SYDNEY BRISTOW
TAKEN – Episode 16
“Put The Collar On Me.”

Last night’s episode was another sparkling action event. After some of the boring episodes, we at last have two back to back. Of course, it left us with a few questions, which may or may not be relevant.

Sark is a prisoner in France, but is being transferred to Dover Field in Los Angeles for interrogation. Back at the CIA, the briefing room now includes Senator Reed, Lauren’s father. Dixon states that Jack will be in charge of the Inferno protocol. Lauren has been compiling a list of questions. She objects to the method they plan to use, stating that the U. S. is not in the business of torturing for information. Oh please, Mrs. Vaughn, have you forgotten what Sydney was put through in “Breaking Point?” That statement made me want to vomit.

As this discussion is going on, Dixon receives a phone call. His children did not make it to school. Then Sydney tells them Sark’s plane is overdue and she’s learned it landed in the desert sixty miles from Dover. When she and Weiss get to the plane, they find the crew killed and frozen. She ascertains Sark parachuted out of the plane at a very high altitude and another agent who is also missing. (Want to bet he’s dead?)

Now Dixon receives a phone call. It’s Sark and he has the kids. Dixon is instructed to release five Covenant agents. They are being held by different countries. Senator Reed doesn’t want to give into the Covenant, but finally accedes when the others insist. Dixon states that Sark escaped because he was provided with information that came from the CIA office. He’s asked the agents to find the leak.

In Zurich, Judy and Sloane are saying goodbye. She doesn’t want to go, but knows her time is up. She’s used vacation, sick leave and all the excuses, but now it is time. Sloane states her time wasn’t wasted. He found time with her very therapeutic. They kiss and she leaves. He had a funny look on his face when she left. Humm!

Marshall has been busy reconstructing the communication from the crew. They find out that after the pilot radioed he was have intermittent radio problems, Sark killed him. Then Marshall tells them he heard Sark use a cell phone and he relates the words spoken.

“Notify the extraction team. I should be at the LZ on schedule…Do we have the hostages?...Escellent…Not if I see you first, love.”

Marshall locates where the children are being held. Somewhere in Nogales he tells Dixon. He orders a tactical operation to be prepared. Dixon joins Sydney, Weiss and Vaughn. Howeve,r things do not go well. The warehouse is rigged with explosives and the children are not there. It was a set-up. Sydney barely gets Dixon to leave before the warehouse explodes.

The next day Jack has Marshall track the server logs. He learns that Judy Barnett’s phone was used to funnel information about Sark’s plane and destination. The cell was in Zurich at Omnifam Foundation. Jack takes two agents and goes to Switzerland, arresting Sloane.

Sloane is put into a prison in the Rotunda (probably below) and Dixon is there threatening him. Sloane doesn’t know (I think it might be true since he’s been boffing the good doctor for several days) what’s happened. Dixon wants to kill him, but Sydney intervenes. He doesn’t need to be in jail when his kids need him more. Sloane is relieved and tells Sydney he didn’t do this, but she just walks away.

Dixon goes home to find Steven stumbling across lawns. They embrace and Steven hands him a cell phone. The Covenant is on the other end.

Finally, Dixon admits the emotional toll has finally done him in and he turns over operations to Jack. Jack and Senator Reed agree to work to negotiate for the release of the Covenant agents.

Sydney goes to see Dixon and Steven. He tells her the real reason the Covenant kidnapped his kids. They want something at Project Blackhole: Lot 45 of the Rambaldi collection. She agrees to help him. After all, look at the pair, they were partners for seven or eight years in every sense of the word.

“Whatever you need!” Was all that she said.

We next see Syd driving a dune buggy over the desert and into a restricted area. She stops when a guard stops her. She uses a stun gun to put him down. Dixon helps her to get to the underground room where all the Rambaldi objects are being catalogued and studied. He sends her to the Central Lab, Room 74. (Funny) When she breaks in, the first thing she sees is a huge blown up picture of Page 47 with her picture.

She walks down the row of objects, half of which she herself have recovered. Now that’s interesting, because I don’t remember that, but OK…when she comes to Lot 45, it’s empty. She uses her com Link to reach Dixon, who is in a research room, obstensibly recovering and praying. He locates the object and sends her into a restricted area where she finds it being studied by a three-arm laser machine. Dixon asks her if she can get to it. She manages to get the artifact – a cube, but as she puts into the box, she is stunned to see the name of her mother on it – Irina.

