24

"24" is back. Surnow, Cochran, and all their holy cronies waste no time in kicking off a brilliant season to come. Previous premieres have spent the hour setting up the main threat and getting the characters and audience familiar with what's going on. But here, we're all just going along for the ride, with very little information on the big picture, even less so than the S4 premiere. And what better way to capture everyone's interest than to kill off a couple of familiar faces?
Yes, the deaths of David Palmer and Michelle Dessler, both in the episode's first act, will grip many of you as they gripped me and had me watching intently. Based on the history and importance of these two characters in "24," you might also be a little irked that their deaths are based on shock value rather than solemn poignance that character deaths in the past have received. But I say it's a damn good way to start S5; one that sneaks up on the viewer, leaves them disoriented, and reminds them all that no character on this show is safe.
By the end, we're all left just as confused as Jack and everybody else, with the revelation that he's being framed for the deaths to cover up the real reason Palmer was killed. Hey, I was ready to watch the rest of S5 even without that bit of information, but whatever works! This episode does an even better job of drawing me in than the S4 opener did, and provides great action, intrigue, and suspense almost effortlessly.

Hourly Highlight:
Hard to pick one… Palmer's assassination.

Former President Palmer is dead. That shocking and sad turn is the opennig of the best 24 season ever. I was looking for another entertaining and spectacular long day in Jack Bauer´s life, due to Season 4 was truly cool for me. But this stunning openning is a way to show everyone that 24 could actually surprise the audience and its fans even after 4 great and unforgettable days.

Kiefer Sutherland is better than ever as Jack Bauer, it´s not a long premiere but in its 40 minutes gives everything that must be told and even more, and also all that i was expecting and more. And its fashionable style is more fantastic.

A really gripping premiere, and one of the best episodes of the show.

This "new beginning" of the adventures of Jack Bauer is not just one of the best season premieres of the show. It´s even one of the best episodes of 24 ever!. It´s tragic, terrific, spectacular, intelligent and irresistibly surprising: all the components that made 24 charismatic and unbelievable.

This time, Jack must go on with his problematic life, risking his deathly status, when his closest friend are being killed one by one. Also, we find out that this day President Logan must sign a treaty with the Russians. This two events are relationed.

This day is gonna be an adrenaline rush. It looks like the ultimate 24 season!.

When I First Watched This One I Was Like WHAT! It Was Really Sad As My Favourite Characters That being Michelle, Tony And David Were ALl basically Killed, (With the expection of Tony Who goes on to die later in the series! But i was so shocked when they were killed i did not expect them all to die, and even though i was upset by them being killed it did give the show a chance to bring in more loveable characters. Though i would ahve loved it if they didn't die it really did grab my attention throughout the rest of the series. Was hard to watch tme characters die but did give the series a great start!

24 always hooks because of it's extremely good plots, fantastic characters, shocking twists and a really perfect visual stylish. But, the show never shocked us with an stunning and surprising beginning like this one. This beginning is, without any doubt, the best season beginning of all the show ever. It's a perfect preview of this excellent and brilliant season.



Jack Bauer is hidden under a new identity and under a new life. But, when the people who knew that he was alive are being murdered, Jack must hunt down the killers and find out why they killed them and why want to involve Jack in the assassinations.



This beginning is really shocking, extreme and powerful.

It could be, with season one finale permission, the best episode of the whole show yet!.

The writers give us a really original, never seen and impressive plot.

Jack Bauer is really perfect and harder than ever, and the ending of this episode leaves you at the edge of your seat.



A masterpiece.

I will start off by saying, this is one of the best episodes of 24 in one of its best seasons. I just wish I had not seen spoilers before watching this episode because I found out that David Palmer gets shot whilst watching season two and that Michelle only makes it to season 5 episode 1 when I had just finished watching season 3. However, with 24 it still managed to surprise me. Within the first ten minutes, the deaths of two of the shows biggest and strongest characters minutes after one another. I did not expect it to happen so soon into the ep. The rest of the ep was high adreneline, heartstopping, non stop acting from Chloe escaping death to the car and helecopter scene at the end, absolutely outstanding in every possible way. I wish I could give this ep a million out of 10 because it is so good.

It is unbelieveble how this episode begins. Never a season premiere of 24 started so strong and so shocking.



This series Started with the best episode they could deliver.



