Favorite Jack moments
Despite the fact that Jack Bristow has the ability to be a complete ass and clueless father, all wrapped up into one hot older man package, I like to see the good in him and believe when he says that every morally questionable thing he’s ever done has been in service of Sydney.
Season One
1. 1x01 Truth Be Told - I’m one of them. In the first episode, we find out what Jack Bristow is really all about. A group of agents went freelance, forming the Alliance, and SD-6, is a branch.
2. 1x02 So It Begins - The arranged flight. The first indication that Jack isn’t as evil as he seems. Sydney, through a conversation with Will, discovers that Danny was booked on a flight to Singapore, courtesy of one Mr. Jack Bristow. He had arranged the flight for her too. So even though SpyDaddy knew what was going to happen, he still tried to get to Danny in time. Awww.
3. 1x04 A Broken Heart - I can’t get away. Sydney and Jack are supposed to have dinner for the first time in a long time. And Jack flakes. Way to go, SpyDaddy. Though this isn’t a shining moment for Jack, I still list it as a favorite moment, because you can tell how badly Jack feels for flaking, and how awful Sydney feels for being stood up.
4. 1x10 Spirit - The sacrificial lamb. Desperate to save Sydney’s life after being “discovered” as the mole, Jack sets up Russek as the mole instead. What this guy wouldn’t do for his daughter.
5. 1x11 The Confession - Reach out and touch someone. After returning from Cuba, Jack and Sydney have a little heart to heart, where Jack confesses that there are things that he should probably say or ask as a father. The poor guy, a little socially inept, but wanting to bond with his daughter. Very cute.
6. 1x11 The Confession - I was not that agent. We find out the truth behind the CIA murders from 20 years ago. Most of us did not see this one coming, when Jack announces it was Sydney’s mother who carried out the orders to murder CIA operatives. Say what?!
7. 1x12 The Box, Part I - The touch. As Sydney crawls through the air ducts to get to Marshall’s code scrambler, Jack tenderly touches the ducts as she climbs in. Such a simple, sweet moment, showing that Jack cares. Awwwww.
8. 1x14 The Coup - Some fatherly advice. Sydney shares her thoughts about dropping out of graduate school with Jack, who at first has no sage words of wisdom. Later, however, he changes his tune when he meets Sydney at a carousel that she loved as a child, and gives her this nice little tidbit: “Believing your mother was a professor may have influenced you somewhat but the decision to go back to school was yours. And I'd trust that. I think that, uh, if you stick with it... you could become the kind of teacher your students will always remember.”
9. 1x17 Q&A - The breakout. Assuming that every part of the prophecy has to be correct, Jack and Vaughn hatch a plan to break Sydney out of DSR custody and send her to see Mt. Subasio. In the interim, Jack threatens to decapitate Haladki if he doesn’t tell him when Sydney is being transferred. Gotta love a dad who will do anything for his daughter.
10. 1x18 Masquerade - The destruction. After Sydney realizes that her mother may still be alive, she tells Jack he wants to find her. In one of his most emotional scenes in the entire series, Jack asks Sydney what she could possibly expect to gain from that woman. Very heartwrenching to see how destroyed and emotional Jack was, realizing that Irina may very well work her way back into Sydney’s and his life.
11. 1x19 Snowman - TMI. After Jack has to save yet another one of Sydney’s friends, Noah Hicks, he puts Sloane in his place after Sloane reveals that Sydney and Noah are knocking boots. “I'm not sure that's my business, and I know it isn't yours.”
12. 1x22 Almost Thirty Years - See ya Haladki. Once Jack figures out that Haladki was responsible for the leaks that have put Sydney’s and Will’s lives in dangers, he sneaks into the back seat of Haladki’s car, drags him to an undisclosed location, and proceeds to blow his head off. Serves you right, Haladki.
13. 1x22 Almost Thirty Years - The hug. After making the trade for Will, Jack seems uncomfortable at what Will has been put through. A hug for the hero, and the hero hugs back. Awww.
Season Two
Fantastic season for Jack, bouncing back and forth between his utter disgust, and his long-buried love for Irina.
