Where to begin with last night's 24? Well, for starters, it was much better than the previous week's episode; however, it's still nowhere near the pulse-pounding excitement of anything from last season. I attribute the upgrade in quality this week to the relative absence of The Family Palmer. Regina King, flailing in her role as Sandra, was relegated to only one superfluous scene this week, and Wayne Palmer was only glimpsed about three times in the hour. Of course, those three times were brutal, especially in a late scene where he was forced to proselytize about the virtues of the constitution. I loved Wayne as a second fiddle, but he continues to leave me unconvinced as the President. Luckily, Powers Boothe has arrived on the scene as this season's hawkish VP (you'd think those Palmer boys would choose someone a bit nicer as their running mate by now), and as long as this show's been accused of being a right-wing wet dream, might as well go the full distance -- depose Palmer 2.0 and put crazy Noah in power. Then we'll have a season...
Monday's show began on a mildly bizarre note as we saw a news reporter happily announcing that he was at the edge of the Valencia safe zone. Hmmm... why do I feel like he'll come down with a severe case of radiation poisoning? Oh, that's right. It's because he's standing in Valencia, the town that was just destroyed by a nuclear bomb. Here's my idea of a safe zone: VERMONT.
Anyway, we then discovered that Wayne was watching this intrepid newcast, his face filled with the obligatory Tumultuous Palmer Concern. His brief moment of "I Am A Complex Being" was destroyed, however, by Tom Lennox, who marched in and relayed how sorry he was to hear that Karen had resigned.
"Are you really sorry, Tom?" Wayne snapped back. Good one! Presidential Zing!
Nevertheless, Tom used this opportunity to push his insane agenda -- the one that pretty much removes every citizen's basic rights and whatnot. Wayne understandably balked at these resolutions, saying they were a brazen abuse of executive power. As goes habeas corpus, so goes America. Poor Wayne. He was trying to be so firm and stern and presidential. Too bad we still don't believe him.
Of course, since the whole angle with Wayne is that he's simply a waffling baldy trying to live in his older brother's more capable footsteps, he then paused to contemplate Tom's plans, staring at the mushroom cloud on TV, glancing down at his WWDPD bracelet. Hmmm... maybe Tom did have a point. Thousands of people had already died, and who was Wayne to stand in the way of obnoxious, foundation-crumbling justice? Just like that Wayne changed his mind and told Tom to distribute the resolutions to everyone in the lobby. Habeas corpus? More like habeas notpus!
Elsewhere in the bunker, we found Karen still packing up her office, which was strange because it's not like she's had a lot of time in the bunker to really establish herself. What's she been doing for the past fifteen minutes? Maybe she needed to take a quick pitstop in the bathroom to deal with that awful burrito she ate the night before. Anyway, the hubby called up to find out something or another, and Karen sadly informed him, "Bill, I just had to resign." She then added, "Shmoopy."
Well, Bill couldn't believe what had happened, and when he pressed Karen, she yelled that she wouldn't have done it if she didn't have to. She then said she was hopping on a plane to Los Angeles, hung up the phone, and refused to answer it again. Dunh dunh DUNH! And that was all for Karen. See you in four or five weeks. Bon voyage! (I really hope she's flying JetBlue. American, United, and Delta are all showing either Marie Antoinette or A Good Year on their westbound flights this month. Honestly, that could be more painful than any nukes Fayed plans to send off).
Back at CTU, Chloe's Disaster-dar was going off like crazy. Jack wasn't answering his phone, and neither was his backup. Something was wrong!
Indeed, something was very wrong. We then found Jack and his dad handcuffed and in the back of a van, about to be taken to their impending death. The man behind all this, Graem, was back at his house, destroying evidence and telling his cronies via cellphone, "Just make sure it goes exactly as according to plan." Sure! That always works on 24!
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Comments (21)
For starters, this recap was a whooooooooole lot better written than the show itself... Yes, it was more exciting than last week, for all the reasons you mentioned (mostly lack of Palmers, and lack of Tom/Karen), but it's still "off." The family angle is just way, way too weird.
If Kiefer's not careful, he's going to make the character a caricature. Really, the constantly-out-of-breath delivery is getting wearing.
On a positive note, it does almost look as though things could get back on track next week during the two-hour ep.
1 of 21 | Posted by Deb
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Posted on February 6, 2007 4:43 PM
One more thought -- why HAS Morris been selling women's shoes for the last year or so when he could program nuclear bomb detonator switches? Just curious.... As often as CTU is pressed for manpower, you have to wonder why they let him wander off...
