24

The madness persists as the characters take a closer look into the crazy villainous plot, whatever its main goal is.
Jack drags his new girlfriend Diane Huxley and her son Derek into the mess and properly acquaints himself with Wayne as he investigates why the bad guys went after Palmer. He also becomes, as the promos promised, the most wanted man alive. Even though he was already the most wanted man alive, kinda—who can resist that voice…?
We meet an early S5 Bigbad, James Nathanson, although Katz & Cassar seem more focused on set design than on characterization. But hey, Nathanson's dark, monitor-filled hideout is still swanky, and creates more mystery as to who he is and what the heck he's up to.
The hour provides great suspense as Jack must make a miraculous escape from Wayne's penthouse, turning him into CTU's new Marwan in a sense. What he uncovered at Wayne's place takes him to the Ontario Airport. Likewise in the suspense department, President Logan and his wife Martha prepare for the arrival of Russian President Yuri Suvarov, which may or may not provoke a terrorist attack. Finally, the episode unravels more of the antagonists' plot without giving away too much at one time. It's the s***, yo!

Hourly Highlight:
Jack knocking out the FBI agent and stealing his clothes in record speed.

After the Last Shocking Episode, this episode seems a little weaker, but manages to be good.



Right now, this assassination plot is already build, so Jack will have to prove that he is not involved in Palmer assassination, but since the writers have to create a great obstacle, J goes for the last place that he should be, Palmer Hotal.



Wayne is less annoying now, with is brother death, he can shine now. I quite don´t Undertstand his reactions, since Jack was someone that is Brother Liked, but ok.



Chloe participation was good, since Jack for this type of operations always need her.



Martha Starts to be annoying, but in the end, she is Right.



We End with a Surprise, a New Mole is Reveled and a New Threat Begins and Jack is inside It.



Overral, a episode that build up the Storyline for the next two episodes, however, managed to create Tension, impossible situations, and a Shocking and interesting Ending.

So, the show continues with that huge tempo and motion as last episode started and now they all think Jack did it - like again. But no worries, Jack tries to fix it, meets with Wayne and they find something that can have be a clue. But ofcourse, things go wrong and Edward discovered that Chloe is logged in and they find her, blind her equipment and Jack has to find his own way out - and they get Chloe and CTU does not believe what she says.



On the mean time, the russians are there, we learn who the mole is and Logan's wife is thought to be hallucinating but she has some important information. And that boy.. what his name is.. he gets himself another trouble.

Great episode! I thought this episode in particular showcased some great acting from the women of \"24.\" Jean Smart\'s palace madness was well-played, and the tenacity of Chloe and Audry\'s defense of Jack set a great counterbalance to the coldness of Buchannan, Edgar and the terrorists at the Ontario airport. I would have like to have seen Jack\'s young companion get smacked around just a bit more...



Okay, serious review time. It is extremely difficult for a series, any series, to stay fresh going into the fifth season, but \"24\" does a great job of shaking up the tried-and-true formula, kicking the audience in the stomach in the process. Granted, most of that stomach-kicking took place between 7:00 and 7:15am; and as such this episode is afflicted with a lot of coasting and picking at the threads that will turn into great storylines over the next 22 episodes. Overall, it is a great episode, but obviously overshadowed by the season premiere. For example, the scene in Wayne\'s apartment, with David the giant laying dead and defeated on the carpet, is one of the dramatic highpoints (not to be confused with the action scenes at the end of the episode); and the constant recurrence of President Palmer\'s image and voice on television. It\'s an interesting precursor to how David Palmer\'s long shadow will continue to shape events over the rest of the season.



Great episode, not fantastic.



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P.S.: Chloe\'s server code, \"JJ72\", is also the name of a British pop group. Could someone please add that to \"Allusions\" for me? I\'m only a level 1 user, whatever that means, so I can\'t add it myself. Thanks!