14. 2x03 Cipher - Laura, oops, I mean Irina. In a counseling session with Dr. Barnett, Jack asks for her help in getting Sydney away from Irina. When he calls her Laura, Dr. Barnett notices. Jack clearly is not able to move past this woman who ruined his life.
15. 2x03 Cipher - Daddy’s got a secret. Upon visiting Irina, she asks if Sydney knew what Jack did to her after she disappeared. Jack stops dead in his tracks, so we know it’s something bad. Uh oh. So now he wants her ass carted away. Hmm, that’s convenient.
16. 2x04 Dead Drop - The frame. Determined to keep Sydney from getting too close to her mother, Jack hires someone to rig a house in Madagascar with some semteks. Once he “discovers” the bombs on the infrared, Irina is whisked away, and his mission is accomplished, bringing him closer to his daughter again.
17. 2x05 The Indicator - Ripped a new one. When Sydney undergoes regression hypnotherapy, she discovers a memory of Jack training her, just like the “next gen” weapons she encountered on her mission. Jack tries to explain that he did this for her benefit, but she doesn’t want to hear it, and simply walks away, leaving Jack looking a little demoralized.
18. 2x06 Salvation - Winning her back. Knowing that Sydney had written a letter to Devlin, detailing Jack’s framing of Irina, Jack decided to beat her to the punch and turn himself in. In this desperate attempt to salvage the relationship with his daughter, he says “When I look at her, when I look at the little girl who raised herself to become one of the most extraordinary human beings and one of the finest agents I've ever had the privilege of knowing, I see only the promise of my own redemption. Turning myself in was the only way I could think of to make that clear to her, to prove that despite... my limited abilities as a father, I love her more than I could ever say.” Awwww.
19. 2x09 The Passage, Part II - The toaster. In a rare moment of actually looking human, Jack and Irina reminisce over a drink and a toaster. But in true Jack fashion, he catches himself getting a little too happy, and puts an end to it.
20. 2x10 The Abduction - Smartass. Jack’s encounters with Ariana Kane are fantastic in this episode. When he’s first introduced, she asks where to start her investigation, and he says “With me. Over the years Arvin's trusted me with everything I'd need to know to be the perpetrator. And if his standing within the Alliance were undermined, I'd be a candidate to inherit his seat. Motive.” Then later on, when she questions him about having a mistress or prostitute, he says something along the lines of “there is one way to find out if my nocturnal activities are a risk, but frankly, I think we’d both prefer the torture.” Tee hee.
21. 2x12 The Getaway - Jack kicking ass. Who doesn’t love to see Jack Bristow kicking a little ass against the backdrop of a movie screen?
22. 2x13 Phase One - Take surface streets. A truly frightening moment for any Jack fan, as he relays the secret message to Sydney, letting her know that he’s been compromised.
23. 2x15 A Free Agent - One of Jack’s best lines ever. After Sydney is told by Kendall that her leaving the CIA would also mean giving up her clearance to see her mother, Jack gives us this little gem: “Legally, he’s right. Ethically, he’s an ass.”
24. 2x17 A Dark Turn - Bow chicka bow bow. Jack and Irina get it on!
25. 2x19 Endgame - The interrogation. Jack is less than pleasant to Elsa Kaplan, while she hangs out in Irina’s former cell. His seething anger at the betrayal is evident here, when all he can see is Irina in Elsa Kaplan.
Season Three
26. 3x01 The Two - The reassuring father. When Sydney visits Jack in prison after returning from her missing two years, she is devastated as she tells him that her life is now upside-down, and incomplete with Vaughn marrying someone else. In response, Jack says “Michael Vaughn is just a boy, who was never good enough for you.” As much as I love Vaughn, I loved this comment by Jack.
27. 3x02 Succession - Smartass Jack. After listening to Sloane’s BS about the Rambaldi device, Jack responds with “Personally I would have found it anti-climactic that after expecting to assemble a weapon of ultimate power you found a revelation you could have acquired from a fortune cookie.” Tee hee.
28. 3x05 Repercussions - No pervy conversations about my daughter please. After Simon Walker learns that Mr. Werner is really Jack Bristow, and that Julia Thorne is his daughter, Simon gets a little dirty with his talk of her sexual prowess. Just what any father wants to hear, I’m sure. Then Jack plugs him. No more.
