Alias (TV Series) Q & A (2002) User Reviews

As clip shows go, this is better than average

[gridoon2024 · 7/10 · 7 October 2009]

Clip shows are usually by default the weakest episodes of a TV season, however "Q & A", which is essentially a clip show (Sydney is being interrogated by the FBI and tells the story of her recruitment by what she thought to be the CIA and how she came to be a double agent), is actually a pretty enjoyable episode, for 3 main reasons:

1) It actually gives us some new information, like where the name "SD-6" comes from, the scale of the crimes of the Alliance, etc.

2) It starts and ends with a striking sequence and an ambitious, well-shot stunt.

3) Terry O'Quinn. A few years before becoming John Locke on "Lost", this brilliant actor manages to make something special out of a role that, in most other hands, would be just a standard obnoxious detective.

As the producers explain with honesty on the DVD commentary, "Q & A" was made not only to draw new viewers into the story and help old ones keep up with it, but also because they had gone over-budget at that point. Considering the limitations, this episode could hardly have been better. *** out of 4.

Highlight reels ... so 1960s

[A_Different_Drummer · 6/10 · 14 February 2015]

Other reviewers make it sound like what they call "clip shows" are a necessary evil.

They are not.

In fact, they have their antecedents in the 1960s when some TV shows literally ran out of budget during production and had to cobble together an entire show of clips from earlier episodes just to make delivery and not be in breach of contract.

In fact (this review written 2015) they are very rare in the current generation of TV. Thankfully.

This was toward the end of the first season of Alias and even stranger was penned by no less than JJ himself.

My guess is that this was not about money. Rather, the producers had the data and saw that not only was the series being picked up but they had a possible hit on their hands. Under those circumstances the plan would have been to try to capture an even larger audience they already had by running an episode which filled in the backstory for late adopters.

No, it is NOT especially entertaining, other the fact that, on two occasions in the episode, Garner gets to deliver what has to be the most unique catchphrase in the history of spy dramas .... "DADDY?"

Better than most clip shows

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 9 March 2012]

This episode starts with Sydney being pursued by several police cars and ultimately plunging through a barrier into the sea before jumping back to her arrest at the end of the previous episode. She is questioned by FBI Assistant Director Kendall; he wants to know how she was recruited by SD-6, what she did there and how she discovered it wasn't part of the CIA; each of her answers was illustrated with scenes of her actions from previous episodes. While this is going on Vaughn examines the prophecy and spots a section saying the person referred to would never have seen the sunset at Mt. Subasio in Italy. He realises that if he can get Sydney to Mt. Subasio it would prove that she wasn't the person in the prophecy. To do that they will have to break her out of FBI custody; luckily Weiss realised that Haladki once worked for the FBI and he readily tells Jack everything he wants to know. After the rescue Sydney just has to get to the airport... it is at this point she has her run in with the cops and ends up in the Pacific.

Clip episodes tend to be the worst as they are clearly used to save money; there is another reason for them though; if a series is doing reasonably well and picking up viewers it is a way to get new viewers up to date while showcasing some of the series best scenes. Guest star Terry O'Quinn does a fine job as Kendall even though all he has to do is ask Sydney questions. Of the regulars Victor Garber's performance as Jack Bristow was the most fun to watch; I loved the scene where he asked Haladki where Sydney would be... you just know Jack doesn't make idle threats! The ending had a nice twist to it but I won't spoil it here.

Stunning effects work...

[SimonSaysSmallScreen · 7/10 · 21 November 2023]

...that is, bad. Stunningly bad effects work. The very first sequence in the episode ends with Sydney driving her car off a pier into the water. I was not out looking for mistakes; I was just watching the show. But, suddenly, staring me right in the face, almost waving to me, was the cable they used to drag the car off the pier. Then, also screaming for my attention, were the front wheels turned fully to the left although the car was being dragged straight forward. Obviously, they had not been secured in a straight-forward position for the effect. And no attempt to hide the cable had been made. It's like the effects team didn't show up for the shoot that day. The director just told his production assistant to get it done somehow. Unbelievable.

I like clip shows

[CursedChico · 7/10 · 13 February 2021]

I like clip shows.

Not all episodes showing all history but like this episode. Because it is good to remember and see. REmembering in first episode how daniel proposed marriage for example.

Kendall, is Terry O'Quinn. I tried hard to remember him. I knew him from millennium :)

They are so afraid of prophecies that they would arrest her forever. Such nonsense fear!