Amph 24: The Jack Bauer Power Hour (and Spin-Offs)

Just when I though this show couldn't get any more boring and predictable, they go and do this.



AND TOTALLY REDEEM THEMSELVES!

Wow. Just wow. And I take back my earlier complaints about the Dana/spy angle. They payed that out so perfect. I am actually really interested in it now. And the way it mirrored Nina from season one, with Cole catching her in the parking garage and dragging her from the car. Perfect. And the way they then mirrored Keller from season 4, so you think Jack is going to burst in at the last second, save him, and kill the bad guys, and then the final look on Jack's face.

It had action, drama, suspense, humor, and none of it ever felt forced. This was perfect 24, this was as good as the show has been in years. I am can now, not at all wait for next monday. And I haven't felt that way about 24 in a while.

 

Anyone else wondering why they didn't bring in the specialist and his "package" to ask Dana a few questions before going with the immunity deal? Not enough time, I guess.

Another question I had going back to the immunity deal with the Russian (remember him -- man that seems like ages ago) -- I hope the DOJ is smart enough to have a "success" clause in it -- immunity only if they are successful in finding the rods and Hassan, respectively.

And that brings us to the next big question -- who Danaworking for. I'll be blunt, if it's not Wilson, I'll be very surprised.

 

I don't have the DVD on me, but I'm pretty sure they used the same shots too for the Dana/Nina connection. And the same music. And Hastings coming in was a lot like Mason arriving. If that isn't a callback, I don't know what is. Also, I really thought the wig girl was Mandy, but I didn't see her name in the credits so I assumed it was someone else. She can still show up.

 

Definitely not Mandy, that was her again in the apartment getting shot by Renee -- clearly a person of IRK heritage. Besides, Mandy wouldn't be getting instructions from some guy or be nervous about Hassan coming to -- she'd be giving the instructions, and giving the injection to put him under again.

 

I re-retract my Kool-Aid Man.

 

Concerning Jack's line from next week's preview ("I don't want revenge. I want justice."), does this face look like a man with justice in mind? No. I think this is going to push Jack to a really dark place and I can't wait to see what Kiefer does with it.

[image=http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/8272/jackpissed.jpg]

 

24

Episode: Day 8: 10:00AM- 11:00AM (NEW)

"President Taylor asks a private security firm to complete a sensitive task; Jack asks an old friend (Michael Madsen) for a favor before embarking on a mission of his own."

* NEW

9:00 - 10:00 PM FOX

 

Really hoping that Taylor is somehow spared a fall from grace before the series ends. Despite making an incredibly poor decision, she remains one of the best presidents the show has had. And I really thought at the end of this hour, she was going to break off in her speech and reveal the russians. Logan is a magnificent SOB and I love watching every scene with him. Ethan, like Aaron Pierce (who needs to make his obligatory cameo!) and like Jack, once more sticks to his guns and shows that there are totally uncorruptable people in government (at least on television anyway )

Chloe was excellent. I really couldn't believe she tried to trap Jack. But she didn't seem to be trying too hard either. That sting was amateur hour at best. If that is the best CTU has, it's no wonder that they keep getting defeated. Chloe too is someone who sticks to her guns. But it is interesting that she believes Jack is wrong. He's done stuff like this before and she's stood behind him. Maybe she actually likes being CTU Director?

 

Itzin clearly had an absolute ball with this episode, and it was great to behold.

 

There is only one way to describe the finale - "perfect." Everything about it was awesome. The plot, the characters, the acting the twists and most importantly the ending. That is the way a TV series should go out. Hats off to all involved, it was an amazing ride!

 

Agreed. Emmy awards for everyone!

Best actor for Jack
Best supporting actress nominations for Chloe and Taylor (with Chloe winning since Cherry Jones won last year)
Best supporting actor for Logan (HE MUST GET THIS!)
Best drama
Best writing (say what you will about individual episodes but this story ended strong and the characters acted true to their nature)
best score (Some excellent music this time. Especially the music during Logan/Taylor. Reminded me of Anakin/Palpatine right after his turn.

 

I have never been so happy in my life in a long time.

 

I just wanted to mention that I'm a huge fan of 24 - it's a superb, extremely well-done & suspenseful show, and IMHO is one of the best TV shows of all time. I've seen all of the Seasons through the 7th one (including the Special taking place between Season 6 & 7). Though some of the middle seasons weren't as good as the first several, Season 7 really brought the show back to the top.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I watch the show exclusively on DVD, never on TV (it's too much having to wait each week to see what happens). I just prefer watching all of this at once, and this makes it easier for me to follow.

Anyway, I just wanted to mentioned that 24 season 8 has been announced for a December 2010 DVD release. I find it very strange & dissapointing that the season is coming to DVD so late this year (which will be almost 7 months after the last episode has been aired). It's true that in the past, many of the 24 DVD sets are released in December to promote the forthcoming season (which has historically aired in January). However, since Season 8 is supposedly the last Season of the show, I don't understand why it will take so long to put this together for a DVD release.

What makes this even stranger is that last year, 24 Season 7 came out on DVD in May 2009, less than a week after the last episode of Season 7 had aired - as a huge fan of the show, it was great to get this on DVD so soon.

Too bad those who watch this on DVD will have to wait so long for Season 8.

