Alias (TV Series) Solo (2005) User Reviews

Rachel goes solo

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 1 February 2012]

This episode opens with Rachel's family being taken into protective custody for their own safety; although how safe they will be is open to doubt as Sloane knows where they are and he is now working for Dean... he says he won't help Dean do anything that could harm APO but me might not be in position to make such promises. Dean tells Sloane to use APO resources to track down a Hungarian software designer, Janos Vak, and steal his data... of course it won't be easy; Renée will have to acquire information in Algeria, then Sydney and the team will have to break into a safe in a Chinese consulate in India before Rachel can pay a visit to their target who is living on an oil platform in the South China Sea. While most of the team are in on the action this is really Rachel's episode; she is unsure of herself after making a basic mistake in India but APO of no choice but to use her in the final part of the mission as the only visitors allowed onto the platform are the woman who come to 'entertain' Janos... normally it would be a job for Sydney but her pregnancy renders her somewhat unsuitable for the role! Rachel copes well enough with Janos but things get trickier when her old friend Peyton turns up.

This was another fine episode with plenty of excitement as well as a few laughs; Dixon's distraction in the Chinese consulate was hilarious. Rachel Nichols continues to do a fine job as Rachel; she is becoming a good member of the team and it was good to see Amy Acker return as Peyton; especially as she got an action scene with Rachel; the first of many I suspect! It is good to see Sloane back at APO and being somewhat devious as always... although even he has some standards it appears; at least for the time being.

Sloane vs. Dean and Rachel vs. Peyton

[gridoon2024 · 8/10 · 3 February 2010]

The APO team manages to locate a software specialist who has designed a system for re-targeting missiles at will; because only a woman can approach him for "company" in the oil rig where he's about to complete his work and then sell it to a Chinese official, and because the pregnant Sydney does not fit the bill, Jack picks Rachel to carry out the mission of getting hold of the software "solo". Sloane promises Dean that he will swap the discs after Rachel's return and give him the real one, but Dean does not trust him and sends Peyton to the same oil rig, to do the job on her own. It's fascinating to watch Sloane's transformation throughout the years - now he's again deceiving the people he's working with, but this time he does it reluctantly, with a feeling of shame: there is no joy in it (he also has one of his most badass lines in the history of the show here. Dean: "What would they do to you if they found out that you are betraying them?" - Sloane: "The same thing I'm hoping to do to you one day". Ouch!). Rachel also continues to develop as a character; inexperienced in field action, she reacts with - realistic - panic at her first difficult situation, then gradually gains self-confidence. Peyton also has a GREAT little moment in this episode - it's the look she gives to Rachel when, despite everything that's happened between them, Rachel saves her life from enemy fire. In fact, most of the characters (Sydney, Dixon, Renée, etc) get some great little moments in "Solo"; it's a very well-written and at times surprisingly funny episode. The only disappointment is that Mía Maestro's "return" is nothing more than a 5-second shot of Nadia's face while she's still in a coma; on the other hand, that IS Michael Vartan's (uncredited) voice that you can hear at the end. *** out of 4.