(S06E11) *Warning, spoilers ahead*
Holy presidential secrets, Batman.
House arrest?
After conspiring to have a president killed?
And the public doesn't know about it?
I know that the White House press corps really hates being kept in the dark, but when the reporters find out about this doozy of a secret, boy are they gonna be angry. Keeping a secret of this magnitude under wraps, even in the wake of a nuclear bomb blast, is going to make run-of-the-mill White House leaks look like child's play in future seasons.
My mouth fell open, literally, when viewers of the latest installment of 24 were told, via CTU chief Bill Buchanan, that former President Charles Logan had only been placed under house arrest at his retreat in Hidden Valley, California (how apropos) after he brokered a closed-door deal with the feds where he pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for his role in President David Palmer's assassination, as well as his involvement in the shenanigans with the nerve gas canisters last season. The public was never informed of Logan's treasonous behavior, nor of the reason why he's such the homebody. Sweet deal.
As I watched the episode unfold, including each riveting moment with Logan, I kept thinking, "This is more like it." We don't need any stinkin' Bauer family players or power drills to make 24 interesting. This episode was a huge improvement over the past few, which seemed bogged down by family melodrama. They seemed to forgot the key fact that, hel-lo folks, a nuclear bomb went off. Tens of thousands of Americans were vaporized. People are talking about offing another president. Who cares if Marilyn Bauer is still in love with her brother-in-love who has an affinity for caressing her cheek at inappropriate moments? Or whether or not Jack Bauer sired a love child.
Watching the now-rugged-looking Logan in his jeans, plaid shirt and gray beard -- a far cry from the wimp he was last season -- take advantage of his upper-hand with Jack Bauer was great TV. When Logan told Jack that he could quickly get him intel on the Russian general who worked with Phillip Bauer and was believed to be in cahoots with the "bad" terrorist in possession of three suitcase nukes, Jack growled, "I don't trust you." But Logan cooly said that he had connections to the general, Gredenko, courtesy of the failed nerve gas plotters two years ago. The wily former president then added that he had to meet face-to-face with his contact, Markoff. Inside the Russian consulate. Where, of course, the Americans have no jurisdiction.
Tricky, tricky, tricky. It harkens back to the Chinese embassy debacle. Could it be that Logan is going to lure Jack into the Russian consulate and then stay there himself, where he can't be prosecuted or apprehended? He'd still be under house arrest, only he'd be in a Russian house, not his wooden paneled one with horse pictures and a cross on the wall at his retreat. But if Logan had anything to do with the attack on President Palmer II, being on the equivalent of foreign soil might be a good strategy.
However before Jack could take Logan to the Russian consulate to seek information on the location of the general and the nukes, Jack had to persuade President Palmer II to approve Logan's release from house arrest. This was one highly entertaining telephone call. It was the most animated I've seen Wayne Palmer all season, including the moment when he watched a mushroom cloud envelope a California neighborhood on live TV. Though Palmer II called Logan a criminal who killed his brother, told Jack that he didn't trust Logan and thought this was "a maneuver to gain his freedom," the president nonetheless authorized Logan's release.
Scenes for the previews for next week showed Jack barging into the consulate and threatening to take off that Markoff guy's fingers if he didn't give Jack the info he needed. (So much for the lightening up on the torture.) Even though President Palmer II hasn't been right about much this season, I'll bet he's right about Logan wanting to escape U.S. custody. I don't for a second believe that Logan has changed as he claims he has, or that he's doing this with no ulterior motive.
Back in the White House bunker, the other compelling story line was unfolding as Chief of Staff Tom "The Biscuit" Lennox struggled against duct tape to get free and try to stop the attempted assassination of another Palmer president. Sadly, Lennox is no Jack Bauer, who would've been free from the tape before you can say, "Drill bit." (Sorry, I just can't let this drill thing go.) Lennox had to helplessly sit on the boiler room floor, duct-taped to pipes, and listen to this season's weasel, the deputy chief of staff, Reed Pollock argue with the bomb maker he got into the bunker.
Though Pollock didn't look like he had the intestinal fortitude of an assassin, Pollock made his way to the room where the "good" terrorist was going to give his peace-pleading speech with President Palmer II standing nearby. Just before a dress rehearsal for the speech, Pollock planted a bomb, disguised as a handheld recorder, underneath the top of the presidential podium. However Hamri Al-Assad, experienced terrorist that he is, quickly noticed the device and shouted, "Bomb!" just as it detonated and everyone in the room was diving for cover. Pollock was standing safely outside the room, having just dialed in the remote code to activate the bomb.
