With all that taken care, it's time to move on to the next plot point. Word comes in that Bierko has escaped. There is remarkably little curiosity in CTU about how the bad guys could have pulled this off. I've said before though, moles in CTU are so common, everyone just assumes the baddies know everything, and that every mission is already compromised.
It is here that the plot, which to this point has been so tight and internally consistent, hits a bit of a rough patch. (I don't know, does my sarcasm come through in this medium?)
First, we are told the attack on Bierko's caravan happened 10 minutes ago, AND, that the caravan was attacked by an IED. Let's take that one by one. First, Bierko left only about 10 minutes ago! Did this attack happen in CTU's driveway? Second, an IED?! What is this, CTU Baghdad? For the IED to work, since it just sits in place and waits for something to drive by, the baddies would have had to have known the route the caravan was going to take. How?
Next, what was with the PORTENTOUS NOD Bierko gave the driver at the end of last episode? Obviously an indication that the driver was part of this attack, but what was his role? If the plan was to attack with an IED and then a team, why did the baddies need an inside man? Surely that driver didn't decide the route to take. And did anyone tell him there would be an IED attack?
Next, we're told there were six attackers. Where did these guys come from? Master Recruiter Henderson didn't round them up. The rest of Bierko's team was taken down at the gas distribution plant. So who arranged all of this? And in just a few hours?
The survivor on the scene said Bierko mentioned nerve gas. We see Bierko arriving at another bad guy hideout, and apparently his team had saved one of the gas cylinders. Why? Did Bierko know this? I was busy banging my head on the wall at this point, so couldn't hear everything, but it seemed like Bierko wasn't aware they had one remaining cylinder. Why would his team save one without telling him about it?
There's more to this lunatic plot development, but we'll come back to it.
We go to the first break a little early, with the clocks at :9 to :9. When we come back, the clocks are at :13 to :11. Somewhere beneath the Citadel, a Netherworlder strikes the Gong of Time.
At the presidential retreat, Martha is turning into a druggie. She's popping pills like candy. Hmm, Jack kicked his drug habit in a matter of hours, now Martha is developing a drug habit in a matter of hours. But, driven by her inner demons, she flings the pills across the room. Weird violin music is playing during all this. Perhaps the musicians dove on the pills and scarfed them up.
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
It took me 24 hours to read this, but it was worth it--very funny.
2 - Victor Lana
Great job as always, Jeff. You pointed out to glaring flaws (in my opinion) which seems to indicate the writers are either getting sloppy or they don't care.
1. The Bierko escape situation. It was handled like well, we have to do this, so let's get it over with. It makes no contextual sense or any kind of sense.
2. The Henderson-Malina thing was weird. It could be a doublecross, but then again it could be Henderson (who trained Jack) not telling everything yet for fear Jack will get a little trigger happy. Who knows?
Otherwise, a very satisfying episode. Let's hope the finale ties everything up, but I have a feeling we're in for a real cliffhanger!
3 - Jeff
Yeah, that's a fair point about Henderson. Maybe he really was trying to screw CTU, and warn Malina, and made up his story when CTU came busting in.
4 - Mary K. Williams
You always get me giggling Jeff. So, does Paul. Speaking of Paul, he brings up a good point. Where is Wayne?
Next week is going to be a trip!
5 - Jeff
Thanks, Mary. Indeed, there is a whole raft of missing characters!
6 - Paul
Wayne is in a world of his own. With his pal. Garth. (Oh, come on. Don't tell me none of you have at least thought about that one.)
7 - Mary K. Williams
Honestly, I thought of it today, when you posed the question. I started singing...'Wayne's World, party on...excellent..'
8 - Victor Lana
Wayne is in the vast netherworld where 24 characters go when the writers don't know what else to do.
He joins:
Behrooz
Keeler
Erin
Sarah
Mary Kate
Ashley
and many more, including Richie's brother Chuck on Happy Days
9 - Mary K. Williams
Don't forget crazy Eurotrip Inessa from Hour Seven. Remember her? She shot Rossler? What ever happened to her?
10 - Jeff
Ah yes, forgot about the Russkie girl. That hardly seems like it was this season anymore.
Collette, Evelyn and daughter, the bank manager's wife, Old Doc Besson, the list goes on and on.
And Richie's older brother?! Wow, that's going back.