For those who think quality network television is a thing of the past, pick up that remote and turn on ABC at 9 p.m. this Sunday. What you'll find is Alias, a smart, exciting spy thriller that proves that good network TV is still alive and kicking.

I did not start watching the show until this year, and, to be honest, I had my reservations. For one, I knew that the show is about a butt-kicking, ball-busting female super spy who works for the CIA. I've never been a fan of shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charlie's Angels, and I was slightly afraid that Alias would be little more than Buffy joining the CIA.

My second problem was that obscure HBO show known as The Sopranos, which airs at the same time as Alias. Since I live in the dorms and can't get HBO, I had to find some other excuse not to do homework on Sunday nights. And while I decided to give it a try, never in my wildest imagination did I think the spy show would be as emotionally compelling, complex and entertaining as HBO's mob drama. If anything, I hoped that if The Sopranos was the equivalent of a fine, red wine, Alias would at least be comparable to a case of Natty Ice and a pack of cigarettes -- enough to get the job done, but in no way as satisfying.

It only took an hour of Alias to make me realize that I had seriously underestimated the spy drama. The season premiere had all you could ever want from an action series and more: exciting action sequences, exotic locales, smart dialogue, developed characters, fine acting and a sizeable number of twists and turns. Suffice to say, I was hooked.

The show centers around graduate student Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), who also happens to be a double agent for the CIA. Sydney used to work for an organization known as SD-6, which she thought was a secret branch of the CIA. Little did she know that SD-6 was a rogue organization, controlled by criminal mastermind Arvin Sloane (Ron Rifkin). When she learned this news at the beginning of last season, Sydney joined the real CIA. Her mission? To infiltrate SD-6 and ultimately destroy it. Helping Sydney with this quest is her CIA "handler," Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan), and her father, Jack Bristow (Victor Garber), another double agent who won't let ethical principles get in the way of what he wants.

Believe it or not, Alias is far more than your one-dimensional action series. For one, the characters in Alias are people we care about -- from the beleaguered Sydney to the devilishly two-faced Sloane. Adding even more of a dimension to the show is Lena Olin, who plays Sydney's mother, Irina Derevko -- a deadly, former KGB agent who is now cooperating with the CIA. We still have yet to learn the true reasons for why this rogue spy turned herself in to the CIA, a factor that only intensifies the show's suspense.

Probably the greatest strength of the show is the complicated relationships between the characters. Sydney, for instance, distrusts both her parents, yet must rely on both of them to successfully complete her mission.

If there's one problem with Alias, it's that the complex show might be difficult for new viewers to follow. The producers have taken steps to solve this problem, and there is an extensive episode summary at the beginning of the show that details the events of the week before.

There are also several episode guides available online that can fill you in on older plotlines.

It may sound like a lot of work for a TV show, but a show like Alias is worth the effort.