2 of 21 | Posted by Deb
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Posted on February 6, 2007 4:49 PM
Good god, Wayne Palmer is terrible. I liked the actor in Buffy, and in his earlier seasons ... but, wow, is he a terrible president. Doesn't David have a secret twin brother somewhere that they can bring in instead?
3 of 21 | Posted by dumbanddumber
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Posted on February 6, 2007 7:32 PM
Man, I really wish they hadn't killed off David Palmer. Now there's a president you could trust. They should have kept him alive and had him reinstated.
I'm so excited about the 2 hour episode next week though! Hope it's as good as it looks in the previews.
4 of 21 | Posted by mangos
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Posted on February 6, 2007 8:32 PM
OK. D.B. Woodside is a great actor but you're right, he's very KERRY-ish in his decision making. He kind of just changes his mind based on the last conversation he had.
I don't think he's a good president, but I think that's the point. If we had a great president all the time in this show, it'd be unrealistic.
Of course, I love the idea that Wayne gets killed and the VP takes over. Then at least we'd have riots, chaos and the such to stand in Jack's way as he tries to stop FOUR NUCLEAR BOMBS!!!!
And I'm sorry to say, that while this was a good episode (especially with the family drama between Jack and Graem), it was very predictable. From the very moment that Jack's dad unnecessarily shot the other guard who was unarmed and lying unconscious on the ground, I knew he was evil. I mean, that was just weird. Why would someone who ISN'T JACK BAUER, be so quick to pull the trigger on a defenseless man!?
Anyway, I'm totally looking forward to next week's two-hour episode. Maybe they'll just "mysteriously" have Mrs. Walid and husband, along with her brother, singing kumbayah right next to the second NUKE! Then we'll be back on track.
5 of 21 | Posted by Sam
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Posted on February 6, 2007 10:48 PM
What a happy family. Five bucks says Jack will have to put a bullet in his father's head at the end of the day. Whee!
6 of 21 | Posted by joyfulchicken
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Posted on February 7, 2007 3:34 AM
Judging from the reception this episode has gotten, I'd say it was a good thing I watched "Raw". Great re-cap, though, B-Side. Best line (for me, at least)="bitch, turn that off! You're in a hospital!"
Oh, and "Lost" is on tonight! Are we going to have to wait long to hear who's recapping?
7 of 21 | Posted by JohnEDowney
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Posted on February 7, 2007 5:14 AM
OK..24 is my favorite show on TV...I just finished watching seasons 1-5 on DVD and I am hooked. One thing I picked up on real quick is that Chloe and Morris both have the same last name O'Brian. Did I miss something? Aren't they just boyfriend/girlfriend? Or are they secretly married? Very Strange.
8 of 21 | Posted by Rvrctylady
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Posted on February 7, 2007 5:18 AM
Rvrctylady, to answer your question, Chloe and Morris were once married.
9 of 21 | Posted by JohnEDowney
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Posted on February 7, 2007 5:28 AM
WWDPD bracelet???? I said the same thing? He needs to ask himself WWDD? Not be such a puss, that's what!!!
As for VP Noah/Cy Tolliver, I think this line sums up he and Tom Lennox's strategy pretty well, Al Swearengen: "Sometimes I wish we could just hit 'em over the head, rob 'em, and throw their bodies in the creek."
Cy Tolliver: "But that would be wrong. "
10 of 21 | Posted by cruella_deville
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Posted on February 7, 2007 6:31 AM
I believe this marks the first successful CTU perimeter and raid ever seen on 24. Granted it was against a suburban Mc-Mansion with the only occupants being a befuddled housewife, a whiney teenager with stupid hair, and a balding, middle-aged man who’s only known weapons experience is with a Bluetooth earpiece but I’m still willing to put this one in the win column.
Oh, and I know TVgasm has sold some custom swag in the past so, if there were a WWDPD bracelet available for a reasonable price, it would be almost impossible to resist. Just putting it out there.
11 of 21 | Posted by MODULUS
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Posted on February 7, 2007 7:47 AM
I too am anxiously waiting for the show to get back on the fast track with the 2 hour action filled night. Talk about dysfunctional family though-the Bauers make the Osbournes look like the Cleavers. Where's Ma Bauer? Off selling canisters of the ebola virus to Marwan's younger brother?