It was unclear whether Palmer II survived, though the smart money would be on his survival. The show's creators would not kill off both Palmer brothers. They just wouldn't. As for the "good" terrorist, the prognosis does not look good, and, frankly, I don't care what happens to him. I still didn't see how his speech was going to do anything to prevent the 'bad" terrorist, Abu Fayed -- who is already running around the United States with three armed nukes -- from doing more damage. The speech idea just seemed like it was wasting time and giving Palmer II something to do until Pollock was ready to try to kill him.
Vice President Daniels, who had been in favor of Lennox's plans to dramatically curtail civil liberties and intern Islamic segments of the population in the wake of the string of terror attacks, was shown in previews as being placed in charge while President Palmer II remains unconscious. This may be the perfect segue to signal the return of a favorite character of commenters on the blog . . . that's right, Sandra Palmer.
Predictions? Anyone think Logan's angling to stay in the Russian consulate? Think Palmer II survived? Think Lennox will ever pry himself loose from the duct tape?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-28-2007 @ 12:42AM
Craig said...
That was some bad acting between Jack and Marilyn when they made goo-goo eyes at each other for the millionth time. Everything is recycled. Now it's the Russian Embassy, shades of the Chinese Embassy plotline. 24 has jumped the shark -- it's no longer watchable.
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2-27-2007 @ 2:40AM
Whitecat said...
Craig - dude, you are so off about 24 jumping the shark. This season as a whole may only be a 9 compared to last year's 10, but come on! A 9 is pretty frigging good.
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2-27-2007 @ 3:12AM
tv junkie said...
I'm not sure the show scored a 9 this year....it's more like a 6 so far....very mediocre at best compare to the outstanding season 5.
It feels like the writers are still dragging on the story somehow....I'm really losing my patience...uninteresting villains with the too-soft-spoken president, not to mention the boring CTU scenes and the ridiculous Bauer family feud.
But, I'm hopeful. Only because all the returning shows this season started off slow and boring, but they're all picking up the steam given time.
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2-27-2007 @ 6:52AM
JohnH said...
I have a very forgiving heart, especially when it comes to TV so I didn't even think about the possibility that Logan was angling to seek asylum in the Russian consulate, but considering that this show is run by a conservative republican, then it is a good possibility that could happen. After all republicans believe in retribution and cheetahs never change their spots or something like that, and it also wouldn't surprise me if President Palmer died, considering that the shows creators compared the relationship that Wayne Palmer had to his older brother to the way that Robert F. Kennedy (a liberal) had to live under the shadow of his older brother and it would be a great parallel for dramatic effect, it wouldn't surprise me if Hamri Al-Assad was killed because talking versus explosions? That's a no-brainer.
I don't know if I can keep watching this show if Jack breaks into another embassy. I know that after all the torture and other rule breaking that this shouldn't be the straw that broke the camels back, but if he breaks in I won't be able to see much hope for redemption for him. It is his 12th hour of freedom and he is going to commit the same crime that put him away. I know that "doing the dirty work" sometimes causes him pain but that doesn't justify any of the atrocities that he's commited.
I know it might seem like I don't like the show but I really do love this show, I just want people to learn from their past actions and make personal progress...is that wrong?
http://myspace.com/novumoculum
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2-27-2007 @ 7:58AM
Marc said...
First of all, drill bit references are always funny. I actually refer to Morris now as Morris "the drill bit" OBrian. For whatever reason, I find that whole plotline, from the drilling itself to his constant whining, funny. There's something about a complete wuss that is entertaining. Sure, the man was tortured, but hey, at least the man was tortured.
Anyone catch the code was 624?
The name of the show is 24. It's season 6. 624. Those crazy writers.
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2-27-2007 @ 7:25AM
Jake said...
I'd have to agree with others. The show has no overarching theme like past years. Even Grazer admitted as much in a recent interview in Entertainment Weekly. The moment I read that article a light bulb went off. They are really struggling this year to find a cohesive original plot. Yeah they have terrorists, bombs, torture, etc. But if the most interesting thing going on in CTU is Chloe trying to find out if Drillbits is drunk, that's just boring writing. (they did that with Jack and his crack habit in season 3) The rest of the actors are window dressing. And what was the point of that Sayid plot? They dropped that pretty fast, telling me they had a good idea and had no clue where to go with it. The good thing is of course, after a season/day, everything resets. So I'll keep watching hoping this season can get better and season 7 gets back to previous standards.
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2-27-2007 @ 7:27AM
Joey Geraci said...
I know the popular line is that this show has a conservative bent, but I really think the writers of this show try to impart a liberal message if you look beneath the surface. The showrunner is a conservative Republican, so they have to write lines and plot points occasionally to appease him, but then there are gems like the speech by the evil masterminds at the end of last season. The points that speech espoused mimicked most of the talking points of the Republican party. This was the villain, spouting Republican talking points! None too subtle hint of what the writers think about what the Republican party believes. I could not watch this show if it was simply a talking points bulletin for the Right, but thankfully, it is far from it.