The conspiracy plot is back, but this time is much higher, since even the President Logan can be involved. The death of 2 regular character and one in critical status, make this episode be shocking value.



Nobody expected that the deaths would eventually happen, so this is exactly what the producers wanted, to make anyone addicted to the show.



The formula to Start a great season premiere is simple - Begins with action, something is happening etc.



This is exactly the producers tried to do with the previous season premiere, but this time they managed to do better.



We Start with a assasination plot, tied in the Main plot, which is the Conspiracy Plot.



But this is not the only thing here. We have some action in the end of this episode to end in a perfect way.



So is nearly impossible for me to think that this episode deserves any note than 10. Eventually, I don´t believe that any season premiere will be so good as this one, and a 10, is because this episode separates from any other episode that you had seen so far.



Even the closure was perfect, with the death of the murderer!!!

So, this season starts with something really different - they start to kill of our beloved old chars starting with Palmer (it just looked like that he is going to be shot on that big window..), then Michelle and leaving Tony seriously injured and then they are after Chloe who manages to get away and into contact with Jack, who is living here in California under new name and having new life but he is brought back into the life he thought he has left.



Ok, the killed two great char and no silent clock? Palmer at least would have had one if they thought Michelle was not important enough. So that is little dissapointment.



But the story starts off with big bang and I have my hopes high.

Ok, first of all, who expected that?! Both Michelle and Palmer? I really had no idea that was coming. And it pains me, too, because they were some of my favorite characters. Both have been around for a while. But the show is 24, so I guess we better get used to it.

So in my opinion, very good episode. It had action, drama, everything! Logan is just getting more annoying by the minute, and his wife isn't exactly helping. There is something very fishy about Logan. I guess I have to watch the rest of the season to find that out.

And Jack is back. That hug between him and Chloe - priceless.

Overall, amazing episode. Watch it!

This just may be my all time favorite episode of 24. I watched for the first time with my father when we bought it on DVD and I remember my dad saying,"How could anyone NOT get hook on this show?". This episode started off what I beleive to be the best 24 season with a bang.Viewers know that Jack won't die but they never expected president Palmer to die either. Killing David palmer off shocked me. I couldn't believe that he was really dead at first. It is the twists like that that make me love this show! Then they killed off Michelle and put Tony in a coma and attempted to kill Chloe. IT WAS AMAZING! Another shocker was to see that Chloe was sleeping with Spencer. I never thought the day would come when Chloe had a boyfriend.



Love this show. Love this episode.

Ugh, I knew the time would come when a character that I was deeply and emotionally attached to would meet their end. Unfortunately for me, I didn't know that would hit twice....in the same episode. Two people very dear to the show, the other actors, and to myself met their end during this episode: Michelle Desller and David Palmer. Double Whammies whipe out your board, I'll tell ya'. The episode is truely a great one.



I just hope that next time I can have just a little warning so I can grab the Kleenex box, because that episode had me bawling.

What a great episode and start of Season 5! The first episode of Season 5 starts with loads of action, including the murder of two main characters, David Palmer and Michelle Dessler. Since the end of Season 1, I've appreciated that this show is unpredictable, and any cast member is expendable, and I definitely did not see the deaths of these two characters coming. Additionally, we see a different style plot at the start of Season 5 than in previous seasons... its Jack versus CTU as Bauer is framed for these murders. This 'The Fugitive'-esque plot is quite engaging, and I'm really on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store!

This episode was unreal.It was so well plotted and there was so much action.It was a lot beter than all the other series openers which were pretty boring.It is 18 months after jack faked his own death and he is away in hiding from LA.The only people who still know he's alive are President David Palmer, Chloe O'Brien and Michelle and Tony Almeida.At the baggining David is talking to his brother when he gets assasinated.It surprised me so much that a character like him would just get killed off so quickly.Later on Michelle gets killed and Tony almost gets the same.meanwhile jack has to come to LA to save Chloe.It was a really exciting episode!

As usual 24 started off brilliantly. It was a great start. The first real shock came with President Palmer being assassinated. This was even stranger because he wasn't even the President anymore. A short amount of time later a car bomb kills Michelle and injures Tony. Then Chloe is chased, after she escapes she calls Jack for help and he tells her to meet her. Then a group of men attempt to kill them. Jack kills them all except for one who he interrogates. He tells Jack that the assassination was meant to look as if Jack has killed ex-President Palmer. Jack shoots him in the head and walks off.

