"Alias" Returns! *spoilers*

[Brigid]

The writing on "Alias" has mostly sucked beginning with season 3, and I continued to watch only because I love Victor Garber and his amazing portrayal of Jack Bristow. And after the writers left such a sour taste in my mouth with "Horizon," I wasn't sure I wanted to watch again. I mean, come on -- a mother watching her pregnant daughter being tortured? And not only that, she orchestrated the whole thing? That's entertainment? I still question the sanity of the idiots who came up with that one. They must have pretty scary fantasy lives. But then, this is Irina Derevko we're talking about here.

But tonight was incredible. Jack and Syd found out what Irina had done, just as I had hoped they would; and really lit into her for it. Jack would have killed her, but Syd suddenly and inconveniently went into labor. Maybe he will take care of that little bit of unfinished business later. There was lots of action, and Jack fans could not have asked for more: Jack calling a meeting and beating information out of a guy (hey, when your daughter is being held on ship out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and you want to know the ship's location, you don't have time to play the nice guy); a bit of comedy during the bank caper; Jack using an Uzi to shoot it out with Kelly Payton; tender father/daughter moments during the delivery of the baby; and the new grandpa holding his newborn granddaughter; and the reappearance of Vaughn (I could take him or leave him but but others think he's the biggest hottie on TV -- who am I to begrudge them that?). Plus, talking about all the details with friends on "Alias" websites. Good times. I'm sure there will be more cringeworthy moments as well as good ones ahead, but at least I don't wish for my two hours back. That's more than can be said for many "Alias" episodes.

[Frank Cannon]

1. Last night was a return to the greatness of Seasons 1 & 2 (spoilers)

Just watching Rachel run full-speed into a closed door was worth it for me. (Marshall-"OOPS. Forgot to hit 'enter'!")

And Jack Bristow got to show time and time again why he is the biggest badass ever on TV. The scene in the "Alpha Black" CIA boardroom was amazing, but the showdowns with Payton and Irina were pretty terrific as well...and of course the AAAAAAAAWWWWWW baby scene. Victor Garber just rocks da house.

Saw the Vaughn thing coming. I'm glad he's back. Did it seem to you like Syd and Jack know he's alive...in fact may be responsible for his "death" and sequestering?

Can't wait for next week. The return of Anna and Will Tippen!

This show lost its way for a while, but it's back...and I'm sure going to miss it when it's gone.

[Brigid]

2. Badass Jack *spoilers*

Yes, the "Rachel running into the door" bit was funny. Marshall always cracks me up. Yes, I am sure that Jack and Syd know about Vaughn. And I think they arranged for him to be taken to that monastery after he was so badly wounded so that he could recover in safety. Until last night, I had been hoping he was dead, because I figured anything these writers would do to bring him back to life would be really lame. But it wasn't. And who am I to begrudge little Isabel growing up with her daddy as well as her mommy?

I like Will, and I'll enjoy seeing him again. And I hope Syd has another girl fight with Ana. Those are always hilarious. But wait a minute -- wasn't Ana in prison the last we knew? Oh, well, this is "Alias."

There's nobody like the great Jack Bristow. I would love to see him team up with Jack Bauer from "24" for a mission. That would make for a great crossover episode. There are rumors going around that Jack may be killed off in the finale. I hope it's not true. :(

[Dave Sund]

3. Hey, this is "Alias"

And prison isn't dead.

Then again, this is "Alias," and dead isn't dead.

[Frank Cannon]

4. I will actually really cry if that happens (*spoilers*)

I now it sounds odd that I would weep for a character who:

--squished a guy's head in a vice, then shot him point blank while he was still IN the vice.

--beat the he11 out of one of his daughter's best friends, just so that the poor guy would quit asking questions about what his daughter did for a living.

--cut his boss's finger off with a pen knife without any sign of squeamishness whatsoever.

--gave detailed directions over the phone about how to dig a person's eyeball out of its socket, using an ordinary plastic spoon.

--strangled a man to death, then used a portable cardiac defibrillator to bring him back to life, in order to extract information from him.

--tortured and/or killed (often in bad ways) countless other people who threatened to out/kill/harm his daughter.

But man, that's Jack Bristow. Due to the nature of his work, he was never the best of fathers, but at least there's no question that he really cares.

[Brigid]

5. Jack's Line of Work

You don't get into the spy biz if you're looking to have churches named after you. And unlike his sociopathic ex-wife, he has a working conscience.