
Scripted series · ABC
Alias
She can be anyone.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Alias actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Alias reads strongest on Character Depth, Bingeability and Spectacle.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
Sydney Bristow, an agent who has been tricked to believe she is working for the U.S. government, is actually working for a criminal organization named the Alliance of Twelve. Upon learning this, Sydney becomes a double agent for the real CIA.
The run
Seasons
5 seasons · 105 episodes.

Season 0 · Unannounced
Specials
2 episodes

Season 1 · Complete
Season 1
200122 episodes
8.2IMDbThe first season of Alias premiered September 30, 2001 on ABC and concluded May 12, 2002 and was released on DVD in region 1 on September 2, 2003. Guest stars in season one include Sir Roger Moore, Terry O'Quinn, Quentin Tarantino, and Gina Torres. Apart from Truth Be Told, the episodes of Alias are often unconventionally structured in that the title credits are usually shown well into the plot, almost as an afterthought. Also, usually a plot finishes at mid-episode and a new plot begins, so that every episode finishes with a cliffhanger. The impression thus created is that an episode will conclude the previous one and plant the seeds of the next one.
Best episode · S01E22 Almost Thirty Years

Season 2 · Complete
Season 2
200222 episodes
8.1IMDbIn the second season, plotting against rogue agency SD-6 keeps superspy Sydney Bristow almost as busy as negotiating a relationship with her long-lost mother and dealing with her growing feelings for CIA handler Vaughn. What Syd doesn't know is that there are lots more changes (costume and otherwise) ahead of her... it's going to be a long year!
Best episode · S02E13 Phase One

Season 3 · Complete
Season 3
200322 episodes
8.0IMDbThrown for a serious loop in the final episode of season 2, CIA agent Sydney Bristow starts season 3 dealing with a life -- and memory -- left in shambles. Luckily she has her resourceful father and her trusty partner to offer assistance as she searches for the truth. But a new double agent may be closer -- and more dangerous -- than Sydney suspects.
Best episode · S03E11 Full Disclosure

Season 4 · Complete
Season 4
200522 episodes
7.8IMDbThe action explodes in the phenomenal fourth season when Sydney leaves the CIA to join a powerful new Black Ops unit, having no idea of the reunion in store for her.
Best episode · S04E05 Welcome to Liberty Village

Season 5 · Complete
Season 5
200517 episodes
7.9IMDbThe final season kicks off with a shocking revelation and never lets you catch your breath as superspy Sydney Bristow faces one mother of a challenge. Old enemies and favorite guests return for the action-packed series finale.
Best episode · S05E01 Prophet Five
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.

S02E13
Phase One
Sydney and Jack are confronted by the new director of SD-6 who replaces Sloane, whose whereabouts and intentions are unknown. Meanwhile, romantic sparks begin to fly between Francie and Will.
- Directed by Jack Bender
- Written by J.J. Abrams

S01E22
Almost Thirty Years
In order to save Will's life, Sydney and Vaughn must destroy a familiar looking Rambaldi device, while Jack makes a risky deal with Khasinau's representative, Mr. Sark. Meanwhile, the CIA believes that one of their own is a mole for "The Man"; the Alliance comes to a decision regarding the fate of Emily Sloane; Dixon's suspicions about Sydney intensify; and Sydney finds herself face-to-face with "The Man."
- Directed by J.J. Abrams
- Written by J.J. Abrams

S02E01
The Enemy Walks In
Sydney finds herself face-to-face with her mother, whose intentions for her daughter are made chillingly clear. Meanwhile Sydney continues her search for Vaughn, not knowing if he is dead or alive after being swept away by a wall of water in Taipei. Will's life is forever changed when he learns the truth about SD-6 and Sydney's life as a double agent. Dixon must decide whether or not to inform Sloane of Sydney's suspicious activities.
- Directed by Ken Olin
- Written by J.J. Abrams

S03E11
Full Disclosure
Sydney finally learns the shocking truth about her missing two years from an unlikely source.
- Directed by Lawrence Trilling
- Written by Jesse Alexander

S01E12
The Box (1)
When armed intruders take over SD-6, led by McKenas Cole, a man bent on exacting revenge on ex-boss Sloane, Sydney and Jack must work together to save their colleagues. Meanwhile, Will fears that his investigation of SD-6 and its link to the murder of Eloise Kurtz is placing his life in jeopardy.
- Directed by Jack Bender
- Written by John Eisendrath, Jesse Alexander

S01E13
The Box (2)
Vaughn disobeys orders and attempts to help Sydney and Jack avert the destruction of SD-6 headquarters and all its occupants. Meanwhile, McKenas Cole continues his vendetta against Sloane and searches for a mysterious device. A desperate but determined woman convince Will to continue his investigation of SD-6 and the imprisonment of David McNeil.
- Directed by Jack Bender
- Written by John Eisendrath, Jesse Alexander
Recently aired
Latest Episodes

S05E16
Reprisal
- Directed by Frederick E. O. Toye
- Written by Monica Owusu-Breen, Alison Schapker

S05E17
All the Time in the World
- Directed by Tucker Gates, Harmony Gosbee
- Written by Jeff Pinkner, Drew Goddard

S05E15
No Hard Feelings
- Directed by Tucker Gates
- Written by Sam Humphrey

S05E14
I See Dead People
- Directed by Jamie Babbit
- Written by Andi Bushell, J.R. Orci

S05E13
30 Seconds
- Directed by Frederick E. O. Toye
- Written by Monica Owusu-Breen, Alison Schapker

S05E12
There's Only One Sydney Bristow
- Directed by Robert M. Williams Jr.
- Written by Drew Goddard
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.

J.J. Abrams
Showrunner

Jeff Pinkner
Executive producer

Alex Kurtzman
Executive producer

John Eisendrath
Executive producer

Jeffrey Bell
Executive producer

Ken Olin
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Jesse Alexander
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Jeff Melvoin
Executive producer

Roberto Orci
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Steven Kane
Writer

Monica Owusu-Breen
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Vanessa Taylor
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Sam Humphrey
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Crystal Nix Hines
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Christopher Hollier
Writer

Drew Goddard
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Alison Schapker
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Luke McMullen
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Debra J. Fisher
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Sean Gerace
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Laurence Andries
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Breen Frazier
Writer

Josh Appelbaum
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Daniel Arkin
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Jon Robin Baitz
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Andi Bushell
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Jeffery Bell
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Erica Messer
Writer
- Photo unavailable
J.R. Orci
Writer
- Photo unavailable
R.P. Gaborno
Writer

André Nemec
Writer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Jeff PinknerExecutive Producer
- Jeff PinknerProducer
- Alex KurtzmanExecutive Producer
- John EisendrathExecutive Producer
- Jeffrey BellExecutive Producer
- Sarah CaplanProducer
Writing
- Steven KaneWriter
- Jeff PinknerWriter
- Monica Owusu-BreenWriter
- Vanessa TaylorWriter
- Alex KurtzmanWriter
- Sam HumphreyWriter
Direction
- Robert M. Williams Jr.Director
- Davis GuggenheimDirector
- Alex KurtzmanDirector
- Kevin HooksDirector
- Brad TurnerDirector
- Dan AttiasDirector
Cinematography
- Bing SokolskyDirector of Photography
- Donald E. Thorin Jr.Director of Photography
- Michael BonvillainDirector of Photography
Music
- Michael GiacchinoOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Disney PlusStreaming
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
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