29. 3x08 Breaking Point - The repairman. Jack infiltrates the FEMA building posing as a repairman. Where’s their regular guy, you ask? “Out with a sinus infection. Freakin’ nightmare!”
30. 3x09 Conscious - The spine. On the plane, returning from the fun NSC facility, Jack and Vaughn have a little conversation. I think the interaction between them is very cute, and they both have the most adorable smiles:
Jack: I used to think you didn't have much of a spine.
Vaughn: And has that assessment changed?
Jack: No.
31. 3x10 Remnants - Think that was wise? After being carted off to certain doom as a result of punching Lindsay, Jack tells Vaughn to push Sydney away, because his kindness tortures her. “If you care about my daughter as you claim to, then push her away. Be cruel if you have to - make her despise you. Because your kindness tortures her. I can see it, what it does to her. And I won't have it.” He just wants to protect his little girl. Awww.
32. 3x11 Blowback - How about some dinner? “I do eat, ya know,” Jack exclaims as he invites Sydney out to dinner. Another tender moment between father and daughter.
33. 3x19 Hourglass - Jack talkin’ smack. Upon entering Sloane’s cell, and offering up a glass of wine with some obvious hints to former times together, Jack tells Sloane “You're right. I'm not going to help you. Since this is the last conversation we will ever have, I want to make this perfectly clear. What you have done to my daughter is nothing compared to what I will do when I find yours. Salut.” Yikes.
34. 3x20 Blood Ties - Our relationship is clear. After the dirty laundry that Sloane and Irina had an affair was aired, Jack felt the need to cover his ass. “Sydney, there's something you should know. When I first learned of Sloane's affair with your mother, I was forced to consider the possibility that I wasn't in fact your biological father…It's not the case. I had our medical files examined. Our relationship is clear. But I wanted you to know, during that brief time before I was reassured my feelings for you never changed.” Ya gotta love this guy.
34. 3x21 Legacy - Facilities capable of dealing with her remains. When Vaughn becomes obsessed in his search for Lauren, Jack offers to help him out in the most evil way possible. And for those of us who hate Lauren, we love it! A key to the storage facility with guns, money, passports, the good stuff.
Season Four
35. 4x03 The Awful Truth - No evites for me. This scene makes me laugh because Victor Garber has admitted to being completely computer illiterate. When he crashes Syd and Vaughn’s party, he says:
Jack: It must've been lost in the mail.
Sydney: Your invitation?
Jack: Unless it was an e-vite. I don't read e-vites.
36. 4x03 The Awful Truth - Was that a sexual reference? When Nadia is in the psych evaluation, she tells Jack that she’s never done anything that’s lasted so long. His response to her? “How sad for you.” Tee hee.
37. 4x09 A Man of His Word - Yeah, so there. Jack brings Nadia out of her coma earlier than was recommended, and Sloane is non too pleased with the decision. He asks Jack to let him know the next time he plans to put his daughter’s life in danger, and Jack responds “As you do mine every day.” That’s right Sloane, how do you like it now?
38. 4x13 Tuesday - Will she make it? The look of genuine fear and concern on Jack’s face as everyone waits to see if Marshall can find Sydney’s is one of his best yet. You feel his pain.
39. 4x13 Tuesday - What’s a spork? Another one of Jack’s great lines. When Marshall is looking for something to dig out Ulrich’s eye, he finds a spork. Jack, being a little behind the times, asks “what’s a spork?”
40. 4x14 Nightingale - The sacrifice. Sydney is trapped in the room with the transformer coil, which means that she’s going to melt from the inside out if someone doesn’t get her the hell out of there. Against Marshall’s orders, Jack goes into the reactor and shuts it down, with just seconds to spare. Marshall figures it out and tells Jack that he has exposed himself to some pretty bad stuff. Jack tells him not to say anything, and that “It was my daughter's life.” I think that this, above anything else he’s done, has shown how much he really does love her. Awwww.
41. 4x16 Another Mr. Sloane - Regret? When Vaughn and Sydney tell Jack that Sloane was behind the framing of Irina, Jack goes apesh*t and pulls a gun on Sloane in the bathroom. Perhaps he feels remorse for killing Irina? Perhaps he still does have some feelings for her? “You can't imagine what it felt like. Looking into the face of the woman I once shared a life with, and with a single bullet . . . ending that life.”