Another good episode to start of the new season. I think if you compare episodes 1 + 2 for every season only season 1 could possilby stand up to season 5. The season has started out very good, with jack currently working against CTU in the attempt to proove his inicence. The Mrs. Logan situation needs to be over with, he crazyness isnt something I want to be taking up to much time in future episodes. The fact that there is a mole inside the white house was a good way to show she isnt entirely nuts, but thats about enough out of her. Jack being involved in a hostage situation seems good, i just wonder how long jack will be considered a "bad guy" by ctu...he has to go back sometime.

Was this the greatest episode ever or what?? From the beginning to the end of it I was on the edge of my seat. When Jack went to the very place where Palmer had just been assassinated less than a hour ago was like suicide, but hey that's our Jack! And he was this close to getting caught! These writers are trying to give us a heart attack seriously. The way he got away with it was classic, Cloe saved the day. At the end though, that was crazy now that he's stuck in the airport with all those crazy terrorists! And the kid is there too! Oh God, I wonder what's gonna happen now! Great episode, loved it!!

This episode was great. I actually haven't finished watching it so i am hoping to finish it now. i hope i get to watch the whole episode. This episode was great. I actually haven't finished watching it so i am hoping to finish it now. i hope i get to watch the whole episode. This episode was great. I actually haven't finished watching it so i am hoping to finish it now. i hope i get to watch the whole episode. This episode was great. I actually haven't finished watching it so i am hoping to finish it now. i hope i get to watch the whole episode.

Following from the first hour, the next hour is just as fast paced as the last one. It never goes dull, it's as exciting as the last episode, this is what 24 is all about. This is what a tv show must be. It's exciting to watch. Jack Bauer gets to go back to LA and figure out who killed David Palmer. In 24, every episode is never a filler episode. It's fast paced, we actually get to see something exciting. this is the most exciting tv show on the air right now. I'm loving every minute of it. It's awesome.

Highlights:



Incredible Chloe. She was excellllllent. Wow. I loved every scene she was in. The scene where Jack took out the first FBI guy... hilarious.



Derek changing completetly. He was such an ass, now he wants to help Jack. Great.



Wayne! Oh, Wayne. Such a good person. And oh, the scene he\'s in. PERFECT.



The phonecall.... Oh my god. Oh my god, oh my god. Martha was right! And damn that ****** he wanted to kill Jack, and I guess he still wants.



AWESOME ending! LOVE the music too.



Things that I didnt like:



Sometimes too much Martha, and too much of Logan and his very dumb expressions.



Oh boy, Buchanan, and the whole CTU is just so narrow minded, except Chloe and Audrey of course.



No Tony or Michelle at all. I mean, Michelle, GREAT friend of Buchanan, a former regular, and all that... and nobody cared of her? And Tony? Seriously injured yet nobody cares of him. At least they didn\'t forget David got killed.

Second hour is better than the first if you ask me. It was more solid and had a better dramatic build.



Logan's a jerk. Just wanted to say that before I say anything else. I hate that guy! Kudos to the actor for making me loathe him so.



I was really touched when Jack saw Palmer's body. That was a really emotional scene and Sutherland was excellent. You could tell what Jack felt without a single line being spoken. But something caught my eye. They zoomed in on Palmer's hand and it was not scarred as it ought to be. Was that a mistake or a clue that things may not be as they seem?



I love Wayne Palmer btw. For one thing he has the most amazing voice. But for another he is a good guy and it's nice to have at least one Palmer still around. Another wonderful acting performance when Wayne came face to face with Jack. I love that they dared to show him crying, that he didn't have to be "a man" and keep it together. Beautiful. I hope Wayne stays with us through the season, I really do.



Logan's an ass.



Audrey impressed me in this hour. I loved Audrey. With Tony on the operating table we needed someone to speak for Jack and she did. Great job, Audrey! Keep this up throughout the season.



I don't like the Mrs. Logan storyline. It feels redundant.



Walt was a bad guy... Didn't see that coming. Which must make me an idiot since he wanted Jack dead last season.



Logan's an idiot.



I'm a big fan of Derek's btw. Another great actor and a great character. I believe what Derek says and does. I think he's going to be a great character to have around, kind of like a teenaged Chase from season 3. I hope they don't kill him off. And the mother is good too, she doesn't annoy the heck out of me which most parent-type characters do on this show.



Hobbit spotting came out negative. Sean Astin, where do you hide?



