An open letter to J.J. Abrams:
J.J.,
You're kidding me, right? You're actually going with this whole "Vaughn might have been a double agent" stuff? Sure, we find out in this episode the real story, but the mere fact that everyone around him except Syd could believe it's true - and you're going to base an entire season on the premise - is ridiculous. What, every assignment he's been on, every life he has saved, every time he has helped the agency and his fellow agents and his country, he was working as a double agent? And it didn't come up once, not with a mysterious phone call or a document coming up or showing him meeting with someone? Are we supposed to buy this?
It reminds me of the last episode of Magnum, P.I. The entire last season, actually. Magnum is convinced that Higgins is really Robin Masters, and has been lying for the entire 8 year run of the show. Higgins keeps on denying it until halfway through the last ep, when he sighs heavily and admits that, yes, he is Robin Masters, and the whole "Higgins" thing was a charade. Now, in the last scene, he says that he lied. He is Higgins, and there really is a Robin Masters. And that's how the show ends. It's incredibly stupid, even if they finally say that Higgins wasn't Masters, because we are supposed to believe it could be true. That it was plausible that Magnum could have thought Higgins was Masters. The writers thought we wouldn't remember that fact that Higgins had several phone conversations with Masters - while he was in a room, alone, and they showed them - so, what, he was insane and just pretending to talk to someone else on the other line, even though no one was in the room listening in? Same thing here.
I understand the problem you're facing. Vartan wants to leave the show (I am praying Vaughn is still alive and we'll find out at the end of the season he faked his death to investigate the case) so you have to think of some way to get rid of Vaughn. But please don't tell me you had this idea a year ago or two years ago or from the beginning. The entire thing just doesn't make any sense, and the only reason I'm going along for the ride is that I'm a huge fan of the show and I'm hoping that not only will individual episodes be great but also at the end you'll make me a believer that this whole plot is plausible (don't hold your breath).
It looks like the whole season hinges on another 15th Century manuscript and people trying to kill Sydney. I like the way you tied together the pilot episode, though I'm still not buying the explanation 100%. The whole thing smells of backtracking and making things up to deal with Garner's pregnancy, Vartan's departure, a new time slot, and it possibly being the last season of the show (I'm guessing more the first two, less the last two). But like I said, I'm curious to see where you're going with this, and I love the cast and everything else, so I'm going along for the ride every single week this season.
Oh, and if you want to have Syd wake up in the next episode and Vaughn's alive in the shower, that's fine with me.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-30-2005 @ 2:36AM
Siraris said...
No one ever said that Vaughn is a double agent, not once. Vaughn was exactly who he was, just his real name is not Michael Vaughn. His father was a Mathematician on this Prophet 5 project, and changed his name when he was 18 months from Andre, (I couldn't understand his last name... Marseu?), to Michael Vaughn. He found out 7 years previous, about his father, from this woman Renee, (Aka The Raven). I assume since then, he has been investigating to try and find out information about his father.
The fact is, the show is falling apart at the seems. They can barely show Jen as she looks pregnant in every single scene in the show. There has been rumors she is leaving and that Vartan wants to leave. Without those two, the show would have to be cancelled, as it would no longer be Alias.
I am extremely dissapointed with how JJ went about handling this episode. First of all, it was absolutely rushed, and disjointed. First they're in the accident, then they're meeting this guy, going to Cape Town, going to drop off the book, boom he's dead. Oh, and can I just say, that scene where he gets killed was so poorly done it's pathetic. The guy unloaded at least 20 bullets in his chest, yet you could see the same holes the entire time. I've always felt the CG scenes are poorly done, but come on, at least make this look realistic.
The point is, why keep Vartan/Vaughn/Andre alive at all? It was absolutely unecessary to have him in this episode if all he is going to do is die in the end. I HATE how shows are doing that now, at least give one of the most important figures in the show a proper send-off, no matter what bad blood there may be. I do not see any way whatsoever that he survived the assault, unless this has all been a dream, and I won't put that past JJ yet.
All in all, they could have made this season fantastic, but it looks like it's going to go down hill from here. I know I sound pessimistic, especially after all the curve balls that have been thrown in the past, but in the past, the two main characters haven't wanted to leave. Oh, and we can't forget that Nadia is in a coma with an uncurable disease as well. This could have been handled so much better... I guess JJ is too busy with Lost and MI:4 to concentrate on his baby.
