The Safe House - Expositions

The charismatic Jennifer Garner's high-flying, high-styling, wig- wearing portrayal of double agent Sydney Bristow should have landed her on the Shrine Auditorium stage last Sunday, accepting the Emmy Award for lead actress in a drama series in place of Allison Janney of "The West Wing."

The lithe, talented Garner and her cosmic cheekbones are in the middle of the espionage hurricane in every scintillating episode of ABC's "Alias," which soars into a second season with an excellent hour of cliffhanger-resolving excitement at 9 tonight.

Oops, I've just been pulled over by the Hyperbole Police and ticketed for excessive adjectival gushing.

"Alias" was last season's finest new network drama, edging out "24" when Fox's innovative suspense thriller wobbled near its climactic midnight hour.

The creation of producer J. J. Abrams, who first tapped into high- quality storytelling with the WB college drama "Felicity," "Alias" rocked from start to finish. Unfortunately, ABC was in such dire ratings straits last season that "Alias" was overlooked by many. Those who found it became passionately devoted.

"Alias" has a serialized style that leaves Syd in a cliffhanger lurch at the close of each episode.

As the new season opens, we're right back at the "Omigosh!" season finale revelation: Syd, strapped to a chair and in big danger as usual, discovers that her long-dead mother is very much alive. Not only that, but Mommy's got a gun aimed at dear daughter.

That's how we meet Lena Olin ("The Unbearable Lightness of Being"), the wonderful actress who joins the cast as Irina Derevko, Syd's lethal former Russian agent mom. Say what?

A little background: Sydney is a CIA undercover operative working for the sinister SD-6, a drug-dealing, weapons-acquiring global cabal run by a devious weasel named Sloane (Ron Rifkin). Syd's had a boyfriend killed by SD-6. Now she's convinced her handsome CIA contact, Vaughn (Michael Vartan), has drowned in an underground tidal wave.

Plus, she's still sorting out her chilly relationship with her dad, Jack Bristow (Victor Garber), also an undercover CIA good guy working for SD-6. And now Mom appears to be the diabolical diva behind all SD- 6's scary shenanigans.

But Sydney remains the consummate professional. Wham, bam, this woman's going to jam for truth, justice, the American way and a happier home life.

With its dazzling, kinetic action, supercharged storytelling, large emotional heart and a grand star-making performance by Garner, "Alias" is the best TV show you're not watching.

OK, go ahead and check out "The Sopranos" at 9 p.m. Sundays. But remember to tape "Alias." You won't be sorry.

'Alias'
FOUR STARS out of 4 stars

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