What the hell did I just watch. That had to be the best episode of 24 I have ever seen. The action that took place in this episode is unmatched by any other episode of 24, maybe even of any tv show ever made. This was the best season premiere to date and the first 15 minutes were just shocking to watch. I had expected Palmer to die at some point during the season, but not within the first 15 minutes of the premiere. Without a doubt this is one of the best episode yet...Jack Bauer is certainly back...tick tick tick

It's always the same with this show. When last season ended I was left wondering how they would even be able to come back with a good story line after Jack being supposedly dead. But boy did they deliver or what? I am a little sad though about the fact that former president David Palmer was killed, I really liked his character, but I guess it had to be done. Also Michelle being dead is sad. Jack taking the new kid on the ride is kind of a surprise, I wonder where the show is going to go with that. Overall this episode, as always, was great and I loved it!

This episode was quite an explosive one. They took liberties shooting this one. I can't believe David and Michelle are DEAD!!! Even having watched more episodes after this one, I find myself still thinking, " Oh My goodness, Michelle is dead." It is hard to imagine anything in Jack's life going well, considering everything that has happened, until you see him living a life where no one knows who he really is. Of course it can't stay that way for long, and it doesn't. When he hears that David was assassinated, he obviously needs to find out who killed his friend, and when he found out what happened to Michelle and Tony that would have done him in meaning nothing could stop him from finding the truth. I am still amazed at how he can still lead a close to normal life with everything going so wrong. If it was me I think I would have gone crazy by Day 5. I say three cheers for Jack Bauer and here's hoping that you save America from terrorists for many years to come.

This episode starts the season with action. Just like the way the other seasons. In this episode, everything goes into high gear from the get go. It goes by really fast, it's full of action. This is what 24 is all about, it's fast paced, it never goes dull, it's a roller coaster ride. It's really entertaining, I had a really good time with this starter. I'm looking forward to the next episode. The writers of this show are amazing, they made another exciting tv show. this is what a tv show should be. It's exciting, we actually get to see something worthwhile.

i love 24 being so brave and harsh.ANYONE but jack is expendable to this show,cos it is the pauseless action driving the show,not the popularity of any character, ofcourse except jack himself.



the only thing that\'d be out of line in this show would be the death of jack. An easy death for him just to shock the audiance would SUCK! but after emmys i\'m sure they all know as they said ,he is the heart and soul of the show.



Whatever..that was great.it didnt made me excited as much as the start of the previous season(remember the last few minutes of the first hour when we learned that they were gonan kidnap audry and her father) but it surely made me wonder what the rest is gonna unleash.

This was a great start to the start of 24. It's gripping and really gets you into it.



What gets me though, is how David Palmer could have gotten assasinated. I mean, you would think, after having your life under threat once (Season 1) and also, knowing the information like he did, you would stay away from the windows. And also, like stated in the tivia, wouldn't the secret service know to keep David away from a huge glass window that isn't bulletproof?



Apart from this, the whole first episode was absolutley gripping and an absolute joy to watch!

Honestly, I was not as ashamed about this episode as most of the people are.



Certainly, killing off main character is always a shocker, especially if 2.



Palmer was one of my favorite characters on 24, and his death is something I can\'t really understand. When you have a show running for 5 seasons already and have at least 7-8 planned, you always have to think about the loyal fans. And there are bunch of David Palmer/Denis Haysbert fans. I wish he didnt die. Rest in Peace, David Palmer.



Michelle, on the other hand was alright to kill. She was not a key character, but her death was dramatic ; car blows up, shes dead, Tony hugs the body, and the car blows up again - Tony\'s seriously injured.



The most annoying thing about the episode was Martha. I wish she was the 3rd person getting killed.



Jack\'s back , and thats a great thing. He has yet another girlfriend, which isn\'t that great. Jack had too many girlfriends already.



I have 1 more thing to complain about. Silent clock. Or the lack of silent clock. Both Michelle and David deserved it. And there was no silent clock! Why? Silly thing.

I was never into 24 until I gave it a shot and checked it out. Even though I had never seen it, my brother always talked about Palmer's choices and I new he was one of the main characters. When he was shot, I was amazed and knew it was a great season opener. I know if it's this exciting the first two and a half minutes of the season, I know it will be even better the rest of the way. I also liked when Jack shot the bad guy out of anger. Overall, best show I've seen in my life. I highly encourage anyone to watch it.