I'd love to know why Vartan wants to leave, anyways. Monster in Law tanked, and he has no other projects that he's currently working on. If he was blowing up on the scene I'd understand, but he has something that works here.
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9-30-2005 @ 9:10AM
Willy said...
While they may not have used the phrase "double agent," the idea was clearly implied: Jack ("I Have The World's Smallest Mouth") Bristow was looking into Vaughn's personal files and exploring his "off-book" travel. Clearly, there's some concern about that. And when Sydney asked him if he were a "bad guy," Vaughn never answered either way.
As for the episode, itself: I loved it. I thought it was suspenseful; I liked that they made Sydney's character pregnant (so she DOESN'T have to hide behind that pink sweater all season); and they didn't mention Rimbaldi once (Thank God!). I also like that we have a new "bad guy" -- rogue CIA "ghost" -- and seveal new plot lines to unravel.
For those who think Vaughn is dead, I have 2 words for you: closed casket. Previously, we saw Sloan "die" only to be "reborn" in a subsequent episode. There's no way Vaughn is dead. It's possible we will not see him for a week or 2, but I am completely confident he'll pop up again.
I was going to pass on Alias this year, since it's on against Survivor. But after last night's episode, I'm sure I'm going to watch it. No show on TV has more plot twists and fast-paced action -- even though sometimes the storyline gets unwieldy and confusing.
In closing: does anyone like Marshall Flinkman? I cringe whenever he comes on. I like HIM, but why do they make him so annoying?
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9-30-2005 @ 9:46AM
Les said...
I felt like they couldn't wait to get rid of Vaughn, now so Syd. can spend the whole rest of this season trying to track down the people who killed him? Then at the end of the season she gives birth and Vaughn's gonna walk in. Common'n J.J.? Does anyone remember the first season, Sydney's reaction to the murder of her fiance Danny? I can't believe after last season's finale that left me traumatized! This is what I get? I have purchased all 3 season's. JJ send me an address I mail them to you,(free)I can't watch them now? Next week if somebody doesn't wake up from a nightmare. There is no Alias without Vaughn-HELLO, your the writer. Extremely disappointed. Thanks a lot. I do live in reality! This "SHOW" was something entertaining to look forward too at the end of the day. You people are the one's not in touch with reality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I say just cancel it now!
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9-30-2005 @ 9:50AM
e said...
Marshall rocks.
I am so mad at "Alias" for "killing off" Vaughn. I'm sure it's all a facade, but still. . . I'm not feeling much love for this season, and I've been a die-hard fan since episode 2.
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9-30-2005 @ 10:23AM
Michael Sykes said...
What I want to know is with all these super-suspicious CIA agents running around, why didn't anyone think to do a background check on the so called "Special Investigator" (or whatever) until after he killed Vaughn? Some random guy shows up with a badge, so you automatically believe he's legit?
All it took was one lousy phone call to director Chase to reveal he was bogus, dude wasn't even using an assumed identity. The only think less believable than that was Vaughn not dying immediately after taking 50 rounds to the chest at point blank range (and not even trying to run away while watching the other guy get gunned down).
At least now that they've jumped 4 months they can stop hiding Jennifer Garner's stomach.
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9-30-2005 @ 11:04AM
erica said...
Siraris, you ask why Michael V would want to leave. Have you heard all the rumors that Jennifer Garner forced him out? Not saying they're true, but it's something to think about.
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10-21-2005 @ 4:51PM
Olivia said...
I missed Alias last night. Arrrrgh! Does anyone know where I can get a copy of it? Million thanks!
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9-30-2005 @ 12:03PM
Matt Burns said...
With no Vaughn (daddy) they can play the "signal mom takes on the world bit" with Sydney.
Oh and if they bring back Vaughn after I saw if take a good dozen bullits to the chest from an uzi closer then you currently are from your monitor, then I am done. I understand that they had to give everyone one last goodbye in the hospital, but he should have been dead at the train. The hospital scenes looked JUST LIKE a soap opera.
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9-30-2005 @ 6:31PM
Josh said...
Very weak episode. If that's how Vaughn goes out, it's lame and if he comes back after that pathetic send off it's just as bad. Either way, it's definitely hard to justify the quality in it. I agree with #1 about Vaughn's double agent status. He was who he was... just with a different name, but the fact that they brought that element up to begin with was pretty bad. How did Vaughn go running around, searching for the Prophet 5 answers, without Syd noticing? Also, how is this not tied to Rimbaldi? 15th century text? Sounds like Rimbaldi to me. And I'm also with #5 about them not noticing this "off the grid" guy running the show for a couple days. Very weak start.
