Before there was Lost<\/em>, there was Alias<\/em>, a stylish spy thriller show masterminded by TV mainstay J.J. Abrams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starring Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, Alias <\/em>revolved around the main character\u2019s espionage missions as a triple agent; she\u2019s working for the shadowy SD-6 intelligence organisation, but she\u2019s also a double agent for the US CIA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What followed was a tense, high-octane show that ran for five seasons, each of which was well-liked by fans and critics alike. The show ended its run in 2006, leaving many hungry for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there\u2019s arguably no show that\u2019s identical to Alias <\/em>on TV right now, there are several shows that carry some of Alias<\/em>\u2019 DNA, so if you\u2019re hankering for a show similar to Abrams and Garner\u2019s cult classic, read on to find out our favourite shows like Alias <\/em>to watch right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homeland<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Claire Danes stars in this twisty-turny political thriller about a CIA officer who suffers from bipolar disorder and her investigation into Damian Lewis\u2019 returning Marine hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Danes\u2019 Carrie Mathison quickly finds herself entangled with Lewis both professionally and personally, and she must walk the knife edge between irrational fears and justified investigative paranoia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homeland <\/em>ran for eight seasons, concluding its successful run in 2020. The first two seasons are where you\u2019re going to find your money\u2019s worth here, but if you get invested in the characters and the world, it\u2019s worth sticking with Homeland <\/em>to the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chuck<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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If you loved Zachary Levi\u2019s affable turn in the superhero movie Shazam!<\/em>, then you should definitely check out Chuck<\/em>, the spy comedy in which Levi starred before his transformation into a Hollywood superstar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The titular Chuck is a computer geek who\u2019s unwillingly whisked into a plot involving the CIA, the NSA, and a software program that contains all of the US\u2019 deepest, darkest secrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before he knows it, Chuck is essentially fighting for his life in a world he never wanted to be a part of. The show is essentially Alias<\/em>, but if it was reimagined as a comedy-drama rather than a straightforward spy thriller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lost<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Lost<\/em>\u2019s much-talked-about ending proved rather controversial, dividing fans right down the middle, but if you\u2019ve never seen any of J.J. Abrams\u2019 followup to Alias<\/em>, it\u2019s worth a look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we say \u201cfollowup\u201d, we simply mean that this is what Abrams created after Alias<\/em>; it\u2019s not related to Garner\u2019s show in any way, although it does feature the same sort of maze-like plotting and keeps-you-guessing narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several plane crash survivors wash up on a desert island, but all is not what it seems as strange things quickly begin happening, including the appearance of a polar bear and malevolent natives known only as \u201cThe Others\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Covert Affairs<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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If you\u2019re looking for a show that\u2019s about as similar in DNA to Alias <\/em>as it\u2019s possible to be, then Covert Affairs <\/em>should be near the top of your list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This spy thriller stars Piper Perabo as Anne Walker, a CIA trainee who suddenly gets a major promotion. From there, the series explores Annie\u2019s character arc, taking her from an inexperienced trainee to a veteran espionage agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perabo\u2019s performance as Annie Walker is excellent, and she\u2019s ably supported by a cast that includes Christopher Gorham, Anne Dudek, and Nic Bishop. Watch this one if you really can\u2019t fill the Alias <\/em>gap with anything even remotely dissimilar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Enemy Within<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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One of many modern shows that got unfortunately cancelled after just a single season, The Enemy Within <\/em>had an incredibly promising premise, so we were sad to see it go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The show starred Jennifer Carpenter as Erica Shepherd, a former CIA deputy director now serving life in a supermax prison for espionage. She\u2019s approached by Morris Chestnut\u2019s Will Keaton in order to help him find a dangerous criminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Female-fronted shows about espionage are unfortunately rare, so savour the single season of The Enemy Within <\/em>for as long as you can while it\u2019s on, because unfortunately, you\u2019re not going to get any more of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanna<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Based on Joe Wright\u2019s excellent 2011 movie Hanna<\/em>, this show stars Esme Creed-Miles as the titular character (memorably