The Safe House - Expositions

That's what I called Jennifer Garner when I first reviewed "Time of Your Life." I went on to say she was the weakest member of an already weak cast. Can you believe that?

I'll pause to let you say mean things about me to your computer.

All the same, I really never liked Garner. I didn't like her on "Significant Others." I didn't like her on "Time of Your Life." I didn't even like her when she played Noel's girlfriend Hannah on "Felicity."

I think I'm going to send her some flowers as an apology. Because Garner is responsible for this season's most enjoyable new series. She's made Sydney Bristow the best female character to hit prime time since a certain vampire slayer staked her claim in Sunnydale. Garner brings emotional gravity to a show that could come off as an over-the-top cartoon.

Since I'm in a confessing mood, I'll also tell you that half the time I have no idea what the characters are talking about on "Alias." Khasinau, Christophe, Mr. Sark, the Rambaldi documents, SD-6, SD-9 and the Man. It all sort of starts to blend together after a while, doesn't it? But it really is deliciously confusing.

Besides, all those details so don't matter. We get what's important. She's a secret double agent, hiding the truth from her friends and co-workers. She can look like anyone, speak any language, and perform any stunt. She even looks good in a rubber dress (and that can't be easy).

In Sunday's season finale (ABC, 9 p.m.), Will's life hangs in the proverbial balance, the CIA searches for its mole (I'm more convinced than ever that it's Greg Grunberg's Agent Weiss), Dixon becomes very suspicious of Sydney and Sydney finds herself face-to-face with the Man. (I'm still thinking Amy Irving is up to no good as Emily Sloane. I simply don't buy that she's really sick, do you?) My one hope is that Marshall doesn't turn out to be a bad guy. He definitely needs to be around next season.

Here are my top three favorite "Alias" moments:

1. In the series premiere, Sydney fights multiple enemies in the parking lot before her dad, who she doesn't know works for SD-6, drives up and commands her to get in the car. That's when you realized this wasn't going to be your ordinary show.

2. Vaughn agrees to break into the Vatican with Sydney. There was something so great about the way he said, "Yes, I'll break into the Vatican with you." That moment captured all that is wonderful about "Alias." It was a preposterous statement, but I had complete confidence that they could pull it off.

3. Will screams like a girl when he sees Sydney in a wig and realizes (kind of) who she is and what she does.

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