The Counteragent

Season 2, Episode 7, Aired

Episode Summary

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9.3
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
221 votes
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Sydney races to find a cure for Vaughn, but in order to find the antidote, Sydney must make a deal with Sark that could endanger Sloane's life. Meanwhile, Will continues his research for Vaughn and discovers some disturbing inconsistencies involving 20-year-old standardized IQ tests.moreless
  • Vaughn is infected with a deadly disease and Sydney has to get the cure at all costs. Starring: Jennifer Garner, Ron Rifkin, Michael Vartan, Bradley Cooper, Merrin Dungey, Kevin Weisman, David Anders, with Lena Olin and Victor Garbermoreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    The cliffhanger at the end of the last season just pulled me instantly into this episode. Vaughn (Michael Vartan) could potentially die from this illness, one that has killed many before. In order to survive he goes to Irina (Lena Olin). I love any scene with Olin in it, especially the ones that she and Vartan share as they are both fantastic and I can just sense the hatred from Vaughn. Vaughn does not get the serum that he needs and Sydney (Jennifer Garner) decides to take it upon herself to go and get the antidote for Vaughn. Sydney gets to the serum but can only actually get it if she triggers the alarm, something that Kendall (special guest star Terry O'Quinn) tells her not to do and she gets caught by Sark (David Anders). I was literally yelling at the tv especially when Sark would only save Sydney from the acid he was pouring on her if she agreed to give Sark an unconscious Sloane (Ron Rifkin). This was an interesting development and something that almost had my jaw on the ground. My jaw went through the floor when Sydney discovers that Sloane is alive and that Sark only wanted to work with Sloane to get the Rambaldi artifacts and find Derevko. The subplot of this episode centered around Will (Bradley Cooper) trying to find the test questions that Vaughn sent him on previously. I was actually interested in what Will was doing again and I liked him getting back to his roots from in season one. My only disappointment really with this episode is the lack of appearance of Francie (Merrin Dungey). Dungey is a talented actress and Francie was one of my favorite characters, but she has had such little screen time recently and it annoys me. My favorite parts of the episode were when Sydney and Vaughn were interacting. First, when he was lying in the bed and she was holding his hand. And secondly, after he recovered. I again yelled at the tv when Vaughn went running after Sydney and she had already left. Anyway, this is one of my favorite episodes of the entire series.moreless
  • Enemies turning to friends..

    7.0
    "Good"
    Ok.. This one was good and special in some ways and other really disturbing.

    First, I am from Estonia and it was quite shocking to get the screen what says: Paldiski, Estonia.. ok.. but that place and Sark there, making deal with Sydney.. that was exciting and it turned to get even more weirder after that Japan Garden. Not that Sydney look awful in my opinion in that costume.

    Will's task with those test question continues and maybe most important thing with Vaughn - I am glad they did not dropped the illness thing so quickly as it is promising storyline and what they developed with it to Sydney-Vaughn relationship wasn't bad too.moreless
  • Saving Michael

    9.0
    "Superb"
    "Other Side Of The World" by KT Tunstall

    Over the sea and far away She's waiting like an iceberg Waiting to change But she's cold inside She wants to be like the water All the muscles tighten in her face Buries her soul in one embrace They're one and the same Just like water The fire fades away Most of everyday Is full of tired excuses But it's to hard to say I wish it were simple But we give up easily You're close enough to see that You're the other side of the world to me On comes the panic light Holding on with fingers and feelings alike But the time has come To move along The fire fades away Can you help me Can you let me go And can you still love me When you can't see me anymore The fire fades awaymoreless
  • Review

    9.1
    "Superb"
    I thought the episode was good, but it wasn't the best episode so far this season. The entire scene with Sark catching Sydney trying to escape with the cure for Vaughn was really good. I really enjoyed him seriousness as she tried to shoot at him and how he was able to con her into giving him what he wanted. The trick that he used to get inside of SD-6 was a powerful one and an interesting one if Sydney and him have to go on a mission together in an upcoming episode. I dont trust Sark being around SD-6 for very long, but we will have to see. I was glad to see the storyline over Arvins wife take a break...not because I am bored of it, but because it allows the blockbusters "Shes not in the casket" story to sink into us a little longer. It all screams set-up to me, but we will see where the writers go with this now. Decent episode I thought.moreless
  • Great Episode.

    10
    "Perfect"
    Sydney Learns that Vaughn has the Virus.
    Vaughn goes to see Sydney\\\'s mother and passes out.

    Sloan tells Jack about Emily\\\'s empty coffin.

    Sydney find out that Vaughn has a girlfriend (I was so darn crushed).

    Sydney makes a deal with Sark to handover Sloan in exchange for the antidote to save Vaughn.

    Vaughn is saved and him and Sydney share an awkward moment when he tries to explain about him and his girlfriend.

    A moment after she leaves he goes after her but is unable to catch up.

    All in all, great episode. I am a little bummed about Vaughn\\\'s girl.

    moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (4)

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    • Number 47: The security pass code to use the serum generator is 2664729.

    • Goof: When infiltrating the lab in Estonia, Sydney grabs a dolly loaded with a barrel to disguise herself. Since the official language of Estonia is Estonian (67%, with a 30% population that speak Russian), the barrel should be marked in that language. It is however marked "RECOVERY DRUM" and "SALVAGE" in English and "Barrils De Sal..." (the rest not visible) in some unknown language.

