(S06E13) *Warning, spoilers ahead from the new episode*
What do you get when you mix together the following ingredients:
A blended shirt that doesn't wrinkle, a mysterious Denver connection, raspberries and kiwi from Mel's, a bungalow, a mental institution, Russian carnage, getting "stirred up" and Ricky Schroder?
A heck of a good 24 episode . . . though I must admit to laughing at scenes where the show's creators likely weren't going for guffaws. But when you bring back three old characters and put them in an awkward (Man was it awkward!) love triangle and sprinkle in some potential world destruction via nuclear bombs, you gotta chuckle, at least a little bit.
Now that the spoiler-phobes have left this blog post, I can freely talk about the fruit . . . I don't think I'll be able to slice kiwi or look at raspberries in the same way again. Not after former First Lady Martha Logan (Now institutionalized! And sleeping with Aaron Pierce!) made fruit salad out of her ex-husband, the redemption-seeking criminal former President Charles Logan. I know, I know, I wasn't supposed to laugh and clap when Martha -- driven to a frenzy by Charles' patronizing attitude and talking in that smug, low tone of his -- plunged a knife into his right shoulder, possibly killing him. But I was greatly amused by everything Martha did and said.
Charles had initially come to Martha's bungalow to persuade her to call her friend, the Russian president's wife, in an attempt to secure permission for CTU agents to invade the Russian consulate, which Jack Bauer illegally breached, and take into custody a Russian official who knew the location of the three loose suitcase nukes. (Martha got a stinkin' bungalow and Charles got a palatial estate? No wonder she stuck him with a knife.) Martha became friendly with Anya Suvarov last season, after she saved the Russian first couple from a Charles Logan-approved assassination attempt. Remember how Martha hopped into their limo after her hubby had given Russian separatists the limo's route so they could kill President Yuri Suvarov and his wife?
The hope was that Martha could work her Marthonian magic with the Suvarovs so the United States wouldn't be forced to invade Russian soil and potentially start a war in order to force the rogue Russian consul to tell them where the nukes were located. Despite throwing a nutty and stabbing Charles, Martha was successful with her phone call and got President Suvarov to authorize CTU's invasion of the consulate and the detention of the Russian consul. Phew! No war with Russia. No slow boat to another foreign jail for Jack for trampling on international sovereignty laws.
Speaking of Jack . . . he was trapped inside the consulate, having kicked off this siege last week. Jack had already learned where the "bad" terrorist was meeting with the former Russian general to load the nukes onto unmanned drones. He obtained the info after some fancy work with a cigar cutter and a Russian finger last week. However Jack, who was uncharacteristically grimacing quite a bit after being tossed down a flight of stairs by a Russian security dude, spent nearly the entire hour hiding in the consulate basement trying to find a working telephone or a satellite phone so he could tell CTU where the nukes were. For fans of Jack-tion, this episode was likely a disappointment since his scenes were few and far between. I, however, liked the episode because I'm a big fan of both Jean Smart and Gregory Itzin. I'm crossing my fingers for Charles to live to see another day.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Vice President Noah Daniels, who assumed power while President Wayne Palmer remained unconscious after a failed assassination attempt via a bomb, was busy framing a Country Whose Name We Shall Not Mention for not only the assassination plot, but for all the terrorist activity that had happened in the weeks preceding Jack's current terrible day. Daniels bullied the chief of staff, Tom Lennox -- nicely recovered from having been duct-taped to a boiler room pipe and batted about the head with a flashlight -- into lying to the ambassador from a Country Whose Name We Shall Not Mention, by saying there was a witness who saw the "good" terrorist from the Country Whose Name We Shall Not Mention holding a bomb detonator before the blast. Daniels also lied by saying that he had forensic evidence linking the "good" terrorist to the bomb. If the ambassador from the Country Whose Name We Shall Not Mention doesn't help the United States find the loose suitcase nukes, Daniels threatened, "I'm going to unleash the full power of our military on your country." Only he never said what country that was exactly. Unless I've just missed the reference over all these episodes.
Geez. Daniels is spoilin' for a fight. Just like in season two, when the shadowy American cabal of businessmen conspired to frame Islamic nations for that season's nuclear attack. Just so they could start a war. Coincidence?
And I must mention the appearance of Ricky Schroder as CTU's new head of field ops, who beat up on poor, freshly tortured, falling-off-the-wagon Morris "Drill Bit" O'Brian. I want to know what's up with him. And Milo. And Denver.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-12-2007 @ 11:30PM
Seth said...
This episode was boring as hell.
I cant think of 3 characters I find less interesting then the 'love triangle'.
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3-12-2007 @ 11:55PM
imdennycrane said...
This was one of those filler eps. I have to admit - I loved seeing Martha and Charles fighting again. Best scene: Martha saying "I'm not crazy!" with blood spatter on her face!
