After the first few episodes of the fifth season of 24 caught a whole lot of people off guard a year ago, it was hard to think that any show would be able to top itself by way of creating drama, doing out of this world things, and hanging on to its viewership without putting them in disbelief. For the huge fans of the show, however, you'll be happy to hear that not only have FOX and Jack Bauer done a great job bringing back the drama, but are looking to go out of their way to bring you a wild beginning that will definitely have everyone talking by next Tuesday, after the four-hour premiere has been seen.
I mean, come on people, you know you're gonna have a good season on this type of show when you've successfully grabbed Rush Limbaugh enough that he's discussing it to his whole EIB network listenership.
We rejoin the show about a year and a half or so after season five had ended, with Jack Bauer in the holds - at least temporarily - of the Chinese government, Wayne Palmer as President (which kind of surprises Jack), and characters like Milo (Eric Balfour) back in a new role, along with Chloe's ex-husband Morris back on the team. We've covered a number of the other new cast members, and what's great is that you haven't seen everyone yet in the first four episodes, so there are still plenty of surprises to come. I'm still waiting to see how Rick Schroeder ends up fitting into the overall casting.
All in all, we're greeted with a country that is in a much different place than when we left it. Tensions are high with the threat of terrorism hanging over most of the U.S., and why wouldn't it given the tasks that Jack Bauer and his band of merry CTU men and women have been handling for the last few years. Heck, and that's just based on the stuff the American public found out about. Additionally, our main character, Jack Bauer, is immediately thrown into the fray, but not in the way you might expect. The one thing that's nice about wasting a good character or six here and there is that when the show renews - or even moves to mid-season - we're greeted with some new faces that are definitely refreshing. It's also quickly clear that Jack is definitely a somewhat different person than he was before, kind of like how he was back a few years ago when he showed up at Kim's nanny gig all bearded and looking ragged, but with a whole new tone to him. Has he lost his killer instinct, and will his lack of a love in his life, his daughter around him, and a country that is all screwed up put him on the run or will he quickly straighten out? Frankly, I'm not sure he'll have time to even think about half of those things.
I'm also happy to see a bit of interesting character development. Last season, we saw a different side of Chloe as she was showing a bit of ink on her skin and getting it on with a co-worker. Turns out, she's pretty popular with the guys in the office. Bill Buchanan has definitely made some headway, one might say, with another female character that could come as somewhat of a surprise to a few people, and Wayne Palmer as the President brings back an attitude and way of handling things to the White House that fans of the show will enjoy, after putting up with Logan a year ago.
If you're a new fan who's been catching up via DVD binges (because it's hard to only watch one or two episodes at a time, right?), then the thrill-a-minute-ness of it all is definitely in full effect here. Longtime fans won't, in my opinion, be disappointed. I think most people have given up on the potential unrealistic nature of the show when it comes to time frames and whatnot, and this show makes for what many would say is the best escape on television. I'm not even going to get into details of the show, because a) there's a ton of spoiler material, along with downloads of the show, out on the 'net and b) I wouldn't even know where to start. For no amount of time was I not engaged in the first four episodes, and the events that take place throughout, sometimes one after the other, will definitely leave you wanting more. So saddle up and get ready for a four-hour extravaganza on Sunday and Monday nights. You won't regret it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-12-2007 @ 4:04PM
Andy said...
not sure what you mean by stating that it has ticked off Rush Limbaugh .... I followed the link and it would seem he was absolutely in love with the episodes and thinks it is the best show on tv .....
May have been wishful thinking on your part.
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1-12-2007 @ 4:22PM
Cinesister said...
I haven't seen the first four hours. But if I had, I'd probably have to say that they're some of the best episodes of 24 yet. Keeps getting better and better. :)
The new layers of Jack just add even more complexity to an already wonderfully rich and well-played character, and I can't wait to see where they take him this season. The new CTU cast is shaping up to be an interesting one too. Almost makes me not miss Tony Almeida. Almost.
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1-12-2007 @ 4:27PM
ken said...
Tom, did you read the Rush Limbaugh comments you linked to? He didn't sound ticked off at the show at all - just the opposite in fact. He's a huge fan. That being said, I've seen the first 4 episodes and I don't think the level of violence has been stepped up this year at all - maybe barring 1 specific event.
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1-12-2007 @ 4:05PM
Curt said...
"you know you're gonna have a good season on this type of show when you've successfully ticked off Rush Limbaugh..."
Did you actually read Rush's article? How did you conclude that he was "ticked off?" I can't listen to Rush for more than about two minutes...that having been said, even I know he's a huge 24 fan. There are links on the bottom of the article to buy the DVD sets.
