To Live Another Day...

I'd never thought I'd get to say this again, but here goes: Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, it's that time again! It's time for terrorists to quake in their boots, evil hackers to hide in their Matrices, and bad politicians to go on extended vacations... That's right, boys and girls, JACK IS BACK!!! I can not convey just how awesome it was to be watching another season premiere of 24. Just hearing the sounds of speeding up countdown clicks as the familiar digital "24" appeared on screen gave me goosebumps. It was pure epicness. And that was just the intro. Now, let's get into the episodes!

24: Jack Bauer Kills

This video is just too awesome to not post on my blog. By now, dear readers, you should know about my love for all things 24. Some awesome, enterprising soul went through the first SEVEN seasons of 24 and built a vid cataloging practically every single kill Jack Bauer makes.



If you add the kills of Season 8, it's a total of 245 kills under Jack's belt. That's an impressive body count, considering that most of those kills were with a handgun!!

24 Moments of 24

Once a show ends, I tend to go over the entirety of the show and create a mental catalog of my favorite moments of the show. It's not really an exhaustive list, but it's an outline to make it easier for me to reference the rest of the great moments of the show.

One of my favorite shows ended this past Monday, and as long standing tradition dictates, I've created my list. Here are some of the BEST moments of 24. The funny part is, there's twenty-four of them!!

Season 1:

- When Jack Bauer meets Sen. David Palmer for the first time.
That first conversation set the tone for their entire relationship. They had a bit of bluster as they cleared up any misunderstandings and then got to work!

- The moment when Palmer realizes that his assistant is trying to entrap him by sleeping with him and he turns her down... and fires her.
It was such an awesome moment. Not only is Palmer an honorable man, but he doesn't forgive betrayals easily. This was when Palmer earned my respect and loyalty.

- Nina shooting Terri Bauer.
This was just amazing. The show had already distinguished itself from other action shows by this point, but I was expecting a stand off or Jack being able to save her. When she was shot and killed, my jaw hit the floor. Right then, 24 became the bad ass show that could go anywhere and do anything.

Season 2:
- The look on Jack's face when he hears the White House rep leaving him a message.
You know why Jack isn't answering CTU's calls. He's just not interested in dealing with their crap in trying to get him back. But Jack loves his country, and he personally respects David Palmer. When he hears the rep's voice on the machine,
there's this moment where you could just SEE him thinking, "FUCK, I have to answer this!"

- "I need a hacksaw!"
This scene just totally reminded people just what Jack is capable of. Shooting the witness was bad ass enough. I actually didn't hear this line the first time I saw the ep, cause I was spluttering in shock. But this line just takes it to the NEXT level. Jack goes beyond bad ass at this point.

- David Palmer's speech to the group trying to invoke the 25th amendment.
This speech is just amazing. It truly showcased all the strengths David Palmer had and showed you WHY he was the President of the United States.

- Jack's first foray into politics: Shutting Sherry up with a bullet to the wall.
This was just fucking great! For all the manipulating Sherry worked during her bit on the show, it was awesome to her get shut down so fast. She didn't even finish her first sentence before Jack pulled the trigger.

Season 3:

- Tony's return to leading CTU after getting shot in the neck. IN THE NECK people.
Given the real-time nature of the show, when Tony got shot in the neck I thought he'd be down for a good portion of the season, if not the rest of the season. No one was more surprised than me when less than 3 eps later, Tony was BACK running CTU.

- The death of Nina Myers
I'm sorry, but bitch had it coming. That's all I have to say.

- Michelle's object lesson at the hotel.
I never ever questioned Michelle's dedication to her job. But, I never realized how COLD she could be. It was the right decision, since she couldn't let the guy leave. But it was awesome to see her pull the trigger. No muss, no fuss.


Season 4:

- Jack breaking a witness in under 20 seconds.
This was just funny. CTU was getting nowhere. Jack walks in, 20 seconds later, they got their info. Tell me what I want to know. *silence* *shoot knee out* Secretary of Defense!!

