SYDNEY BRISTOW
Episode 17 – The Frame
“I’ll Smile Then”

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are on the hill rolling toward the climax and it looks like it could be a doosie. Still, can we trust JJ and his motley crew? Just when we think it’s going to end up one way, we are thoroughly double-crossed! However, that’s just what we really want; that’s what keeps us coming back for more. Oh yeah those inconsistencies can drive us nuts, but after all, this is not real life, this is Alias where nothing is as it seems.

Vaughn and Weiss are on a run together and they finally sit down. Vaughn is troubled (um hummm, wonder why?) and relates in an off hand way he might be having marital problems. He wants to know if he can crash on Weiss’ couch. The phone rings and we are immediately transported forward.

In the briefing room, there is a discussion about the box Sydney stole from Project Blackhole, Lot 45. Vaughn has an asset in Mexico City who has information about the key to open the box. Sydney opts to go with him, in spite of Lauren’s reminder that according to Sloane it poses a significant threat to her life. (Excuse me, Lauren is concerned about Syd’s life?) Sydney wants to know why the inscription on the box says Irina. They leave and Dixon thanks Lauren for not saying anything to her father the Senator about his part in the disappearance of Lot 45.

In Mexico City Sydney and Vaughn are talking to Kishell, a man who was butchered by the Snowman in Season 1. He tells them Stalin was a Rambaldi believer and sent a search team to hunt for the key. The key reportedly opened the box, which contained a plague-like bio-weapon capable of killing millions. Kishell’s contact discovered that Bomani had found the Russian archaeologists who died fighting over their discovery. He was using trucks bearing the Omnifam logo.

Back in LA, Sydney confronts Sloane who reminds her that he was forced by the CIA to help Bomani. She says she doesn’t believe anything he says and he tells her he was reading The Iliad in the original Greek when arrested. “I’m listening,” is her comment. The trucks have a GPS and Bomani’s movements can be tracked by satellite.

“Ah, you have such a beautiful smile, Sydney. I miss it.”
“If you’re executed, I’ll be a witness. I’ll smile then.”

Oh dear, what if--?

Lauren and Vaughn are having dinner. She gives him his father’s watch, which she had repaired because she forgot the anniversary of his Dad’s death. Ooops, I don’t think Vaughn expected that and so he tells her their marriage isn’t working and he isn’t happy. (Wonder why?) She, of course, wants to know if Sydney gave him an ultimatum and if he is going to destroy her life, he should be honest about it. (Not my favorite character on the show, but she has a point. Just think about it, if you are married or even dating and your spouse/boy-girlfriend tells you the same thing with the same circumstances.)

Lauren tells Sark. He wants her to kill her father, because Vaughn might recommit and he is central to the CIA’s effort regarding the passenger. He says she needs to do everything to keep him close. In the meantime, Jack is pulling up records on Lauren. Suspicious about “not if I see you first, love”, he is investigating our lass.

Later Jack goes to see the Senator at his hotel. He meets his wife, Olivia, as she leaves to give a speech. Jack gives the Senator the reports on Lauren. Reed protests his daughter is a patriot; that she took the job over his protests. Jack tells the Senator that it’s a copy for him. If he wants to talk to Jack, he knows where to find him.

At the briefing room, Dixon is giving Sydney and Vaughn a mission to Garborone where Bomani has been traced to the second floor of the Russian Consulate. He tells them that the Consul, Petr Berezovsky, has strong ties to the Covenant. Using Marshall techs, Vaughn and Syd managed to get into the elevator to the second floor.

Bomani and Sark are studying the disk, Bomani retrieved from the desert. He tells Sark to meet him in Vienna when he has retrieved the key. Our two intrepid agents are in the other room where they see the spinning disk, which is a crystal with a map drawn on it. Weiss warns them they have triggered a silent alarm and to leave. After a lot of shooting and dodging, Vaughn and Sydney make their escape with the disk.

