'24' is a Show Full of Surreal Life Lessons

Morning Call ^ | 4/9/06 | Renee A. James

[Dr. Scarpetta]

If you watch Kiefer Sutherland and "24," you learn to handle 60 minutes of tension, heartbreak and deception each week. And that's just between the characters of the president and the first lady.

But although fans love it, even the most ardent learn to overlook a lot regarding plot devices and characters.

Example: Jack Bauer, toughest guy on the planet and lead terrorist hunter, who can withstand torture, gunshots, drugs and severe mental anguish, found a pretty cool job for his annoying daughter, Kim.

After her stint as a runaway and a troubled teen in season one, she became an agent at the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU).

Kim, whose previous claim to heroic fame was escaping a wildcat while lost in the mountains of southern California, was now among the elite specialists who would save the lives of everyday Americans should the very worst take place. God help us.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Oops! We both stole the same tagline. My bad. I'll go with something else.

[COEXERJ145]

Try one of these.

Jack: "By the time I'm finished with you, you're gonna wish you felt this good again"

Jack (after killing a man in cold blood): "I'm gonna need a hacksaw."

[Sender]

Oh sorry, you can have it back if you want. There's plenty more.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

No, you grabbed it first, it's yours. A quote from Ronaldus Magnus will do fine for the time being. ;^)

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Yes!!!

[WestVirginiaRebel]

The seasons always seem to take place about a year or two apart. You'd think Jack would have been able to get some therapy during that time. Of course he'd probably think therapy was for wimps : )

Also since everything is always a race against time-when does he go to the bathroom???

Sometimes I wonder if the President's wimpy behavior is just an act and he's really the one behind everything.

[Dave Olson]

The only mysterious part of the show was that none of the protagonists needed to eat, drink, or go to the restroom (ever!).

There's a couple of other mysteries I've noticed.

Supposedly, someone cannot get inside CTU without their id badge. Yet, one guy was mugged outside, his badge was stolen and the next scene showed him on the inside as if nothing happened. How did he get back in?

Last season, Air Force One had crashed. Jack and the terrorists raced to get the "nuclear football". How could a Jeep beat a helicopter to the crash site?

[Tribune7]

One of my favs from this season

Chloe: OK, I'll help. (upon seeing Jack strangle Kim's boyfriend over a dispute as to how best get Chloe out of her state of shock.)

[COEXERJ145]

Sometimes I wonder if the President's wimpy behavior is just an act and he's really the one behind everything.

You haven't been watching, have you?

[BlessedBeGod]

So what of this "24" show? Liberal crap? Or is it worth checking out?

Liberal crap? Noooooooooooooo! Joel Surnow (creator of the show) loves Rush. It's one of the best series I've ever seen.

When I got the first season on DVD (I'd never seen it on TV before, but got it on the advice of FReepers), I watched the first 7 episodes in one afternoon/evening. The only reason I stopped was because I had to go to bed and get up in five hours. I got the rest of the seasons on DVD immediately afterwards, and ended up watching the first 11 episodes of season three in one day. It's addictive!

[COEXERJ145]

It's a running joke that CTU has the worst security in the world. The writers answered a question about this on the recent Rush interview and said it happens simply for a matter of plot necessity.

[COEXERJ145]

I was hoping Jack would choke the life right out of Barry.

[Tribune7]

I think they have something special in mind for Barry.

[Tribune7]

Sometimes I wonder if the President's wimpy behavior is just an act and he's really the one behind everything.

Yeah!!!

[COEXERJ145]

I haven't heard anything about him coming back this season but there is a rumor he will be back next season.

[COEXERJ145]

Chloe was actually Jack's contact with the real world. This is explained in the Season 5 Prequel which also explains how someone found out Jack was alive.

And yes, count me in the group that was p*ssed as hell with how they killed Michelle. I remember in an interview that Reiko Aylesworth said she didn't want to die in a way that was simply convenient for the writers. Sadly that is exactly what she got.

That said, Reiko is probably one of the most captivating women I've ever seen. Her face is just stunning. She has the most beautiful eyes (thanks to her Japanese heritage) and her curly hair is so cute. (Too bad they got rid of it in Season 4 and episode 5.1.)

I have a hundred or pictures of Michelle/Reiko I could pick from (along with hunderds of other 24 pictures) but I'll just use a few.

[restornu]

You might be mistaken as I was listening to Rush things are not always what they seem!

[Tribune7]

The scriptwriters have treated Kim like a moron. How many times has she been kidnapped?

Day One: Twice

Day Two: A little confusing: She kidnapped the daughter (which makes her the kidnapper rather than the kidnapee); then she was chased by the pervo husband, whom she beat up; then she kidnapped the daughter again; then she was arrested (which doesn't count as a kidnapping); then she escaped, when her boyfriend caused the police car to crash; then she was sorta kidnapped by the survivalist guy after he rescued her from the trap and cougar but who let her go; then she was held hostage by the armed robber; then she was arrested again but Jack fixed things; then she was chased around the house by the pervo husband before she shot him as per Jack's directions on the help line.

Day 3: Once, while pretending to be the British guy's daughter in the library.

[Tribune7]

Day 5 Prequel

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

She is adorable. That's what's so heartbreaking about the writers killing her off.