Alias - Season 1-5 The Complete Set [DVD]

I was as upset as anyone when the series ended, and by the way it ended. Too many loose ends, unanswered questions, plot holes, etc. Having said that, there has never been a series as intriguing, exciting, and enthralling as Alias. I bought seasons 1-4 as they became available and watched them at least 5 times each. I was not the least bit hesitant to buy the boxed set when it first went on pre-order. I would have liked more extras, but what it has are great.If you didn't really follow the series when is was broadcast, do yourself a favor and watch it on DVD. If you already are a fan you probably already have other DVD sets. Do YOURSELF a favor and buy the boxed set.Another word for the true fans. Okay, I became an Alias addict as soon as the first episode aired. I am such an addict that I am writing an Alias novel as therapy after the series ended leaving so many plot holes and unanswered questions. So, I was shocked when I recently watched season one DVD's of The Pretender, which aired from 1996-2000 (ending 1 year before Alias aired). I was totally blown away by the following similarities between the two shows. And since The Pretender came first, it was Alias which copied ideas from The Pretender.Here is my list of similarities between The Pretender and Alias- just from the first few episodes of The Pretender:1- A young boy is at a center where he's being studied and his special abilities are being groomed for use by some secret group (Alias tie- Project Christmas), 2-he builds a tall building out of an erector set(Project Christmas wooden block puzzle)demonstrating his abilities. 3-The man who is directing this use of the boy is a Dr. named Sydney (Alias main character name), 4-who is played by the actor who played Dr. DeSantis in Alias. 5-The boy grows up in the center and eventually escapes. He goes into hiding from this powerful organization, taking on a new alias each week and using his abilities to right wrongs (like Sydney in Alias- see #24). 6-He is a combination of the Sydney Bristow and Marshall Flinkman Character on Alias. 7-The main character is trying to find out who he really is and what happened to his real parents(Alias-Sydney and her mother,Irina). 8-Familiar Alias type phrases, one of which is "decide whether you are going to be a scientist (spy) or a mommy- you can't be both," the female lead says to Dr. Sydney"(very similar to what Irina told Sydney about being a spy and a mother in the last season of Alias). 9-Jerrod speaks many languages (Sydney does too). 10-He flies airplanes(Sydney does too). 11-Jennifer Garner (Sydney in Alias) once guest starred in The Pretender(2 years before Alias aired), playing a character named Billie VAUGHN(her boyfriend in Alias was named Michael VAUGHN). 12-The actor playing Jerrod is MICHAEL WEISS(as in Alias characters MICHAEL Vaughn and another main character, ERIC WEISS), while the name of the actor who plays the creepy bad guy at the Centre trying to hunt down Jerrod is named Richard MARCUS (as in Alias character MARCUS Dixon).13-The female lead, Miss Parker, who is teamed up with Dr. Sydney is a hard, driven, ruthless Alias character Irina Derevko. 14-Some of the graphics in The Pretender are Rambaldi(mysterious 15th century Alias character)-esc. 15-There is a black female director at the Centre(Alias tie- Director Chase at CIA). 16-Sydney Bristow's mother, Irina, was unquestionably the power behind much of the evil in Alias- Miss Parker's father is the head of the Centre. 17-When Miss Parker was young her mother supposedly killed herself, but as the show progresses Parker discovers that her father may have killed her, or that she may actually still be alive (Alias- very like Irina). 18-In one episode the bad guy boss of a law firm is named Mr. Sloane(name of main Alias bad guy for 5 seasons). 19-In the same episode a guy wrongly accused of a murder has the first name Marcus (again, Alias- Marcus Dixon). 20-Sloane goes to jail (also in Alias). 21- Last line spoken to Mr. Sloane in that episode at the end of that episode of The Pretender-"Now you have all the time in the world." (Same last line said to Mr.Sloane in Alias).22- A recurring number holds the key to a mystery behind the Centre- SL-27 (Alias- #47). 23- Dr. Sydney, who feels responsible for his brother's death, speaks to his brother, who appears to him from beyond the grave(Alias- Nadia, Sloane's daughter whose death he is responsible for, appears to him from beyond the grave). 24- They start each episode of The Pretender explaining that the main character is a Pretender- a genius with the ability to become anyone he wishes. That is the essence of creating an effective alias- something Sydney Bristow did every week. In fact, she explained to another Alias character that to pull off an alias you have to become that person. So, the essence of being a Pretender is the same as creating an Alias.Alias was a GREAT series, but I have never heard anyone address how heavily it was influenced by The Pretender.

I decided to buy this product new to avoid scratches and other complications. Nevertheless, every single disc I have watched so far is scratched or covered in glue. Not one disc has been able to play properly. But how do you return a DVD once you've opened the plastic packaging?? Either no standards have gone into making this DVD or I got a used DVD that was re-wrapped. I am not very impressed.While the show itself is awesome and incredibly addictive, the format makes it frustrating to watch. If I could go back, I would not have bought this DVD. I'd rather buy a PVR and record re-runs.

I have over 50 boxed set DVDs and without a doubt, this is the most exquisite! It is sturdy and has a gleaming gold exterior that does not begin to show up in the picture featured here at all. If you are thinking of a holiday gift, THIS is the one to choose. Also, it ships very nicely and the DVDs are packaged in a way so that they don't fall out.That said, I will add my comments to the other reviews regarding the show itself. I had actually never seen the show prior to ordering this set. But I kept hearing all the hype about it and I have to say that the series is absolutely one of the very best.JJ Abrams of Lost fame created and wrote for the show and I have to say that Lost and Alias are two of my top three television series. What a genius!I grew up in the 60's watching "Man from U.N.C.L.E." and of course James Bond, and I loved this series about a young woman who erroneously has been led to believe that she works for a covert division of the CIA. Moreover, the writers do not have the viewers just blindly accepting that this woman is a "super spy" with extraordinary powers. Instead, they give a very plausible rationale for her extreme gifts in the world of espionage.LOL I have to admit that if I could be any fictional character from a television series....it would have to be Sydney Bristow. Jennifer Gardner just made this character come alive. I would love to have an alter ego = female spy fighting for the "good guys."Although I previously liked Jennifer Garnder and thought she was a pretty good actress on the big screen, Alias made me realize what an absolutely amazing and talented actress she is.Likewise, ALL the actors in the series are SO awesome. Of course, Michael Vartan is great and played his part beautifully but I thought that the performance by Kevin Weisman who played Marshall was incredible. Absolutely nailed his character down pat.This boxed set also include a HARDCOVER little book about Alias as well.

You know about the show, but here's about this particular set with the artifact box. The box is just too cool! It opens in a "Rambaldi" fashion, with a secret compartment at the bottom. It's not just another DVD case! It's something you can leave on your coffee table as a real eye-catching conversation starter. If you like the series, go ahead and splurg a little to get the entire set in this box. It's a very good deal price-wise for the DVDs, and you'll feel like you have a Rambaldi artifact of your own. (The picture here doesn't do it justice! You have to see it for real. Velour lining and a little book with comments about the series from the actors, creator, directors, writers, etc.)It is a limited edition (well, okay, so it's a limited edition of 40,000, but still a limited edition). Any Alias fan would love this for Christmas!**Note** Yes, I too have scratched discs in my set (mostly only season 4). :o( Most of the reviews are about the actual show (which is great!), and, while the box is really impressive, the issue with the scratches on the discs shouldn't be missed. So, if you purchased this as a Christmas present, check out the discs so there is not a disappointed Alias fan out there on December 25.