- "The only man I can trust" The return of Tony!!
Who does Jack reach out to, in his moment of need? The only character bad ass enough to take the reigns if Jack Bauer left the show: Tony Almeida!

- Jack, the lamp, and the impromptu torture of Paul Raines, IN FRONT of his current girlfriend, Audrey. Paul's ex-wife.
This was just an awesome moment. Jack will do WHATEVER is necessary to protect his country. Even torpedo his romantic relationships. Jack is right, you can't do this job right and have normal relationships.

Season 5:

- Jack's infiltration of Wayne Palmer's penthouse.
Over 50 agents all in ONE spot, ALL looking for Jack, and he slides through them like a hot knife through butter.

- Secret Service agent Aaron Pierce calling President Logan, "Charles".
For the past seasons of the show, Aaron Pierce was a kind, respectful agent. Loyal to the office of the President. And by the book. How does Logan pay him back? By having him tortured. Then Logan had the balls to try to appeal to Pierce's decency. When Pierce called him "Charles", it was as if he had said "fuck you, you fucking fuckball". It takes a great man to say that with just ONE word.

Season 6:

- Finding out from the Chinese that in his 2 years of imprisonment, Jack NEVER broke.
This was just a powerful moment. Even Jack's ENEMIES give him respect. And it was just an offhand comment.

- President Wayne Palmer!
'Nuff said.

- Jack's return to CTU after seeing the nuke detonate.
Given all the crap Jack has been through, it was perfectly understandable for Jack to just walk away. He'd just been imprisoned & tortured for the better part of 2 years. That alone earns him the right to leave. But, he saw the nuke go off. He knew he couldn't walk away. That's when the terrorists lost.

Season 7:

- Jack's testimony in the Senate hearing.
This was an echo of the crap the media was giving 24 in real life. And Jack's testimony was amazing. Jack does what was necessary at the time. Period. If you don't like his actions, then he'll pay the penalty, but he won't apologize for it.

- The return of Tony Almeida.
Me & Jack were on the same page on this. I did not believe that Tony was alive. Then I rewatched the scene in season 5, and actually listened to Renee's explanation. And it hit me... it was possible.

- The death of Buchanan. While a horrible loss, it was an awesome moment.
This moment killed me. Buchanan proved himself to be a solid man, honest, loyal, and someone who gets stuff done for his people. His sacrifice for Jack was a true Noble Act. I hated that it was needed, but the ex-CTU agents do what's necessary.

Season 8:

- Renee's half smile when she finds out Vladimir's team didn't kill Jack.
This was when I knew she was into Jack on a romantic level. It was the slightest moment, but she LIKED that Jack took down the crew. That such a small moment could convey so much was really cool.


- Jack's attack on Ex Pres. Logan's motorcade.
I still love that cry of fear from Logan. "That's JACK BAUER, he's coming to KILL ME!!" It is just so awesome!! SO AWESOME!!!!


- Jack's final conversation with Chloe.
Chloe getting props she rightly deserved. It was a powerful, and moving moment.

Series Finale: 24

I just finished watching the season, no the SERIES finale of 24. OH MY GOD!!!! This was probably the best series finale I could have hoped for. Aside from ONE stylistic change, this ending was perfect! I knew from the moment the episode started I was going to love it. Right when they went back to an old standard of theirs: Events occur in real time.

Hearing that brought a smile to my face, cause I knew the producers of the show put that in as a nod to those people, myself included, who kept talking about how season 8 was turning into nothing more than a re-hashing of seasons 1-7. Was I wrong about that or what?? Then events started unfolding and it just got better and better.

The emotional struggle President Taylor went through was amazingly well done. After season 7, I knew that Cherry Jones could give an amazing performance, but she outdid herself here. That moment when Taylor threatens Dahlia Hussan was awesome. You could SEE the pain behind the mask of anger that led her to say something that terrible. The statement alone went against EVERYTHING that Taylor stands for, but in the moment, you could see EXACTLY why she said it. Oh, and let's not forget Dahlia herself.

