Blog From The Bench

The bitch is back, as the sinfully delightful Lena Olin returns to Alias.

Garth Franklin, the Lord of Dark Horizons reports:

Irina Derevko, the dangerous mother of Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) is back. Lena Olin, who played the role throughout the show's second season, is confirmed to be returning for the 90-minute fourth season final on May 25th.

I've also heard reported that Isabella Rosellini will return (from the dead apparently) as Sydney's aunt, Katya. Needless to say the Derevko sisters are sure to make life hell for the Syd, Nadia, and Jack.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is a strangely addictive quality to JJ Abrams shows. While I cannot claim to have ever seen an episode of Felicity, I was hooked on Alias from the word go. It's intricately woven storylines, whose plot points were seeded early on and cultivated throughout the first two seasons, always managed to bloom at the most unexpected times. It's terrific ensemble cast -- Jennifer Garner, Carl Lumbly, Victor Garber, Ron Rifkin, Greg Grunberg, Michael Vartan, and Kevin Weisman -- only adds to the mystique. While it's true, Season Three -- mired in Syd's two missing years and the plodding, redundant Vaughn/Syd/Lauren love triangle -- lost the interest of a great number of viewers (including myself), the delayed Season Four has returned the series to its original formula, kicking ass and taking names.

It doesn't hurt that the show's lead-in is another compelling JJ show, Lost. But that's a story for another time.