(S07E22) "Why did you betray me?" - Jack
Since next week's finale is actually the last two hours of the season back-to-back, I think it's safe to refer to tonight's hour as Day 7's penultimate episode. As is so often the case with pivotal installments that precede a finale (especially with 24), going into it, I couldn't help shake the feeling that the bio-terror threat would be erased for good only to reveal one more crisis ready to spill over into next week. I'm not trying to say that it was predictable, but ... well ... nevermind. It was predictable.
The driving factor behind that reasoning? Kim Bauer. We all knew she was going make a comeback after her brief appearance a few weeks ago and a Kim/Jack reunion wouldn't be complete without "The Cougar Factor." Last time we saw her in season five, she got holed up in a CTU conference room while Sentox nerve gas wiped out the rest of the building. When she left, Kim said something along the lines of leaving Jack alone because being near him always led to bad things. Well ... yeah. So it comes as no surprise that Kim ended up being Tony and Cara's contingency plan.
Jack, in his never ending bad-ass wisdom, sent an FBI agent to tail Kim until she safely made it on to her flight back home. However, Tony's goons eliminated the agent and then proceeded to befriend Kim, posing as a nice married couple. The price of Kim's life? Tony's release from FBI custody. Jabraan was stopped, the bio-weapon was neutralized, and Tony's life is all that remains. It's not that I don't find this whole twist riveting, but there are still a few things that kind of bug me about it:
- The only reason the contingency plan seemed to exist was in the event that Tony got captured. It had nothing to do with Tony, Cara, and Alan's ultimate end game. The contingency plan seems to have resulted entirely out of Tony and Cara's romantic involvement and in any other situation, Tony would be expendable. Cara has proven thus far that she's a company girl and doesn't really give a damn about who lives and who dies as long as the job gets done. But now she's risking it all for Tony. Seems out of character for her.
- This essentially makes things personal for Jack and that, more than anything, was one of the biggest pitfalls of Day 6 - it become too personal and the family involvement was way over the top. I'm not saying that's the case here and I don't think in the final two hours it could every reach the absurd levels of Graem and Phillip. However, putting Kim's life on the line in a way sort of negates the rest of the season. For Jack, nothing else at this point really matters now. Regardless, like I said, the whole twist was still riveting and I'm pumped for the finale.
As for the rest of the episode? It was still very solid. The continuing nerd battle between Chloe and Janis provided some great comic moments, but the best sub-plot by far is Aaron turning to Ethan for help in nailing Olivia for putting the hit out on Hodges. Obviously, Aaron doesn't know the truth yet, but he obviously knows something ain't right. I'm a little annoyed at how easily Olivia has crumbled, especially considering how much of a conniving bitch she was earlier in the day. But if anything, that's just making me look forward to her downfall even more.
What did everyone else think? Any predictions for the finale? Will Jack be able to save Kim and still get his revenge on Tony? Could Olivia possibly have one more play up her sleeve to cover her tracks? Only two hours left!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-12-2009 @ 8:19AM
jerry said...
I think Kim is going to die. Jack doesnt care if he lives but if Kim dies and her killers are still at large. Jack could get the stem cells and a motivation to stay alive and hunt down this "group" Lets face it there is no way they can get em all in two hours. Or Tony saves them all.. this did start with Redemtion being the theme. Maybe Tony finds his redemtion by saving Jack and Kim.
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5-12-2009 @ 12:26PM
ac said...
Im agreeing with you on the Tony's redemption idea. I think he will save Jack and Kim by killing the Billy Ray Cyrus lookalike and evil wife. Then he will vanish to appear another day.
5-12-2009 @ 1:40PM
Laura said...
I hope you are right. I am holding out hope for Tony that he can somehow be redeemed, even though it's looking less and less likely every week. I love this character too much to give up on him, and I will not give up on him until the clock ticks 8 AM.
5-11-2009 @ 11:31PM
attye said...
Aaron was looking for help to erase the tapes and help Olivia, not nail her. Don't think Kim dies - your own Spoiler's Anonymous post has her returning next season. I do not agree that it negates the season - all part of Jack's redemption where he puts family first.
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5-12-2009 @ 10:29AM
Rico said...
You know, there's a reason the "Spoilers Anonymous" posts don't have any information before you click to read them.
Thanks. Now I don't need to watch Day 8.
5-12-2009 @ 10:28AM
frankly said...
I'm still disturbed, and even more so after this episode, that - arab good - patriot bad! This continuing denigration of the "patriot" moniker is an indication of the producers ideology.
Just a question...why could we not have as a plot next year, as villains, a bunch of socialist - Bolshevik type, conniving group planning to take over the Constitutional US Government by planting an articulate (at least with a teleprompter) stooge, backed by fund from overseas anonymous donors???
OH, WAIT! That's been done; it's being done right now.
That would be a great plot!
How about a bunch of homosexuals attacking Washington with rockets filled with the AIDS virus?
