In the ninth episode of the fourth season of Alias, Sydney and Vaughn must work with Sark to track down Anna. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Alias.
Well, that was interesting. VERY STRESSFUL, TOO. I found this to be more of an action piece with some situational character elements, which isn’t a bad thing or a criticism! “A Man of His Word†is very much tied to the events in the previous episode, so I wouldn’t say it necessarily stands on its own. It’s a reaction to other plots; it is a continuation of other arcs. Yet there’s still a lot here that is probably going to be significant in later episodes, so LET’S CHAT.
Sark
I am perplexed by Sark’s characterization, though it’s less because of some perceived flaw in the writing. Alias rarely, if ever, gives me all the details and the answers up front, and so it’s easy for me to assume that there’s some grand plan for his character. I say that because I also can’t believe his insistence that he’s a reformed man. See, Alias is also huge on character parallels, and there’s a constant stream of dual storylines throughout this show. So, while Arvin Sloane just got an entire episode devoted to how unbelievable it is that he’s now a good person, Sark’s return comes with a similar theme, but executed in a different way. Both characters want to seem like they’ve turned a new leaf, despite that their monstrous pasts make it virtually impossible to conceive of them as moral people. Yet this is the party line that Sark sticks to in “A Man of His Word†right until he escapes from everyone. He is so certain in his behavior that I have to wonder what the hell he’s planning!
Here’s the point I made in the video: Sark has got to know that no one here is going to trust him. He has to realize that people will assume the worst about him and that, after spending a few months in prison, he’s still going to be the same, right??? And yet he keeps up this… I don’t know what it is. A façade? A genuine act? Look, it’s hard for me to look at him positively even within the context of this episode because HE IS SO OPENLY CRUEL TO VAUGHN. He literally requests that Vaughn show him Lauren’s body, and I can’t see any reason for it other than being vindictive and petty. But okay, let’s assume he needed closure, that his love for Lauren was real, and that this was his final act of viciousness. I STILL DON’T BELIEVE HIM. I think it is very easy to argue that after pairing up with Anna, he only locked her in that mausoleum because it benefitted himself. He wasn’t trying to be a man of his word; he just wanted to escape! He knew that catching Anna was more important to Sydney than it was for her to catch him.Â
All that being said: oh, it was just hilarious to watch him interact with Arvin. Twice in this episode, he’s faced with the same kind of treatment he is given others, and IT IS DEEPLY SATISFYING TO WATCH THAT. Like, doesn’t Arvin realize he has been trying to peddle the same story to people who distrust him just as much as he distrusts Sark?Â
THE IRONY.
Jack
The other major plotline in this episode concerns the secret that Nadia heard from one of Anna’s dying henchman. We learn that this is why Anna shot Nadia and then tried to kill her again, despite that she knows that Anna is a part of Rambaldi’s prophecy. It’s a little strange because this episode seems to suggest that Anna’s attempt to sell this horrible bomb is more important than keeping Anna alive. Why is that? The money? How does this usurp that, then? Unfortunately, this is left unexplained, and it’s the only real flaw in the story that I could find. At the very least, though, this episode led to Sydney finally capturing Anna, so that’s good, right?
Yet it’s Jack’s role in this plot that carried the most weight. Y’all, this man is a pragmatist through and through, and he will do pretty much anything to get what he needs. MAY I REMIND YOU ALL THAT TWICE LAST SEASON, HE KILLED SOMEONE AND THEN REVIVED THEM IN ORDER TO GET SOMETHING. Twice!!!!!!!!! Thus, as soon as this episode even hinted at the possibility that Nadia could be drugged to come out of her medically-induced coma, I knew that Jack would do it. 100%! Did not doubt it at all! And he’s gross for it, since he put Nadia at risk of LITERAL DEATH. But that’s not his primary concern, and it never will be. I suspect we’re going to see more of Jack’s dislike/uncaring nature towards Nadia because it’s gonna be a problem. IT’S ALSO DEEPLY UNFAIR, SHE IS HER OWN PERSON, STOP PROJECTING YOUR HATRED OF IRINA ON HER.
But guess what? Arvin Sloane, of all fucking people, had the nerve to tell Jack that he shouldn’t risk Nadia’s life in pursuit of his needs, and y’all. ARVIN SLOANE SAID THAT. After he just spent ACTUAL YEARS doing the same thing to everyone around him!!! I don’t want Nadia to be harmed, but there is also a part of me pleased that Arvin is finally getting a taste of his own medicine. Sucks, doesn’t it, Arvin? DOESN’T IT???
The video for “A Man of His Word†can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– My YA contemporary debut, ANGER IS A GIFT, is now available for pre-order! If you’d like to stay up-to-date on all announcements regarding my books, sign up for my newsletter! DO IT.
