*Warning . . . spoilers about the recent episode of 24 ahead . . .*
I had a long conversation with a big fan of 24 who thought that last night's plot twist -- having Jack Bauer's brother Graham (see actor Paul McCrane from his ER days on the right) turn out to be a villain who wanted his brother killed and having his father Phillip be sketchy -- is a bad sign for the show.
Saying that the new family connections "make it all seem like it's just about three people" and not about global terrorism, seemed to him to be jumping-the-sharkish. In fact, this 24 fan told me that the story line reminded him of Alias, when the writing started to go awry and there were all these sudden, forced familial connections between characters during its last season.
I, however, defended the Jack-Bauer's-family-is-screwed-up-and-mysterious story, saying that it was intriguing to sprinkle in Shakespearean drama amidst the likes of Abu Fayed and suitcase nukes. But I must say that having Graham be the same guy who gave orders to President Logan last season did strike me as stretching the limits of credulity, even when you really, really try to believe. Jack's father having business ties to an ex-Soviet general, I can buy that . . . plus I love James Cromwell, who's playing Phillip Bauer and can't wait for him to appear. However there's something about the Graham thing that does feel somewhat forced.
And if some of the folks who've posted comments about the new episode are correct in their suspicions that Jack's nephew Josh is really his son, the result of an affair with his sister-in-law Marilyn, then I will vigorously roll my eyes and wonder whether I've accidentally switched the station and am watching something other than an action-adventure show, maybe something from a soap opera network.
Last week, a TV Guide blogger, suggested that, despite some weird story turns (Think Kim and the cougar), that 24 might be "shark proof." I hope that the antics of the Bauer boys on day six don't prove him wrong.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-23-2007 @ 4:12PM
Kira said...
I'm not worried about this show. There always needs to be some form of human/relational element to go along with action in order to keep the show fresh. I loved the twist with Grey/Graham being Jack's brother.... lots of potential there I think. As far as "stretching the limits of credulity"... this is 24 people.. where Jack can hack a governement network or blow up a bomb in minutes with his cell phone. I think a little familial connection is hardly the least believable of the bunch. LOL.
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1-23-2007 @ 4:22PM
Joe Bua said...
If you're not liking that, here's something that will really blow your mind.
I think this is Kiefer's last year.
http://iamatvjunkie.typepad.com/i_am_a_tv_junkie_a_blog_f/2007/01/the_biggest_dum.html
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1-23-2007 @ 4:28PM
DanGarion said...
I'm disappointed that Donald Sutherland is not his father in the TV show.
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1-23-2007 @ 4:58PM
wilymon said...
no way! that was an awesome plot twist! i remember last year thinking that there had to be more to those bad guys, i was mad that they were responsible for Palmer's death and they never got their's. it makes perfect sense now why the evil brother wanted Jack dead last year, they had this planned out way before this season.
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1-23-2007 @ 5:18PM
DudeBoyz said...
I think this is just a HORRIBLE development and very cheap plot point.
You have Jack, savior of the universe, being undermined by his own brother? Not just at a local level, but in a way that could impact the very world we live in?
This show is getting more "Inbred" all of the time. You have government agents, CTU people and even the President corroding things from the inside out. Plots within Plots within Plots filled with betrayals, petty and selfish people in positions of power who are more worried about ego than doing what is right for the country (hobbit-guy from last season up until the very end, for example, white-house aids and staff members, etc.) and so many unrealistic twists that it borders on the ludicrous.
Look - the season that started when Jack was out, the president begged him to come back in, then Jack shot that molester guy, sawed off his head and took it in a bag to the terrorist guy? That was simple, straight-forward, gotta get the job done stuff. Shocking but in a way, uncompromising and showing the brutal reality of ends justifying the means.
But things like leaving Peter Weller alive long enough to kill Tony - that showed weakness in Jack and the story. President Palmer (the new one) opting to release those terrorists and having one of those key guys set off the nuke - a stupid, unworthy decision from a leader who is now nothing more than a puppet in terms of plot.
This show is going downhill fast. I know Sutherland signed another few seasons, but this is getting ridiculous. The writers are turning the thing into a freakin' soap opera, and the legacy of the show is going to be diminished because of it, I believe.
I hate it when they take a great show and start capitulating and sensationalizing it to the point that it loses its way.
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1-23-2007 @ 5:11PM
Ben said...
