Sloane takes a mathematician and his family hostage in order to force assistance in constructing a device from the Rambaldi artefacts. This occurs just as Sydney is considering leaving the CIA, making her think twice about her decision. Meanwhile, Dixon faces the consequences of SD-6's end and Marshall gets a new job.

After Phase One, I assumed the CIA wouldn't be able to just give SD-6's agent new jobs, but it seems I was wrong. Thankfully, actually, because otherwise we wouldn't be seeing any more of Marshall, who, after we were denied his entry into the CIA earlier in the season, is clearly in his element this time out. He's as good if not better than ever, actually, especially when he briefs an irritable Kendall and when he is surrounded by admiring techies and explains how he found a CIA bug. The Dixon story makes a neat counterpoint to this, as he tells his wife everything and is treated with total disdain for something that isn't even his fault. If he does go back to his work, he'll be a very different man to the one we know.

Back to the story, then, and it's a lovely bit of work, bringing Sloane back into play, giving him his first true encounter with Sydney and Vaughn, and putting him in the thick of the action, albeit in a surprisingly effective disguise. It must be pleasing to Ron Rifkin, who's finally allowed out of the office for more than five minutes at a time. Speaking of Sloane, it seems here that Emily doesn't know what her husband is really doing. This seems odd; she knew enough to give her finger to Sloane so that he could fool the Alliance, so why does she suddenly think he's on the up and up now?

There is also a little more movement on the Sydney's mom front, who once again acts here as if she really does care for her daughter. I'm still suspicious that this is all an act, but I'm not totally convinced. If it isn't, what I want to know now is exactly what Derevko's plan was and whether it has changed since her captivity. It's only a little scene, but it still plays into my suspicions that everything is not as it should be. As it stands, the point where she says she'll refuse to see Syd if she doesn't leave the CIA is powerful stuff, and it's good to see that Syd's original desire – to leave – when she thought she could shut down SD-6 in no time hasn't been forgotten.

Plus, for the first time in a while, we're back to ending the episode on a cliffhanger. Great stuff. Although why Sloane doesn't just kill Sydney, I'm not sure. After all, he no longer has much of a vested interest in her.

****

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