Lauren tells Sark that Jack is coming close to her. He tells her again the Senator has to die. Then they can associate him with the breeches that Jack found.

Marshall has studied the crystal, but he cannot locate the spot where the keys are located. Dixon and Sydney confront Sloane. She gives him a copy of The Iliad he requested. I’m reminded of Irina asking Sydney for her earrings in Season Two and then helping her. Hummm! Anyway, Sloane reminds Sydney that the Magnificent Order of Rambaldi would go to any lengths to hide one of his creations. Dixon says the kaleidoscope with the disks still doesn’t show where they keys are located. Sloane almost sneers, reminding Dixon that he’s only looked everywhere on land. Ah yes, more territory under water.

Upstairs Marshall realizes Sloane is a genius. Sydney gives him a “are you crazy” look. “I mean evil, horrible genius. Bad man genius, but still, genius.” Marshall did get that right.

So Sydney and Vaughn are on their way to Yonaguni rock formation off the coast of Okinawa. Jack is on his way to the Senator, but both he and Dixon are going ahead with Lauren’s arrest. Lauren is on her way to see her father, a Walther PPK with silencer attached, behind her back.

The Senator wants to protect her. She is surprised. He’ll even tell everyone she was acting on his orders. However even though she realizes he loves her, she makes him get down on his knees, hands behind his back, and pointing the gun has trouble firing. Is even considering putting it down. Suddenly Olivia Reed, runs into the room, takes the gun from her daughter, and fires killing the Senator. Surprise, surprise!

Jack shows up about the time the police are investigating. He hears the story from the wife. Lauren then shows up crying.

Meanwhile in the Sea of Japan, Syd and Vaughn enter a cave where they find the four keys, which are preserved with the sign of Rambaldi in the cave. At that moment, Dixon and Marshall discover a helicopter with four divers converging on the spot. Unfortunately, the CIA agents cannot hear their warning.

Suddenly, Syd and Vaughn are accosted by Bomani and the three divers. He takes the four keys from her, saying

“I could never have found this without your help. You remind me of your mother. I’m sure she would be pleased to know I got the keys from you. After all, the passenger is Irina’s legacy. Bring me the satchel.”

There is a gunfight and Bomani escapes with the satchel. Vaughn and Sydney find a way out also, even though their hoses were cut and Diver Propulsion Vehicles shot.

On the way back, Vaughn has told Sydney that he and Lauren are separating. Sydney says she is sad for them, but she’s also hopeful. Vaughn asks her if when they get home she wants to go out for a cup of coffee.

Back at the Rotunda Lauren tends her letter of resignation, which Dixon does not accept. (Now why the hell would she give it to him—she’s a NSC employee.) He sends her off as Jack enters to tell him the forensics bear out that it was a suicide. Lauren returns to the office where employees give her their sympathy. Sydney and Vaughn walk in and Weiss tells them what happened. Vaughn goes over to comfort her.

Later Dixon tells Sloane that the Senator’s papers reveal that Sloane was working with the Senator. He even handed over Rambaldi artifacts to him, in direct violation of his pardon agreement. Because of that, Sloane will be executed in two weeks by lethal injection.

(Want to bet on that?)

Meanwhile Vaughn calls Sydney to apologize and to tell her Lauren’s having a hard time dealing with her father’s death and betrayal.

“Are you at Eric’s?”
“No.”
“I see. Well, I guess we won’t get that cup of coffee,” says Sydney.
“No we’re not.”
“Okay, I’m going to go.” She hangs up crying.

Vaughn goes back to bed. Lauren opens her eyes. Aha, the bi*tch was listening.


DISCUSS

There was a lot of stuff about Irina in this episode. The woman's presence is so pervasive that we want to see her. What happened in this episode just keeps adding pressure to the storyline. Irina’s legacy is the box, the one with her name on it. Who left Irina the box? Does this mean she is directly related to Rambaldi? What exactly is in the box? Is it what Sloane infers? Why would Bomani mention to Sydney that her mother would be pleased Sydney led them to the keys? Does it mean Bomani is working for her? Is Irina Derevko the head of the Covenant? Or is she operating another organization?

