But first, the strength of these last two back-to-back episodes. It was a terrific showcase for Bradley Cooper as Will, protesting his innocence after being framed by "evil Francie" as the genetic double. Carl Lumbly also shone as Dixon interrogated Will, his angry suspicions intensified by his grieving for his slain wife.

Later, in a scene of utter terror, Will realizes Francie's deception just as she goes in for the kill. Merrin Dungey, so underused when the nice Francie was alive, was astonishing in her lethal ruthlessness. Her expression of anguish when she stabbed Will — seemingly fatally, but apparently not so — and gave him a kiss of death was just remarkable. (How chilling for her to dump his body in the same bathtub where Syd discovered her dead fiancé in the series pilot.)

And this was just the prelude to Sydney finding out the truth about Francie. Big applause for Jennifer Garner's subdued and complex reaction as she digested the impact of Will's phone-message warning while sitting right next to her nemesis. The bone-crunching battle between Syd and evil Francie was of Buffy proportions, literally bringing the house down around them at times. When Syd finally blew holes in this fiend, I was too exhausted to cheer.

Finally, the perplexing end. Syd collapses post-fight and awakens, mystified, in Hong Kong. She makes contact with the CIA and is directed to a safe house, where Vaughn eventually arrives — wearing a wedding ring! And telling her that she was presumed dead and had been missing for nearly two years! Hello? And what's with Syd's tummy scar?

Plus, we were also left hanging regarding the whereabouts of Sloane and Irina (whose grand exit down the side of a building was spectacular), the nature of the finally assembled Rambaldi device, and the fates of Jack, Will, Dixon, even Marshall and his new NSA pal (Felicity's Amanda Foreman). What in the world happened during those two years?

It's going to be a fun summer, sorting this one out and waiting for whatever surprises J.J. Abrams has for us in the fall. I'm betting they'll be doozies.

From TV Guide.com
http://www.tvguide.com/tv...ndex.asp#A

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OK...any theories?
As far as the two-year absence goes, I think that the Rambaldi device is some kind of mind control machine that is creating a virtual reality for Syd and that Sloane actually is holding her hostage somewhere.
This is going to be a long summer!