The early 2000s saw a significant shift in the portrayal of female leads on television. Gone was the one-dimensional damsel-in-distress trope, making space for empowered female protagonists who were allowed to be flawed and multi-dimensional.

Buffy Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer defined this character template in the late ‘90s, emerging as an iconic and relatable lead who embraced both strength and vulnerability. Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls), Kara “Starbuck” Thrace (Battlestar Galactica), and Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars) followed in Buffy’s footsteps, bringing much-needed depth and complexity to female character writing.

Jennifer Garner’s Sydney Bristow from Alias, which ran from 2001 to 2006, is also a part of this wave. Created by J.J. Abrams three years before the genre-defying Lost, Alias was well-received by critics and audiences alike, praised for its unique genre blend and electrifying pacing. If you’ve been meaning to catch up on a somewhat underrated spy thriller series with dazzling action, you’ll be pleased to know that all five seasons of Alias are streaming for free on Pluto TV.

Alias follows Sydney (Garner), a CIA double agent posing as an operative for SD-6, a criminal espionage organization. The pilot immediately establishes the heightened stakes, opening with a grisly murder and Sydney stumbling upon a secret connected to her family. She comes to realize that her goal is to destroy SD-6 from the inside out, which is easier said than done, given their international influence.

The initial seasons follow Sydney’s attempts to navigate her dangerous double life, while sharing a complicated relationship with her father, Jack Bristow (Victor Garber).

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