In closing this episode was filled with great acting, great moments and a lovely cliffhanger towards the end. Can't wait for hour three!

It wasn’t going to be easy to follow one of 24’s best premieres, filled with shocking moments, character development and trademark thrills. Although they couldn’t up the ante as they did and had to rely on some contrivances, this episode is still satisfying enough to overlook or forgive them. Producers, knowing that 24 would premiere in the four hour block this year, wanted to craft a beginning of the season arc to fit this special event. This episode brings us midway, and the hostage situation will close it out. There is clearly a bigger plan in store, but it is unclear at this point, since a hostage situation isn’t close to a presidential assassination.



One part that received decent criticism is that of the people unaware of Jack’s survival, only Audrey seems shocked by it. Edgar is more upset that Chloe kept it a secret from him. It doesn’t seem strange to anyone that this has happened. I don’t know how you would feel if someone you believed to be dead wasn’t, but I would expect a bit more shock.



Although we know that Jack would never harm Palmer, it is logical that he would be a prime suspect to those unaware of the deep history of respect they had. Jack faked his death and lived off the radar for a year and a half and Palmer was one of the people who knew about it. Some could argue that Jack’s alibi, being upstate eating breakfast with witnesses at the time of Palmer’s death, is strong, but it’s against videotape.



It’s fitting that Audrey would point out that Buchanan’s assumption is wrong. Of all the people there, she’s the only one who knew Jack personally. Obviously, her relationship with Jack was tumultuous, at least the last twenty-four hours of it. However, between Jack’s death and the eighteen months since then, she has been able to put what Jack did in perspective. While it was questionable, Jack had to do it for the greater good.



Another important person is Chloe. She the last person who knew who isn’t dead or unconscious right now and when she suspected she was in trouble, she called Jack. She is fiercely loyal, willing to be arrested than turn him in. That still doesn’t mean Chloe isn’t a little nervous about the way he operates. Things around Jack tend to be very dangerous; she just saw him murder the man who killed Palmer. It’s given a lighter treatment during the “he’s good at this” scene, but doesn’t ruin the drama.



Derek’s presence allows us to go over the details of Jack’s life for those who are jumping into the show at this point. Viewers unaware of Jack’s past must have similar reactions to Derek’s. Within two hours, he’s seen the man he’s had a grudge against take out several terrorists, knock out an FBI agent and assume his identity, go to the place swarming with people looking for him and create a diversion so they could escape. He knows that Jack is able to handle a deadly situation like this, but that places him in the terminal when the black truck brigade strike.



Considering how packed the premiere was, this episode allows them time to introduce the big bad (at least for the next couple of hours). Why do these terrorists have enough money to bankroll thugs, weaponry and everything else necessary for their attacks, but they can’t afford some decent lighting? Where are you Nathanson? I think Saunders in season three was the only one who used lighting. Anyway, Nathanson triggers the big moment of the episode, mentioning that the next phase starts within the hour (three guesses as to when that point would be).



One thing overlooked in the premiere review was the return of DB Woodside, mostly because it played a bigger part in this episode. Manny Coto joined the 24 team this season and he is apparently good with continuity (I haven’t seen his prior work). This scene really helps connect what happened to Palmer with someone close to him in his personal life, since Novick is with Logan, Sherry is dead and they never wanted Palmer’s kids on the show again. Although it is a bit far fetched that no one would wonder where Wayne went or have anyone in the study inspecting. Those things are forgivable because the scene is so personal, down to the scene where Jack stares at Palmer’s body and you know he is furious.



It is interesting that of all the things Palmer left as clues to what he knew, all Jack found was a last name and an address. Since we don’t know exactly what he knew, how Palmer found this information is still up to speculation. Considering all Wayne looked at was a paragraph, Palmer may have stashed clues throughout this encrypted document, which would allow Wayne to come back later in the season to clarify some of these vague hints.



Aside from the Russian president riding in on a red herring, it was clear that the black truck brigade was not out to attack him or Logan. Some may wonder how taking a small airport terminal hostage is the next stage if an assassination was the first. This is certainly a worthwhile nitpick, but the terrorists’ threats since season four have been deliberately vague initially. Heller’s kidnapping and “trial” were distractions for the override, this hostage situation is likely similar.



