Learning that the camera she stole was merely a prototype, Sydney is sent to acquire the real thing. However, the mission to retrieve it is difficult and dangerous and puts Syd head to head with Sark, who has taken over the reins of her mother's organization.

This is more like it. I was getting a little concerned that Alias was lacking a certain je ne sais quoi in the first couple of episodes, but this is much more the kind of thing we're used to. It's fast, it's packed with action, it's got clever ideas, and it brings all of the characters into play and uses most of them well. I still have my reservations about Sydney's mum, but I'm confident there's a point to her presence that will reveal itself.

Hmm, I seem to have covered the whole episode with that paragraph, but let's try to get more in-depth. The Syd/Dixon partnership seems more solid again here, and Marshall's latest device is a fantastic little number: a miniature luge for tiny passageways that I quite fancy having myself. There's plenty of tension generated with this story, and thankfully the cliffhanger ending is back, which really gives the show an edge. The rocket sequence from which Syd barely escapes alive is fantastic, and it also demonstrates Sark's quick-thinking. If the cameras had gone down and he hadn't considered some kind of spy work going on, I would have been disappointed. I think that's why the series works as well as it does: the enemies are just as clever as the heroes.

Speaking of which, it's interesting to watch Laura Bristow, or whatever her unspellable KGB real name is, as you're not quite sure exactly what she wants. She seems genuinely touched by the story of Sydney's Thanksgiving play experience, yet in the back of your mind you can't help but feel she's got something sinister planned. It's expert playing from Lena Olin, who keeps the characters and the viewers guessing about her true motives; she's handing out useful intel, but is it purely because she feels her daughter is a better agent than any of her own and she can take the proceeds? After visits from Syd and Vaughn, meanwhile, it's Jack's turn this week. It's a very understated confrontation, where both parties seem quietly upset about the way things turned out, but after a couple of episodes of Laura's actions making Jack seem much more like the good guy, there's a welcome reminder that he's got a very dark side here when he threatens Laura and clearly means it. Her reference to a secret is an added twist that's been hiding in the background since season one and is sure to keep the drama going.

Elsewhere, Bradley Cooper tugs audience sympathy as he relives Will's suffering during his capture, even if the way he sees words on Sark's computer is difficult to believe. You really do get a strong sense of his bond with Sydney, and his meeting with Vaughn clearly gives both of them something to think about. It seemed Will might become a CIA operative, but from this evidence I can't believe he's tough enough. It's a shame, as I'd love to see him more actively involved; we'll have to hope.

Finally, as if that isn't enough, Sloane continues to be an interesting character to watch. Ron Rifkin plays him so you're not sure whether or not he feels remorseful about killing his wife, and the more he seeks sympathy from Sydney and does nice things for her, the more slimy he appears. But it now seems that someone is messing with his head and giving him the impression that Emily is still around. It's a nice little twist in the tale, and I'd love if the knowing look Emily gave him before drinking the poison he put in her drink meant she knew, and she'd taken an antidote. Could she still be around? Lots more to think about in this one...

*****

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