This is one of the best episodes of 24 I have ever seen. I think I have realised what the difference between the 1st season and this one is. The fact that Jack's family isn't involved and it isn't a race against the clock to save them. Otherwise, this is the best season yet, starting of with an amazingly awesome opener. Bang! He's Dead. Boom! She's dead... He's in a coma. If only Jack told Kim he was still alive, then perhaps she would of been targeted as well. You win some and you lose some. I am dying to buy this season on DVD, I can't wait for all the special features, deleted scenes etc.

good episode and it did kind of give a hint that The president was doin some thing bad. great episode with a lot of thought in it. I think that Derek should have stayed in the show his charector just vanished. It was a really cool episode on Jacks part. and the first Lady did a good job to in it. I would hate to see 24 go but I don't think it's gonna happen. Great episode great action great drama well thought out well written. It was one of the better first season episodes I think. So it was Well written.

I didn't see this episode upon it's first airing and unfortunately, a number of spoilers came my way. I knew Michelle and Palmer were history. Nonetheless, this was a great episode and this season has A LOT of promise.



Season 4, while it seems to be a fan favorite, was my least favorite season but the ending (in which Jack is forced to fake his own death) definitely left me wanting more. Now, season five is here. And thus far, I have no real complaints. Of course, I will miss Michelle and Palmer but at least they died in a way that greatly benefits the season's story arch. Besides, with David no longer President, they would have been forced to find ways to bring him back each season (like Sherry in season 2 and 3).



Okay, an overview of this season's cast:



Jack (no brainer): Everyone's favorite character. At this point, it's really just Jack, Tony, and Mike who are still hanging around from season one.

Tony: Survived the first episode, but if the writers are willing to kill Palmer, Tony may not be safe either. I thought they were going to kill him in season 4.

Chloe: Glad Chloe is finally a full-fledged cast member. I like her more and more with each passing season.

Buchanan: One of the more likeable CTU heads, but does that necessarily make for great drama?

Edgar: Kind of a funny character. He and Chloe have nice chemistry.

Curtis: Of the main characters from the season before, Curtis seemed the least developed. I feel like I still don't know much about who this character is. Now, that could mean we're in for a treat this season as he comes to play a more important role. Or it might just mean the writers aren't really sure what to do with as ass-kicking agent who isn't Jack.

Audrey: I'm sorry to see Audrey back, honestly. It's not that I disliked the actress, but this is 24. There's no time for romance within the format so it was obvious from the get-go that the Audrey-Jack romance wouldn't work out. And characters that aren't CTU agents seem to get pretty useless and distracting after awhile. Think Kate Warner after the storyline with her sister was resolved or Kim in season 2. And Audrey did a fair amount of just standing around CTU even last season so I don't know how well her storyline is going to go this year. Of course, the initial confrontation with Jack will be interesting but that can't carry an entire season's story arch.

Logan and wife: I'm lumping these two together for now, because I don't know much about the wife really and haven't decided how I feel about her. Logan, on the other hand, I hate. But in a good way. It's a character you enjoy to hate, much like Sherry (although Penny Johnson was so good in that role that it's hard to match her). It looks like they've gone back to the format of earlier seasons in which the President plays a more prevalent role (after taking a break throughout most of season 4). But Logan's wife said something about Palmer needing to meet with her and that it concerned Logan. I don't know what this means exactly, but I'm definitely eager to find out.



Okay, the episode itself was also quite satisfying. Although, new seasons opening with Jack in some kind of new life only to be drawn back into CTU are almost becoming a 24 cliche at this point. No mention has yet been made about how Kim has dealt with the loss of her father. I hope they bring Elisha Cuthbert back for a LIMITED period of time this season. Kim didn't really work as a series regular, but the audience knows how important Kim is to Jack and with him essentially "coming back from the dead," I think it would be a mistake to leave her out entirely.



Chloe seems to be getting more and more capable as the series progresses. She was terrified throughout much of this episode, but she handled herself quite well for someone who isn't a field agent. I also thought the new kid (Derek?) was pretty interesting.