Because he was questioning Chevensky away from the terminal, Jack is now in a “Die Hard” situation. John McClane, the trilogy’s protagonist, is a bit similar to Jack, minus the sense of humor. Though I know the outcome of this crisis, I will say that the writers placed themselves in a difficult position, creatively wise. There will be similarities, but they must proceed with caution not to rip off the original action classic. There is still the personal stakes of having Derek in there, after moments earlier believing he had sent him and Diane to safety.



Logan is still a nitwit, refusing to alert security about any threat. He is obsessed with how this will affect his standings in the public eye. This is certainly true for his character, the same man who let Walt go behind his back and plan an execution. Of course, Martha is the only person who knows what is going on, but she is in a position where no one believes anything she says and Walt is making sure that any points she can connect will be nullified.



It’s time for the cynics to roll their eyes with yet another mole storyline. At this point, I think many devoted fans have accepted spies and traitors as a necessary evil for the show. Character wise, it is fitting that it is Walt, because Logan is clueless about reality and Walt was the one who not so subtly suggested killing Jack and went ahead with the plan after Logan half heartedly dismissed it.



Why would the president’s chief of staff conspire with the Russians? It’s not like some low level employee sold out his/her country for some cash; he must’ve known Logan for years to get to this position. Walt appears to be the ultimate mole. 24 usually doesn’t go far to explain why those who went bad did, the worst offender being Nina, but the emphasis they’ve placed on personal drama this season could change that trend.



This wasn’t as strong as the first hour, but the end was a solid first entry to the season, hitting the ground running and amplifying the personal ramifications of these attacks. There are some instances of lazy writing (like how no one noticed who Jack was at the airport), but the rest of the hour was enjoyable enough to forgive it.

I didn't find this episode as fast paced as the premiere but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the show as the premiere and this episode were aired back-to-back.



Jack is out of retirement / exile and after rescuing Chloe O'Brien he heads into L.A as he continues his investigation into Palmer's murder.



Day 5 continues.

The faked security vid of Jack... looking gorgeous as always... :)



"The only reason you're still conscious is because I don't want to carry you." LOL



Audrey is the only one in the room who knows what she's talking about... "The best explanation that fits the evidence" is not always the correct one, and those who have worked with him should know that. And therein lies the problem for CTU - there is no one left there (beside Chloe, who is otherwise occupied) who has worked with Jack and knows his character.



Logan does seem to have grown a spine in the last eighteen months, unfortunately he does not appear to have learned how to make *good* decisions - merely how to make them.



167 agents, 25 in Wayne Palmer's apartment alone??? That's a heck of a lot of people in one small place. I realise it's probably not that small of an apartment, but still... Scratch that, the place is huge, so nevermind. Wonder what the rent is on a place like that?



Jack doing his level best to be invisible in the elevator was a nice touch.



Thought for a moment that Wayne might actually shoot Jack when he gave him the gun, but at least he knows better. He knows Jack would never do anything to hurt President Palmer in any way, shape or form. He worked for him for too long, and lost too much while protecting Palmer to go against him, and Palmer has had Jack's back for just as long.



Edgar, you massive security breach, you - giving out Chloe's access code. How can they think that Jack is forcing Chloe to help? You can't force Chloe to do anything she doesn't want to. Her panic when she was cut off from the network was kind of funny - poor Chloe, doesn't know what to do without her comp... I can sympathise, actually.



Logan blowing off his wife is going to come back and haunt him, I'm sure. Seems like somebody got to that recording before he got to listen to it. The "hardly" in the sentence seems as if it were added in - but then again... Anything can change, and will, on this show.



How do you protect someone who willfully goes against every good piece of advice he is given? Logan's blind determination to go ahead with the meeting with the Russian president is the height of stupidity and arrogance - not good qualities in the leader of a very powerful nation.