Lauren Reed is a puzzle. She doesn’t want to kill her father, but doesn’t hesitate to kill Lazarey and certain other sub-members of the Covenant when it is to her benefit to do so. I think this has been confusing in the storyline. We are not sure what’s going on with her. What do you think?

Is Sydney becoming less independent and strong when Vaughn is with her on a mission? He seems to be making decisions that she could easily make given her history? Why let him do the work?

Olivia Reed is working for the Covenant? The Senator said they had been married 34 years. When did the Covenant recruit her? Why? To spy on her daughter? Speaks Russian, is she Russian—a double agent? That’s a long time to be a mole—34 years!

So ponder, ponder my readers. See if your imagination can come up with answers weird or otherwise.

OK so don’t peek: my weirdest thought is that Olivia is Elena Derevko! Yipes! :roll:

I think Irina will come out and smack us when we won't expect it. ;)

Come on Jack you're on the right track, keep going further, I believe that he suspects Lauren still and she used her father to make her look innocent. and I wasn't even expecting Lauren's mom to be a spy or whatever. BAM! it just hit me like that! and then Vaughn was on the right track of leaving her, but come back? NOOOOOOOO!!!!

Great job! I can't wait for the next ep to be aired, BWAHAHAHA!!! Lauren *crosses fingers* gets reveiled.

hehe, yay another episode means more of lenafan's colums to discuss!
DISCUSS

yep that thought still hasn't left my mind, I think Irina is somehow head or working for the covenant. as for bomani, I just don't like him so i'm gonna save my insults. and I have really no idea as to why Irina name is on that box(kinda creepy) and why it's so important.

hmm *ponders* If only the answer would jump magically into my head. well maybe she's just a little motional when it comes to her father, I mean he is family and all and he did say he loved her(but that could just be him begging for his life of course)

I think she still has the ability to make decisions herself, and she's just dependent on vaughn because she might not want to upset him, since she obviously hopes for a future between them.

interesting plotline they added there, but I don't think anyone saw it comingthat she would just kill her husband like that, or possible be working for the covenant.

I guess that's a possibility, that would be very cool. but I highly doubt J.J. would have the evil brains to even think of such a thing, only you lenafan!

and as always thank you for the pm.

OK- get out of my head

I too am suspicious about elena derevko as olivia reed


I can see sydney or jack or irina stopping sloanes execution

I can see it as a climactic moment- a phone rings and dixon or jack has to halt the execution as derevko has turned up with crucial evidence in the case

then the whole Sydney is my daughter / does syd have a sister etc all comes out

and we are off and running to S4

something is up with vaughn and why he was chosen by the covenenant and I think it has more teeth to it than just to hurt Sydney. as S3 closes we will learn about Bill Vaughn and Irina and how Michael is part of it. I mean maybe Bill vaughn is not as clean as we would like to think- and perhaps he is not really dead-hmm

just a theory I am speculating about- remember how sydney was beleived dead beacsue the DNA from her teeth said so? harken back to S2 when vaughn says "when she (irina) was finished with him (dad) all that was left to identify him were his teeth" (paraphrase)

HMMM

Yeah Bren
That was cool.
B)

Hahahaha...so TRUE!! We're all gonna see our heads roll when she finally hits the scene!! :lol:
Okay....I'm just REALLY lost on the whole box issue....I still have a feeling that it isn't Irina DIRECTLY, but something else that involves her, like the way they thought it was Sydney in the Prophecy...I think also that the Spymoms other two sisters have some bigger role in all this Rambaldi prophecy stuff...there is two other potential Derevko's of Irina's bloodline that could be linked to all of it.....*shrug* And as for Bomani working for Irina?? I think that would be fitting...also for the fact that Irina made it look like Sloane was the one mixed in it all! Just like Irina to stick it to Sloane to make his life a little bit more miserable! :P
I do NOT think Derevko is the head of Covenant....but I do believe she's a part of another organization...WITH her sisters too!! :) What was that "Black Sparrows" dealio all about in the eppy we met SpyAunty, hmmm? :innocent:

