Sydney Fox is contacted by an MI5 agent who wants her to help and prevent an assassination that is going to happen in 3 days. He says that this information about herself and the attempted assassination comes from a prophecy of Nostradamus hundreds of years ago! The agent is sure she will accept the challenge, because how could she resist the temptation to find out more about Nostradamus? Surely an interesting subject, but the episode is just an average one. TV has put out so many more agents and assassins stories in recent years, from 'Alias' to 'Nikita', that this seems a bit lame. Sydney wonders if the story about a prophecy referring to her isn't a bit unlikely and Nigel replies: I've been on too many adventures with you to rule out any possibilities." It sounds like an excuse for everything.
2 Reviews
Handicapped by a silly plot
xbatgirl-3002928 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Warning: don't watch with captions because they give away the name the mysterious bad guy on the phone. For what little that's worth.
The plot of this episode seemed way flimsier than most. But shooting in France, it sure is gorgeous to look at. The story goes that Nostradamus supposedly predicted 400 years earlier Sydney would save a prince (or something) at a summit, yet for some reason she is only contacted by MI5 just 3 days before the event. Why did they wait so long? No idea. Is there any specific reason why she cannot be given more details? No. Who needs to get bogged down in all that!
She soon runs into a rival relic hunter who's the best in the world but we've never heard of him before. He takes off on a motorcycle. Sydney chases him in a car. What is her plan? No idea! She's not trying to actually hurt him & thus stop him, nor does she want to just follow him. Instead she chases him around and gives an excuse for lots stunts with the motorcycle jumping things. They did also meet a man working at the first museum location who gives quite a funny, memorable performance.
So it turns out the other relic hunter was also hired by MI5 as "backup" just to ensure success, which apparently means he'll do anything to stop Sydney succeeding. We're not told he'll get more money if he beats Sydney to the relic. We're not told he'll get nothing if Sydney gets it first. And again, they both work for the same employer who just wants success. So this guy's actions make no sense beyond that it creates tension and suspense for the viewer.
Anyway, the revelations that follow make even less sense and it really pulls you out of the story, including the final motive that the true goal was just to get the medallion? There never seems to have been a need for an assassination even? Which means there never would have been need to have all that other security around. Basically, the bad guy did exactly everything wrong if he wanted to fail and get caught.
This is all unfortunate because most of the guest actors were quite adequate, including that one hilarious museum worker. He proves once again there are no small parts. And, as I said, every location is just gorgeous and makes you want to visit France. Basically, a filler episode.
The plot of this episode seemed way flimsier than most. But shooting in France, it sure is gorgeous to look at. The story goes that Nostradamus supposedly predicted 400 years earlier Sydney would save a prince (or something) at a summit, yet for some reason she is only contacted by MI5 just 3 days before the event. Why did they wait so long? No idea. Is there any specific reason why she cannot be given more details? No. Who needs to get bogged down in all that!
She soon runs into a rival relic hunter who's the best in the world but we've never heard of him before. He takes off on a motorcycle. Sydney chases him in a car. What is her plan? No idea! She's not trying to actually hurt him & thus stop him, nor does she want to just follow him. Instead she chases him around and gives an excuse for lots stunts with the motorcycle jumping things. They did also meet a man working at the first museum location who gives quite a funny, memorable performance.
So it turns out the other relic hunter was also hired by MI5 as "backup" just to ensure success, which apparently means he'll do anything to stop Sydney succeeding. We're not told he'll get more money if he beats Sydney to the relic. We're not told he'll get nothing if Sydney gets it first. And again, they both work for the same employer who just wants success. So this guy's actions make no sense beyond that it creates tension and suspense for the viewer.
Anyway, the revelations that follow make even less sense and it really pulls you out of the story, including the final motive that the true goal was just to get the medallion? There never seems to have been a need for an assassination even? Which means there never would have been need to have all that other security around. Basically, the bad guy did exactly everything wrong if he wanted to fail and get caught.
This is all unfortunate because most of the guest actors were quite adequate, including that one hilarious museum worker. He proves once again there are no small parts. And, as I said, every location is just gorgeous and makes you want to visit France. Basically, a filler episode.
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