There are a plethora of questions that fans of the hit Fox TV series 24 ask themselves each week. Usually it's something about the plot like "Why didn't Jack kill Henderson (we can add Saunders, Mandy, Marwan, etc. as we please) when he had the chance?"
Or it could be about the details: "Why didn't Jack copy the tape when he had it?" These kinds of questions have been asked for the last five seasons and are part of what make 24 fans so committed to watching the show. Unfortunately, sometimes we get hit with only more questions.
So, now it's your turn to answer a few questions, 24 fans. I'd like to see how other people feel about these things. Everything is based on your own opinion making this a very subjective little survey.
1. What was your favorite season? Why?
2. How should this season end? Are you happy with the way other seasons have ended?
3. Which villain was your favorite? Why?
4. Should Jack get to kill the big bad guy at the end of the season?
*Remember, Jack has only killed one major villain: Victor Drazen in Season 1. All others have died by someone else's hand except Marwan, who jumps to his death in Season 4.
5. Will Jack die at the end of this season (or be handed over to the Chinese government)?
Everyone keeps asking these questions (even though Kiefer has signed a three-year deal to keep playing Jack), so I am asking too.
There it is: a brief set of questions. I'd like to see what other people think and will share my own opinions in the comments.
Klaatu Barada Nikto!
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Article comments
1 - Jeff
1) I have enjoyed all the seasons, but Season 1 will probably always be my favorite. When it first came out, it was so different than anything else on TV. The constant tension and cliffhangers were riveting. True, that season did get a little silly towards the end, but it got me hooked.
2) This season has to end with Logan suffering in some way. He must atone for his sins. Perhaps he will finish his suicide, but he may end up arrested, and he'll have to spend his days in jail, thinking about what he's done.
Henderson will surely die for all he's done. Perhaps Bierko too. It seems a little silly to have Bierko running around again, as his part in the story really is done.
My disappointment in the way other seasons have ended is that they haven't followed up on some things. Who was Mandy working with? Who was Max? What happened to Palmer when Mandy smeared goo de plague on him?
3) As for favorite villain, by far and away my two favorites are Nina and Mandy. They are both so cold, they really ratchet up the tension because you know they are capable of anything.
4) I can't imagine Jack killing Logan. I can see Jack killing Henderson. If speculation about Kim Raver not being around next season is true, Henderson might kill Audrey and Jack will kill Henderson in a rage.
5) If Kiefer is signed on for another 2 or 3 seasons, Jack can't die. And yeah, the Chinese thing is still hanging out there, but since no one has mentioned it on the show even once, perhaps the show is just going to forget about that little detail. Or, maybe they'll use it to spin off next season.
2 - Victor Lana
Some on the money observations, Jeff! Do you recall in Season 4 when they showed Palmer the video of Mandy giving him the poison? Still, we never knew what the hell it was or anything else.
Yes, there are little flaws and inconsistencies, but overall I remain a loyal fan.
I think the Chinese thing was mentioned once early on. I remember Jack asking Logan (when they met briefly in person) to let him handle the crisis and then he'd disappear again in order not to cause any trouble for him.
The worm has more than turned at this point.
More of my observations to come. Thanks, Jeff!
3 - Michael J. West
1) It's a toss-up between Season 1 and 2. Season 1 was pretty exciting, even if it was the most gimmicky (Dennis Hopper?); 2 was less novel, but I felt like I knew the basic characters and could spend more time following the story. Plus the tension following Teri's death made for damn good telelvision.
2) Frankly I don't like to speculate on the season endings. They're almost always the most surprising episodes in the season and I don't want to undermine it.
Piggybacking on that, I usually AM satisfied with the way they end. The closest to a letdown was Season 3, but there was something cathartic--even for the audience--about Jack taking a moment to cry in private.
3) Sherry Palmer. I don't know if you want to qualify her as a "villain," per se, since she was never the main antagonist, but BOY did she lend conflict and suspense to the show. The woman was a bad-ass!
