroy her”
Sydney: “Please tell me this is not about what I think it is”
Sloane: “If you had faith you would know what I know”
Sydney: “Faith in a 15th century lunatic?”
(Tehe, nice Sydney moment)
Sydney: “I just wish the ghosts would go away”
Vaughn: “Tell me about it”
Vaughn: “Open it up”
Guard: “Procedure dictates –“
Vaughn: “We’re old friends”
Sark: “Actually, given our shared intimacies with your late wife, I may even go so far as to say we’re family”
(Nice, although his logic isn’t quite straight)
Sark: “Mr Vaughn your timing is impeccable – the last of my broken bones has healed and I sit before you a fresh canvas for your aggression. Before we begin whatever inquisition you’re here for there’s a pesky question that has been lingering in my head, do you mind?”
Vaughn: “Alright”
Sark: “Was it the infidelity or the espionage that motivated you to kill the woman I love?”
Vaughn: “That wasn’t for sleeping with the woman I was married to, I couldn’t care less about her”
(Nice how Lauren’s name is not used and she is not referred to as his wife, only as the woman he was married to, as if it was done against his will, which it was actually)
Sark: “So it’s begun”
Vaughn: “What?”
Sark: “Wouldn’t you like to know”
Sark: “I regret to inform you Mr Vaughn, I’m not afraid of the dark.”
Sark: “For the bubbly of course”
(Typical Sark)
What’s In A Name?
Echoes from the past, such as Anna, Sark and Rambaldi
Scene of the Ep
Sark and Vaughn in the call
Loathed
No Rambaldi in the missions??
Liked
Sydney and Anna fighting
Loved
Sark
