24

I'm sorry, but season 2 lost me with this episode. I've been enjoying it greatly until this point. I won't go into the torture, and I won't hit any of the good points, as the rest of the episode is fine (and that's why it gets a 4 instead of 0)...



But one jarring, insane moment ruins it for me.



(paraphrasing) "Meet me at the park at (so and so). If I'm not there in 15 minutes, take the chip directly to CTU"



What? This chip has the potential to stop a war and to save thousands of lives. The bombers are in the air, strikes are readying. Every second counts in getting this chip back to CTU and analyzing it...



And Jack has them WAIT FOR HIM?! And they wait longer than the 15 minutes?



I'm sorry, that is just ridiculous. Then they have the gall to make the time element critical again, with tension attached to them getting waylaid by the "redneck" assault..."oh no, will they make it in time, now?!"



I just can't believe this made it on the air. Nobody saw a problem with them hanging out at the park with the chip?



I'm disappointed because I don't think I can enjoy the last episodes of the season.

I love '24', but the torture scenes with Jack in this episode were just WAYYY too over the top. We slash him open, taser him on his open wounds, force him to vomit (then go through the vomit looking for the missing chip) and finally KILL HIM?!? Um, a bit much. I know they go out of their way to 'make up' for this in the following episode ("Jack's Revenge basicially") but still - a bit too much to have to sit through - I wouldn't want to see one of the BAD GUYS tortured like this, let alone my hero Jack.

After two initial episode filled with details, we began in the last episodes to feel the pay off.



And this episode is no different. Jack found the chip, that proves that the cyprus recording is false, however, there are new obstacles arrive.



Tony is not annoying anymore. But this is a fix, since chapelle is back. Palmer also believes in Jack, but not Mike Novick.



Palmer Administration plot come to a interesting twist, regarding Mike.



Michelle and Tony has nothing anymore that interfere with their attration and something finally happens in this episode.



JAck is tortured in this episode after he was caught and that was beautiful. That are people that don´t like it, but it is different.



Things don´t go well in Kate sides too.



Overrall, great episode, with most of the things that make a episode worth watching.



Great Ending that create more Tension.

Jack's naked.

This episode progresses the Cyprus storyline by having the good guys split up in an effort to confuse the bad guys and deliver the chip to CTU. Doesn't really work as Jack gets captured, Kate gets knocked unconscious, and Yusuf gets beaten up by redneck hicks. And the next Bigbad is introduced: Peter Kingsley. He looks intimidating and all, but I've said before and I'll say it again: too little, too ******* late!

Jack's sweaty.

We also get a payoff with Tony and Michelle, even though it had to come from an incredibly stupid plotline. That's right: Danny Dessler, an awful character and an awful decision by the writers. There are much better ways to get Tony and Michelle to make out, but that's life. Though I must tip my hat for the choking of Carrie.

Jack's screaming.

The hour starts the storyline of the Cabinet and the 25th Amendment, which involves voting a reluctant Palmer out of office and resuming the war on the Middle East. This subplot is a very good way to keep Palmer busy for the rest of S2, and it creates some new tension as Mike Novick turns out to be in on the whole thing and locks Lynne in a closet.

Jack's still naked.

The dank torture scenes succeed at bringing a dark, gritty, paranoid, claustrophobic feeling to this episode, but while the episode is good, I feel it relies too much on the shock value of those scenes.

I'm straight.



Hourly Highlight:

Jack's dead.

Oh.. this episode.. I just have no idea what to say about it - first I did not even could find the proper classification.



The major con for this episode was the whole torture thing. I just could not watch it.. they had the private investigator torture and it was already grouch and I think it could not get worse, but it did. I do not say that I do not get why they did it. I have the idea and it works but I just personally could not watch it.



The major pro was Tony and Michelle. I do not know - I was waiting for something to happen but the way it was done.. it was really emotional and something beautiful. And then the scene when later Tony sits on his office and calls to Michelle and on the same times looks down on her from the window.. it was very mm.. I do not have right word.. Anyway.. as the too much violence definetely overweights that beautiful moment for me, that's why that kind of mark.

This is a very underrated episode, I think the reason for this is because its in the middle of the weaker episodes of the season. But now this episode comes along and turns what I thought was a boring storyline into something exciting. Many people don't like the torture scenes in this episode. Ha ha, my god, go and watch saw or something.



A lot of things happen in this episode. A lot of things happen to everyone actually, apart from Kim though as she doesn't feature in this episode, which isn't a big deal because not a lot happens with her anyway. Only stupidly unbelieveable things that would never happen to one person in just one day.



Firstly, the Palmer storyline, which is just brilliant in this hour. Who would have thought Mike Novick would betray Palmer like that? He has been joint to the hip with Palmer throughout seasons 1 & 2, and then he just decides to go against him? I was just as shocked as Lynne.