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9-30-2005 @ 4:49PM
Siraris said...
Billy, I don't agree at all. They were looking into Vaughns activity BEFORE they knew about him looking into the Fifth Prophet and his father. That's why he was red flagging, I also assume because he was showing up in coordination with Renee (The Raven), which Arvin brought up to Jack, and Jack already seemed to know about. Sydney asked if he was a bad guy before knowing what he was doing.
As for Vaughn being dead, I think he's gone. Obviously I can't be 100% because theres creative license to do anything, but when Sloan "died", he didn't take an Uzi clip to the chest. Furthermore, there wasn't rumors that he wanted to leave. I think that they killed off Vaughn, also, because just like in every other action show, you can't have the main character in an intense relationship. Have we learned nothing from Jack Bauer or James Bond?
The ONLY thing that throws me off, is that they didn't put "Special Guest Star: Michael Vartan" and put him as a main cast member. I don't know if that is on purpose, to throw off fans, or because they had to, or what, but that is the only thing I can draw from.
Anyway's, if he does come back, it's going to be offputting. I can vividly picture Sydney in some dire situation, and Vaughn walking and going "Syd I'm alive, it was my clone they killed. I was trapped in a cryogenic chamber in Bizmark, let's get out of here and raise our kid". I'd proceed to throw my remote through the TV.
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9-30-2005 @ 5:45PM
adele said...
Apparently, though, he'll be reunited with Brad Cooper on an expisode of "Kitchen Confidential"
http://www.fox.com/schedule/2005fall/kitchenc.htm
I just hope this isn't one of those catch-it-before-it's-cancelled shows. I miss Cooper and Nicholas Brendan (from Buffy).
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10-01-2005 @ 3:55AM
Reenie said...
Ugh. Vaughn is gone, Jennifer GARNER killed off his character, as far as I'm concerned. Was a HUGE fan of show since inception & episode 1, but want to give special thanks to JJ for cow-towing to MRS. AFFLECK's whims & ruining the show for me. I. will. no. longer. watch.
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9-30-2005 @ 8:49PM
Zod said...
I, for one, thought that, regardless of Vaughn's death, this was a decent episode with a good sign of things to come. The last two seasons were just not dramatic and different enough for me. With Vaughn being "killed" (he'll pop up later, folks) I can finally see Alias moving back to the old days where people were double crossing other people, people were getting killed, and no one was killed by killer bees. Or killer dogs. Or killer dogs that have killer bees in their mouths and when they bark they shoot killer bees at you.
On an aside note, I'd punch every bee in the face. F**k bees.
Going back to the subject, I'm just glad to see that the producers aren't sticking with the formula and are trying to mix it up a little.
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10-04-2005 @ 1:37AM
Phil said...
Reenie, are you naturally stupid or did you just develop the utter lack of ability of knowing the difference between rumors and facts? I think you're more of the former. How in the world can you dare believe that Jennifer Garner was the cause of Michael Vartan getting the boot? That would be like saying, "Pigs can fly." If Vartan wants to leave, then let him leave. I doubt he wants to, though. I mean, in an interview, he said he was surprised when he heard about the rumors of his character being killed off, he called JJ Abrams and JJ told him not to worry because the rumors aren't true. Vartan was relieved because he just recently bought a house and needs the money to pay for it (so I guess his house isn't fully-paid yet). And, Garner was asked in an interview with "Extra" if Vartan plans on leaving the show, she said, "..the answer is no." So, with BOTH actors saying there's no truth to all of the rumors, are you STILL going to believe the rumors? If you are still going to, then you're definitely dumber than I thought. Sorry.
As for the Season 5 premiere: I think it was great! It was a huge revamp for "Alias." The premiere of Season 4 just didn't do that for me. The s5 premiere was fast-paced, yes, but the story was still very clear and in-tact. And as for Vaughn.. I'm actually hoping he stays dead. As much as I like the character, I'm just getting sick of "dead" characters getting back to life. That "twist" has already been overused more than a couple of times, don't continue overusing it. He had these "activities" when he was still alive.. He was investigating something. For us to know what really happened, I think they should just keep Vartan on the show and shoot "flashback" scenes. Although the character's already dead, he's still alive in our memory and in those "flashbacks." And when I said "flashbacks," I don't mean scenes from episodes we've already seen. I meant that they should shoot new footage and edit it to look like a "flashback." That'd be pretty interesting. You know, "Lost" style!
