Alias

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.

Alias (2001-2006) is an American spy thriller series created by J.J. Abrams for ABC. Jennifer Garner stars as Sydney Bristow, a young woman who discovers she has been secretly working for a criminal organization called the Alliance of Twelve, and she becomes a double agent for the real CIA. Victor Garber plays her father Jack Bristow, Michael Vartan plays fellow agent Michael Vaughn, and Ron Rifkin plays the sinister Arvin Sloane. The engine of the show is Sydney's constant struggle to keep her true allegiance hidden from family, friends and enemies while she takes on dangerous undercover missions, each one full of disguises, martial arts combat and close calls. Across five serialized seasons, the story builds a dense web of betrayals and hidden identities. Its tone mixes propulsive action with melodrama and emotional strain, and its atmosphere is glossy and fast paced. Set in present day Los Angeles and across the globe, it is a sleek spy drama with a strong mythology. Fans of Nikita, The X-Files and Covert Affairs will find resonance in its blend of espionage, personal stakes and conspiracy.

Audiences rate Alias as a positive, action-driven spy series with a strong lead performance and escalating serialized mythology.

• Covert Affairsserialized espionage mythology, double agent protagonist, action-driven spy thriller tone
• Nikitafemale spy protagonist, serialized conspiracy mythology, action heavy espionage
• The X-Filesserialized conspiracy thriller, government agency intrigue, mythology-driven double agent plots
• Burn Noticeserialized spy thriller with a hidden criminal organization and a secret agent protagonist

Created by

J.J. Abrams

Release Date

2001-09-30

Episode runtime

43 min

Rating

7.6 / 10 (732)

What is Alias about?

A young agent secretly working as a double agent for the CIA infiltrates a criminal syndicate while concealing her true loyalties from everyone she knows.

What is Alias like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Alias as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is Alias violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Alias as moderate.

What did critics think of Alias?

Audiences rate Alias as a positive, action-driven spy series with a strong lead performance and escalating serialized mythology.

Which shows are like Alias?

Shows with a similar feel include Covert Affairs, Nikita, The X-Files, and Burn Notice.

How long is Alias?

Alias: 5 seasons, 105 episodes.

Is Alias still running?

No, Alias has ended.

Where can I watch Alias?

In United States, Alias streams on Disney Plus.