Meanwhile back at the CIA ranch (a whimsical piece of humor), Jack has spoken with Sloane. The two men ascertain that Dixon has access to Project Blackhole. When Sydney returns, he tells her he knows about Lot 45 and that she stole it. Jack says the Covenant is desperate to acquire the box constructed by Rambaldi. Sloane thinks when they find the key to open it, the contents will possibly put Sydney’s life in danger. Sydney tells Jack that there was an inscription on the box, her mother’s name. Now it is Jack, who is surprised.

Dixon insists that they go ahead with the exchange. Jack insists he’s going with them. At the same time, Senator Reed learns Project Blackhole was compromised and Dixon stole Lot 45. He puts Dixon’s name on the Federal watch list and wants him picked up immediately.

The exchange is to take place at Hansen’s Dam. When they get there, Sark takes the box and lets Robin out, but is going to put a collar on her with a cardiotoxin. He says it is a safety measure to make sure they don’t go after him. Sydney insists he put the collar on her instead. He agrees and as he is about to leave, Jack pulls his sig. Sark holds up a remote button. He tells Jack if he releases his hold, it will release the needle with the toxin in it. Sydney would be dead in a matter of seconds. Jack puts the gun down. Sark leaves. Robin, Dixon’s daughter, is taken by her father, leaving Jack and Sydney alone. Jack works quickly and disarms the collar.

Meanwhile the Senator’s helicopters are sent by Marshall to the Long Beach Harbor. Lauren and Vaughn want him to do this for Robin. And Marshall, being Marshall, does it since if it were his baby “mini-Mitch…”

Judy comes to see Sloane and tells him she does not believe he’s innocent and that he used her. He asks that she at least respect the confidentiality of what he told her about his affair with Irina. Evwww!

The Irina cube is gone and everyone is back at their desk including Lauren and Vaughn. Jack thanks everyone for their help in saving Robin Dixon’s life, not to mention Sydney’s, has his deepest gratitude.

He walks way. Vaughn tells Lauren he’ll see her later and she responds,

“Not if I see you first, love.”

Jack is momentarily stunned as he recognizes the words that were spoken earlier by Sark to his unknown confidant on his cell phone.

Ooops!







DISCUSSION:

Irina has not been seen or heard from in an episodes other than by computer. I’ve heard that Lena Olin has signed for one episode. Spread the word. Now there is speculation as to which episode. “Blood ties” is one prominently talked about. However, if I were JJ Abrams, I’d make sure it was the finale and hope she’ll sign for more next season. Still having her for one episode will be awaited with baited breath! How about it playing on Mother’s Day, May 9th Give me your thoughts on this?

What do you think the relationship between Lauren and her father, the Senator, is? Obviously, she talked to Vaughn about it before they were married.

What is the inferno protocol? Jack is in charge and we know what happens when our Jack is in charge of questioning. Is it a trial by fire?

If you watched the exchange between Judy and Sloane, what was your opinion of the look he gave her the first time in Zurich. He knew he played her—got sex without paying for it too! The second time in jail, do you think he genuinely wanted her to believe him? Why didn’t she believe him? After all, in her mind, she thought he had changed. Me thinks Judy bought the Brooklyn Bridge.

Now a big question: Do you believe Sloane?

Lot 45: What is the cube? Can you hazard a guess? Why is Irina’s name on the cube? Is she after it, or is someone else orchestrating the affair. Sloane, Judy, Sark, the Senator, Lauren…who is behind the Covenant?

Big question # 2: The Di Regno heart—where is it? I would think it was a very important piece of the Rambaldi project. First, it was ripped out of Di Regno’s chest in Panama. Then Sydney traced it to a carrier somewhere at a harbor. The box was opened and closed and then brought home to the NSA headquarters. Then Jack was taken hostage by Sloane’s men when NSA went to move it and the heart went with him to Mexico. This was a very important ‘artifact’ and yet I don’t remember seeing it in Project Blackhole. It was a breathing artifact. So is it there—some place else on the planet? Does Irina have it?


So there are my thoughts about this episode. Some are a little wild, but then we do have to think about JJ’s cadre of evildoers. What are they planning?