42. 4x18 Mirage - Jack-centric. I love how almost this entire episode is about Jack; he deserves a little more face time! Too bad the situation wasn’t so great, but I digress. We get this glimpse of Jack in his old life, before Irina royally screwed him over. He was so in love with Laura, and felt terribly about missing Sydney’s formative years. He was thisclose to quitting. Some gems from this episode:
I do keep too many secrets. When this is behind me, that is going to change. Sydney deserves more. She deserves to know that she's the most important thing in my life . . . She and Laura, of course.
Tell my girls I love them. Sydney and Laura.
Jack: What concerns me: I won't be back until next week. I'll miss Sydney's birthday again.
Sydney as Laura: That's okay. You'll explain it to her. She'll understand.
Jack: She's a child. She shouldn't need to understand her father isn't home to celebrate her birthday. Laura, the only memories I have of my father are of him leaving . . . I don't want it to be that way for her. She deserves better.
Sydney as Laura: The work you do is important.
Jack: Not as important as her - or you. When I get back from Europe, I'm going to talk to my supervisors.
Sydney as Laura: What about?
Jack: I'm giving notice. . . . Sorry. I should've discussed this with you before I made a decision--
Sydney as Laura: No. That means more to me than you'll ever know.
43. 4x20 The Descent - Dads will be dads. Vaughn is ready to propose to Sydney (finally!!!), and being the good old-fashioned guy that he is, he wants Jack’s permission. Now, we already know that by his dealings with Danny, he doesn’t take to this very well. No surprise when he tells Vaughn “Perhaps you believe my recent illness rendered me less coherent than before. Or that my cognitive faculties had been somehow dulled, or diminished. Allow me to clarify the facts for you, Agent Vaughn. While I've come to believe that you're not as useless as I first imagined, I still don't feel-“ and is interrupted by a bunch of suits. Finally, he gives Vaughn his blessing. “We're more alike than I care to admit, Agent Vaughn. And I realize now that in disapproving of you, I was only hating my own limitations. I wasn't asking myself what would be best for Sydney . . . If you honestly believe that you can make my daughter happy, then by all means, you have my blessing to marry her.” Oh Jack, Sydney could do much worse than Vaughn.
44. 4x21 Search and Rescue - I could’ve gone my whole life without hearing that. Sydney and Vaughn devise a plan in the nightclub, and when their conversation gets a little too x-rated, Sydney asks if they’re on comms. Luckily for everyone involved, Jack heard the whole thing. “Yes, you’re both on comms.” I’m sure his ears were bleeding after that.
45. 4x21 Search and Rescue - This looks familiar. This scene was very familiar to me, perhaps a Jack and Irina version of the Crossings episode, in which Sydney tells Vaughn that she slept with Will. Irina asks Jack for forgiveness for getting it on with Sloane, and he says “Of all the things you've done, that's what you're going to apologize for?” Don’t you just love them together?!
46. 4x22 Before the Flood - Lord I was born a gamblin’ man. Yes, I know the song is Ramblin’ Man, but I made it work. Sydney’s up on the roof, she has to cut a wire, but which one? Elena is being evil and won’t tell, big shocker there. So Jack has a little conversation with her.
Irina: I'm not gonna torture you. I'm gonna let him do it. And he really doesn't care for you, especially after you tricked him into killing me. One thing you should know about Jack: he hates being anybody's puppet.
Jack (getting a syringe of the contaminated water): I'm actually hoping that you don't tell us what we need to know . . . There's a fifty-fifty chance Sydney cuts the right wire. I'm willing to take those odds if it means I can stand here and watch you turn into an animal.
Elena: You're not a gambling man, Jack.
Jack: I didn't use to be, but it's been a rather interesting year for me. It's made me reevaluate certain parts of my life. I'm trying to have more fun these days.
Season Five
47. 5x09 The Horizon - Hmm, we’re on 47. I did have a few more favorite Jack memories I could’ve thrown in here, but I thought I’d be more Alias about it, and end on our favorite number, 47. As Sydney is walking through the hospital, granddaddy Jack gives her the silver rattle she had as a baby. “Reminds me of a time when I could . . . keep you safe.”
