Love is in the air
Jan. 26th, 2003 09:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwynSpoilers to the max for Alias 1/26, Phase One
What an incredible episode of Alias! This reminded me in every possible way of La Femme Nikita -- it mirrored it physically, emotionally, in the settings and details, the pacing, even down to the guest stars (the ugly French guy) -- and for once? That was a good thing. This is the first time I’ve thought that their copying of LFN actually worked well and benefited from their predecessor’s stylings. (For a long time I’ve noticed, too, that the interior of SD6 looks very much like the interiors of the movie original of La Femme Nikita, the big warehouse-like building they were in. Kinda cool, in a weird little way.)
The early scene with Sydney in the underwear playing the prostitute was so reminiscent of all the times Nikita was forced into similar situations. During her conversation with Vaughn, the room they were standing in looked exactly like Michael’s office in so many ways -- the same type of dark, bunkerlike walls, the sconces, everything, even down to people barging in on the private conversation (and can I just say how much I enjoy Vaughn’s partner/friend, whatever his name is, with his "just kiss already" attitude and his constant teasing of Vaughn, who really needs to be teased?). It was almost a dead replica of so many scenes between Michael and Nikita, but in a good way, because Vaughn expresses his feelings in a way that Michael never could allow himself to. Their world is deadly, but not as deadly as in Section One. I loved his admission, finally, of just how much he does care for Syd, which she so clearly needed to hear him say. She’s very much like Nikita in that respect -- that she doesn’t believe that something like this can happen for her in such a place, in such a situation, and she needs to know and understand, to believe, because so much of her world is built on lies and deceit. He has to say it, even if it wasn’t true, for her to even start believing.
I was really excited about this episode because of Rutger Hauer’s guest appearance, who, even with the very light hair and the wrinkles, still had a wonderful predatory gleam in his eye. When he started figuring out what had happened and who Syd and Jack were, it was the first time I felt a genuine threat against them, the first time it felt like they really were in a danger they couldn’t escape from with a few well-placed kicks and some nifty gadgetry. This was so much like the situation with Section One that Nikita was in at the end of second season, working for Adrian, and then the later vendetta against her by Operations and Madeline. And is it coincidence that there were 12 "sections" run by the Alliance, when there were 12 sections on LFN? (And of course, is it just coincidence that Syd’s handler and love interest is named Michael? I think not!)
I thought for certain they were going to end the episode on a cliffhanger, so that we would see Jack being tortured (and how kind of Rutger to be a hands-on kind of leader, doing the torture himself just to keep his hand in it and not get rusty), so the pace, quicker than a normal episode of Alias and not bogged down in too much hugger-muggery, was just relentless, and it really worked. We were on the edge of our seats, being played along as everything in Syd and Jack’s world was completely shifted in scary new directions. Finally, Syd had to tell Dixon the truth, and it was such a long time coming. The scene where Dixon has to decide what to do and calls his wife was devastating; for me it was especially nice to see Carl Lumley get a chance to show what a fine actor he really is.
And Francie and Will! The macking in the kitchen! Only to have Francie killed at the end! Terribly exciting and sad and dangerous in a wonderful way, and clearly going to give Willage something good to do. This was also a direct descendant of LFN; anyone who watched that remember Carla, Nikita’s only real pal who turned out to be an agent? I’ve been telling everyone about my theory that all the characters would end up at the CIA eventually, that they couldn’t sustain the double agent stuff and the whole SD6 storyline, so I was excited to see that actually happen -- although it happened much faster than I ever anticipated. Now there’s so much room for so much struggling -- Dixon and Marshall are going to feel so betrayed, Jack and Syd will have to figure out their new roles now, and who knows what kind of trouble’s afoot for Francie and Will. And that phone call from Sark to Arvin -- well, my goodness. Phase one is complete... hmmm. So much like Operations is old Sloane, and I wonder if Emily is really his Madeline now. I loved that each time you thought there was an ending -- Syd and Vaughn! Sark and Sloane! then Francie! -- you’d get another ending.
But best of all, kissage. Finally. And when they kiss, they really, really kiss. It’s about damn time, if you ask me -- I was screaming at the TV to just kiss already! and they did, kindly. Now the interesting thwarting can begin, with his role as her handler transforming into something different, and the danger they will be facing amped up because of their feelings for each other, in the best possible LFN-ish way. Bring on phase two, I say..
What an incredible episode of Alias! This reminded me in every possible way of La Femme Nikita -- it mirrored it physically, emotionally, in the settings and details, the pacing, even down to the guest stars (the ugly French guy) -- and for once? That was a good thing. This is the first time I’ve thought that their copying of LFN actually worked well and benefited from their predecessor’s stylings. (For a long time I’ve noticed, too, that the interior of SD6 looks very much like the interiors of the movie original of La Femme Nikita, the big warehouse-like building they were in. Kinda cool, in a weird little way.)