The fact that Michelle talks to Tony about her brother, and then a couple of minutes later her brother shows up at CTU, prooves to me that the story was thrown in randomly as a set up for Tony and Michelle kiss. Carrie and Michelle's brother having a relationship was very random and the moment he attacks her at CTU is very forced. Oh well, at least that silly thing made something happen between Tony and Michelle, so I won't complain.



Yusuf being beaten up was very sad but believeable. Actually, it really upset me to see him get hurt like this. Those red necks really need to die, I hate people like that. What made it even sicker is that they attacked Kate as well.



The torturing of Jack in this episode was shocking but great. We really needed to see Jack in a vunerable position like this, he can't be the bad ass all the while. The ending was a cliffhanger, a little unbelieveable though. :P



Quote of the hour! Ronnie Stark: "Wake him up."

I thought the episode was really good in every single aspect of the different storylines. There was no Kim Bauer storyline, which is what I have wanted for some time. Becuase of 24s unique writing style, they have to set up relationships because once this season ends they will take a huge break month wise before the next season (Tony-Michelle being what I am referring to) The CTU scenes between them were really good I thought, one of the best "Filler" scenes that I have seen on this show. The conspiracy at the White House took a surpring turn with the Vice President trying to overthrow Palmer. Not only that but Mike Novick, the guy thats supposed to be by the presidents said always - has been betrayed. With the meeting to overthrow him set up for next episode, I think it should be really intense. Jack scenes were great for action, with him being tortured for a change instead of being the one doing to torturing. The end of the episode left me a little puzzled, but they cant kill off Jack Bauer so I know he will be back. With only five hours left, this season is ending very very strong.

Yes it is true. There is no Kim Bauer adventures in the whole thing. That means no fighting off cougars, or walking into strange forrest men's house's, or getting involved in store hold ups with crazy mexicans. What this episode delivers is quiet revealing sometimes.



The first reveal comes with the the president's decision to stop the attacks of war on no evidence that the tapes were false. Of couse this means Bauer better hurry his ass up. Mike calls a meaing with Lynn in one of the stroage rooms and tells her that the VP has called a meeting with Congress men, to take the President out of command. She tells him that she supports the President and Mike orders a guard to lock her in the room. Oohhh! Mike is siding with the VP I see! If David hears about this, you may get grounded, little Mikey! Great twist midway through the episode!



The second reveal comes from CTU. Now in kind of a weird, pointless plot, DANNY Dessler comes to CTU, to make sure everything is OK with Michelle and the whole bomb situation. Oh course we find out that he had a go with Carrie and now hates her guts, AND didn't know that she works at CTU. So he chokes her. Man was I happy to see that happen! Then after he gets taken away by police, Tony finds Michelle in a back corner all sad about everything. Then of course, they get it on. Man was I happy to see it happen to. I wait almost a whole season with these two looking up each other's asses, and I finally get some action in episode 18! And I must say it was a pretty sexy kiss at that. Two characters I love, getting it on, what more can one ask for? The thrid and best reveal is'nt really revealing, just hard to watch. During an escape, Bauer gets caught by the people needing the chip that the 7th coral snake had. There's all of a sudden this stratling cut to Jack laying on the floor laked, and yes, vomiting. This way they tortue him pushes the limit for acting from Keifer, who gives one of his best performances of the series. It is just far to painful to watch, let alone air on primetime. I won't give away to many large details, but I'm telling you. I hurts! And yes the episode does end with one of the worst cliffhanger endings ever. Of course Jack isn't dead! There's freaking 5 more episodes left and a possiblity of like 20 more seasons! Of course he's not dead. Who then will take over? Tony? Actually... I wouldn't mind that now that I think about it.

Jack finally gets the chip that has the recording that will stop the war from happening. Jack covers Kate and Yusuf as they bring the chip back to CTU. Jack unfortunately gets captured by a death squad working for a big oil company. Tony and Michelle are on the same side again. Palmer learns about Jack's plan to acquire the chip and thinks about holding off the attack in the middle east. Kate and Yusuf are on their way back to CTU when they get attacked by a group of racist men who then steals the chip from them. This episode will surely raise the tension as we get near the end.

This episode was better than the few episodes before it, but it still suffered from *way* too much Danny Dessler.



Pros

-Excellent start. The pacing was much better than it had been in the past few episodes.

-Yusuf was badass yet again. I loved the way he took care of Kate.

-Awesome hood slide by Jack when he was fleeing the clinic and an awesome taser-like thing on Jack to stun him.

-Extremely jarring when it cut to Jack naked and puking on the ground. I'm a sick guy, so I enjoyed the torture scenes in a way.

-The Tony/Michelle kiss was horrible, but it was definitely saved by Carrie of all people being the one to discover them.

-Some hardcore acting by Kiefer Sutherland. Simply fantastic.

-Great twist with Mike being on Prescott's side. I didn't see that coming at all and would've made this episode a classic if anything else had been that good.

-I've never hated someone more than I hated those rednecks that attacked Kate and Yusuf. The level of hatred inside of me made my blood pressure rise and everything. Great job of the writers being able to do that

-No Kim!