And there you have it! If you have any other favorite Jack moments, please feel free to share!
Season One
1. 1x01 Truth Be Told - I’m one of them. In the first episode, we find out what Jack Bristow is really all about. A group of agents went freelance, forming the Alliance, and SD-6, is a branch.
2. 1x02 So It Begins - The arranged flight. The first indication that Jack isn’t as evil as he seems. Sydney, through a conversation with Will, discovers that Danny was booked on a flight to Singapore, courtesy of one Mr. Jack Bristow. He had arranged the flight for her too. So even though SpyDaddy knew what was going to happen, he still tried to get to Danny in time. Awww.
3. 1x04 A Broken Heart - I can’t get away. Sydney and Jack are supposed to have dinner for the first time in a long time. And Jack flakes. Way to go, SpyDaddy. Though this isn’t a shining moment for Jack, I still list it as a favorite moment, because you can tell how badly Jack feels for flaking, and how awful Sydney feels for being stood up.
4. 1x10 Spirit - The sacrificial lamb. Desperate to save Sydney’s life after being “discovered” as the mole, Jack sets up Russek as the mole instead. What this guy wouldn’t do for his daughter.
5. 1x11 The Confession - Reach out and touch someone. After returning from Cuba, Jack and Sydney have a little heart to heart, where Jack confesses that there are things that he should probably say or ask as a father. The poor guy, a little socially inept, but wanting to bond with his daughter. Very cute.
6. 1x11 The Confession - I was not that agent. We find out the truth behind the CIA murders from 20 years ago. Most of us did not see this one coming, when Jack announces it was Sydney’s mother who carried out the orders to murder CIA operatives. Say what?!
7. 1x12 The Box, Part I - The touch. As Sydney crawls through the air ducts to get to Marshall’s code scrambler, Jack tenderly touches the ducts as she climbs in. Such a simple, sweet moment, showing that Jack cares. Awwwww.
8. 1x14 The Coup - Some fatherly advice. Sydney shares her thoughts about dropping out of graduate school with Jack, who at first has no sage words of wisdom. Later, however, he changes his tune when he meets Sydney at a carousel that she loved as a child, and gives her this nice little tidbit: “Believing your mother was a professor may have influenced you somewhat but the decision to go back to school was yours. And I'd trust that. I think that, uh, if you stick with it... you could become the kind of teacher your students will always remember.”
9. 1x17 Q&A - The breakout. Assuming that every part of the prophecy has to be correct, Jack and Vaughn hatch a plan to break Sydney out of DSR custody and send her to see Mt. Subasio. In the interim, Jack threatens to decapitate Haladki if he doesn’t tell him when Sydney is being transferred. Gotta love a dad who will do anything for his daughter.
10. 1x18 Masquerade - The destruction. After Sydney realizes that her mother may still be alive, she tells Jack he wants to find her. In one of his most emotional scenes in the entire series, Jack asks Sydney what she could possibly expect to gain from that woman. Very heartwrenching to see how destroyed and emotional Jack was, realizing that Irina may very well work her way back into Sydney’s and his life.
11. 1x19 Snowman - TMI. After Jack has to save yet another one of Sydney’s friends, Noah Hicks, he puts Sloane in his place after Sloane reveals that Sydney and Noah are knocking boots. “I'm not sure that's my business, and I know it isn't yours.”
12. 1x22 Almost Thirty Years - See ya Haladki. Once Jack figures out that Haladki was responsible for the leaks that have put Sydney’s and Will’s lives in dangers, he sneaks into the back seat of Haladki’s car, drags him to an undisclosed location, and proceeds to blow his head off. Serves you right, Haladki.
13. 1x22 Almost Thirty Years - The hug. After making the trade for Will, Jack seems uncomfortable at what Will has been put through. A hug for the hero, and the hero hugs back. Awww.
Season Two
Fantastic season for Jack, bouncing back and forth between his utter disgust, and his long-buried love for Irina.
14. 2x03 Cipher - Laura, oops, I mean Irina. In a counseling session with Dr. Barnett, Jack asks for her help in getting Sydney away from Irina. When he calls her Laura, Dr. Barnett notices. Jack clearly is not able to move past this woman who ruined his life.