Anyway, I didn't think this review out much so it's a little on the random side but the overall point is that this episode was amazing. I can't wait to see what else is in store for us.

I can't believe it. I have 4 fave characters in this show; Michelle is a denifite, Toni, Palmer, and Jack...and two of them are gone in one episode. Both Palmer and Michelle only got less than 5 minutes of on screen time. They are the two characters who are the strongest, and are just so goood. I coudln't believe it when either of them died. I have accidently came across spoilers (they weren't labeled)..and i know a few of the deaths of season 5....but they were so perfectly well done that it came by me as a complete shock.



Honestly, I thought season 4 sort of pulled 24 down a little. Of course that is only my own opinion...but season 5 definetly came off to a dynamic start. its absolutely unbelievable.

The best season opener ever considering season 4 opener was a strong one.

David Palmer and Michelle Dessler R.I.P

Jack forced out of hiding and doing business as usual.

What happened to Keeler why's Logan still President? However I hope he is going to be good as he was in the last 8 episodes of Season 4. I am also pleased that Chole has now join the regular cast along with Edgar, Bill and Martha Logan.

The episdoe itself is my 2nd favourite of all time behind the season 4 finale. I like the ending with Jack killing the Palmer assassin.



David Palmer and Michelle Dessler R.I.P

This episode was my first 24 episode and i will never again miss one. It is the most addicting show ever and my 24 experience started with this one. With the kid popping out of the oil rig, the terrorist being shot, and confessing to his crime, an amazing episode all around.

SPOILERS

Oh. My. God. They Killed Palmer and Michelle In the first ten minutes, I didn't see that coming.

The writers deserve major kudos for getting Jack Back in the game so quickly, that last shot screams 'Jack's Back....and he's pissed off'. This season's opening had everything 24 should have: great characters, shocking twists, action and Jack shooting people in the head.

Well 24 is back. Back with a bang. I must say I have mixed feelings about this season premiere.



I am really, really sad to see David Palmer dead. He was one of the characters which brought a soul to 24. He will be greatly missed. But I wonder how on earth media got word that fast and how Logan managed to pull together a press conference in such short time. That seemed to go a little too fast, even for 24-land.



I'm sad to see Michelle die as well. I really liked her. Now Tony and Jack have something else in common. I wonder how Tony will feel about Jack now since technically it's Jack's fault. I was never scared for Tony, he is way too popular for them to kill him off in the first episode of the season. He is needed on the show, they need him to balance Jack and to be the only other CTU agent we can trust 100%.



The assassination plotline was a good way to kickstart a season but I don't think it's good for the show. This episode was only for the fans and that's not a good sign. Normally the new seasons begin with a whole host of new characters mixed in with a few old ones and they are pretty much stand-alone from the previous seasons. Anyone can jump in and watch. This episode was all for the fans, almost every character was an oldie, I only think I counted 4 new faces. If you didn't watch season 4 I don't think you understood much of it. Bad sign.



Logan's back. Logan's a jerk.



I loved the scene with Chloe in her apartment with that agent guy, Spencer was it? Typical Chloe to have those bedside manners. I love this character she is hysterical in her own way, and so well portrayed by the actress. Although if the series tradition of a mole at CTU holds up I suspect her lover. He seemed far too blazé about her dissappearence. Poor Edgar btw, did you see the look on his face when he was told Spencer and Chloe had spent the night together? I think Edgar likes Chloe... I've been rooting for the two of them to get together.



Logan's an ass.



Speaking of Logan. The storyline with Mrs. Logan is cliché already. I don't know if she's bipolar or schizophrenic or what she is, but my guess is that nobody will believe her until she meets Jack and the information she has turns out to be crucial. The storyline oozes of cliché. I cringed when the classic "I don't like the way the pills make me feel" line came. Really, couldn't have thought of anything better than that?



I like the new kid, Derek was it? He was really believable. I bet he will be a CTU agent in the next season, inspired by Jack. Though do I sense a conflict ahead when Jack, his new belle and Audrey all clash? I hope Jack chooses the new girl, Audrey doesn't deserve him.



Logan's an idiot.



I kept my eye out for Sean Astin but my Hobbit spotting came out negative. I guess he turns up later. I'm looking forward to it!



I'm interested to see where this season will go. Jack framed for Palmer's murder? Interesting. But I really hope they make the season more independent, the first episode was far too tangled up in season four.