After stepping off a Chinese transport plane nine hours ago, Jack Bauer’s life has gone from terrible to horrendous. Think about what he has experienced: being placed in a hostage situation in which he would be tortured and killed, having to save a known terrorist and then having to kill a colleague in order to save said terrorist, finding out his brother orchestrated the assassinations of his good friends, and watching a nuclear device explode and kill thousands of people.

This heavy load borders on the most horrific and truly cruel moments a television character has ever had to endure, and that is just this season. The increasing toll is evident in Jack’s demeanor and he seems to be pushing the limits this season, almost as if it is a struggle to make it through every agonizing minute.

Still, for someone like Jack Bauer, days are not meant to be categorized in the casual terminology of “have a nice day” or anything close to it. Jack has been trained to endure suffering, take the pain, and achieve the objective. In last night’s double episodes, Jack‘s life is once again on the line. It does not matter how many times he has given; he still has to find a way to do it again.

Admittedly, this is hard for 24 fans who are waiting for the opportunity to see Jack eventually enjoy something (even a ham sandwich, for what it’s worth). We also know that Jack is up to the challenge because he cannot conceive of not being there. Even his earlier attempt to quit this season fizzled in the heat of the extraordinary events that propelled him forward. Jack soldiers on to fight not for just a cause or the country but more for the concept of why people climb mountains: because it is there.

A good deal happened in the two hours seen last night, but I am not going to do a recap of each episode. Instead, I’d like to review the sum of the parts, which are fascinating shards of the shattered glass of the plotline. The writers have been playing it tough this year, making us work for the pleasure of viewing the nuclear carnage and the race to stop more of it from happening. It is a perverse pleasure to be sure, enjoying the charnel house atmosphere while at the same time hoping that there will be a way to stop the death and destruction. Oh, Jack Bauer is on the scene , so we know everything will be okay. Or do we?