I think that Lauren did truly love her daddy....I think that her mother had it brainwashed in her head since she was a toddler probably, that she couldn't rely on her father, couldn't depend on him just to keep her from getting too attached to him if something like killing him had to come up. I think that other than that she is an evil b!t*h and that the whole Derevko/Bristow/Vaughn brigade need to have there way with her...(I'm a S/V shipper, what can ya' expect?)

I noticed this too with Sydney!! I think she's slowly slipping into that "needy Sydney" around Vaughn cause it's the only way she gets to let her guard down and not have to be the strong one anymore and have him support her the way it was so easily before the two year absence......even though she puts up the other "I'm strong" wall with her emotions with him......BUT FOR GOODNESS SAKES MAN!! IT'S JUST A CUP OF COFFEE!!! :angry: I'm okay now.. :blush01:

I think Olivia Reed was/is working for the Covenant for the whole time she was married to the Senator....I think the whole "marry a high ranking American" didn't start with the Spymoma and that Irina isn't the whole "best agent of KGB for her job as betraying Jack Bristow" cause she obviously had to leave, she truly loves her family,.....in other words Olivia makes Irina look like June Clever when it comes to "doing it for her country" by being under cover for 34 years and even getting her daughter in on it all......she shot her poor husband point blank range right in front of his daughter!!! :blink:

OOHHH!!! And my goodness...my dad commented the moment we were introduced to Olivia Reed that "Gosh, she looks a lot like Irina!??!!" and I was all OH MY WORD....IT'S HER OTHER SISTER ELENA!! :reallyexcited: Totally baffled at that...maybe just another JJ plot for us to simmer with till the Spymoma comes back. :huh:

Once again, AWESOME review.....can't wait till the new eppy!! THAT will be much interesting indeed!! :D
Colly E. :bunny:

Oh sweet mother of jesus........
I just went up here and read your stuff brenda...
:blink:
:blink:
Now everything I've been thunkin' just went bazerk....
VERY good speculation indeed!!
Oh for the love of JJ....I'll think about this forever till JJ reveals more..... :huh:
Colly E. :bunny:

And I would have been most angry with JJ if he hadn't...

:D I love Marshall! He's so cute! :D

I think that he felt bad, but I don't think he believed it...

Okay, this whole scene bothered me. It was a good scene, I won't pretend to deny that...but it was a great big re-hashed rip-off of Tomb Raider...right down to Syd's hairstyle!!!!

Let's be brutally honest...she didn't know those other people, but her father raised her, and hey, she loved the guy. I'm a bit more peeved with the wife actually. The Irina of Lauren's family? Maybe her and Sydney have even more in common than anyone ever thought...

YES! And the poor thing doesn't have anyone to talk to! She needs a couple of friends. I mean, let's list everyone: Lauren=bitch who stole her solemate (and this all according to her) Marshall=Love him to pieces, but I wouldn't confide in the guy. Carrie=Never around. Eric=Friend of Vaughn, who she cannot have Vaughn=Married, and since she wants lots of sex and babies, it's hard to get close to the guy. Dixon=Big bad authority figure. Dad=Dad...you can only talk about things so far with dad. Francie=dead :( Will=Witness protection. Question on that though...what good is witness protection now that Sark knows he is alive. If they are going to kill him, it doesn't matter where he is, they'll find him. Surely he would rather be with Syd (and let's be honest with this to, he would make her laugh, and I don't think she has done much of that this season.)

Hehehe...I like that thought...and wait! Right at the very end, we could have a great big Spy-family reunion with everyone...but man that would mean Syd and Lauren are Cousins!!! How creepy is that for Vaughn...poor thing is caught in the middle of the spy family circle!!!

Oh, but I have a question...what do you think about Syd's bangs!!!