That woman stood face to face with the most powerful woman in the world and told her to fuck off. She had earned my respect when she took the post of her dead husband, but she earned my loyalty when she made that statement to Taylor. Then seeing her during the ceremony, knowing that she was about to be signed into a political agreement that had been corrupted into being nothing more than a cage of peace, and that she couldn't do a single thing about it, was heartbreaking.

It's moments like that where 24 really shines. Just presenting the concept that this country is more than capable of cowing another country into submission, and how WRONG that action is, no matter what the motivation behind it, is a RARE thing on American television. And, that's what makes 24 MORE than just some action show. 24 has always been at its best when the storylines are at a perfect balance between the two tentpoles of the show: Politics & Action. It was commented earlier in the season that the show was heavy on action, and to maintain that balance, the latter half of the show was heavy on politics.

Speaking of politics, I can't believe they went so far as to have Charles Logan commit suicide. It was an amazing, and surprising, act of strength on the part of Logan. (Never thought he had it in him.) He killed himself, so Taylor wouldn't find Jack in time to save him. And yet, as it happened with most of the big moves he makes, his death (and the murder of his aid prior to that) pushed him into irrelevancy. It was poetic justice. Logan was always more successful with his smaller moves, for example, his corruption of Taylor.

And then, there's Jack.


I knew when it was announced that 24 was ending AND that Jack would survive it all, that there HAD to be more to it. Given that this is 24, the idea of Jack being out free & clear wasn't going to happen. This show NEVER gives happy endings, just emotionally satisfying ones. When Jack went on his own near the end of this season, I remember thinking, what the fuck is he doing?? In the little bit that they played of his recording, they answered that question. And it reminded Taylor of who she was, someone that takes the law of country seriously. You can't do what she did to her daughter in season 7 and NOT take the law seriously.

For me, the coolest scene was a reference to a movie Keifer Sutherland did during season two called PhoneBooth. He plays a guy who terrorizes people by calling them and sniping them. The scene when he has Logan in the cross-hairs, and calls him was just extra awesome because of that movie.

“I have a 556 rifle pointed straight at your head…which travels two thousand nine hundred feet per second. If you try to move, you’re a dead man.”

But the most powerful parts for me were the conversations between Chloe and Jack. The first one, while Jack was planning on killing the Russian president, was awesome because it showed how loyal Chloe was to Jack. In the end, Jack made the same mistake President Taylor did and let his passion for justice/revenge get the better of him. Chloe brought him back from the edge that Tony jumped off of prior to season 7. Jack's greatest strength has always been the quality of the people supporting him, and Chloe really nailed it.

The phone conversation at the very end, was awesome because it showed that Jack KNEW the friend he had in her, and recognized all the sacrifices she made for him. He KNEW how much he had cost her, and acknowledged that. He was now a fugitive wanted by two out of the three most powerful countries in the world, (China isn't actively looking for him anymore.) and yet he took the time to acknowledge her loyalty to him. Why? Because THAT is the man Jack Bauer is.

And Chloe proved her worth again, with the last command she gives on the show, killing the surveillance tracking Jack and giving him time to disappear. "Shut it down". And like that... he's gone.

And that's my one TINY nitpick. I would have had the clock countdown while Jack's image pixelated it's way into nothingness. I did like that the clock counted down to all zeroes, instead of 4 o'clock. It was a nice touch.

Overall, this season was a great final season and this finale was a fantastic way to bring the show to a close. Tied up everything that needed to be done, and let Jack go. I'm sad to see the show end, and I'm looking forward to any 24 movies they decide to make, but at least they ended the show properly.

Good luck, and God bless, Jack Bauer. Now, I'm going back and watching the WHOLE SERIES from beginning to end!! Who's with me?!

Last night's ep of 24

If you haven't watched last night's ep of 24, stop reading this blog RIGHT NOW! Go watch the ep and then read this.

Did you watch it? Good! You're now cleared for the rest of this post!

I remember this scene in season 2 of 24 where Jack Bauer and Shelly Palmer actually meet in person again. Jack talks to her in that no bullshit, all business style of his and she starts to give him some shit about respecting her. In true Jack Bauer style, Jack shuts her up by shooting a bullet into the wall (or floor) beside her and yelling for her to "SIT DOWN!"