Here's the key difference between 24's Bauers and Alias's Bristows: overuse. Consider: Alias's first season had to do with Sydney Bristow and her father (not to mention her fiance, since it's understandable that the main character of a show gets a romantic storyline). Season 2, Syd's mother becomes a main character. Season 4, her sister. Season 5, her mother again. So while Alias was jamming Bristows down our throats, 24 was pretty restrained after the first two seasons. Yes, we had the Audrey and Daddy Heller characters, but that' s more relevant romantically (see above). I, for one, thought it was a mind-blowing revelation. Graham was such a creepy character last year, and I was wondering if we would see him again. Then he's involved in this year's plot (ok, a little stretch, but still) AND he's Jack's brother? I'll give the writers a lot of room to fit that into the plot, since they've rarely let me down before.
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1-23-2007 @ 6:40PM
ac said...
Anyone think Jack is adopted because I see no family resemblance. Also I rolled my eyes with the brother twist too.
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1-23-2007 @ 6:44PM
ac said...
Anyone think Jack is adopted because I see no family resemblance. Also I rolled my eyes with the brother twist too.
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1-23-2007 @ 6:13PM
tcc3 said...
As long as this show is being rediculous (i love every unbelivable, explosive minute) I want Nina's clone or evil-er sister to come back one year.
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1-23-2007 @ 6:45PM
Europa said...
You know I was worried about the fact that I chose to watch “Heroes” last night instead of “24” (and recording one while watching the other, unfortunately, doesn’t work on my cable set-up) but after reading this I’m thinking I made a wise choice. Agggh! Besides the now obvious endangerment of this show “jumping the shark,” Paul McCrane as Jack’s brother?!?! I have nothing against Paul as a person, and he’s a fine actor (I’ve been a fan since he’s guest starred on “The X-Files”), but in the looks department him being Jack’s brother is somewhat of an insult to Kiefer! (In the eye of the beholder, I guess.) And I all ready thought Palmer’s brother becoming president was a bit of a stretch but in some ways I can see that. (Bobby ran after JFK was assassinated and so forth.) But I don’t know how I feel about this little wrinkle especially with the “middle eastern terrorist” thing starting to wear a little thin with me. Can’t we find something else to give Jack a bad day? And I guess Kiefer and his real life dad haven’t made up much either. How freak’n cool would it have been for Donald Sutherland to play Jack’s brother?!
Anyway, I know many people were a little hot under the collar last week when they felt you had to many spoilers right up front without any warning. I was not one of them. (I figure in this day and age any half way savvy TV-file should know not to read blogs and such of their favorite shows before watching the episode in question. I mean forget about the Internet. How many times has the networks themselves presented significant spoilers in the 30-second promos or previews?) As long as this show is up against “Heroes” I’m glad you’re here so I can stay caught up. Thanks.
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1-23-2007 @ 6:51PM
Jake said...
Let's not forget that the big success of last year was not the terrorism itself, but the President, his wife, and the character drama that resulted. Also, Alias was a family drama disguised as a spy show. 24 is an action show that has always had family drama:
Season 1 : Jack's family. Palmers part 1
Season 3: Michelle and Tony, Kim and Chase, Palmers part 2
Season 4: Michelle and Tony part 2: the splits, Jack love triangle, Jack letting 1 of the love triangle die (paul)
5: Presidential circle drama.
6: Jack's family part 2, Palmers part 3
So this really isn't out of the blue and not all that unexpected.
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1-23-2007 @ 6:53PM
radwimp said...
I agree with #7, bring back Nina! The one true 24 villian!
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1-23-2007 @ 6:59PM
europa said...
I meant to say, "How freak’n cool would it have been for Donald Sutherland to play Jack’s *father*?!" (Sorry about that.) Donald Sutherland playing Jack's brother? Now *that* would be a twist.
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1-23-2007 @ 7:16PM
Mack Swift said...
A lot of people last season thought the show jumped the shark when they killed off 3 major characters in the first ten minutes (2 and severely wounded Tony).
I thought that was a great plot twist last nite and adds something different to 24. The last few seasons were about Jack and his crew racing the clock to save the country. Remember, before this season started up, the producers did say that this time it was also going to be about Jack saving his own ass as well as the country's.
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1-24-2007 @ 5:42PM
griff said...
for some good fun 24-esque action, click here ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xMtmESwB9o
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