US Airdate: 25th November 2001
Writers- Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman Director- Jack Bender
Guest Stars: John Hannah (Shepard) Evan Dexter Parke (Charlie) Elaine Kagan ()
Eugene Lazarev (Dr. Kreshnik) Sarah Shahi (Jenny) Mark Galasso (Ed Davis)
Plot: The episode opens with a shocked Sydney finding Fisher’s body. Moments
later, a guard approaches from behind and gives her a tranquilizer. She
reawakens some time later strapped into an electroshock tub. She is tortured
and interrogated by K-Directorate agent Dr. Kreshnik, who wants to know the
information he believes Sydney has gained from Martin Shepard. Sydney convinces
him she hasn’t learned anything yet, but she should be able to, granted Kreshnik
postpones her execution. He allows her until nightfall to gain the intel
concerning Parkashoff’s body.
In L.A., Vaughn confronts Jack Bristow, having discovered K-Directorate’s
involvement at the asylum and wants Jack’s help in extracting Sydney. Jack is
not pleased, and keeps Vaughn from acting by convincing the younger agent that
Sydney can protect herself, and to extract her would blow her cover. Jack also
questions Vaughn about why he pulled his CIA file; Vaughn explains that Sydney
was interested in discovering if her suspicions that Jack had KGB affiliations
were factual.
Meanwhile, after plenty of trouble, Sydney is able to convince Shepard to help
her escape. Together, they fight off several guards and run off to a remote CIA
safehouse. Shepard has been struggling with regaining his memory; FTL seriously
damaged it while brainwashing and programming him into becoming an assassin. As
his memory returns, he recollects that he was the man who murdered Danny, and
tells Sydney. Sydney is very upset, but struggles to forgive him, knowing he
did not act consciously.
At SD-6, Sloane tells Marshall the leak he discovered was set up by SD-6 itself
in performing a security drill. However, Sloane meets with Alain Christophe, an
agent of high standing in the Alliance. Sloane is interested in catching
whoever has been hacking into their system; Christophe believes SD-6 may have
more than one mole, and demands Sloane find them and exterminate them.
Will does not want to persue the Kate Jones story, knowing Sydney doesn’t want
him investigating Danny’s death. He pleads with his editor, who is confused
because earlier he was begging her to let him stay on the story. She holds that
she wants him to continue investigating; if he does not, she will reassign it to
someone who will.
Thanksgiving is served at Sydney’s apartment. Charlie proposes to Francie, who
joyously accepts. Later that night, Jack arrives and explains to Sydney that
the FBI was in fact investigating him about affiliations with the KGB. This
lead to the persuit which forced his car off the road and killed Laura Bristow.
At SD-6, Parkashoff’s DNA is used to reveal the existance of another Rambaldi
artifact at Oxford’s Department of Engineering, and Sloane instructs Sydney to
investigate. Vaughn warns Sydney that Anna Espinosa may also be on the job...
Best Bits: Sydney and Shepard’s escape from the asylum, Vaughn and Jack’s
confrontation, Thanksgiving dinner
Best Quotes:
1. -Jack: Listen carefully, Mr. Vaughn. Even with a minimal extraction team,
you can't guarantee containment. And if Sloane finds out, Sydney's dead anyway.
-Vaughn: Retire her early. Pull her out of service!
-Jack: And in the process, expose her operations at SD-6.
-Vaughn: Sydney's life is worth the risk!
-Jack: Not to Sydney! Taking them down is what gets her up in the morning.
Or... did you think it was those meetings she has with you?
-Vaughn: Hey! What is your problem with me?
-Jack: You pulled my file last week, that's my problem, Mr. Vaughn. Now, did
curiousity get the better of you, or were you trying to impress my daughter?
-Vaughn: (sighs) She thinks you were KGB. But, I'm sure you already knew that.
So, what I'm wondering is what were you doing checking up on me checking up on
you?
2. -Sydney: They're going to kill us both if we don't help each other to get
out of here.
-Shepard: Then you've got a real problem, because I'm not leaving here. I
would rather die than leave the way I am now.
3. -Marshall (to Sloane): Want to have a seat (gestures towards inflatable
chair)? I got a minor form of scoliosis, so the air ergonimically hugs me. (hugs
himself) Oh, you want to stretch out? I can inflate the couch.
4. -Vaughn: We were worried.
-Sydney: Yeah, I know. The C.I.A. hates to lose its assets.
-Vaughn: No, I mean, I was worried for you.
5. -Jack: This was on your lawn (hands Sydney newspaper).
-Sydney: It's my neighbor's. I'll give it to him.
-Jack: Oh.
-Sydney: Do you want to come inside?
-Jack: Shepard killed Danny. I'm assuming you know that.
-Sydney: If I hadn't, thank you for breaking it to me so gently.
6. -Boss: Will, are you on dope?
-Will: Huh?
Personal Response:
Color Blind was a great episode, though more serious and angsty than many of
the other episodes. It is the follow-up to Reckoning's final mission, and much
of Color Blind is spent having Sydney discover K-Directorate's involvement,
persuading Shepard, and actually escaping the asylum. This all is very tense
and exciting, though it becomes rather depressing after a while. Then, when the
viewer finally relaxes, we learn Shepard was actually Danny's murderer, plunging
Sydney into a cold reality. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her--everything
terrible seems to happen! Jack and Vaughn's meeting was also tense and grave.
Vaughn is beginning to show himself as being emotionally-driven, causing serious
clashes with Jack, who is level-headed and unemotional to an extreme. One
recognizes merit in Jack's arguments, but Vaughn's determination to put Sydney's
safety before her duty is heartwarming. Jack seemed overly-upset at Vaughn just
for his pulling his file at the CIA; it leads the viewer to believe Jack has
something to hide (otherwise he is just extremely anti-social and hates Vaughn
on impulse). We can sense trouble brewing for Sydney with all the talk about
moles in SD-6. I begin to sympathize with Will as he delves deeper into the
Eloise Kurtz story; he is being forced to continue his investigation. What a
happy and wonderful Thanksgiving for Francie and Charlie! I felt sorry for
Jenny as she was almost literally pushed away by Will in favor of Sydney; and
despised Will for his rudeness in this. Overall, this episode was well-scripted
with many great quotes, but was slightly depressing throughout.
Music:
The Pretenders: The Wait
Jude: Everything’s All Right (I Think It’s Time)
Natalie Merchant: Not In This Life