15. 2x03 Cipher - Daddy’s got a secret. Upon visiting Irina, she asks if Sydney knew what Jack did to her after she disappeared. Jack stops dead in his tracks, so we know it’s something bad. Uh oh. So now he wants her ass carted away. Hmm, that’s convenient.
16. 2x04 Dead Drop - The frame. Determined to keep Sydney from getting too close to her mother, Jack hires someone to rig a house in Madagascar with some semteks. Once he “discovers” the bombs on the infrared, Irina is whisked away, and his mission is accomplished, bringing him closer to his daughter again.
17. 2x05 The Indicator - Ripped a new one. When Sydney undergoes regression hypnotherapy, she discovers a memory of Jack training her, just like the “next gen” weapons she encountered on her mission. Jack tries to explain that he did this for her benefit, but she doesn’t want to hear it, and simply walks away, leaving Jack looking a little demoralized.
18. 2x06 Salvation - Winning her back. Knowing that Sydney had written a letter to Devlin, detailing Jack’s framing of Irina, Jack decided to beat her to the punch and turn himself in. In this desperate attempt to salvage the relationship with his daughter, he says “When I look at her, when I look at the little girl who raised herself to become one of the most extraordinary human beings and one of the finest agents I've ever had the privilege of knowing, I see only the promise of my own redemption. Turning myself in was the only way I could think of to make that clear to her, to prove that despite... my limited abilities as a father, I love her more than I could ever say.” Awwww.
19. 2x09 The Passage, Part II - The toaster. In a rare moment of actually looking human, Jack and Irina reminisce over a drink and a toaster. But in true Jack fashion, he catches himself getting a little too happy, and puts an end to it.
20. 2x10 The Abduction - Smartass. Jack’s encounters with Ariana Kane are fantastic in this episode. When he’s first introduced, she asks where to start her investigation, and he says “With me. Over the years Arvin's trusted me with everything I'd need to know to be the perpetrator. And if his standing within the Alliance were undermined, I'd be a candidate to inherit his seat. Motive.” Then later on, when she questions him about having a mistress or prostitute, he says something along the lines of “there is one way to find out if my nocturnal activities are a risk, but frankly, I think we’d both prefer the torture.” Tee hee.
21. 2x12 The Getaway - Jack kicking ass. Who doesn’t love to see Jack Bristow kicking a little ass against the backdrop of a movie screen?
22. 2x13 Phase One - Take surface streets. A truly frightening moment for any Jack fan, as he relays the secret message to Sydney, letting her know that he’s been compromised.
23. 2x15 A Free Agent - One of Jack’s best lines ever. After Sydney is told by Kendall that her leaving the CIA would also mean giving up her clearance to see her mother, Jack gives us this little gem: “Legally, he’s right. Ethically, he’s an ass.”
24. 2x17 A Dark Turn - Bow chicka bow bow. Jack and Irina get it on!
25. 2x19 Endgame - The interrogation. Jack is less than pleasant to Elsa Kaplan, while she hangs out in Irina’s former cell. His seething anger at the betrayal is evident here, when all he can see is Irina in Elsa Kaplan.
Season Three
26. 3x01 The Two - The reassuring father. When Sydney visits Jack in prison after returning from her missing two years, she is devastated as she tells him that her life is now upside-down, and incomplete with Vaughn marrying someone else. In response, Jack says “Michael Vaughn is just a boy, who was never good enough for you.” As much as I love Vaughn, I loved this comment by Jack.
27. 3x02 Succession - Smartass Jack. After listening to Sloane’s BS about the Rambaldi device, Jack responds with “Personally I would have found it anti-climactic that after expecting to assemble a weapon of ultimate power you found a revelation you could have acquired from a fortune cookie.” Tee hee.
28. 3x05 Repercussions - No pervy conversations about my daughter please. After Simon Walker learns that Mr. Werner is really Jack Bristow, and that Julia Thorne is his daughter, Simon gets a little dirty with his talk of her sexual prowess. Just what any father wants to hear, I’m sure. Then Jack plugs him. No more.
29. 3x08 Breaking Point - The repairman. Jack infiltrates the FEMA building posing as a repairman. Where’s their regular guy, you ask? “Out with a sinus infection. Freakin’ nightmare!”