After all the shit Shelly had put people through in the first two seasons of 24, she deserved it and that scene was one I thought Jack would NEVER top.

Then came Charles Logan. That ass has been causing Jack Bauer issues from when he was first introduced as the United States VP in season 4, straight through until NOW in season 8. Slimy, manipulative and corrosive, Logan just becomes more and more like political DEMON with every appearance he had on the show.

And some of my favorite scenes have been at his expense, starting with Secret Service agent Aaron Pierce's verbally stripping him of his title and just calling him "Charles".

But NOTHING beats this last episode of 24, when Jack, in a uniform which included a mask that made me thank God Jason Voorhees wasn't a military brat goes after Ex-Pres Logan. I was RELISHING the fear on Logan's face as he yelled, "Th- th- that's JACK BAUER! He's coming to KILL ME!!"

And to make it even better, Jack's interrogation of Logan was PRICELESS!! PRICELESS!! I couldn't stop laughing, it felt so good to see Logan finally get some of what's coming to him. The pure terror in his eyes when Jack put the gun to his throat was AWESOME!! But, I have to give credit where credit is due. Despite all the completely justified fear Jack inspired in Logan, the slimy politician kept enough of a presence of mind to immediately shield the involvement of the Russian President. Despite my fervent hopes that he wasn't involved.

After all, I like Russia. They have Vodka, a great and rich cultural heritage, and some of the most GORGEOUS WOMEN on the planet. But, there's not going to be much left after Jack is done... I'm gonna miss Russia.

Speaking of Russia, I found it really interesting that the ep didn't show anything except for the opening moves of what happened at the Russian Embassy. Not even the producers of 24 themselves were cleared to know exactly what happened! But, you don't really have to see it to know. When Jack put away the shotgun and pulled out his trusty handgun, for the guards, just plain GUARDS mind you, at the elevator, any fan of 24 knew it was all over but the dying. There are few people that are more dangerous armed with a handgun, than with a shotgun. Jack Bauer is one of these people. After it was all over, I knew the Russians would be needing a new diplomatic delegation to the US.

And while the events that occured in the embassy will probably never come to light, the pole through Novacovich was a clear & POINTED statement: NO ONE crosses Jack Bauer and lives.

And as we're about to find out, that "no one" includes soon-to-be dead Russian Presidents.

24 Season 8 Premiere -- 2nd Night

Ever since the producers & the executives at Fox decided on the two night 4 hour premiere format for 24, I've had a ball with the start of the season. It always feels like the show is larger than TV for some reason.

Before I start on Hours 3 & 4, I do have to make a slight correction to my review of Hours 1 & 2. I stated that the character Hassan was the president of Iran. I could have sworn that it was stated in the dialog, but it turns out, I was mistaken. While Hassan is the president of a middle eastern country, as always, it's never stated which country. Sorry about that, folks. And now, my thoughts on Hours 3 & 4.

The next two hours have aired, and they are fantastic!! We're now getting some of the B-story lines laid out and I have to say, I'm not liking Dana Walsh's storyline. They started her out as strong, focused, and determined in the first two hours. Now they're ping-ponging her between Strong Walsh at CTU and Fragile Walsh with her ex-boyfriend, which doesn't quite ring true. Even with CTU NY being a relatively new organization, Walsh would never be able to handle working at CTU if it were so easy to break her down. Sackhoff's performance is pitch perfect, I'm just not liking the character.

I do have to say I like the idea of a division of CTU having to prove it can do the job. Until it's disbanding in between season 6 & 7, CTU was a deeply entrenched foundation of the show with very small changes to it.
And Annie Wershing returns as Renee Walker!! YEAH!!! She was awesome in season 7 and I loved her introduction in season 8, but her actions are really solidifying the echoes of previous story lines.

