{"id":6751,"date":"2018-02-19T13:00:15","date_gmt":"2018-02-19T21:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markwatches.net\/reviews\/?p=6751"},"modified":"2018-02-12T18:42:42","modified_gmt":"2018-02-13T02:42:42","slug":"mark-watches-alias-s02e08-passage-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/markwatches.net\/reviews\/2018\/02\/mark-watches-alias-s02e08-passage-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Watches ‘Alias’: S02E08 – Passage, Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the eighth episode of the second season of Alias<\/i>, Sark\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s intel creates chaos in the CIA. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to watch Alias<\/i>.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oh, this show is TOO MUCH, which I feel like I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve said about a hundred times at this point. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fine, though, because I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not lying. IT\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S TOO MUCH.<\/p>\n

Will<\/b><\/p>\n

I get that this is the Bristow family reunion special, and I loved<\/i> that plot a lot. TRUST ME, I WILL YELL ABOUT IT. I do wish that the secondary characters got a bit<\/i> more time on screen. At this point, Dixon and Francie have mostly been folded in to the background. (I wonder what they have in common………….) Will has a story here, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s starting to feel aimless. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s like the writers are now realizing that by sticking Will into this specific story, they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not really sure what to do with him. The standardized testing plot will probably lead to something, but right now, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s… just there? Also, I get that Will sees this as an important story, but he doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t care if he gets paid? HOW IS HE SURVIVING WITHOUT ANY REAL INCOME? Is he living full time at Sydney\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\/Francie\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s? (I think he mentioned that a few episodes ago.)<\/p>\n

Emily<\/b><\/p>\n

I expected that with each new clue, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d be able to figure out exactly what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going on with Arvin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s allegedly dead wife. I say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153allegedly\u00e2\u20ac\u009d because I still can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t tell if she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s actually<\/i> dead. And the surprise package he gets in this episode\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwith his wife\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wedding ring ON A SEVERED FINGER\u00e2\u20ac\u201ddoesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t actually help me. First of all: Is that Emily\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s finger? If it is, was it taken BEFORE or AFTER she died? OR WAS SHE STILL ALIVE? Or is<\/i> she still alive? And let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s say it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not<\/i> her actual finger. Whose is it? If that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s really her ring, does that imply she is dead or alive? THERE ARE TOO MANY POSSIBLE VARIANTS, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME.<\/p>\n

Tension<\/b><\/p>\n

So… I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not alone in considering that scene between Vaughn and Sydney and THE WATCH to be the most overt declaration of affection thus far. RIGHT??? She said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Me, too,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d because HER HEART WAS STOPPED ON OCTOBER 1ST AS WELL, right??? WHO SAID THIS SHOW COULD PUT SO MUCH ROMANTIC TENSION INTO ONE SCENE? This was a CRIME. Oh my god!!!<\/p>\n

Trust<\/b><\/p>\n

I recognize that many of the other characters are taking a backseat to the Bristow \u00e2\u20ac\u0153family,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d yet I also can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t deny just how much I loved this fucked up, bizarre family reunion. The writers have so brilliantly composed the story of Irina that it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s unbearable watching her interact with her ex-husband and her daughter. Is<\/i> she telling the truth? Does she really care about Sydney? I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t ignore that the intel she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s provided has been 100% true so far. Is it really part of some long con, or is this an actual redemption she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pursuing? I CAN\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T TELL. On the one hand, Jack\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s treatment of his ex is sensible and necessary. He is consistently <\/i>on edge. CONSTANT VIGILANCE. And I get it! I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s an unreasonable reaction on his part. He doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want Irina to be let out of custody, and once she is, he doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want her escaping. Or having a gun. OR ANYTHING. Look, given that most of this show is from Sydney\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s POV, I have little to go on to determine just how this is all affecting Jack emotionally. (Plus, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not exactly forthcoming about any<\/i> of his emotions.) However, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not hard to imagine that he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fucked up<\/i> by Irina\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s resurgence and by the way she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s weaseled her way into their lives again.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Sydney is trying. I desperately hope that this isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a plot to manipulate her because I can finally see a possible relationship between these two people. It took \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Passage, Part I\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for that to happen! They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re finally understanding one another, and Sydney even had that great moment where she made a power play to get her mother to prove that she was willing to put her money where her mouth was. Are they on the same level? Does a power disparity still exist? Sure. I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t argue against that, and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s why I am cautiously<\/i> approaching this relationship. Without knowing the endgame, the best I can do is just… actively worry. I just don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want these moments to be retroactively revealed to be fake because IT WILL DESTROY SYDNEY. (And me. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be real.)<\/p>\n

Regardless of what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s actually happening: I loved<\/i> this episode. I know there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s another part, but on its own, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a stunning examination of faith and loyalty in one of the most fucked up families I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve ever seen for Mark Watches. BRAVO.<\/p>\n

The video for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Passage, Part I\u00e2\u20ac\u009d can be downloaded here for $0.99<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mark Links Stuff<\/b><\/p>\n

– My YA contemporary debut, ANGER IS A GIFT<\/a>, is now available for pre-order!\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong>If you’d like to stay up-to-date on all announcements regarding my books, sign up for my newsletter<\/a>! DO IT.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"