Yes.

So is this a good or bad time to start watching Alias?

I think a good time.

JJ Abrams had this to say the other night over at The Fuselage in response to that very question:

(http://www.thefuselage.com/Archive/VIPArchive.htm)

Short answer? You'll TOTALLY be able to just jump in. Trust me.

Longer answer? Okay, here's the Alias deal: the show's INSANE. To understand it DEEPLY AND TRULY requires mad thought and also cracking your brain open. But much of the complication is a result of the wild twists of its backstory. And if you're grooving on Lost, my guess is that you'll be able to pick up all necessary Alias history in a snap.

But to FEEL the backstory? You'll wanna borrow the dvds from a buddy and give 'em a watch. And you should -- we had some incredible actors/writers/directors do some CRAZY GOOD work on the first few seasons.

Alias is about a young woman who is a spy. Truly? THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW. Does it help to know that her father's a spy? Her lover? That her mother was KGB? Sure. Do you need that? No. The problem was, in the beginning, she worked for an agency that was POSING as the CIA. So who was good, who was bad, was TRULY difficult to follow if you weren't IN THE CLUB, as it were. There will always be complicated stories in a spy show. But is what's important hard to follow? NO.

Then again he would, being all creator-like and all.

Edited. Because I am crap at the quotey thing.

Point me in the direction of a good ep guide w/ summaries, then, so I can get more or less of an idea what's been going on?

The episode guide on the official site here, has some good basic summaries, which are supriseingly detailed for an 'official' site.

Alias -- I can't wait.

I'm re-watching some Lost right now.

I think it's spoiler-free: Burly Hurley of 'Lost' Gets Cryptic

Hugs TV.

Whee! Lost and Alias in one night. I'm delighted.

Upon my return to FL next week I am giving Jeff all the past eps of Lost to get him up to speed. He has hinted that he might reactivate Mejiaville for Lost. Whee!

Garcia notes, "Really all I need is a sword fight and I'll be totally satisfied."

Heh. My kind of actor.

New Lost! New Lost! Only 6 more hours to go!

I converted my brothers and my sister-in-law visiting me during the holidays by playing them all the episodes. After we were done with the marathon, sis-in-law confessed that she felt bereft that there were no more episodes to watch. Yay! Three toasters for me!

I'm feeling kind of mixed about Alias, since the show totally lost me during S3 or S4 or whichever was the last season. Now, if J.J. can kill off Vaughn and bring back SpyMommy, that'll go a long way in restoring my good will toward the show.

Note, DON'T READ the article about Boone & Locke (it's linked below the Jorge Garcia one) unless you want to be spoiled. I started reading it but managed to stop myself before it got too bad.