Classic Moment: Marshall saves Sydney ('Alias')

Sydney Bristow had to contend with many seemingly insurmountable obstacles during her time as an undercover agent in the brilliant Alias, but it wasn't until the fourth season episode 'Tuesday' that she encountered the horrible experience of being buried alive. What made the situation far more, erm, grave, was that only rambling uber-geek Marshall could possibly save her from a future career pushing up the daisies. Every dog has his his day...

The Context

After prizing some valuable information from an informant, Sydney is captured and buried alive in a remote graveyard in Havana. Concurrently, a virus is released in the headquarters of Arvin Sloane's black operations division and a 36 hour lockdown is implemented to secure containment.

All the agents are unable to come to Sydney's rescue, apart from technology expert Marshall, who was late for work after some domestic difficulties and wasn't able to enter the building. He is subsequently sent to Havana and tries to trace Sydney's location via her cell-phone and thermal imaging satellite. However, Sydney's air, phone battery and body heat are all running out. Can an unlikely hero save the day?

The Moment

Marshall arrives at the cemetery, barking out orders to the quarantined Michael Vaughn via his phone. Upon discovering the grave, Marshall grabs a shovel, strips down to his white vest and enters Bruce Willis Die Hard territory. He discovers Sydney's body in the coffin, but she is not breathing.

Marshall gives her mouth-to-mouth and heart massage in a bid to resuscitate her, which proves successful. "Thanks," says Sydney to her saviour, who by now is lying on the ground, panting furiously, with a massive smile on his face. "No problem," he replies, nonchalantly.

The Aftermath

Marshall's unlikely and temporary transition to a Field Agent doesn't stop there. With the other agents still confined by the lockdown, he has to assist Sydney in tracking down an important hard drive, which necessitates him removing a villain's eyeballs with a spork along the way! All this alongside singing lullabies to his baby down the phone in a bid to pacify his wife. What a guy.

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