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10-04-2005 @ 12:26PM
Annie said...
Ok, so I love Alias. I am probably one of the biggest fans around. However... I do have some comments on last weeks episode. I liked it. And for some info for all of you: They are not killing off Michael Vaughn (or whoever he really is). I read in People Magazine a few weeks ago that he is staying with the show for the season, and that he might get his own spinoff. My thoughts are this, but i warn you, don't read this unless you want to have a very possible spoiler.... : I think that Sydney and Jack gave Vaughn something to drink in that cup that she insists that he drink when he's in the hospital. Syd is a very emotional person and she was much more emotional when she was talking to him in the hospital while he was drinking from the straw than she was at his funeral. Also, did you see the look she gave her dad at the funeral...it was as if they knew something. I think that they needed to fake his death to convince everyone else (both CIA and prophet 5 people) that he was dead to protect him and to protect syd and the baby. I think that he'll be recovering in hiding for a while, but then he'll come back. I know he's not really dead, although I do agree with some earlier posts about the fact that shooting made it look like he should have been dead at the train. i have no idea how he survived that many bullets directly to his chest and point blank range... anyway... I think that this season will be all about this prophet five stuff (which, notice is a heck of a lot like the Rimbaldi plot line, with a book and what not), and about syd doing all in her power to protect her baby. We still don't know what really happened to her eggs that were stolen in season 3. There's a lot of loose ends from previous plot lines that could come to completion this year. Also, notice how there's new competition for Marshall with that blond girl. SHe was with the bad agent ghost guy. That's like another SD6... they keep repeating plot lines in slightly different twists, but it works for them. APO with sloane as the director is alot like SD6 too... but, anyway... i think that this season will be great. I'm very excited. It won't be as awesome as season 2 (my personal favorite), but it should prove to be better than season 3 (which was disappointing with icky Lauren...yeah i wasn't a fan of her), but still... if you're a true fan, you will watch the show and see where it all leads, even if you're not impressed right now.
Also, i noticed in the credits that greg grunberg (Weise)wasn't in the normal creidts, but was only noted as a guest star... I wonder if that means that he's leaving the show?? And whatever happened to mia maestro? is nadia still going to be involved. i think she could prove to be a useful asset to syd in the fight against the prophet 5 people...
interesting stuff this season. thanks for reading.
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10-04-2005 @ 12:39PM
Bob Sassone said...
Grunberg and Maestro are both off the show (though I think Maestro will be in a couple of episodes this season).
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10-04-2005 @ 12:49PM
e said...
Thanks, Annie! I like the way you are thinking.
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10-04-2005 @ 1:58PM
e said...
Kristin has more about MV leaving here - http://www.eonline.com/Gossip/Kristin/Trans/Archive2005/051003.html .
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10-04-2005 @ 4:32PM
Gem said...
Oh for God's sake!! Siraris & whoever wrote this tv squad piece....Vartan DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE! Sorry to post in caps but that seems to be the only way to get the message across. Vartan going was NOT his choice, it came from the 'suits', now whether that was just ABC, or JJ or whoever, I have no idea, but it sure as hell wasn't Vartan's choice.
Anyway, with Vartan and the character of Vaughn gone I'm outta hear, the show has gone to complete crap and I'm not watching anymore.
BTW - Vartan hasn't worked on the Alias set in nearly 2 months, they are now up to episode 5 or 6 and there are still no plans at the current time for him to return, so I wouldn't bet on him coming back - I certainly wouldnt' blame Vartan for telling them to shove it were the sun doesn't shine re any offer they make him, considering the completely crappy way the man has been treated!
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10-05-2005 @ 2:17PM
jdui71 said...
BAD IDEA writters. Your going have alot of ladies mad. Killing him off to please another actor/actress is really a bad thing. I don't want to watch this crap any more. The writting of last weeks show sucked. You could have at least showed so emotion on Syd. Come on, she showed more emotion when she came back and he was with Lauren for srying out loud. Some tears would have been a good thing. She is carrying his child. Let's see, maybe Ben can guest star as some knight and shinning armour to pick up the not so broken pieces of Syd's life. They better bring Vaughn back. Maybe the doctors were working for the other side and they have him hidden away somewhere and at the end of this season they will show him. Have him go into the witness protection next season and just tease us with bits and pieces of him. Darn writters. They should have killed Syd off.
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