30. 3x09 Conscious - The spine. On the plane, returning from the fun NSC facility, Jack and Vaughn have a little conversation. I think the interaction between them is very cute, and they both have the most adorable smiles:
Jack: I used to think you didn't have much of a spine.
Vaughn: And has that assessment changed?
Jack: No.
31. 3x10 Remnants - Think that was wise? After being carted off to certain doom as a result of punching Lindsay, Jack tells Vaughn to push Sydney away, because his kindness tortures her. “If you care about my daughter as you claim to, then push her away. Be cruel if you have to - make her despise you. Because your kindness tortures her. I can see it, what it does to her. And I won't have it.” He just wants to protect his little girl. Awww.
32. 3x11 Blowback - How about some dinner? “I do eat, ya know,” Jack exclaims as he invites Sydney out to dinner. Another tender moment between father and daughter.
33. 3x19 Hourglass - Jack talkin’ smack. Upon entering Sloane’s cell, and offering up a glass of wine with some obvious hints to former times together, Jack tells Sloane “You're right. I'm not going to help you. Since this is the last conversation we will ever have, I want to make this perfectly clear. What you have done to my daughter is nothing compared to what I will do when I find yours. Salut.” Yikes.
34. 3x20 Blood Ties - Our relationship is clear. After the dirty laundry that Sloane and Irina had an affair was aired, Jack felt the need to cover his ass. “Sydney, there's something you should know. When I first learned of Sloane's affair with your mother, I was forced to consider the possibility that I wasn't in fact your biological father…It's not the case. I had our medical files examined. Our relationship is clear. But I wanted you to know, during that brief time before I was reassured my feelings for you never changed.” Ya gotta love this guy.
34. 3x21 Legacy - Facilities capable of dealing with her remains. When Vaughn becomes obsessed in his search for Lauren, Jack offers to help him out in the most evil way possible. And for those of us who hate Lauren, we love it! A key to the storage facility with guns, money, passports, the good stuff.
Season Four
35. 4x03 The Awful Truth - No evites for me. This scene makes me laugh because Victor Garber has admitted to being completely computer illiterate. When he crashes Syd and Vaughn’s party, he says:
Jack: It must've been lost in the mail.
Sydney: Your invitation?
Jack: Unless it was an e-vite. I don't read e-vites.
36. 4x03 The Awful Truth - Was that a sexual reference? When Nadia is in the psych evaluation, she tells Jack that she’s never done anything that’s lasted so long. His response to her? “How sad for you.” Tee hee.
37. 4x09 A Man of His Word - Yeah, so there. Jack brings Nadia out of her coma earlier than was recommended, and Sloane is non too pleased with the decision. He asks Jack to let him know the next time he plans to put his daughter’s life in danger, and Jack responds “As you do mine every day.” That’s right Sloane, how do you like it now?
38. 4x13 Tuesday - Will she make it? The look of genuine fear and concern on Jack’s face as everyone waits to see if Marshall can find Sydney’s is one of his best yet. You feel his pain.
39. 4x13 Tuesday - What’s a spork? Another one of Jack’s great lines. When Marshall is looking for something to dig out Ulrich’s eye, he finds a spork. Jack, being a little behind the times, asks “what’s a spork?”
40. 4x14 Nightingale - The sacrifice. Sydney is trapped in the room with the transformer coil, which means that she’s going to melt from the inside out if someone doesn’t get her the hell out of there. Against Marshall’s orders, Jack goes into the reactor and shuts it down, with just seconds to spare. Marshall figures it out and tells Jack that he has exposed himself to some pretty bad stuff. Jack tells him not to say anything, and that “It was my daughter's life.” I think that this, above anything else he’s done, has shown how much he really does love her. Awwww.
41. 4x16 Another Mr. Sloane - Regret? When Vaughn and Sydney tell Jack that Sloane was behind the framing of Irina, Jack goes apesh*t and pulls a gun on Sloane in the bathroom. Perhaps he feels remorse for killing Irina? Perhaps he still does have some feelings for her? “You can't imagine what it felt like. Looking into the face of the woman I once shared a life with, and with a single bullet . . . ending that life.”
