CS Weekly Archive > DVD of the Day > 11/22/06

Sprinting for the Finish Line

by scott castle

Alias: The Complete Fifth and Final Season

Jesse Alexander, Josh Appelbaum, Jeffrey Bell, Monica Breen, Andi Bushell, Breen Frazier, Drew Goddard, Samantha Humphrey, Andreacute; Nemec, J.R. Orci, Jeff Pinkner, and Allison Schapker

Created By J.J. Abrams

As the fifth season opens, secret agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) plunges into the most unexpected situation of her career: motherhood.  Taking advantage of Garner's real-life pregnancy, the producers take the opportunity to showcase the supporting cast and Alias develops into much more of an ensemble series.  Newcomer Rachel Gibson (Rachel Nichols) becomes Sydney's protégé and allows the audience a glimpse of what Sydney must have been like when she was first recruited by the CIA.  Through Gibson's eyes, the viewer embarks on dangerous missions without the confidence of a seasoned super agent and a sense of danger pervades every exploit.  Meanwhile, the mystery of renaissance seer/inventor Milo Rambaldi returns with a vengeance as Sydney races to recover Rambaldi's "Horizon" before the sinister agents of Prophet Five can claim the device.  The final run of episodes recaptures the best of what Alias had to offer when it went on the air five years before, but the two-hour finale drops the ball in a muddled story that tries to accomplish everything and manages nothing.  An abbreviated array of extras includes a feature on Rambaldi where creator J.J. Abrams explains why the mysterious figure was devised.  Sadly, the commentaries that proved the highlight of previous sets are absent.

Alias: The Complete Fifth and Final Season

Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Not rated; 724 min.

$39.99

Buy it now

Scott Castle is one thesis shy of a master’s degree in film.  He’s written two short films, four television scripts, and a handful of short stories. He lives in Los Angeles.

Alias: The Complete Fifth and Final Season courtesy Buena Vista Home Entertainment

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