Or am I misreading your comments?
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1-12-2007 @ 4:06PM
Tom Biro said...
You're spot on, Andy. I think I was more rapt by the violence on television thing, and I stand corrected, made an adjustment to my earlier point. Wasn't so much wishful thinking as it was the point about violence on television and how it's going to get a lot of people surprised, even if it is on at 9pm (well, 8pm this week). That was the direction I was really attempting to go here than anything.
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1-12-2007 @ 4:14PM
ac said...
Is Audrey coming back now that The 9 has been canned or will she just dissappear like Jack's daughter. You think her charcter would show up when she finds out her bf is back from a Chinese prison.
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1-12-2007 @ 9:41PM
LC said...
"irrelevant of the violence on the show that many on the right want off television"
I don't know about that. The way I have always seen it, The right always wants sexual content censored from television, while the left always wants guns and violence censored from television. Yin and Yang.
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1-12-2007 @ 5:26PM
george said...
Uh, I'm tryin to figure out why Rush said he saw the first 8 episodes. Something tells me Fox didn't send 8 out.
Idiot.
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1-12-2007 @ 6:19PM
erroneous_nick said...
As someone who just started watching 24 on DVD, I'm thrilled to hear the show's getting better with age. I'm 2 episodes short of the conclusion of season one and it's been a fantastic show, but once I get caught up with the current season, it's going to be really hard to wait an entire week between episodes. This series was made for marathon watching.
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1-12-2007 @ 6:02PM
Tom Biro said...
I'm not so sure he couldn't have gotten the first eight episodes, frankly. Big people in big places have more access than the rest of us, methinks.
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1-12-2007 @ 7:38PM
Michael said...
I have seen the first 4 eps......wont even comment except that I am smiling ear to ear.
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1-12-2007 @ 8:23PM
Brainfish said...
I watched the "leaked" first 4 episodes. Yes it's excellent but I do have one gripe. The relationship between Chloe, her (ex)boyfriend who "saved the day" last season and Miles(?) seems as though it's taking place right at the end of last season, not 18 months later
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1-13-2007 @ 10:19PM
hessian said...
12 - precisely
7 - As for how Rush got the first 8 eps - I'd wager that none of them came from FOX. The producers of the show are huge Rush fans and vice versa. He's been out and toured the set. He's had the '24' creative team on his show.
If he says he's seen the first 8 eps, he's seen the first 8 eps, courtesy the producers of the show.
Mind who you call an idiot - especially when you don't have all the facts.
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1-14-2007 @ 10:20AM
drtljonesged said...
Actually...it's really NOT a surprise that more conservative members of the 'press' and fellow travellers adore "24"...the program represents a kind of domestic 'Bondian' fantasy...with an 'anti-hero' employing rather extra-legal measures that frankly and probably ought to have no place in a democracy. "So what? says the 'right'...THIS is the REAL world!!"....alas, they may be (somewhat) correct...though "Jack's" and CTU's fanatastical world isn't real...and grossly overplays the competence and skill of their more 'real life' counterparts....Need any reminders?...Try Iraq.
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1-14-2007 @ 12:38PM
fade2black said...
season six...... a bomb goes off in LA......
Jack shoots Curtis and dies
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1-16-2007 @ 3:55PM
kim martin said...
You simply took the words right out of my mouth about Rush Limbaugh. I have hated that man since her first came out on radio.
Also, my husband and I are so glad chloe is back for good. We love her!! she is right up there with Jack!
my husband and I bought snacks and I cooked a big dinner for this show tonight haha!! this is bigger than thanksgiving!!! cant wait cant wait!!!
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1-14-2007 @ 7:10PM
Mack Swift said...
Some things that need to be answered and checked out this season -
1) Whatever happened to the bluetooth bad guys from last season?
2) Former Prez Logan and his wife are supposed to appear.
3) How the hell did the Chinese come to know where Jack was and that he was alive last season.
4) What's Audrey and Kim up to?
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1-14-2007 @ 9:45PM
gooddeal said...
Well they aren't telling Audrey Jack is back yet so who knows if she will be back.
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1-15-2007 @ 1:51AM
Liberalman said...
The reason Rush loves the show is because he was dating Mary Lynn Rajskub, the actress who plays Chloe O'Brian. Two words: icky pooh!
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2-16-2007 @ 5:19PM
subcorpus said...
hmm ...
i've watched all of the previous 24 seasons ...
i thinks its kinda good show ...
but lately the jack bauer's family invlovement ...
has made me dislike it a bit ...
my take on 24 is available on my blog at ...
www.subcorpus.net/blog/
check it out ...
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