Mirage
8.0
"Great"
Mirage – Out of the Ordinary
The title says it all; Mirage was complete out of the ordinary. The episode was unlike anything else Alias and I liked it! The dynamic, the emotions, the relationships were at their best.
One thing that may have made the episode so great is the fact that there were so many things out of the ordinary… this episodes running theme.
Out of the Ordinary:
Dixon Shoots Hydrosek Guy
A light example to begin with but after last week’s moral dilemma of whether or not to shoot Raimes the way Dixon shot that guy at the start of the episode was a bit of a 360 turn. One thing that did satisfy my need for continuity a little was the look on his face after he touched the guy; at least there was some remorse.
Sydney Visits Jack’s Apartment
It was weird even seeing his apartment, but after she said that she’d never even been there it was clear this was certainly out of the ordinary. When talking about her relationship with her father she talks about how dysfunctional it is, which was a nice nod to their ever-present trauma. The way the apartment looked surprised me, in my opinion it didn’t really capture Jack, it almost had too much feeling, style even. I don’t know how I would have pictured the house that Jack lived in but I did expect it to be extremely minimalist (which it almost was) and very white (which it wasn’t really)
The symbolism of what it took Sydney to visit this apartment, the possibility he was MIA, showed how broken they are, hopefully this being the first step towards repairing their relationship.
Jack, happy?
In some of the scenes of today’s ep Jack seemed happy, which to me was weird. Of course later on I found out he was hallucinating, maybe that’s why, but it was still very weird. I assume it must have been written into the script that he were to act that way, I wonder why the writers chose such a demeanour?
Main Character Dying
It’s not strictly out of the ordinary but the concept of a main star of a show being given a quick-killing terminal illness without the intent for them to leave the show is a bit weird, no? It just proves to you that this is Alias and everything is a bit different
Jack Talks of Laura as His Wife
Okay, okay so when we found out he was hallucinating it explained a lot but I didn’t know that when I took this note and it struck me as odd. It actually went to fit in with a better purpose, cause the later story... so meh.
Jack Hallucinating the Whole Time
Being Little Miss Spoiler Queen that I am I’m rarely floored by Alias surprises, unless it’s when I’m reading them on spoilerfix.com, but honest to goodness I did not see that coming! It was an excellent little surprise and it fitted the story so well, my only question being how did Jack get the meds in his bathroom if he wasn’t actually seeing a doctor? They looked like legitimate prescription drugs and obtaining them would be a whole new level of hallucination. Another thing that I thought was weird that there was once scene that can’t have been a hallucination, the one where Jack goes to get the poison to “cure” himself… otherwise how could he get it??
Anyways I approve whole-heartedly with this story move!
An Intruder Not Being Caught
I am, of course, referring to Coke Bottle Glasses going into Nadia’s laptop; people always get caught in this situation!! Well given that it’s always the goodies that get caught and never baddies I beginning to see a pattern. I was so disappointed when Nadia didn’t find him; I was looking forward to a Nadia/Weiss vs. Elena/CBG fight L Oh well, I guess we’ll leave that mystery for another day…
Sloane Hatching His Plan
I’m not saying that Sloane hatching a plan is out of the ordinary, just the way he was acting when he did, all talkative and intense, un-Sloane-ly. It’s things like this that make me think he really is a villain and that APO is just his creation to serve him a better purpose.
Sydney and Vaughn’s Interaction Before She Was Laura
I just loved the way they seemed happy, couple-ly and it’s not exactly out of the ordinary but after last week it felt that way. I love the way their relationship has developed, the way Vaughn helped her through it as such, it just gave me the warm fuzzies
Sloane Knowing Where Everything Goes in Jack and Laura’s House
Not really out of the ordinary but it is kinda creepy, you gotta admit. Shows just how much time Jack and Slone spent together, they were best friends after all, just the thought of a “bond”
Jack Thinking Laura Was Perfect
So we already knew he thought this but knowing she was Irina Derevko makes her far from perfect. Of course the writers would be going for irony in this scene and they certainly got it…
Irina Knew Jack Was An Agent
It was extremely weird finding out that Jack told Irina everything, or am I missing something? Wouldn’t one of them have brought it up in many of the reports read about their “relationship”?? Wouldn’t we have known before now? It was quite weird I thought maybe Jack subliminally twigged that Laura was Sydney and told them what they needed to know inadvertently but I’m pretty sure I’m wrong.
But why make this part of the story that is Laura/Irina and Jack?? It’s a confusing move
Jack Open and Emotional
Just like Sydney in “Nocturne” Jack’s true feelings came out by way of hallucination, the scene was brilliant, the writing, the acting and the dynamic of it all were excellent, fitted in with wherever Alias is going. The way he spoke of Sydney made her cry, it was so sweet the way he loves his daughter and his wife, kudos to Victor Garber and Jennifer Garner for their acting in this scene
Liddell 30 Years Older
After many eps of seeing the guy the way Jack must have remembered him it was weird seeing him the way he was actually, old perse. It was good to know that the guy was actually till alive and evidently able to help Jack. They way his character was used was clever and effective, I like!
Elena plugged Coke Bottle Glasses
Not shocking in “Oh she killed him!” sort of way, because we know she’s a bas-ass, just to why she would do it… It was a sort of hmm… moment
Note-Ables
The guy identified only as “Coke Bottle Glasses” was in Legally Blonde
The scientist Jack meets looks at first glance like Bradley Cooper
Nadia is: Agent-087SANTOS
They hired someone to be young Sydney, sweet J
Sloane knows lots about the Bristow’s, eerie
Evidently Laura hated Arvin
In Jack’s hallucination the surviving doctor’s rat’s name was Milo, Rambaldi reference??
Quote-Ables
“You must tell me if I become a burden” – Sophia
(If only Nadia knew…)
“Dinner, food? Are you kidding me, yeah!” – Weiss
(Hmmm… food :D)
Sydney: “Thank you Marshall, remind me to kiss you”
Weiss: “What did she say?”
Marshall: “Nothing”
(Cute J Marshall going all awkward, how Marshall, who’s even cuter J)
“Sydney deserves to know she is the most important thing in my life, she and Laura of course.” – Jack
(Eerie, it was the first sign he thought it was 30 years ago but also nice to know how he feels about his daughter)
“Yes, he could (disappear) if he was hidden by my father.” – Sydney
(Sydney knows her fathers potential)
“She asked me if you were tall, dark and handsome, I told her you were tall.” – Nadia
(Aww, Nadia and Weiss make a nice couple, nice to know where they stand J)
“You know it’s not too late, we can still have Weiss dress up as Irina, I’m sure he’s make a great housewife” – Vaughn
(I love the mental image of Weiss dressed as Irina)
“Besides we’ve got snipers everywhere if it starts to get inappropriate” – Vaughn
(Eeewy mental that it brings, but also funny and kinda sweet)
What’s In A Name
The name of this episode most likely originates from Jack’s hallucinations, the mirage of the doctor and also of the mirage APO created of Laura to reveal the location of Liddell.
Scene Of The Ep
Before and including the scene where Sydney is Irina, from when she’s talking to Vaughn and then pretending to be her mother.
Loathed
No one’s caught Elena yet
Liked
The relationship dynamics of this ep (Weiss/Nadia Vaughn/Sydney, Jack/Sydney etc)
Loved
The overall story and where this could be going