 

Didn't the DVD actually come out the very next day last year?

I think the writer's strike may have contributed to them having the DVD ready so quickly, however. Still, December is a disappointing date.

 

Finally just finished watching it, thought it was awesome, as good a finale as I've ever seen. Yes, there was a lack of suspense about Jack living or dying, but there was still alot of suspense (imo) of how he would survive -- I thought there was a good chance he would be taken somewhere "black" by the people who captured him (admittedly that was contradicted by the fact that Taylor wanted to do that and Logan talked her out of it).

If I had one gripe, it was that there was actually very little of Jack in the last hour. After the confrontation with Chloe (which was pitch perfect all around), he's on a gurney or not even in the scene most of the time.

Taylor's turning was about as surprising as Jack saying dammit, but it was still well done. And certainly no surprise ^that Logan turned on Pillar, i couldn't believe he turned his back on him. "Mommy, how did Daddy die?" "Well he was an incredibly poor judge of character. Spent all his energy trying to hunt down and kill someone who let him live because of you, then put all his trust in one of the slimiest characters in the history of television." That scene with Jack in the garage really hit me (I have 2 daughters myself), the contrast between that and Logan shooting him was tremendous.

And that last scene, using the surveillance drone, and Chloe telling Arlo to "Shut it Down", as a farewell to Jack and the show, was masterful.

 

I think I might like this ending better knowing we're going to get at least one movie to follow it up. I think I might be disappointed without that, just because on some level, I'd like to see Jack achieve some sort of happiness, or peace in the end, even if it means him dying. I think had this been the last we saw of Jack, with him going on the run like that, I'd feel cheated. Then, they also may have ended things differently if they didn't have the opportunity for more story. As it is, I'm happy, and can't wait for the movie.( please get Jon Cassar to direct, please get Jon Cassar to direct, please get Jon Cassar to direct, please get Jon Cassar to direct)

I did like the final scene of Jack saying goodbye to Chloe. Especially the call back to her start in season 3, just a great reminder for the audience of how much Chloe has changed over the years.

 

So I just watched the finale and I'm a bit torn.

As an episode of 24 it was solid.
As a season finale it was good.
As a series finale, I would have done it very differently.

I know that I probably shouldn't have expected a proper ending until an eventual movie, but I still wanted it. I just wouldn't like for this to be the end for Jack if the movie never happens.

It was good enough I guess, but it'll never be one of my favorite series finales.

 

I watched the finale last night and at first view it seems abrupt and harsh to end the series this way. However, I think this is the way 24 should end because Jack will never truly be able to have a happy ending, especially after all he had done in the prior hours. There is no way he could go and be with Kim with the killings Jack committed earlier. Very much in the vein of season 4, I think this is the best way to end the saga of Jack Bauer because it doesn't lock Jack into any one place for his future, but the world is open to him. Yes, the realization that there will a movie eventually definitely influenced the finale, but I think it would work just as well without the prospect of a feature film.

A lot of musical cues from prior seasons, especially season finales, were used in the final episode. A little bit of season 6, some of season 4, as well as the 'Bomb Detonates' theme which was used in season 2, but earlier at the conclusion of episode 13 in season 1, when Jack and his family boarded the chopper. I really liked the use of this theme weaved together with the 24 theme, truly added to the emotional impact of the final scenes.

 

To the writers, the actors, and especially, Kiefer Sutherland:

Thank you for making television exciting again. Too many times over the years networks go with "safe" shows. For 8 seasons, 24 challenged it's viewers by taking risks other shows wouldn't have ever thought of.

There was controversy. But 24 held on.

There are viewers who think the writers made bad decisions over the years and were more than vocal about it. The writers stood their ground.

Just like Jack Bauer would.

Despite our disagreements of what shouldn't or should have happened during those 8 seasons, we fans still came back for more. That's not a sign of a good show. That's a sign of a classic show!

Shut it down......at least until after the movie!

 

Yeah, it's kind of nice of a musical sendoff. The music they used during the end of 113 and 114 was often repeated during the series, having a more "sad" version in Season 2 and a quicker version in season 7. I think that this was the first time since 114 that they used that tone during that theme. They used a lot of music this season from previous seasons, creating sort of a "best of" track. From the Mojave desert time from 102 to 803, the death of Nina Myers theme in 810, the Jack suicide theme used for 601 and 811, the helicopter chase from 307 and 820, the Russian stuff from season five for 822, and Ryan Chappele's death used for the finale, they used a bunch of stuff. Thinking about it, this whole season felt like a finale. I mean, when you have homages to Jack hacksawing a head, biting that dude's throat, Russian and Middle Eastern baddies, nukes, assassination attempts, and radiation packed into one season, that's as good as a send off as you can get.
Funny how the first words of the series where "Identification? Log in?" and the last words were "shut it down", fueling the whole technology zeitgeist feel the show had given off.
Also, I bumped the Episode by Episode thread somewhere so if you guys want to discuss the episodes individually, head there.

 

Renee cutting that guys hand off was pretty similar to Jack cutting the dudes head off.

 

My thought as well. This is a guy who helped Jack take down another president. Surely they could have entrusted him into helping obtain that info. Jack surely could have briefly hooked up with Aaron. Heck, he could have been brought in as extra security for the UN. Plenty of opportunities but I guess maybe he didn't want to do it.