FIRST!! :reallyexcited:
Hehe....
Okay...*stretches and cracks fingers for typing*
Speculation numero uno: Yes..I've heard the SpyMoma is due back for one eppy this season....I'd think that it would be the finale the way in Season 1 it was her revealed in the finale as well (well, not Lena, but SpyMoma none the less) but I too think it would be very cute/creative/fitting if she came back on the eppy on Mother's Day....I think it would be proper and I believe Lena could appreciate it :)
Father/Daughter Reed Q: For me the Jury's out still on if I believe the Senator knows about Lauren (if that's even her name!)..but I do think that because Lauren wasn't able to become field rated as a CIA/NSC agent that she could have went else where to get that chance, even if that meant the Covenent. I think that she did that to spite her daddy?? :unsure: Like any child who is denied something someway, will seek out other ways at finding it. :huh: Yeah, it's vague.... :dunno:
Inferno protocol: *said in Beevus voice* Heh heh..FIRE COOL!!.....Jack in charge of the investigation? All's I gots to say is WATCH OUT!! :lol: And now he KNOWS (or speculates, whatever.) that it is Lauren?? NICE knowin' yah blondie...BUH BYE!! :meanie01: :weakest link!: hi211
Head Shrunk Sloane: I think that he needed her to believe him cause he needs that someone he always had that he DIDN'T lie too....like Jack was too him way in the beginning of Alias....before Sloane started messing with Sydney's life that put Jack off to him. I think she felt hurt that she allowed him to 'hurt' her, so to speak...I'm not too clear on the Sloanette they got going here...I never thought they'd hook up in the first place! :blink:
Pinocchio Sloane?: No in the "I'm innocent, I'm a nice guy, trust me." bit but I DO believe his feelings toward Sydney and Jack are true....but all heck!! I can't...WILL not...believe he is Sydney's father!! :wacko: My dad even commented that there is NO way...even to the detail that Victor and JG even LOOK like father and daughter, all the way down too their ears!! And eww! Irina would NEVER...I think Sloane is just loco when it comes to Sydney as his true daughter...just..EWWW! :blink:
SpyMoma Cube: Don't have a f*&kin' clue!! :dunno: Does JJ even know?? :blink:
If I only had a heart: I thought that thing had been put in Allison/Evil Francie??? :huh: Isn't that why she was all "immortalish" like?? :blink: ...Okay, I'm lost here on this one... <_< They sent it to Mars for all I know..

There's this weeks :) ....I think I missed last weeks eppy?? :unsure: I'll go check it out if I did!!

Colly E. :bunny:

Colly E. posted

No it wasn't put in Allison. She only benefitted for a while (unitl Will stuck it to her) from a Rambaldi formula. However, we just don't know if she survived the knife.
So, the question is, where is the heart?
I know in my serials where it is, but does JJ?
B)

first of all great column, and second here are my thoughts on the questions.(thanks for the pm!)

how ever so ironic.

I assume it turned bad when the senator ordered lauren not to do any field work, and just be appointed a desk job, it probably didn't make her very happy.

no idea, I guess we'll find out, or not.

uhm really don't like the whole sloane/judy thing, and i don't think she really believes him, since he(lauren) logged into her account and misused it to her advantage, after that I wouldn't trust him either.

no, not like I ever did, but this all does make a very plot for the show.

one day, one day we'll know, for now we can only guess and I don't even have one.

maybe jack had his heart taken out and was given di regno's, that would explain why he's to emotional this season, hehehe.

So there are my thoughts about this episode. Some are a little wild, but then we do have to think about JJ’s cadre of evildoers. What are they planning?

LightTraveller posted

Except one would know when he/she were given a "new heart". :rolleyes: Got to have scar down the center of your body. Somehow I think it would have been noticed. :reallyexcited:
B)

I think the heart could be in jack - hence part of his attitude change towards sydney and irina - the softer side of jack

of course it coudl also be anywhere- knowing JJ LOL

I think irina will appear in the finale but again- no confirmation there either

I think lauren was corrupted by her mother - perhaps brainwashed -

and sloane believes he is telling the truth so whether his truth is anyone else's truth remains to be seen

I think that is clever...maybe it is JJ's ultimate plan...

I think it is probably not good, judging by the way he talked about her. I also doubt that he is privvy to any intel about her and the covenant. She may even be doing it to spite him (PS: I don't like him very much)

Get answers to the questions by any means necessary...and that is probably why they chose Jack! Look what he did to Ryan last episode, and that wasn't even under orders!

I want to know exactly what he gained from this encounter. But, and I'm going out on a limb here, maybe he just wanted the company of somebody with extended intelligence. I mean, she is quite a brain, and her conversational skills would be much better than those of a hooker. Also, like you said, it was free * :P *

??? I think I may have missed something...

I'm not going to hazard a guess, but I think that Lauren is very high up in the ranks...

I'm not sure what the story of the heart is either, but If it isn't part of project blackhole, then the CIA doesn't have it....so where is it?

You were talking about Blood Ties earlier...perhaps that could be mom, but maybe it has something to do with Sloane...