Eventually, Graem said some nonsense about how he and Jack were the same, and of course, Jack bellowed back, "WE ARE NOT THE SAME!" This was followed by a swift knock-Graem-over-on-his-back move, which in turn was capped off with Jack pointing a gun in his brother's face, threatening to kill him right then and there. Memories of Nina, anyone? Of course, Jack refrained from committing fratricide at the last second, thanks to Philip walking in and giving one of his James Cromwell "That'll do, Babe" expressions. Personally, I would have liked it if Philip was more like Cromwell's character from The Queen -- endlessly grumpy, often wearing a kilt, and never afraid to fix any problem by recommending some fresh air.
We then went to commercial, and when we returned, we found ourselves in that most regrettable of storylines: the saga of Sandra and Walid. After his scuffle in the detention facility, he was now laid up in a hospital room with his girlfriend sadly doting upon him.
"I'm ashamed," he mumbled to her.
"What do you mean, you're ashamed?" she asked.
"I'm ashamed that I'm dragging this season down," he replied. Okay, okay. He didn't say that. Instead he muttered about how awful he felt for spying on his fellow Muslims and whatnot. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Big deal. Just at that moment, Sandra's cell phone rang (bitch, turn that off! You're in a hospital!). Turns out Wayne was on the line. He had just found out what had happened to Walid, and he couldn't have been more sorry. Sandra used this opportunity to talk about how and why constitutional rights were so important, and as Wayne simplistically realized the horror of Tom's ways, we knew he was going to change his tune about the resolutions yet again. Fascinating.
Oh, and just in case there wasn't enough dumb melodrama between these two, the conversation ended with Sandra saying, "Wayne, I'm scared!" And the Emmy goes to...
Back at CTU, Morris announced he was using an unlicensed application to decode that image of the engineer. And yes, we still didn't know who it was. URGH. My guesses: Morris or Philip.
Speaking of Philip, we soon found him back at Graem's house, sitting with Jack post-interrogation. "You deserved a better family, Jack," he said. "Not this. Not us." Yeah, but to be fair, when a family doesn't try to commit murder on at least two of its members, can you really still call that a family? I THINK NOT!
Well, we then learned that Graem would be ready to go to CTU in ten minutes, and if there's anything we know, it's that when important figures aren't moved right away, bad things will happen. Jack then told his dad he wanted him to go to CTU for a debriefing, which was fine and all, but Philip asked if he could just have a few minutes to gather himself before going. Hmmm... the levels of fishiness were reaching estuary levels.
Back at CTU, Morris's new application seemed to be doing the trick. The photo was totally decoding, and since that was all well and done, Morris decided his work there was done. He packed up his belongings and headed off to see his suspiciously ailing brother, Timothy. Certainly nothing could go wrong now...
Meanwhile, up in the skies, Vice President Powers Boothe (a.k.a. Noah something or another) happily reviewed Tom's plan. As I mentioned before, this VP was another one of those hawkish dicks that seem to always come into power (and you always know they're really hawkish because we first see them in planes. Let's not forget David Palmer's evil Veep from season two). Anyway, Noah loved Tom's plan and was surprised that Wayne was down for it also. "To be honest," he said, "I didn't think this president had the stomach for this cure."
Turns out Wayne didn't have the stomach for this "cure." After a long-winded and dubiously written (and acted) speech, Wayne announced that he was sticking to his original plan, not following Tom's idiotic measures. Basically, this scene was awful. D.B. Woodside made Wayne sound like a kindergarten teacher as he explained his reasoning. If Wayne barely sounded presidential before, he was totally laughable now. I say kill off Wayne and put Powers Boothe in charge. Then we'll get some real excitement.
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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