Parents' Guide to

Alias

By Elliot Panek, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Smart action drama with a strong female lead.

TV ABC , Syndicated Drama 2001
Alias Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Ginnysing
Ginnysing Adult
June 5, 2020
age 16+

Accurate Review

I started watching based on reviews from other parents. I'm teying to find something appropriate to watch with my 12 year old son. I am really unhappy to see that in the 1st episode, no one mentions Sydney's boyfriend laying on top of her on the couch, half undressing her, then the 2 of them in the shower together. How is this not included under the rating info? Very 1st episode. So glad my son didn't see that! Please revise this review!!
Petalknits
Petalknits Adult
August 29, 2013
age 18+

Love with caution

I loved Alias! It was very interesting; not too violent, but exciting....However....as the seasons progressed, it began to get more and more violent, and include more sensuality. By the time season 5 was finished, we witnessed lots of bloody throat-slashing, fingers cut off, torture, and more. Sensuality was somewhat limited, though there were scenes of seduction (in lingerie) and one night stands (showing couples in bed together). As for role models, we did have a strong female character, but many of the other characters were very iffy....parents you weren't sure could be trusted; family friends who turn out to simply love power (at any cost), more than their loved ones......Also, the lines between revenge and justice were a bit blurred, too... Of course, the idea was to keep you guessing, and this show certainly did that....however, by the end, I was confident that every single person that died would come back to life. It became so very like a soap opera, instead of a spy drama! Also, by the last 2 seasons, even though I loved the series, some of the things they came up with were kind of hard to swallow. Giant big balls, causing people to become zombies? Sure! People becoming genetically altered to look completely like someone else, all in a matter of hours? Totally doable! And on and on. The first 3 seasons were certainly better, but I had to watch to the end, to see the conclusion, and have some of those little mysteries solved. Not 100% sure that they all were, but for the most part.... Overall, I really enjoyed the brain workout, the excitement and adored some of the characters. They really helped sell it for me. Marshall was too much fun! Super brilliant computer guy can do anything, but has so many awkward moments, due to no social skills....Don't know how the other actors could keep a straight face, when he began rambling. I loved Sydney, who is a great combo of girl-next-door and spy chick. Sydney's dad...well....sometimes a guy will do ANYTHING to protect his kid. And he's a spy....what's a little murder, here and there?
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What's the Story?

ALIAS follows the adventures of Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), a double agent working for the CIA. Her life is a series of double-crosses and revelations and is constantly being reshuffled and remade as is necessitated by the identity shifting required by her profession. Everyone in Sydney's life seems to be part of the world of international intrigue -- her father, Jack (Victor Garber), is a fellow double agent, and her CIA handler, Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan), becomes a close friend (and maybe more...). There are occasional forays into the fantastic -- some shady, evil organizations take their cues from a 500-year-old prophecy, for example. Meanwhile, things like brainwashing and hallucinogens sometimes prevent Sydney from being sure of anything, yet she carries on, foiling plots and trying to maintain some semblance of a life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (15 ):

This series expertly draws out mysteries over the course of each season, and for this reason, it might be tough for new viewers to understand the intricate plot if they come in late. But there's also pleasure in each individual episode, especially for those keen on the tone, style, and intensity of creator J.J. Abrams' other smash hit series, Lost.

Though the series lost a bit of momentum as it headed toward its conclusion, Alias is still a uniquely well-written, well-acted action drama with more psychological depth than nearly every other show on television.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Alias. How is violence in shows like this one different than violence in more realistic shows like CSI? Does it have less of an impact here?

  • When it comes to how much is too much violence, where would you draw the line?

  • How do the characters in Alias demonstrate courage? Why is this an important character strength?

TV Details

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