(S07E08) "When are you people going to stop thinking everyone else is following your rules?!? They're not!" - Jack
From one presidential press conference to another. While I'm thrilled about Barack Obama as our country's new president, I have to say - President Taylor's press conference was far more exciting. Overall though, the eighth hour of Jack's seventh bad day was about 50/50 for me. There was plenty of action to keep you on the edge of your seat, but there's still too much reliance on little sub-plots that just aren't adding anything of value to the show.
Yes, I realize that minor plots and assorted other inconsequential threads are essential to fleshing out a full episode of 24 - but that doesn't mean they have to be minor or inconsequential. Granted, I could be completely off here, but I don't see Sean's affair with Erika or Ike's girlfriend's conspiracy-theorist sister having a large impact on the season. Maybe Rosa (Rose?) will actually aid the government in finding "Samuel" and maybe Erika is actually the low-level turncoat agent using Sean as a conduit for info she's not normally privy to. However, until either of those things happen, I could care less about either story.
Beyond that, as I said, the rest of the episode was excellent. Following Jack, Bill, and Renee's meeting with the President, things progressed pretty much as you'd expect. Taylor can't trust anyone and as such, a "retired" agent and a presumed dead Fibbie ain't so hard to swallow. The one thread that I assume is going to play out is Sean's keen sense of being out of the loop. As long as things keep progressing but the FBI hears nothing, he'll keep digging and probably stumble on to Larry's involvement with the operation. What he'll do with that info is anyone's guess. He's still a wild card in my book and I say that because you have to consider his casting. What's Rhys Coiro known best for? Billy Walsh on Entourage. Any chance he's going to turn into a bit of a raving nut here? I'd say it's possible.
Also at play in this hour was Renee's continuing transformation into "Jill Bauer." She's already tortured Tanner and now she held Vossler's wife and kid at gun point. My one gripe about all this? For as distraught as Renee looks and as teary-eyed as she gets, it appears there's never going to be a point where she says, "no, that's too far." Where's the conflict in that? I'd like to see her reach the breaking point at least once to see how Jack reacts.
A few more thoughts on hour eight--
- Worst Matobo look-a-like ever! Tim Meadows dressed up as The Ladies Man would've looked more like him.
- I was initially excited about Janeane Garofalo having a role this season. Big name, assumed it would be a big part. Not so much. She was barely in this hour.
- Are we to assume that Dubaku has never been mentioned on the news and that neither Marika nor her sister have seen him on it? With Sangala dominating the world's attention I find that a bit of a stretch, even for 24.
- Why didn't Bill present Taylor with his proof of baddies in the government? We still don't know how exactly he and Tony figured this all out to begin with.
As for the ending, I'm not 100% sure I agree with it. I think it's safe to say that Henry will survive getting shot in the stomach, but where's the shock value? I think the tension leading into next week's episode would have been much greater had he taken a few more bullets and actually died. At this point, Dubaku has no more leverage, the First Gentleman is safe, and... and what? Where does the plot go from here? Paging Jon Voight...
The TV Squad Podcast: Vik Sahay of Chuck, Oprah talk, brutal timeslots, and more!
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
2-10-2009 @ 10:05AM
willy the impeached said...
Whats got you the most thrilled about Barry so far? Is it the 10,280 per american pork bill or the plan to drop terrorists from club gitmo in local prisons? Or the cabinet of tax cheats?
In any case, I could see Barry making Jack Bauer's Day 7 end very quickly. He'd just surrender to the terrorists and try to pay them off. We'd lose a few cities and the media would blame Bauer.
Reply
2-10-2009 @ 10:06AM
Rob said...
I don't come to this site to hear your political views. I want an escape from politics. I try to ignore your liberal slant, but it is impossible when you throw it in our face. I cannot continue to patronize this website if I have to hear you asinine liberal cheerleading
Reply
2-10-2009 @ 10:12AM
Jonathan Toomey said...
You got all that out of me saying I'm happy the guy is in office? Liberal slant? Asinine cheerleading? None of that even applies here :)
2-10-2009 @ 10:52AM
StillBash said...
In my humble opinion you can leave right now.
2-10-2009 @ 11:03AM
Rob said...
I doubt stillbash has a humble opinion in him. Self righteous idealogue whose opinion everyone is entitled to is more like it. If you want me to leave the site, consider it done. It was a nice diversion for a while. good luck
2-10-2009 @ 1:29PM
Adam said...
Keifer Sutherland always raves about Obama when he gives interviews, so stop watching 24, and stop watching anything but Frazier because most people in the entertainment industry support our president.
2-10-2009 @ 1:29PM
Tim Mahoney said...
Rob, don't the door hit you in the...Wait there are no doors on websites. Oh well, you get the idea.
2-10-2009 @ 2:20PM
Malren said...
Keifer keeps his politics in his personal life. He doesn't fight to make his character match his personal politics., He plays the role out as it needs to be.
He's...what's the word? Oh yeah - Professional. he doesn't try to alienate half the country just because he disagrees with them politically.
Keifer Sutherland and I disagree radically on politics. He's still one of my favorites because he;s not a dick about it, he just believes something different. He doesn't force his personal opinions into the work, he just provides us with entertainment. There's a lesson in that for TVSquad writers AND commenters.