In episode two, we all learn that others in the government are slowly being aware that Jack isnt dead after all. This sets up Jack to go in search for answers to the party(s) responsible for setting him up in the assassination of former President David Palmer. After rescuing Chloe from the terrorists, the twosome (well, threesome including the teen character Derek) make their way into the parking garage of the building where the former President was assassinated. This is where Jack infiltrates the Penthouse with the guidance of Chloe via her laptop. After finding some breif answers, he heads off to the Ontario airport, only to run into more terrorists.

After being subjected to so much on TV with anti-American undertones, it was great to see 24 back with Jack Bauer in the saddle.



The writing is as great as it ever was if not better. I was grabbed by the throat at the assassination of President Palmer and murder of Michelle. They didn't let go for the entire two-hour premiere...or at least an hour and forty-eight minutes of it, which brings me to my next point: the Mega-Jeer and a throaty snarl to FOX!



I wasn't going to be able to watch 24 on Sunday night, so I set my DVR to record it. I became immediately aggitated when I sat down to watch the show on Monday, pushing play only to see a football game still in progress...right then I knew I was totally f****d.



I know all about the whole "Heidi-Bowl" thing and why no network would ever dare cut away from ANY game at the last minute, but for those of us on the east coast, couldn't you have spared us the misery of the post-game drivel and gone directly to 24? Couldn't you have done without a couple of the bloody "American Idol" ads to make up the time? It's not like you haven't bombarded the public with those ads already although there may be a few people in Tibet who haven't quite gotten the news.



So, thanks, FOX for making me have to read about what happened instead of letting me see it.



If you want to do us, your ultimate customers, a favor, you should replay Hour 2 in the near future for those of who couldn't see all of it the first time. Thank God football's almost over.

And continuing strong start, again there are points where it seems the writers don’t expect us to see basic flaws in action, or they don’t see them. Not major things, just little things that wouldn’t really happen in real life. It’s not often, but it does remind me that the show is made in Hollywood, and sometimes details, good ideas, and stories get thrown out the window. 24 is starting out really well so far, and I hope that it is another great season. Looking forward to more, still.

Before continuing with the review, a minor point. The Official Site used to post their minute-by-minute rundowns of new episodes within hours of the initial broadcast. This season, they haven’t posted a thing, and it’s nearly 24 hours later. Sure, it’s not a priority for anyone, but why highlight the episode guide as a source of immediate recaps if it’s not going to be updated properly?



It’s a minor issue because the second episode is relatively straightforward. There are a number of plot threads, but they all relate to the response after the revelation of Jack’s survival. Granted, most of the characters believe that Jack is guilty of the assassinations, which is a bit hard to swallow, but several nuances add scope to the conspiracy.



It’s clear that the writers are trying to make Audrey the lone voice of reason among the major players. Granted, Chloe or Tony might support Jack, but they have already been branded as overly loyal to Jack in past seasons. Audrey openly questions the assumption that Jack would kill the people protecting his secret, especially Palmer, and she brings up an obvious point in doing so.



So why do so many people instantly latch onto the concept of Jack as an assassin? Part of it feels like a writing convenience, to ensure that the tension is maintained at least as long as this one episode. Jack must labor against all odds to find some clue related to the true conspiracy, while being hunted down by the rest of the world. It works out well in terms of maintaining tension, but it’s a bit hard to believe.



After all, CTU and the rest of the world should be asking certain obvious questions. For instance, why would Jack choose this day and this moment to kill the people who knew about his survival? They know that there’s chatter related to the summit, so where’s the order to determine if there are connections between the victims, Jack, and the summit attendees?



It also seems odd, in the wake of his escape from the hotel, that Jack’s face wasn’t wired to every local law enforcement agency and egress to ensure that he could be identified. He manages to get into the airport rather easily. Then again, he needs to get in the building so he can be on the inside to deal with the terrorists. That makes it another likely plot convenience, which is unfortunate.



Speaking of the hotel, there were some great scenes during that stretch, particularly with Wayne Palmer. Not everyone hated Wayne in the third season, despite the idiotic plots attached to the Palmers in general, and his presence in this episode was much appreciated. The revelation about the clue itself could have been a bit more intriguing, like a passage that spoke to something from Palmer’s past that links to the current conspiracy (thus explaining his foreboding that something was happening), but the clue works in a pinch.