    • Goof: In the hospital just after the monitors around Vaughn start beeping a doctor states "He's bleeding internally". Yet another doc wants to do a peritoneal lavage. You only do such a lavage to determine if there's a bleeding at all. So why do one when they know what's going on already?

    • Japanese ambulances are solid white with minimal red markings. The ambulance depicted in the Tokyo scene was not Japanese (nor Japanese made) - it was solid red on the lower half. There are non-Japanese made ambulances, such as made by Merecedes-Benz, however they are rare.

  • QUOTES (16)

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    • Sark: (to Sydney) You and I are truly destined to work together, I truly believe that.

    • Jack: (About Sydney helping Sark kill Sloane) It's a moment I never wanted you to face, I'm not talking about self defense, I'm talking about premeditated murder, to be there when the door closes for the last time, knowing you are responsible is something you never came close to considering before getting to know your mother.

    • (Sydney in disguise gives Sloane a massage) Sloane: Oh, God I'm tense... I saw a man die yesterday... Not a big surprise. Do you understand? (Sydney nods sideways and says something in Japanese) He was in incredible pain, but it was the love he had for his wife that sustained him (Sydney readies to stab Sloane with a poisoned needle from her hair dress) I loved my wife too, but I had to take action.

    • (Vaughn comes to, cured from the virus) Vaughn (Dazed and groggy): What's happening? Jack: You've been asleep for 40 hours. Vaughn: Am I dying? Jack: Almost. Sydney got the antidote. The doctors say your blood levels are looking good. Vaughn: How did she do it? Jack: She had Sloane killed.

    • Jack: Sloane's on his way to Japan. He plans to stay at a Yakuza-run Ryokan, the Nyoshi Ginza. Use the numbers he gave you and contact Sark. Tell him we will hand him Sloane the night before his Alliance meeting. Sydney: Tell me you agree with me, that we have no choice in this. Jack: Of course we have a choice, and it's a moment I never wanted you to face. To kill someone. I'm not talking about self-defense: I'm talking about premeditated murder. To be there when the door closes on him for the last time. Knowing you are responsible. That is something you never came close to considering before getting to know your mother.

    • Kendall: What exactly did you promise Sark? Sydney: That I would render Sloane unconscious and deliver him to Sark. Kendall: So he could kill him. Sydney: Yes. Kendall: There are just so many problems with this that I don't even know where to begin.

    • Sark: I need access to Arvin Sloane. Sydney: Why? Sark: Because I intend to kill him. Sydney: I can get you to Sloane, but only if you promise to let me keep the antidote. Sark: No. Sloane first. Then you'll get back your precious antidote.

    • Kendall: Mountaineer, abort the op and head back. We'll find another way to - Sydney: Abort? We don't have time to find something else! Kendall: If you use the machine, they'll know you're there. Sydney: Then I'll run fast.

    • Jack: Are there concerns? Sloane: Since I was made a partner in the Alliance, SD-6 has consistently stumbled in its operations. We lost the terahertz wave camera. We failed to retrieve the formula for zero-point energy. We didn't acquire Derevko's operations manual. Jack: The situation regarding Emily has been a distraction. Informing them puts these setbacks in context. Sloane: Christophe wants me to meet with him in Tokyo. I need a victory, Jack. I need to bring something tangible to the organization.

    • Alice: The paramedics called. "What was his last meal? Is he allergic to any medication?" I got to the hospital as fast as I could... So you work with Michael? Sydney: Yeah. We're in the same bureau at state. I'm Rita. Alice: I'm Alice. I'm listed as his emergency contact. I'm Michael's girlfriend. Excuse me.

    • Sydney: Wait, wait, wait! Wait a minute, what's going on? Is he going to be all right? Nurse: We don't know, but you have to wait here. Your designated cover: you're with the state department bureau of arms control. Your name is Rita Stevens; give no details about his illness.

    • Lab Technician: You need blood from the patient. In this case, Vaughn. The equipment that manufactures the serum reads the blood and creates a custom genetic-specific antidote for that particular patient. Sydney: I'll need to take some of Vaughn's blood with me. Lab Technician: Yes.

    • Vaughn: Thanks for getting back to me so soon. Uh, the thing is, I think I have a problem. Dr. Nicholas: I know you're worried, but we ran every available diagnostic test for viral infections. Everything that could be related to your exposure to the fluid inside the Rambaldi device. They all came back negative.

    • Irina: You're the one who's sick. Vaughn: Yes. Irina: Tell me how you feel about my daughter? Vaughn (Pauses): That's none of your business. Irina: Are you in love with her? Vaughn: I don't know why that matters to you. Irina: I don't have the advantage of observing casual behavior. I'm curious. Vaughn: Help me and I'll tell you what you want to know.

    • (Sydney sits by Vaughn's bedside) (Vaughn wakes and turns to Sydney) Vaughn: Hi. Sydney: Hi. I talked to my mother. There is an antidote and I'm going to go get it. Vaughn: How dangerous? Sydney: Getting the serum? Nah, it will be easy. (Pauses) But I need to take some of your blood with me. Okay? (Sydney reaches in and draws blood) Sydney: Couple of days and you'll be doing wind-sprints. (Vaughn reaches over and holds Sydney's hand) Vaughn: Be careful. (Sydney smiles at him)

    • Sydney: Approaching the building. Sark: Good luck, Sydney. Sydney: I don't need you to wish me luck, you son of a bitch. Sark: That's a wonderful attitude.

  • NOTES (3)

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  • ALLUSIONS (0)

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