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3-13-2007 @ 12:24AM
mayorjimmy said...
Hey am i the only one who, after Suvarov told Bill that he has full permission to go in, was hearing..... "aaaaaahhhh..... llllllet's get ready to rumblllllllle!!!!!"
nice to see Jack didn't get hung out to dry AGAIN. then again, the season isn't over yet. plenty of time for him to get screwed over for saving the country. plenty of time for the germans to extract some revenge.
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3-13-2007 @ 12:29AM
Ron said...
Definitely a filler episode, Charles and Martha seem to missing the dynamic relationship they had last year. I would've liked to have seen more of Charles' dry sarcasm and Martha calling him out on it. Add the fact that Aaron is just some dude now makes him a pretty boring character. When he was Head of Secret Service he was expected to be soft spoken and minimal personality, now I'd rather watch paint dry then to have a conversation with him.
Jack clutching his ribs the entire episode without any real explaination (perhaps showing him take a hit in the ribs or some sort of wound would've helped) was a bit off too as we've seen Jack get blown up, shot, knocked unconcious and pistol whipped numerous times and not once has he really done more then shake it off before being back to Super Bauer.
Overall decent episode that had a chance to be THE episode of the season since episode 4 because come on nothing can top that one. I call mulligan on this episode.
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3-13-2007 @ 12:44AM
Kevin said...
I think that Tom Lennox suspects that the Vice President is responsible for the attempt on President Palmer's life. The VP said something to the effect of "Now that we are BOTH cleared of this...," and then Tom had a weird look on his face as he looked at the Vice President.
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3-13-2007 @ 12:55AM
LC said...
I would say getting kicked down a flight of stairs, while his hands were tied, wouldn't need an explanation for Jack clutching his ribs.
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3-13-2007 @ 12:58AM
Whitecat said...
I think it WAS the best episode since hour 4. I hope Charles lives to be an ass anotehr day also.
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3-13-2007 @ 1:04AM
Jennifer said...
I've been bored as hell with 24 since the first four hours (this seems to happen every season), but the return of Martha perked me right up. Good for her and Aaron!
Course, now she'll probably have to go to a uh, less nice bungalow for assaulting/possibly killing a former president. I can't say I was too thrilled with a random stabbing moment. I wanted ONE couple to kinda live happily ever after (in nutville). Plus I guess that means that's the end of showing them for this season. Next week's promo looked like boring business as usual. Yeah, ANOTHER LEAK, LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.
*yawn* *takes drink*
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3-13-2007 @ 4:51AM
Anthony said...
I was really taken back by the episode. First off I love Logan, that guy is the man. Martha, ftl friggin nut job. Anyways, I love that the Russian President greenlighted American soldiers killing 30 or so of his men.
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3-13-2007 @ 6:13AM
mgcktrck said...
the strength of this episode was that it was compelling without much Bauer. a hint that he'll make the ultimate sacrifice this season and pass the torch to...Ricky? gawd i hope not him, but i do think keifer is ready to move on.
i just wish Jack would have had a chance to pee in this episode...prolly did it in a corner of the basement at some point. would have been cool to see him eat a rat or something too.
agree w/ LC...Jack had an owie...no sweat that he nursed it while he couldn't do much else. where did that amazingly compliant couple come from though? "oh if he won't hurt you, i'll cooperate with him cuz i love you"...just a little out of context for this show, but hey...kudos for catching me off guard.
kevin, you're right too...lennox is hip to the VP being dirty as a used qtip. his present compliance is consistent with the character we've come to know, though...as he has shown so far, he's wisely waiting for the right moment to declare his unlikely alliegance with buchanan's wife...karen.
if we've seen everything Martha is going to contribute...that's a bummer...great actress who delivers...except tonight, the stabbing scene seemed awkward and out of nowhere. if she was going to come off that half-cocked, she would have done it last season. I think the writers realized they were short on time and Logan had served his purpose.
If Aaron is the baby thrown out with the Martha bathwater, that's a double loss. I agree that we deserve to see more of him living up to the potential he demonstrated in the climactic scene last season, rather than just seeing to Martha's well being (being a freaking douchebag).
how did we endure a full hour without really advancing the morris/chloe drama? that will be the real filler episode...mark my words.
okay, i was also ready for the reveal that Jack's nephew was really his son...when is this coming? we all know he did his brother's wife, right?
anthony...the only cool thing about Logan is that he realized he had a way to help and he honestly wanted to redeem himself...that puts him ahead of our hawkish VP (incredibly played by the amazingly talented Mr. Booth). Logan also had to know that Somebody was going to take a shot at him...I'm surprised he didn't see it coming and act a little more like the nerve-wracked mf we grew to know and loathe last season. I guess house arrest will change a guy, but he's seemed too doggone confident these past two episodes, especially for a guy who's not getting laid(as far as we know).