Have you ever wanted to go back in time & talk to your younger self? Give yourself some strong advice and guidance? Renee's introduction in season 7 seemed to have given Bauer that exact opportunity. Now in season 8, we're treated to a re-invention of the "hacksaw" scene in season 2. Not to mention the fact that Walker's in pretty much the same state Bauer was in at the beginning of season 2. Plus, the unusually honorable president, and another love affair between high level CTU agents..... I guess because this might be the final season of 24, the producers decided to give us the "Best Of.." 24 story lines". Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but we'll have to see how things turn out.

Hours 3 & 4 continue the greatness of season 8, and I can't wait for Monday to hear the words: "The next episode of 24 starts... RIGHT NOW!"

The Best of The Best Returns...

It's that time again. The time for terrorists to quake in their boots, evil hackers to hide in their Matrices, and bad politicians to go on extended vacations... That's right, boys and girls, JACK IS BACK!!!

One of the best things about the month of January is the return of one of the greatest shows on television: 24. Season 8 started last night, and the two-night, four hour premiere continues tonight at 8pm!! I've watched the first two eps and here are my first impressions, to paraphrase a favorite ad slogan: Season 8 is GREAT!!!

First off, the storyline is being debuted very well. It looks like the streak of good writing on 24 that started in season six is still holding strong. There are some strong resemblances to early seasons of 24, but there's enough new material there to avoid the appearance of the writers repeating themselves. For example, unlike past seasons, the politics are being displayed early on. This is a good thing, since the blend of the mind-bending political intricacies and heart-stopping action are what gives 24 it's unique appeal. (Think of it as the perfect mix of West Wing & Die Hard.) That they're introducing the politics so early promises a much more complex storyline. I hope they keep delivering that complexity throughout the season.

In terms of casting, the producers of the show have tapped some exceptional talent!! Mykelti Williamson, as always, puts in a solid performance. Powerful and engaging as Hastings, the director of CTU NY, he has a few steps to take to achieve the position of true successor to Bill Buchanan, but he has the makings. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what he does with his role.

Katee Sackoff, after Battlestar Galatica and Bionic Woman, is there NOTHING she can't do? It's nice to see Hollywood's only humanly proportioned blond actress in a non sci-fi role, though. I definitely don't want to see her typecast. I want to see her as much as possible! Taking up the mantle of Michelle Dessler, Sackhoff's Dana Walsh is powerful, determined and exceptionally competent at her job. Plus, she looks good doing it! (I had to say it, the woman is gorgeous after all.)

Freddie Prinze, Jr is the surprise for me. I'm used to seeing him as the leading man in rom-coms, and the funny guy in everything else. He's stepping in as the next Tony Almeida (even with his choice of romantic interest, Sackhoff's Dana Walsh), Cole Ortiz, director of CTU NY field ops. It's an interesting jump for Prinze, Jr and so far he comes across believably. When the action really starts we'll see if he can keep up.

I did enjoy seeing Slumdog Millionaire's Anil Kapoor as the president of Iran. Kapoor's President Hassan came across as polished, honorable, sincere, and sympathetic. The last president with that kind of mix was David Palmer. I'm looking forward to seeing where Kapoor takes the role. It was also very nice to see one of my favorite bad guys, Doug Hutchison, again. I know he's not the main bad guy, but I really enjoy watching him work. I hope he lasts a good long while in this season.

Series regulars Cherry Jones & Mary Lynn Rajskub reprise their roles with the same power and appeal as ever and for once, Elisha Cuthbert's Kim does not come across as annoying & petulant.

The producers of the show have often stated that 24 takes place about 5 min into an alternate future of the US. The first two eps of season eight reflect this more than any other season so far, mostly in the layout of CTU NY. Voice activated view screens, cavernous body scanners, biometric access panels and my personal favorite, the drone piloting station, all add an air of "one step forward" advanced tech that makes CTU NY appear ahead of the game.

Overall, I believe this was a strong opening for Season 8. I'm looking forward to tonight's continuation and the rest of the season. Rumors have it that this is the last season of 24. I hope not, but if it is, it's looking like it's going to be one HELL of a ride. And what better place to go out in than New York City?