12 of 21 | Posted by Sloaner
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Posted on February 7, 2007 8:03 AM
Did this episode remind anyone else of Arrested Development?
Rita?
The father/uncle suspicions?
13 of 21 | Posted by Emilita33
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Posted on February 7, 2007 9:00 AM
Didn't remind me of Arrested Development, but it was hard not to be reminded of the movie "No Way Out," with the picture being slowly filled in the whole episode. Straight out of the NWO script, which rather spoiled the "surprise" ending.
14 of 21 | Posted by Deb
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Posted on February 7, 2007 9:36 AM
o.k., the 2-hour block next week is a make or break moment. it will either be the axis upon which this season recovers its equilibrium (certainly possible, now that powers booth is on the scene) or the moment when 24 jumps the proverbial shark.
hate to pile on, but wayne palmer's preachy 'god save the constitution' speech was some of the worst and least convincing rhetorical exercises i've witnessed since i had to join the forensics team in high school to avoid getting suspended for telling a dirty joke to the school librarian.
jack's dad turning out to be e-vil was soooo predictable. 'but dad! i needed to interrogate that guy!' COME ON, JACK!! you'd think after getting the runaround from henderson last season and then spending two years in chinese prison he'd be a little more cynical--or at least, a little more shrewd.
and how f@#$ing lame does CTU have to be not only to let their genius programmer go waltzing out the door unescorted, but to be oblivious to the fact that he is the one guy in the area capable of doing abu fayed's dirty work? how many people in the los angeles area could possibly know how to arm nuclear suitcase bombs? wouldn't the NSA, CTU, FBI, CIA all have these guys names in a file somewhere? puh-leeeeeze.
and watching jack tell yet another torture victim 'you don't want me to do this' before kicking over his chair and screaming 'WHERE'S THE BOMB!' before grimacing in pain and existential guilt at the high price one man must pay to save the planet is just getting exhausting.
i really want to keep loving this show, and i'll keep watching it for camp value regardless, but the deathwatch is on, as far as i'm concerned. save us, powers booth!!!
15 of 21 | Posted by jack
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Posted on February 7, 2007 12:34 PM
WOO-HOO! My man Burke is back. And I loved how he radioed for backup when Jack was going torture-crazy. Take that, Jack! Burke ain't goin out like a punk.
I agree...Wayne should die. Philip should die soon. He robbed Jack of exacting vengeance for DP, Tony, and (I guess) Michelle. In fact, Jack could really right a terrible wrong in the world of 24...the overblown silent clock/emmy moment for Edgar, and the total lack of respect for the death of Tony Almeida. But now it appears Graem is dead, as well as any possibilities for revenge. So Jack better kill his dad, and GOOD.
16 of 21 | Posted by dizzlevizzle
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Posted on February 7, 2007 1:15 PM
Ok Jack either be a hard ass interrogator or nothing at all... how weird was it that Jack was consoling his brother as he shot him up with whatever that was. Anyway hope this season gets better soon.
17 of 21 | Posted by couchpotato
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Posted on February 7, 2007 1:15 PM
yeah, i think the keyword of this episode, as i read a few other places aswell (like here: http://88.191.26.34/i_watch_tv/index.php/2007/02/07/the-family-drama-continues/) was PREDICTABLE!
you could see philip was bad as soon as he shot the guy, you could see palmer's changing his mind after every conservation he had, you could see moris being the guy too...
and as you said in that cool review, all the fake drama, or not sending agents after morris and co, man i hope next weeks will be really HUGE!
like killing palmer, getting ride of philip, and moving on to the next big story...
18 of 21 | Posted by bobby
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Posted on February 7, 2007 3:42 PM
I once again agree with everything jack (#15) says. jack, you are a genius.
19 of 21 | Posted by B-Side
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Posted on February 7, 2007 5:26 PM
Hate to sound like a broken record, but Wayne Palmer as president just keeps getting more laughable every week! And it was totally predictable that Jack's father is evil! Can't wait 'til he gets his at the end of the day!
Deb - I thought the same thing about the picture! Totally No Way Out!
I figured you get a "Babe" reference in one of these recaps, B-Side. LOL!
20 of 21 | Posted by Jojobear
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Posted on February 7, 2007 7:28 PM
I don't know if any others on this site read/subscribe to the New Yorker, but there is what seems to be an interesting piece on Surnow's politics.
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070219fa_fact_mayer
21 of 21 | Posted by Leila
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Posted on February 9, 2007 9:31 AM