2-11-2009 @ 10:35AM
Dorv said...
I agree that a TV blog is not necessarily a place for political commentary. However, I don't see anything Jonathan wrote as political commentary. Yes, he mentioned that he liked our current president, but it was with in a timely reference on what was on television that night. No harm no foul (And this is coming from a Republican).
Though, I would agree with you about the humbleness of certain other comments, but the last time I did, I was blasted and called, among other things, a dick.
2-10-2009 @ 10:06AM
StillBash said...
The real kicker for me is that Dubaku has a girlfriend at all and that he actually is going out of his way on the most important day in his life to kill the sister of his girl.
That's more than ridiculous. But hey - it's not as if there were any suitcase-nukes exploding so I'm still kind of ok with this season - except that I really want to punch Jack Bauer in the face for whisper-talking. It's so god damn annoying, you don't understand a word. I mean the guy would whisper standing next to a jet engine. Moron.
Reply
2-11-2009 @ 10:34AM
Eludium-Q36 said...
Yeh, I was thinking the same, but it's pretty transparent that the writers needed a pre-text for Dubaku to be absent from the Jack & Jill Bauer raid. This girlfriend thing should've been revealed over the past two eps but it was immediately tacked onto this one and just looks forced.
2-10-2009 @ 10:06AM
Aaron said...
Looks like you can't say you like the president in a review of 24 without reactionaries. What in the world does 24 have to do with politics, right? Get over yourselves dudes, your comments on a tv blog aren't going to do much good for your cause.
Reply
2-10-2009 @ 10:07AM
jasahl said...
Jonathan is free to say he likes our current Pres & his policies and other people are free to voice their displeasure. Free speech works both ways.
As far as the episode goes, I just didn't get into it as much as I have others - this is the first time I've done other work while watching.
I like the agent Walker thing - Jack's taken many personal & professional hits for doing what needs to be done. He now has a chance to see someone else going through the same things & I wonder how that will affect him.
This season seems like it should be far more exciting - I really like the premise and the whole "reboot", however I'm finding it harder to get into than previous seasons. The main difference (for me) is that this is the first seasons I've watched as it aired. My wife & I watched 1-6 on DVD - it was awesome. Waiting a week between airings seems to take some of the thrill out - loses some momentum...
2-10-2009 @ 10:07AM
Allison Solow said...
I've decided that in order to appreciate 24, you have to think of it like a shoot-em-up western. The way the bullets fly and the bodies fall is beyond the pale in a real world situation. Last night there were like -- what 10, 12 -- deaths? Frankly, I think the First Gentleman should have died and the President should have sacrificed his life. He put himself in harm's way by going rogue and if she has the courage of her convictions, she should have never given in. Also, Jack is a blunt instrument (more than Jason Bourne or James Bond, and they both have a license to kill!). Jack acts, then thinks. He never seems to outwit an opponent, he just bashes or bullies them. Sure, the clock is ticking, but still. Maybe I prefer the TV characters like the guys on Leverage or Burn Notice who seem to get the upper hand without violence.
Reply
2-11-2009 @ 10:34AM
Ryan said...
Leverage is apparently the new A-team, but it's funny that you think that about Burn Notice. In the pilot, Michael Westen seems to operate exactly like Jack Bauer. Notice that after he knocks out the soldiers in the bathroom, he kills them to prevent them from waking up and sounding the alarm. From what we know of Fiona and Sam, they were equally ruthless back in the day.
I rationalize their bloodless ways on the show as being they can't leave a trail of bodies around Miami, since they live there. What deaths occur usually can't be traced back to them.
2-11-2009 @ 10:35AM
Dorv said...
Allison: Politely, its taken you this long? Hell, last season Jack killed 49 people. (www.bauercount.com)
I agree with you about Henry Taylor. I'd like the growth of the character of President Taylor to see some loss. I know that she lost her son, but it was off screen between the season and Redemption.
Also, define violence... Granted, no one has died yet on Leverage, but Eliott did knock out two people tonight. Also, none of the 'bad guys' on Leverage have set off nukes on US soil or crashed two planes together, either ;)
2-10-2009 @ 10:07AM
Mike said...
The question I've been asking myself more and more each week is how uber-hottie Agent McKickAss ever ended up with a little weasel like Larry. The best line of the night was when Jack told her if she couldn't handle it she should get out and she said "Maybe I will.....tomorrow."
Reply
2-11-2009 @ 10:34AM
Eludium-Q36 said...
Just as it looked like she was about to have a nervous breakdown. They haven't drawn the Renee (aka Jill Bauer) character very realistically at all, she should be emotionally spent by now given all the principles she's compromised. But this is TV in the 21stC and women are strong and determined and don't trip in the woods anymore.
2-10-2009 @ 10:07AM
chuck said...
Ironically Rosa just saved Dubaku's life. That's her involvement.
Reply
2-10-2009 @ 10:07AM
Edward said...
I laughed out loud when Ike Dubaku by day, Samuel by night answered the phone in the middle of his threat. I blame Brannon Braga for this...