Alias (2001)

Alias is a fast-paced spy drama centered on Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), a bright college graduate who was secretly recruited into what she believed was a covert branch of the CIA. After a personal tragedy reveals that her employer, SD-6, is actually a rogue international organization, Sydney becomes a double agent for the real CIA. With the help of her handler Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan) and navigating a fraught relationship with her father Jack Bristow (Victor Garber) — who himself is entangled in deception — she works to take down SD-6 while keeping her true life hidden from friends and lovers. Watching Alias, you’ll experience taut, emotional storytelling that balances high-octane action (hand-to-hand combat, daring infiltrations, gadgets and stunts) with slow-burning mysteries and betrayals. The series alternates between episodic missions and long, serialized arcs: shifting allegiances, shocking revelations about family and identity, intense personal sacrifices, and moral ambiguity that keeps the stakes personal as well as global. Arvin Sloane (Ron Rifkin) serves as a chilling adversary whose calculated cruelty escalates the stakes again and again. Expect a mix of adrenaline-driven spycraft and character-driven drama: lots of plot twists, cliffhangers, and emotional payoffs as Sydney grows from a novice operative into a hardened, resourceful agent who must reconcile loyalty, love, and duty. The tone moves from slick, gadget-fueled escapades to darker, sometimes disturbing moments (including torture and loss), so the show is as much about inner survival as it is about espionage thrills. Jennifer Garner’s breakout performance anchors the series, making Alias a compelling watch for fans of action, mystery, and serialized character drama.

Actors: Jennifer Garner, Ron Rifkin, Carl Lumbly

Genres: Action, Drama, Mystery

7.6 /10 7.6 /10