Why does it always have to be straight white middle aged "patriots" who are the BAD guys???
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5-12-2009 @ 2:57PM
Rufus said...
That's a joke, right?
5-12-2009 @ 10:28AM
hugeliver said...
I thought it was pretty good, but I'm damn sick and tired of Kim being in danger!!!
And as for Jack not being able to say anything to anyone; PICK UP A PEN AND PAPER MORON!!!! They didn't say anything about being able to see you Jack. Write the damn info down!
Nice choice of an agent too. "Hmmmm...she's safe IN THE WASHROOM so I think I'll go drain the main vein"
Just some parts that really bothered me.
As for the rest, Chloe's quote about Janis not knowing her so well and being the last place to turn for validation was AWESOME. Jack beating the hell out of Tony? Couldn't get enough of it.
Also good to see that Aaron is still not turning a blind eye. Favorite unpredictable character of all seasons.
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5-12-2009 @ 10:28AM
Brett Alan said...
I didn't think that they had the Kim option in place because Cara cared about Tony, but because they were worried that Tony would talk and expose them if he were alive and in custody. I'm pretty sure Alan told Cara to take care of the problem.
Either way, the real problem is how they managed to set this all up! Did Tony even know that Kim was in town? It's not as though they could have planned this in advance, as Jack didn't get involved in the case until the previous morning. Sloppy, sloppy writing.
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5-12-2009 @ 10:28AM
S said...
Tony actually did find out Kim was in D.C. It was in the episode where Tony was in handcuffs after successfully taking out the missiles. He hears Moss conversation about Kim being in town and he asks Moss directly the whereabouts of Kim to verify if he heard correctly.
5-12-2009 @ 10:28AM
ac said...
Testing 123 why wont u let me confirm
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5-12-2009 @ 10:28AM
David said...
Anyone notice Jack being "operated" on in the coming attractions? Looks like the evil organization is going to extract the pathogen from Jack. Wheeee!
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5-12-2009 @ 10:28AM
Michael said...
I don't care if we've been down this road before... It's still a fun ride. And this time, Jack has absolutely nothing to lose. As long as Kim survives, Jack can go all scorched-Earth on the rest of 'em.
My predictions... Kim will survive. Tony will live. Jack will either be saved, or his life will be hanging in the balance when the clock runs out. Can't wait for next Monday!
-MJT
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5-12-2009 @ 10:30AM
Lisa said...
I enjoyed the episode but was troubled too. Troubling for me was the timing of the bio-attack. 5-6am on the subway is by no means prime commuting time and did you notice how long Jabron had to look for the bag? No one got on that train, very few people around, just kind of silly. I also call sloppy writing on that front.
Am also sick of Kim as damsel in distress and of course her cell phone is dead. And I don't believe for one moment that a daughter would just leave when her father is dying no matter how strained the relationship. This particular storyline is leaving me cold. They better come up with a spectacular out.
Best moments were Chloe and Janet being all nerd-geek in each other's faces and Aaron ..l love these supporting characters.
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5-12-2009 @ 10:30AM
RT said...
Hopefully they will kill off Kim once and for all.
But it felt like the last episode... Jack got the last canister. Seriously, what's left? Kim in danger? Does anyone care?
I think the producers wrapped up the real story in 22 episodes and now expect us to care about Kim for the final 2.
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5-12-2009 @ 10:30AM
antonio69 said...
I think people needs to say something about 24 hours, still it ´s have no sense.
Monday night was another solid, brilliant and good episode. End is coming and probably will be great¡¡¡¡
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5-12-2009 @ 10:30AM
Mare said...
Hey I love 24! but did anyone see the 10:00 news with a recap about keifer sutherland and 24? I missed it, something about the head butting on 24? Or was I misinformed. Love some feedback!
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5-12-2009 @ 1:12PM
Terri said...
Loved the metro cop saying "put the earpiece back in". I am enjoying Olivia's falling apart. I still think Ethan is one of the major player bad guys. Maybe I'm getting jaded but I knew the nice suburban couple with Kim were going to be bad. Unlike some posters above I thought the geek exchange between Chloe and Janis was a bit forced--I want Chloe to best her because I don't like Garafolo. Jack has got to stop threatening to kill Tony then walking away. I am ready for the showdown. Also I thought solving the bioweapon problem was a bit of a letdown, i.e., into the hazmat truck and that's it.
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5-12-2009 @ 11:11AM
Lisa said...
In real life Sutherland had an altercation last week where he head butted a guy for walking between himself and the woman he was talking to (alleged to be Brooke Shields.)
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5-12-2009 @ 1:39PM
Louise said...
Kim...don't understand the fanfare...never liked her role..bad actress. I think what's behind Tony's bad turn is still Michelle...I'll bet she was pregnant when she was killed....the ending next week will be Jack being operated on receiving stem cells and we will not know if he lives or dies...until next season.
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