i'm a fan of this epi altogether. again, good to see it keep me entertained without much jacktion. i'm looking two hours down the road...can't wait to see wayne kick some Powers Booth ass and see lennox come to terms honestly with the error of his "let's poop on civil liberties" ways. i honestly think this is a major conflict for american's right now...and foreign tourists are already hip to it(their numbers at all major attractions have yet to meet pre 9/11 numbers, not for fear of terrorists but for disinterest in customs bs)...most of us are just asleep at the wheel, waiting to be told we need a national i.d. card.
peace out,
mgcktrck
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3-13-2007 @ 7:13AM
chuck said...
24 sucks on. horrible! time to fire the writing team.
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3-13-2007 @ 8:35AM
Hugeliver said...
Jennifer, I couldn't agree more!! I liked this episode, but now I'm just TIRED of the recycled story.
They're going to have to pull off something VERY original after this season.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Anyone see Jack jumping that shark!?!?! :)
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3-13-2007 @ 8:43AM
daniel said...
12. Referring to 11...I wonder why people that hate 24 continue to watch it?
What's the point? Isn't there a book you've been meaning to read or something around the house you keep telling yourself you have to do someday?
I can understand legitimate criticism of the show, meaning this worked, this didn't. I bought this but I didn't buy that..
It seems like the arc of the appreciation of a show begins roughly around the middle of the first season and lasts approximately 2 years and then...one moves on the next show to repeat the same thing.
24 is what it is. It is not what it is not.
Those who like the show chuckle at somethings and then there are those that watch a show specifically to pick out things that they can analyse to hell. Is there any joy in being that anal retentive. And then there's that group of people who just seem to be masochists and watch something they don't enjoy. Damn...even if you have to watch TV, aren't there like 200 other channels?
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3-13-2007 @ 10:07AM
Dave said...
mgcktrck,
Keifer is signed through season 7. The 24 movie will take place between this season and next in terms of continuity. I believe after season 7 they will either go with a new main character or retire the show. I've thought about the possibility of Rick Schroeder taking over the lead role, its interesting. I've enjoyed him ever since he was on NYPD Blue (hated the way they treated his character on that show though). I think he has the chops to carry the show if it came to that. Didn't care for the whole "Milo has a problem" bit, seems like a forced way to inject some drama. Balfour is such a whiny little girl that I just can't take him seriously. And hooray that Mike set the people at CTU straight, I sometimes think they forget the stakes, how many strike teams have been killed already this season? Its not time to mouth off and whine every time you're given an order. I just hope that the writers aren't trying to set him up as someone that the audience should hate, I for one liked the way he was acting.
Dave
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3-13-2007 @ 10:23AM
jackw said...
Jack was stomped on the ribs when the russians blew open the doors to Markhov's office. That's the deal with him holding his ribs all the time.
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3-13-2007 @ 11:25AM
Gordy said...
...umm, not to mention taking a blast head-on. My God, he's not Superman.
Loved the episode, as usual. Martha was institutionalized, so, she'd probably be 'unfit to stand trial,' and stay in her bungalow with Aaron...sittin in a tree. Anyway...
Rick Schroder. In one scene, he looked like Silver Spoons a bit. His head was huge. But when he opened his mouth all that was over. Man, he's coarser than Jack. I can't wait for them to work together. I'm not sure he'll take Jack's orders as well as Curtis did...well...until that last order...
Also, didn't he seem very old? He should be in his 30s right? What was with the cabbage jaws? If Keifer can stay hot, me thinks everyone younger than him should be equally hot--at least. No way he's taking the starring role looking like that. For now, I'm giving him 'red shirt' status.
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3-13-2007 @ 11:38AM
Robert said...
I know they got rid of each minute being an actual minute a long time ago, but when Martha called Anya, she sure convinced her husband to stop Markov pretty quickly. I went back and it was . . .a whole 2 seconds!
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3-13-2007 @ 12:10PM
C C said...
The writers were TOTALLY going for laughs with this episode. I'm really getting fed up with the fans who are trashing this season WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON!
Martha's stabbing of Charles was like, SO FAKE! I think the ex-prez already ratted out the people who were controlling him behind the scenes last season. In exchange for a pardon, he agreed to take part in a wild scam cooked up by Jack and his allies to trap these baddies. And of course, Martha, who proved herself adept at charades, was willing to help out.
And of course, the raid on the Russian Consolate was fake as well.
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3-13-2007 @ 12:14PM
Pamela said...
Boring. This season hasn't been as good as last season, but I've found that every other year for 24 is so-so.
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3-13-2007 @ 12:34PM
Gordy said...
CC, it's all fake...it's TV. I hope that was sarcasm.
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