42. 4x18 Mirage - Jack-centric. I love how almost this entire episode is about Jack; he deserves a little more face time! Too bad the situation wasn’t so great, but I digress. We get this glimpse of Jack in his old life, before Irina royally screwed him over. He was so in love with Laura, and felt terribly about missing Sydney’s formative years. He was thisclose to quitting. Some gems from this episode:
I do keep too many secrets. When this is behind me, that is going to change. Sydney deserves more. She deserves to know that she's the most important thing in my life . . . She and Laura, of course.
Tell my girls I love them. Sydney and Laura.
Jack: What concerns me: I won't be back until next week. I'll miss Sydney's birthday again.
Sydney as Laura: That's okay. You'll explain it to her. She'll understand.
Jack: She's a child. She shouldn't need to understand her father isn't home to celebrate her birthday. Laura, the only memories I have of my father are of him leaving . . . I don't want it to be that way for her. She deserves better.
Sydney as Laura: The work you do is important.
Jack: Not as important as her - or you. When I get back from Europe, I'm going to talk to my supervisors.
Sydney as Laura: What about?
Jack: I'm giving notice. . . . Sorry. I should've discussed this with you before I made a decision--
Sydney as Laura: No. That means more to me than you'll ever know.
43. 4x20 The Descent - Dads will be dads. Vaughn is ready to propose to Sydney (finally!!!), and being the good old-fashioned guy that he is, he wants Jack’s permission. Now, we already know that by his dealings with Danny, he doesn’t take to this very well. No surprise when he tells Vaughn “Perhaps you believe my recent illness rendered me less coherent than before. Or that my cognitive faculties had been somehow dulled, or diminished. Allow me to clarify the facts for you, Agent Vaughn. While I've come to believe that you're not as useless as I first imagined, I still don't feel-“ and is interrupted by a bunch of suits. Finally, he gives Vaughn his blessing. “We're more alike than I care to admit, Agent Vaughn. And I realize now that in disapproving of you, I was only hating my own limitations. I wasn't asking myself what would be best for Sydney . . . If you honestly believe that you can make my daughter happy, then by all means, you have my blessing to marry her.” Oh Jack, Sydney could do much worse than Vaughn.
44. 4x21 Search and Rescue - I could’ve gone my whole life without hearing that. Sydney and Vaughn devise a plan in the nightclub, and when their conversation gets a little too x-rated, Sydney asks if they’re on comms. Luckily for everyone involved, Jack heard the whole thing. “Yes, you’re both on comms.” I’m sure his ears were bleeding after that.
45. 4x21 Search and Rescue - This looks familiar. This scene was very familiar to me, perhaps a Jack and Irina version of the Crossings episode, in which Sydney tells Vaughn that she slept with Will. Irina asks Jack for forgiveness for getting it on with Sloane, and he says “Of all the things you've done, that's what you're going to apologize for?” Don’t you just love them together?!
46. 4x22 Before the Flood - Lord I was born a gamblin’ man. Yes, I know the song is Ramblin’ Man, but I made it work. Sydney’s up on the roof, she has to cut a wire, but which one? Elena is being evil and won’t tell, big shocker there. So Jack has a little conversation with her.
Irina: I'm not gonna torture you. I'm gonna let him do it. And he really doesn't care for you, especially after you tricked him into killing me. One thing you should know about Jack: he hates being anybody's puppet.
Jack (getting a syringe of the contaminated water): I'm actually hoping that you don't tell us what we need to know . . . There's a fifty-fifty chance Sydney cuts the right wire. I'm willing to take those odds if it means I can stand here and watch you turn into an animal.
Elena: You're not a gambling man, Jack.
Jack: I didn't use to be, but it's been a rather interesting year for me. It's made me reevaluate certain parts of my life. I'm trying to have more fun these days.
Season Five
47. 5x09 The Horizon - Hmm, we’re on 47. I did have a few more favorite Jack memories I could’ve thrown in here, but I thought I’d be more Alias about it, and end on our favorite number, 47. As Sydney is walking through the hospital, granddaddy Jack gives her the silver rattle she had as a baby. “Reminds me of a time when I could . . . keep you safe.”
And there you have it! If you have any other favorite Jack moments, please feel free to share!