This leads to the obvious question: how did Palmer get the information about the man at the airport? Will the writers ever reveal that little detail? It actually seems rather important, since any effective frame job by this undefined conspiracy (including a member of the President’s staff, no less) would want to link Palmer’s killing by Jack to the information, thus robbing it of value. Was it simply that someone on the inside was going to ensure that the terrorists could get into the terminal and stage their hostage situation? Or was there something more specific happening at the airport, which the terrorist activity would be needed to conceal?



Again, the conspiracy must have a goal, which Jack’s apparent guilt is meant to conceal. That goal must be more substantial than the killing of a former president, or it wouldn’t make for a reasonable diversion. It’s not just about eliminating someone who contacted the president’s nutty wife, which seems to be the suggestion. Right now, one could assume that government factions opposed to this arms accord took measures to disrupt the summit, which required the elimination of any trace that there was a conspiracy (hence the killing of Palmer). But there’s always more to it…so what’s the real goal?



Derek’s place in the story is hardly in doubt. Not only did he fulfill the role of the character in need of recap, thus providing an excuse for exposition about Jack, but he personalizes the hostage situation, giving Jack even more of a reason to deal with it from his unique position. It’s almost a given that CTU will somehow come to the conclusion that Jack is the only choice for dealing with the crisis, above and beyond his possible guilt, so the direction of the next episode or so is more or less predictable. How it plays out is less predictable, since the writers are already looking rather bloodthirsty.



Logan continues to act like a complete idiot, placing his Legacy before the rest of reality. The writers are going for Nixon, to be sure, but it’s not a bad commentary on other recent presidents. Still, in this episode, the guy was being a complete moron about it. Even if he believes that Jack is the killer (and he has every reason to believe it), even if he dismisses his wife’s concerns, he can’t just assume that the timing is unrelated or that the threat is easily contained.



The first episode for the season gave the audience an effective gut punch, and gave evidence that the real aim of the terrorists this time around was so substantial that the killing of a former president was secondary to that goal. This episode seems to step back from that, and along the way, it depends a bit too much on plot contrivance. Yes, that’s something that’s part and parcel for this series, but it’s annoying when it’s so blatant. Someone other than Audrey and Chloe should be questioning the assumptions about Jack. For that matter, people should be reacting a lot more strongly to his apparent resurrection. It’s something that will be dealt with in the future, certainly, but where’s the shock and awe?



The writers and producers hinted that the first four hours, to accommodate the scheduling, would make up a fairly substantial mini-arc that comprises the full beginning of the season arc. That’s fine, but that means this episode and the next episode are the middle of the story, where the weaknesses typically lie. That being the case, the writers could have kept the strength of the story more intact, relying less on plot convenience so early in the game.

i was expecting the clasical 24 episode, you know action drama etc etc... insted i get that multiply for 1000000, this first 5 seasson episode was ablolutly the best episode i ever watched in tv, and that all just in the first 10 min.... at the half hour this episode became a master peace of the tv show's, an by the it just was perfect.... i recomended in 100% to everyone that loves action drama adrenalin... and of course for now on i'll be every monday siting in my sit whith my tv on where ever i be in this world .... cause Jack is back......

Well, the first hour was the setup and now we get to the real meat as everyone finds out Jack is alive as he's being framed for killing Palmer. It's a great twist and it'll make it even harder for Jack to try to get help, assuming of course he can trust anyone at CTU.



It was good to see Chloe helping with her talk with the kid and wanting to protect Jack. It'll be interesting how her boyfriend at CTU feels about this but then the bigger question is how Audrey is going to react when she and Jack come face to face.



And then the great ending with the airport taken as Jack is inside and he realizes he's really stepped into it. I do have two quibbles: The first is making that kid a sort of male Kim, being dragged into this crazy situation. The second is that I saw it coming a mile away that the First Lady's Secret Service handler was working for the bad guys.



But then, crazy plot points are what makes this show so incredibly awesome and I can't wait for it to continue with the airport standoff. Move over, John McClane, Jack Bauer is going to show you how Die Hard is really done.