Alias (ABC, Syndicated)

ALIAS follows the adventures of Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), a double agent working for the CIA. Her life is a series of double-crosses and revelations and is constantly being reshuffled and remade as is necessitated by the identity shifting required by her profession. Everyone in Sydney's life seems to be part of the world of international intrigue -- her father, Jack (Victor Garber), is a fellow double agent, and her CIA handler, Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan), becomes a close friend (and maybe more...). There are occasional forays into the fantastic -- some shady, evil organizations take their cues from a 500-year-old prophecy, for example. Meanwhile, things like brainwashing and hallucinogens sometimes prevent Sydney from being sure of anything, yet she carries on, foiling plots and trying to maintain some semblance of a life.

Alias expertly draws out mysteries over the course of each season, and for this reason, it might be tough for new viewers to understand the intricate plot if they come in late. But there's also pleasure in each individual episode, especially for those keen on the tone, style, and intensity of creator J.J. Abrams' other smash hit series, Lost.

Though the series lost a bit of momentum as it headed toward its conclusion, Alias is still a uniquely well-written, well-acted action drama with more psychological depth than nearly every other show on television.