played by a young Saoirse Ronan in the movie) and follows a similar basic premise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanna is a baby bred from a young age as a CIA super-soldier, but when her parents get second thoughts about the program, they flee with Hanna in tow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s subsequently targeted by a CIA program that aims to eliminate every baby conceived as a result of the super-soldier initiative, but naturally, a now-teenage Hanna has ideas of her own about that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Killing Eve<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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This sleek psycho-thriller stars Sandra Oh as the titular Eve Polastri, a British intelligence officer who\u2019s hot on the trail of young and deadly assassin Villanelle (played by Jodie Comer).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What follows is a cat-and-mouse chase in which the roles of pursuer and pursued are regularly switched, with Eve and Villanelle spiralling into a dangerous and deadly relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later seasons of Killing Eve <\/em>garnered controversy for the narrative direction they took, but this is still a show that\u2019s well worth your time, if only for the excellent performances given by Oh and Comer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nikita<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Last but not least, The CW\u2019s Nikita <\/em>should give you your Alias <\/em>fix if you haven\u2019t already had it from any of the shows we\u2019ve mentioned so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The show is a loose adaptation of the Luc Besson movie La Femme Nikita<\/em>, but for our money, the show is superior to Besson\u2019s film, largely thanks to the central performance given by a very game Maggie Q.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nikita is on the run from Division, a secret US government department, but she\u2019s done running; now, she\u2019s out to take them down, and she\u2019ll stop at nothing to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Q1: Why did ‘Alias’ end?<\/strong> A1: ‘Alias’ ended its run in 2006 after five seasons. Like many TV shows, it likely concluded due to a mix of factors such as storytelling reaching its planned conclusion, changing viewer numbers, and network programming decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q2: Is ‘Alias’ directly connected to any of the shows listed as similar?<\/strong> A2: No, ‘Alias’ is not directly connected to any of the shows listed. However, some of these shows may share thematic elements, creators, or storytelling styles that might appeal to fans of ‘Alias’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q3: Can I watch these shows if I haven’t seen ‘Alias’?<\/strong> A3: Absolutely! Each recommended show stands on its own and does not require knowledge of ‘Alias’ to be enjoyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q4: Which show is the most similar to ‘Alias’?<\/strong> A4: ‘Covert Affairs’ is often noted as being quite similar in DNA to ‘Alias,’ with both shows focusing on the personal and professional life of a female CIA operative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q5: Are there any shows on the list that are lighter in tone than ‘Alias’?<\/strong> A5: Yes, ‘Chuck’ is known for its comedic take on the spy genre, offering a lighter, more humorous approach compared to ‘Alias’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q6: Have any of these shows been cancelled?<\/strong> A6: Yes, ‘The Enemy Within’ was cancelled after just one season. It\u2019s important to check the current status of any show before getting invested in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q7: Where can I watch these shows?<\/strong> A7: The availability of these shows can vary based on your location and the streaming services you have access to. It\u2019s best to check platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or network on-demand services for the latest availability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For fans of ‘Alias’ seeking to recapture the thrill and drama of J.J. Abrams’ stylish spy series, there’s a rich catalogue of espionage-centric shows out there. Whether you\u2019re looking for something with a similar narrative complexity, strong female leads, or simply the essence of high-stakes undercover operations, shows like ‘Homeland’, ‘Chuck’, ‘Lost’, and ‘Killing Eve’ offer diverse viewing experiences that resonate with the spirit of ‘Alias’. While Sydney Bristow’s intense adventures have concluded, the legacy of ‘Alias’ lives on through these gripping series, each bringing its own unique flavor to the world of televised espionage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Before there was Lost, there was Alias, a stylish spy thriller show masterminded by TV mainstay J.J. Abrams. Starring Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, Alias revolved around the main character\u2019s espionage missions as a triple agent; she\u2019s working for the shadowy SD-6 intelligence organisation, but she\u2019s also a double agent for the US CIA. What … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":10204,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"close","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10186"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10186"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10514,"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10186\/revisions\/10514"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nerdleaks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}