Cons

-Oh God, Danny Dessler 5 minutes into the show? Shoot me now. I couldn't believe how much Danny there was in this episode. YEARGH! I felt bad for all of the great actors that had to go through that crappy storyline.

-Because Jack had an extremely clear case that the audio file was false, it made the threat of war even more ridiculous. I was glad to see Palmer at least wised up when Tony called.

-Quite possibly the lamest ending in 24 history. I mean, come on, did a single person that watched this actually believe that Jack was going to stay dead?

Finally, we get to see Jack Bauer face the ultimite challenge. Getting kidnapped and totured. Ronnie makes it simple, everyone has their limits. So it was very interesting to see how Jack Bauer get totured.



First a simple cutting with a scapel soaked in ammonia. But then Ronnie purposely holds out a water bottle to tease Jack. It gets worse when he takes a hot knife to show how powerful it is. And then using it on Jack was the ultimate thing. Jack screams and cries, but refuses to give in. Soon, they taser him and bring his daughter in only threatening to make her an orphan. But Jack still doesn't cave in.



This episode seemed to flash back at points though. Like the striking/kidnapping of Jack Bauer and then him throwing up when he came to, reminded me of when he tried breaking in that underground prison in the 7pm-8pm episode last season. Also the Mike Novachek and lady (I forgot her name) meeting in a private area reminded me of David and that lady (I forgot her name too) meeting in the hotel room in the 10pm-11pm episode last season. Especially, meet me there in X minutes.

Twists, revealations, and cliffhangers is what this show is all about, and this episode delivers.



Palmer: The first act we see Palmer in a real situation. In drama's liek this, not only are decisions pivitol to the story telling, the aspects of the decision are pivitol. This is what what makes Star Trek DS9 way better than Star Trek VOY. And the decision Palmer has to make is a fine example of this. His choice of sending in troops and possibly costing the lives of civilians in 3 innocent countries or waiting on Jack and possibly costing the lives of thousands of American troops is much more interesting to watch than his decision about the National Guard in Marietta GA. But the best part of Palmer's side of this whole thing is Mike Novack, who causes one of the biggest shockers in the episode. And unlike with Tony's sudden opposition to Jack, Novack's turn around makes sense. This a guy doing what he thinks is best. And if you forget about Jack Bauer and just look at Palmer, the man does seem to be very indecisive. Unfortuantely, I do feel sorry for Novack, cause Palmer has always come down hard on people...



CTU: The Tony I love to watch is back. Not the over the top Tony who yells at Jack and locks out Dressler, but the conflicted between the rules and Jack Tony. What sucks though is that the best scene with Tony, possibly all season, comes from a stupid plot contrivence. The back story between Dressler and Carrie Turner is explained in detail here, and in a way, it makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that less than 2 minutes after Dressler explains things about Turner and her Brother, Dennis, Dennis shows up at CTU. Ad then Dennis goes crazy on Turner. While I myself would like to go crazy on Turner, this entire sequence feels forced onto the veiwer. It wass liek the writer's sitting around saying 'What can we do to get Tony and Michelle to kiss....?' And while I was glad to see it happen, I just wished it had come from something that felt less made up. Everything that happened in season 1 revolved around the plot to kill Palmer and get revenge on Jack. Stuff like this would've never made it.



Kim: Poor Kim isn't even in this episode. I'm guessing she got mauled by a bear on the way to the bathroom. Or something like that.



Jack: I'll start this section by first talking about Yusef Auda and Kate Warner. The get split up from Jack in the first of this episode, but I didn't feel like giving them their own section. I really like Auda. He's so beliveable and not cliche. And I like Kate too, who's character arc is progressing nicely. She's starting to take everything in stride, like over the course of the last 6 hours she slowly hardening up to the stuff happening around her. Good stuff. Anyway, the attack on Yusef at the end by a group of rednecks feels more like a plot contrivence than Dressler's brother attacking Turner. I mean, it IS 3 am in the morning. I guess the writers forgot this. It is effective at creating suspense, but come on... Don't get me wrong, I live in Alabama, I know that there are people like this, that will attack someone for being a 'towel-head'. But like I mentioned before, the likely hood of four rednecks being up and hunting for a middle-easterner at 3 am in the morning, even though the bomb has gone off and people are freaking, is a little much. Anyway, on to Jack. The poor guy gets it in this episode. I'm not saying anything about this torture scene other than the fact that if you've always wanted to see Keifer Southerlands butt (which I haven't), this is your episode. The only other thing I have to say is that while the episode ends in a cliffhanger, it's not a very believeable one from a viewer's standpoint. We all know Jack's not gonna die. But still, it's a cliffhanger, and the last episode didn't end with that, so I liked it.



In all, this was a very enjoyable episode; a fine example of classic 24. Debate, twists, betrayal, torture, romance, suspense...what more could one ask for an episode?