Nicholas D. Klemetson | West Saint Paul, MN, USA | 07/17/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"So, I believe that this is a re-issue of the original first season that must have been discontinued. When I ordered this, I couldn't figure out why the price was so low. The packaging is much smaller and simpler, with all discs inside of a case barely larger than a standard DVD case. They are arranged in a similar fashion to some of the Full House DVD's, where the discs lay on top of each other, slightly overlapping. I believe the first season of House does this as well.
So, if you don't really care about having extensive packaging such as the 24 box sets, you can't go wrong with this for the price. The show is wonderful, and I'm glad that I'll be able to add them all to my collection at this price. (Also posted this review for season 2, since the packaging is identical.)"
Season 1 Is White Hot
Douglas B. Rapson | Pennsylvania, USA | 10/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I came to the Alias party late, and really glad that I did. Much like the similar 24, Alias loved to take its audience through each week's episode at a breakneck pace only to leave you cliff-hangered until the next episode. Watching the show on DVD is the way to go, as it allows you to slam back four to five episodes at a clip.
As you likely know by now, Jennifer Garner is Sydney Bristow, a college co-ed looking for some direction in life. She is nothing short of amazed when she is recruited to a super-secret branch of the CIA. Or is she ? We quickly discover that Syd is actually working for the bad guys. But in the best cloak and dagger tradition, she works her way deeper into the organization to make the world safer. Working with the real CIA, she takes on missions for the evil SD6, keeping tabs on the bad guys and working in a concurrent "counter mission".
The cast of characters is top drawer. Ron Rifkin plays the evil Arvin Sloane, while Carl Lumbly is the likeable and loyal Marcus Dixon. One of the true standouts is Kevin Weisman, SD-6's resident gadget guru(think "Q" only quirkier). This is the show that put creator JJ Abrams on the map, and rightfully so. Garner's Bristow is engaging, sexy, and just darn fun to watch. The show trots all over the globe engaging in plenty of spy vs. spy, but be forewarned ! Starting down this road will claim many, many hours of your free time. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing."
The Best Show...no longer on television
D. Wallace | Minneapolis | 10/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Season 1 of Alias hooks you. The story of how Sidney gets entangled into living double-lives is immediately intriguing. The characters are talented and work extremely well together. This show has everything...kick-butt action, suspense, drama, and romance. This was hands-down the best show on television, and since it's no longer on tv, the only way to see it is purchase the dvds. You won't get bored from watching it over & over again."
First is always the best!
Stephen Torres | PEARL CITY, HI, US | 04/14/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a very late comer to the series, I really enjoyed watching ALIAS for the first time with this Season 1 set.
The entire season was well written and well produced and the cast were all great. This was Jennifer Garner's "Star Vehicle" and it certainly accomplished that for her.
If you liked the series, I would recommend that you spring for the complete series collector's boxed set.
Even through the writing got tougher with each season, they did a mostly good job keeping it all together for a five year run.
It's hard to be creative and interesting for that long even with new writers being brought in, but if you like the characters
and are willing to see the series through, you will be rewarded...even if the last ep was a little disappointing, it was an ending that made the most sense.
"
First Season Hooks You In -- Spy Thriller!
Scotman | Mt. Shasta, CA | 04/11/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Alias --
I've only seen a few first season episodes but the stories really rock. Kind of like a Mission Impossible/Girl from UNCLE mix-up, Sydney gets involved in a covert operation known as SD-6. After they assassinate her boyfriend to keep their location and existence secret, she decides to become a double-agent and work for the CIA, to bring down SD-6 and then "get the hell out" of the spy business.
Except that SD-6 is quite an octopus with nuclear bomb sales to foreign lands and a ruthless director. They don't yet suspect that Sydney (played admirably by Jennifer Gardner) is a double agent and give her all kinds of interesting assignments.
So far we have the usual socially-inept guy who gives the low-down on secret devices such as a sonic disrupter pen or a walkie-talkie necklace, brings back memories of Mission Impossible and the old James Bond movies. She also has an evil agent competitor who seems to out-wit and be one step ahead of her at every turn.
As I understand it, Alias later morphed into a science fiction show which I'd like to see that transformation.
Meantime, season one looks pretty fresh and exciting. The cliffhanger endings keep you wanting more and the staccato music brings back memories of Lalo Shafrin's Mission Impossible.
The downside is that Sydney's escape of some impossible situations seems a bit too pat to me. And when she does escape, how does she get back to the USA in record time? Some plot holes such as this take away from the overall excitement of the show.