4) I'm with Jeff. He won't kill Logan but I definitely see Jack killing Henderson. Killing him to death.
5) Please.
4 - Victor Lana
Thanks, Michael J. As to question number five, they've already done Jack dying and faking his dying. What would be worse than death for Jack?
1. Having to live with either Audrey or Kim's death (or both).
2. Having to be a prisoner in China.
3. Having to replace Pierce as a Secret Service Agent for Logan (still knowing what he did and got away with).
So many ways to go. I still think the Jack in a Chinese prison thing is a long shot, but it could turn out that the Chinese want him to work covertly for them.
Oh, the possibilites.
5 - Al Barger
HOT LESBIAN TERRORISTS OF 24!
6 - Victor Lana
Al, thank you for your invaluable contribution to this post. These girls (and don't forget Colette from this season) make things a little more exciting.
7 - Mary K. Williams
The Chinese plot point has gone the way of the Behrooz Witness Protection Program. No more 'face time', but still dear in our hearts. Ya think?
This was neat Victor, thanks for doing it.
8 - Victor Lana
1. Like Jeff, Season 1 is still my favorite; however, Season 5 is really getting to me in a way that first one did. I can't believe how incredibly fast each episode seems to go.
2. Seasons have mostly ended poorly (in my opinion). Teri's death in Season 1 was tough. The end of Season 2 (Mandy giving Palmer the handshake of almost death) was annoying. Season 3 was understandable (Jack finally got a chance to break down) but was quickly called back to CTU (no time for mourning). Season 4 probably had the best ending because Jack walking off into the sunrise like that left the door open for so many possibilities.
I think this Season will end with Logan's resignation after his wife kills herself. I think Heller will declare his candidacy for president. I also think there will be a show down between Henderson, Bierko, & Jack (kind of like the good, bad, and the ugly situation).
3. I liked Saunders as a villain because he was complicated and yet very evil. I think Henderson is right there too, but he has no redeeming qualities. Saunders cared about his daughter. Henderson cares about no one.
4. It would be satisfying to see Jack shoot Bierko and Henderson (or inflict great pain and then use a knife; Jack likes knives). I agree with the others that Jack's job has always been to protect the president, and it would be much more satisfying for Logan to be arrested, but I do think that he will get away with it.
5. Jack will not die (I hope). I overheard some water cooler stuff that Jack is going to die or be taken prisoner by the Chinese. My feeling is that Jack can't die (Kiefer signed on 3 more years) unless they kill him and then do prequel stuff. I don't think fans will like that.
The Chinese still might come into play. They could take him prisoner and we see at the start of Season 6 that Jack's doing hard time, but he is released to save the day for the Chinese in some way.
It's fun speculating, isn't it?
9 - Mary K. Williams
They could take him prisoner and we see at the start of Season 6 that Jack's doing hard time, but he is released to save the day for the Chinese in some way.
Shades of the opening of James Bond's Die Another Day?
10 - Phantasmak
1. Hard to answer. I think I would pick season 1 since it's the first we watched when we were still unsuspecting and innocent and didn't know what to expect.
2. Since there are only two hours left, I think Jack will spend the first one dealing with Bierko and the second one dealing with Logan. Emil Antonowsky and his bluetooth companions will remain undiscovered and will somehow connect this season with season 6. In general I don't like the way seasons have ended with the exception of season 4. The worst ending was season 2 with the oil lobby not getting what they deserve by Jack Bauer.
3. I liked Ira Gaines very much. He was damn evil.
4. I think he or Audrey will kill Henderson. Jack might kill Bierko. I'm not sure about Logan. I wouldn't be surprised if he resigned and lived to tell about it. This will probably be the second time a villain spans more than one season (the first case was Nina, and we haven't heard from Trepkos in S2 yet - we do know, though, what happened with Max).
5. Kiefer signed for three more seasons, so no. However he might be handed over to the Chinese.