The early scene with Sydney in the underwear playing the prostitute was so reminiscent of all the times Nikita was forced into similar situations. During her conversation with Vaughn, the room they were standing in looked exactly like Michael’s office in so many ways -- the same type of dark, bunkerlike walls, the sconces, everything, even down to people barging in on the private conversation (and can I just say how much I enjoy Vaughn’s partner/friend, whatever his name is, with his "just kiss already" attitude and his constant teasing of Vaughn, who really needs to be teased?). It was almost a dead replica of so many scenes between Michael and Nikita, but in a good way, because Vaughn expresses his feelings in a way that Michael never could allow himself to. Their world is deadly, but not as deadly as in Section One. I loved his admission, finally, of just how much he does care for Syd, which she so clearly needed to hear him say. She’s very much like Nikita in that respect -- that she doesn’t believe that something like this can happen for her in such a place, in such a situation, and she needs to know and understand, to believe, because so much of her world is built on lies and deceit. He has to say it, even if it wasn’t true, for her to even start believing.
I was really excited about this episode because of Rutger Hauer’s guest appearance, who, even with the very light hair and the wrinkles, still had a wonderful predatory gleam in his eye. When he started figuring out what had happened and who Syd and Jack were, it was the first time I felt a genuine threat against them, the first time it felt like they really were in a danger they couldn’t escape from with a few well-placed kicks and some nifty gadgetry. This was so much like the situation with Section One that Nikita was in at the end of second season, working for Adrian, and then the later vendetta against her by Operations and Madeline. And is it coincidence that there were 12 "sections" run by the Alliance, when there were 12 sections on LFN? (And of course, is it just coincidence that Syd’s handler and love interest is named Michael? I think not!)
I thought for certain they were going to end the episode on a cliffhanger, so that we would see Jack being tortured (and how kind of Rutger to be a hands-on kind of leader, doing the torture himself just to keep his hand in it and not get rusty), so the pace, quicker than a normal episode of Alias and not bogged down in too much hugger-muggery, was just relentless, and it really worked. We were on the edge of our seats, being played along as everything in Syd and Jack’s world was completely shifted in scary new directions. Finally, Syd had to tell Dixon the truth, and it was such a long time coming. The scene where Dixon has to decide what to do and calls his wife was devastating; for me it was especially nice to see Carl Lumley get a chance to show what a fine actor he really is.
And Francie and Will! The macking in the kitchen! Only to have Francie killed at the end! Terribly exciting and sad and dangerous in a wonderful way, and clearly going to give Willage something good to do. This was also a direct descendant of LFN; anyone who watched that remember Carla, Nikita’s only real pal who turned out to be an agent? I’ve been telling everyone about my theory that all the characters would end up at the CIA eventually, that they couldn’t sustain the double agent stuff and the whole SD6 storyline, so I was excited to see that actually happen -- although it happened much faster than I ever anticipated. Now there’s so much room for so much struggling -- Dixon and Marshall are going to feel so betrayed, Jack and Syd will have to figure out their new roles now, and who knows what kind of trouble’s afoot for Francie and Will. And that phone call from Sark to Arvin -- well, my goodness. Phase one is complete... hmmm. So much like Operations is old Sloane, and I wonder if Emily is really his Madeline now. I loved that each time you thought there was an ending -- Syd and Vaughn! Sark and Sloane! then Francie! -- you’d get another ending.
But best of all, kissage. Finally. And when they kiss, they really, really kiss. It’s about damn time, if you ask me -- I was screaming at the TV to just kiss already! and they did, kindly. Now the interesting thwarting can begin, with his role as her handler transforming into something different, and the danger they will be facing amped up because of their feelings for each other, in the best possible LFN-ish way. Bring on phase two, I say..
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no subject
Date: 2003-01-27 10:14 pm (UTC)Anyhow, I just wanted to say that I've been meaning to email you for the past couple of weeks (aye, that's me, baaaaad at feedback) and say how much I adore your BtVS fiction. I read "The Price For Flight" last night when it was posted to ALl About Spike, and realized I had read it before. Then I found your site and read all of the Buffyfic.
Your writing is lyrical and flowing. Your characterization is dead on and so inspiring. Your S/B can range from heartbreak to bittersweet to hopeful to loving, and I devour it all. (I tend to gush about fics and authors I enjoy, so I'm sorry if I sound too fangirly. *g*)
Thanks for writing, Gwyneth. You are truly a great part of the fanfiction world.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-28 09:44 am (UTC)And it's too bad you missed Alias -- it really was the ass-kickingest ep. Hopefully next week will be just as good and get you hooked.