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2-27-2007 @ 7:56AM
GamerJunk.net said...
There wasn't enough Jack in this episode.
I didn't think that Logan would try and hide in the embassy. That is a possibility.
I hope Assad isn't dead, but if he lives he will be blamed for the bombing which sucks. I like Assad
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2-27-2007 @ 8:25AM
GamerJunk.net said...
I didn't think about the 624...but I did catch that they cut back in from break and the time in 24 land was 4:20
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2-27-2007 @ 8:42AM
hugeliver said...
Last night I wept. I witnessed my favorite show jumping the shark!!
A 'consulate'??? That's just another word for embassy. I didn't know WHAT season I was watching. And you mean to tell me that nobody in this Russian 'consulate' would recognize Jack!?!?! Apparently he's the ONLY man that any president, with ALL of their resources, can use to do anything and the Chinese sure as hell figured out who he was.
And WHAT was with Chloe tracking Morris down when she was to have the LAPD block off the roads from the presidential retreat!?!?!? THAT was just too damn much. She's telling her boss how short-handed they are and nobody is working at their full potential and she's running all over CTU!!!!
What was with Morris' "Casey at the bat" speech too. Did they really have time for that!? If the head of CTU says you're off the job, you're OFF THE JOB!!
I don't think I can even watch this any more. As you all say it's just recycled. I'm so sick of this "president in distress crap".
I'm going to miss Jack!!!!
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2-27-2007 @ 9:04AM
Gordy said...
Deja Vu indeed. I don't care, this season is finally kicking into high gear. With things running at the current pace, I don't even care about Sandra's return. Hell, as if she could deter Jack.
I was glad to see Lennox was never seriously considering treason. I wonder where his story goes from here, considering Chad Lowe stated on TV Guide that his character is in the mix for the unforseen future.
Now where's that Prison Break post...
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2-27-2007 @ 9:34AM
const said...
"I have a very forgiving heart, especially when it comes to TV so I didn't even think about the possibility that Logan was angling to seek asylum in the Russian consulate, but considering that this show is run by a conservative republican, then it is a good possibility that could happen"- JohnH
Thanks for the dumbass comment of the day! There's an echo chamber over at the dailykos for those delusions.
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2-27-2007 @ 9:45AM
Jake said...
Anyone hoping President Gary Payton bites it? He's the worst president ever. I was actually hoping The bad guys would succeed so Sister Palmer could take over and talk the terrorists to death. Too bad she's not VP. I think Drillbits Obrien is funny too, but that story with Chloe was dumb. I'd like to see him just constantly mess up at his job the whole day. And they need to have the Nadia character get more screen time. She's too hot just to be checking on drillbits. Due to the inconsitent nature of this year so far, I agree its more humorous and much less intense than last year.
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2-27-2007 @ 10:14AM
Quetzalcoatl said...
"Jumped the shark"
-I called it. Now can we please forget about this show and watch HEROES?
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2-27-2007 @ 11:16AM
Larry B said...
Heroes sucks
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2-27-2007 @ 11:17AM
Cold Chilli said...
Does anyone know the meaning of the Bible passage Logan was reading and "affirming" when he was getting dressed? Also when did the "kit" now include a suit for Jack?
I was thinking the 624 was from Chicago, trippy eh(http://www.hypernews.org/HyperNews/get/entertainments/music/1/6.html)?
I wish they would drop DrillBit already. Cloe's covering for him too much, you know its going to cause something bad, its getting repetitive. Buchanan was right in replacing him when he was already over worked, and should be on pain pills! Remember drill bit in the shoulder 4 hours ago. He shouldn't be able to type much less walk around.
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2-27-2007 @ 12:53PM
Adam said...
I think it's funny how the security guy in the security bunker checked only two highlighters and a tape recorder... AND THAT WAS IT. Sure, they ended up being the bomb, but if we go through airport security security and they only check highlighters and tape recorders (instead of the other stuff in the briefcase), I might have to stop flying...
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2-27-2007 @ 1:46PM
Katie said...
My first thought: "Wow, you can make a bomb out of highlighters! Thanks 24, you teach me something new every episode"
Oh, wait, that was just real bomb juice hiding in highlighters to fool security. What, no bomb sniffing dogs anywhere? And how exactly does Chad Lowe think he's going to get away with this?
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2-27-2007 @ 2:27PM
Cold Chilli said...
It was a binary solution. Remember Die Hard 3?
The 2 solutions alone wouldn't set off an alarm, but when mixed they're explosive.
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2-27-2007 @ 2:40PM
ac said...
Palmer is probably alive. Fox didn't let them kill off the president in season 4 and they apparently gave a stink killing a former president (Palmer #1) last season. So he will either recover and take back his presidency or wind up in a coma. Hopefully Sandra Palmer will return to do something about the evil VP next week.
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