This column is going to discuss the episodes in which we meet Irina Derevko. I don’t intend to discuss the other ones when she did not appear. This column is going to cover the first episode of Season Two: Enemy Walks In.

“Mom?” Sydney says at the end of the first season, but we have to wait all summer long to see her.

Then in a brilliant piece of casting, Lena Olin is signed to do the part of Mom. Needless to say, from the first time we saw Irina in “Enemy Walks In” we’re totally fascinated by her. :wub:

IRINA DEREVKO
DECEPTION, TRUTH AND FISHING LINE Episode 1

Sydney sees her mother for the first time in twenty years and ‘Mom’ has a gun. What happens next, of course, is pure drama. After asking for information, which Sydney refuses, her mother fires, putting a bullet in her shoulder, knocking her back and onto the floor. Coldly, her mother warns her, saying: “Tell you what – think about it. I’ll come back and ask you again.” She leaves Sydney.

Good grief! I think we were all aghast at this cold-blooded meeting between a mother and a daughter who had not seen each other for so long. Our knowledge of what happened before 1982, had led us to believe Irina loved her daughter a great deal. Sydney was almost desperate to see her again, remembering the love and caring she had received as a child. What changed?

Irina is the head of a vast crime cartel dealing in blackmail, robbery, murder (?) and anything else that makes money. At least that’s the way it appears. She was responsible for building the red ball that Sydney blew up earlier. She was identified as a KGB agent prior to her criminal activities. Prior to their meeting, Sydney had come across men who worked for her even though she didn’t know it. She also didn’t know it was Irina’s order to kill the K-Directorate crime boss if he didn’t cooperate. She witnessed this cold-blooded execution. Of course we know Sydney did not know her mother was also known as ‘The Man’ who headed up the cartel.

Sydney, fueled by a blast of adrenaline, escapes. It is an awful moment when she tells her father: “It was Mom.” It’s as though Jack had also been shot. This cold, efficient double agent must have suffered agony when he heard that his ex-wife had shot their daughter.

Jumping ahead a few days, the CIA intercepts a message that the Bible, which is the operations manual of ‘The Man’ was being brought by an operative to Khasinau. It contains all the information needed for Irina and Khasinau to rebuild her organization. In it are contacts, weapons and tech inventory, everything they will need. The CIA, with a small strike force, is going to go to Barcelona to obtain the Bible during the exchange, Jack sends Vaughn and Sydney, whose shoulder is healing, with them.

The strike force takes positions around the warehouse and dock area. We watch them move thru a scope on a rifle. Then we see Irina. She injects a cartridge into the chamber then swings it toward Sydney, then to Vaughn and to others in the Force. The operative drives up, but Khasinau isn’t there yet. When he arrives, the strike force moves in, but Irina fires, shattering his windshield. He runs off with the briefcase containing the ‘Bible’, followed by Sydney. Vaughn was going to follow, but sees his friend Weiss has been shot.

Inside the warehouse, Sydney and Khasinau, have a fight. Sydney gets the drop on him. Suddenly from behind, she hears “Drop it.” Sydney sees Irina has her gun pointed at her. Suddenly Irina fires and Sydney jumps, but it is Khasinau who is killed. Irina smiles, then orders Sydney to the ground, hands behind her head, on her knees, and then head to ground. Irina kicks the gun away and picks up the brief case.

“Truth takes time.” And Irina disappears. Three words. What fuel for the weeks ahead and for the fans. We are intrigued. Why does truth take time? What truth and how much time will it take. Will it be about Irina? The questions are numerous and we are hooked.

The next time we see Irina is as she walks into the CIA headquarters in Langley to give herself up. She is wearing a suit, heels, her hair and nails have been done, she’s wearing lipstick and earrings. She is the picture of an attractive woman who is probably at the top of the CIA’s list of most wanted. Minutes later, Jack receives a call on his cell phone, telling him his ex-wife has just given herself up to the CIA. He receives the call as Sydney is delivering a eulogy at Emily Sloane’s funeral.

Whoa, we think, what is happening here? Irina gave herself up—to the CIA? I think we need to examine exactly how that occurred. First of all, her history with the CIA would make it extremely doubtful she would turn herself in without first getting assurances she would have immunity. How? By making a phone call to Langley and talking to the Director himself. She would run a terrible risk if she waited until after she walked in. The murder of 12 agents and acts of espionage would have meant instant imprisonment. So we must assume she had planned this in advance.

Why did she do this? Well, this is Alias and our heroine is Sydney, who is also the daughter of Irina Derevko. Does she want to get to know her daughter once more? Or is there something more sinister about it? And how is Sydney going to handle this? ‘Mom’ has just cast out a fishing line to her daughter.

WOW! :D Another great article! I love it! :D

You have written a lot on Irina, and you are really developing quite a feel for it! Amazing stuff!

wauw i must say this is amazing, can't wait to read more, but i have to go to bed, grrrrr, i guess i'll read it tomorow then, good job though

I love your column. I think it my favorite so far. until next season of corse.

Aliasmaster47 Posted on Sep 20 2003, 06:03 PM

Thanks... :blush01: You've got a new avatar too, I see. B)