Episode Report Card Erin: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Phantom of the Spy Opera
By Erin | Season 1 | Episode 18 | Aired on 04.06.2002
Marshall finally shuts up and takes his seat as everyone stares at him like he's just turned a vibrant shade of plaid. Spy Daddy purses his lips and goes on with the Exposition Dance, telling everyone that for the past five years, SD-6 has had two deep undercover agents installed in the Russian Embassy in Vienna. One of them, Kyle Wexler, recently sent SD-6 a communiqué that said Kasineau has converted $250 million in assets into cold hard cash. Sloane wants to know just what Kasineau's spending his money on. Wexler informed SD-6 that he's uncovered details about Kasineau's spending habits and encoded the information onto a microchip. Wexler's scheduled a "brush-past" for Saturday night at the Embassy ball. "We've arranged for you to attend," finishes Spy Daddy.
Sydney looks positively shocked. After the meeting, Syd runs up to Uncle Arvin and reminds him that she's taken herself off active duty. Then why in the HELL was she in the meeting in the first place? If she was really off active duty, she'd be at home, wearing her fluffy pajamas, eating chocolate chip pancakes, and watching Days of Our Lives. Whatever. Sloane's all, Kasineau is your top priority, dude. Sydney's all, I don't understand what this Russian dicksmack has to do with my mother. Sloane's all, shut up, you whiny bitch -- Kasineau was your mother's superior, okay? This is the only clue I can offer you, so suck it up and DEAL. "The more we find out about Kasineau, the closer we get to finding your mother," says Sloane.
Down in the parking lot, Syd's storming to her car as Spy Daddy catches up to her. He's spittin' mad about Sydney asking Sloane to help her find Spy Mommy. Syd informs him about the Kasineau connection; Spy Daddy just stares at the floor in an effort to locate an element of this plot that doesn't involve suspending disbelief.
Vienna. Home of Mozart and the Von Trapp Family Singers. We're at the Embassy ball. Everyone's togged out in fancy dress and elaborate masks. Hence the title of this week's episode, I imagine. Syd and Dix show up and start spinning around the dance floor.
At the same time, Spy Daddy enters Sloane's office and starts reaming him about the whole Kasineau Connection. Now, considering that Spy Daddy and Sydney just had their Kasineau Connection Conversation approximately three seconds ago, I'm thinking that there's no way that Sydney's managed to make it to Vienna, throw on a pretty dress and a Marilyn Monroe wig, and start dancing the night away with Dixon in that time. Reality? Not an option here.
Sloane repeats his whole "under orders to keep shit from you" speech -- you know, just in case we didn't get it the first time. Spy Daddy wants to know why Sloane agreed to help Syd without consulting him first. Sloane tells Spy Daddy that Sydney's not twelve and doesn't need Daddy's approval to go looking for her Mommy. "Are you sure this isn't affecting you more than you'd like to admit?" asks Sloane. "I assure you, my concern is only for Sydney," spits Spy Daddy. Sloane ain't buyin' it. He wants Spy Daddy to take a break from active duty.