TV Review - 24, the Newbie and Two Hours to Figure It Out
Published March 08, 2006
I watched the two hours of 24 on Monday with eager anticipation. Those two hours flew past and I hoped to improve on my. first review of the show. Not that it was necessarily a bad review; it was just that I was a newbie to 24, admitted it publicly, put my tongue in my cheek and waxed poetic on how much I didn't understand.
I did, before writing this missive, check in on two 24 experts, Victor Lana, and Jeff Kouba, right here on Blogcritics.
What I did learn during this two-hour 24 whirlwind brings me nowhere near the expertise of those two. What to do? I fretted.
I decided I'm still a newbie to 24, have already confessed, so I would discuss this past two-hour presentation of Fox's hit series from the perspective of my own still-confused brain.
Although I did learn a thing or two; may I take credit? That 24-hour digital clock thing, heh. Did you know that the series 24 name means exactly what it says. The entire show's season lasts 24 hours and each show represents an hour within that 24. Okay, so duh. I think this is a darn important point yet it's not all that clear to a newcomer.
There are still a lot of characters with whom I'm not familiar. I was somewhat enlightened, at least to some of the names of the characters, by reading Lana and Kouba's posts. Some characters I still do not know their names and for very few do I quite grasp the complexity of the relationships within the context of the show.
For example I still don't get who President Logan's buddy is. Last time I thought he was the Vice-President, but to my surprise I met the VP this past week and it's not the guy always around Logan. The guy who is always with Logan looks a lot like Dick Cheney, hand to God. Which is why perhaps I thought he was Logan's Vice-President. I'm guessing he's the President's Chief of Staff and while I'm still not sure, I think his name is Mike.
As for the two-hour action-packed early March 2006 presentation of 24, I understood both storylines. The Russian motorcade was not attacked as the terrorists had instructed. So they kept their promise to release the nerve gas on the American public. Beginning with a hospital but all were saved.
Pat Fish is a pop culture and political pundit. When she’s not working on her own blog she contributes regularly right here on Blogcritics.Pat lives in Delaware with her husband. They are owned by four cats, two dogs and one adorable granddaughter. Pat Fish is a published author and her books have drawn attention from her fellow reviewers on Blogcritics. Reviews of Memoirs of Josephine Fish and Mystery and Mirth have been conveniently provided for your reading pleasure.
- TV Review - 24, the Newbie and Two Hours to Figure It Out
- Published: March 08, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Action, Video: Drama, Video: Suspense and Mystery, Video: Television
- Writer: Patfish
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Thank you Adam. How I was hoping some knowledgable soul would help out. Especially that Dick Cheney lookalike always hanging around the President.
Until this recent 2 hour episode, I thought he was the VP, seriously. And I only know different now because the actual VP showed up on the recent show.
Thanks, Pat! It is a confusing show to walk into cold.
(Let me put in a plug for my co-critic, Paul. He contributes to most of my reviews, and is a nice complement to what I do. I'm usually the foaming at the mouth bomb thrower, and he'll be more of a thoughtful, big picture view.)
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Here's some info I think will help you out:
1. Mike is President Logan's cheif advisor. A few hours ago, Logan's cheif of staff commited suicide after commiting treason. As for Mike, he was President David Palmer's cheif of staff until season 2 when he got fired for political betrayal.
2. Tony has been Jack's best friend at CTU every season. At the end of season 3, he commited treason to save Michelle. He was pardoned by Palmer in between seasons 3-4, at Jack's request. He came back to CTU under a direct order from the Secertary of Defense in season 4, who was Jack's boss at the time. Tony also helped Jack fake his own death.
3. Jack's daughter Kim is played by Elisa Culthburt.
4. The guy you reffer to as a guy in holding at CTU is Lynn Migill. Lynn left for a few minutes to give his sister some money, but got robbed by her boyfirend instead. CTU found out about the attack on the motorcade, but Lynn refused to notify Secret Service. He was removed from power because of this, (its a little more complicated, but this will get you the idea) and is in holding to protect National Security (this is typicall in 24).
5.