In the best moments of 24 during past seasons, Jack Bauer has had to work outside the rules and regulations of CTU, but usually for the good of the country. This season Jack has mostly gone by the book, even when he had to kill his former partner, Curtis, in order to stop the terrorists from accomplishing their goals of another nuclear attack. Last night we got to see the old Jack Bauer, calling in favors from Chloe and pushing all boundaries to save Audrey, the woman he obviously still loves. Jack is back!
The odd situation gets set up by Jack’s success in dealing with the terrorist threat. After killing all the bad guys, including Abu (Mr. Clean) Fayed, it seems like Jack will be able to return to CTU and get medical attention for broken ribs and other injuries. Unfortunately, his old tormentor Cheng Zhi has other plans for him. The former diplomat (and now terrorist) Cheng has kidnapped Audrey Raines, Jack’s former lover and the daughter of Secretary of Defense James (Nuts Landing) Heller.
What does Cheng want? Some gobbledygook about deciphering the entire sequence of Russian defense codes from a device inside the nukes (yet another “component”) ensues, and we can rest assure that Jack is in for a difficult time. Jack speaks to his lady love briefly, and we know that he is going to do everything in his power to save her.
Her Chinese captors have managed to take the once glamorous Audrey (you may recall her stylish outfits and equally trendy white coat from last season) and make her look like a broken waif, her hair black and stringy and her face sallow with cuts above her eyes. The sympathy factor kicks in and we want Jack to save her from this brute Cheng and, of course, administer a dose of justice like only Jack can deliver.
The problem is Jack must get the component and two surly and burly Marines are guarding it. Jack does a little babbling about a Presidential directive, and soon he is inside the gate where the nukes are waiting and he’s got Chloe on the line helping him. One of the most satisfying aspects of 24 has always been the Chloe-Jack dynamic, with her steadfast loyalty to him making her do things outside her job description. Will Chloe get caught helping Jack? Of course, she usually does, but that is also part of the equation.
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Article comments
1 - Mary K. Williams
Great, great job Vic. I didn't notice Karen's hair, but I have noticed she's unbuttoned a little more since past weeks.
I know I'm weird, but I hate it when Jack goes 'rogue'. Oh, sure it's probably when he does his best work, but I just hate it when even CTU has to treat him as a virtual enemy.
Oh, loved the use of 'gobbledygook'. I felt the same way!
2 - Victor Lana
I can understand your feelings on this, MK; however, Jack works best when he is least encumbered by the suits in an office somewhere. It looks like it's going to be a bumpy ride the rest of the way.
Oh, and Jack has his man-bag. Can Audrey's white coat be far behind?
3 - Mary K. Williams
I know, I laughed at reference to the 'man-bag'. Reminds me of Seinfeld "It's not a purse, it's European carry-all!"
4 - Brad Schader
You both write amazing reviews. I personally like Jack rogue as well. The best moment from the show is still from season one when Jack thought Kim was dead and crashed the van into the warehouse. There is a rush when he gets that look in his eye and you know the body count is going to grow. I think because rogue Jack is one of the few times we get 100% pure Hollywood in the show. Every other time we honestly are not sure what the writers are going to do to us, but when Jack goes all "Bauer" on us we know the good guys are going to win and the bad guys have no chance. We can relax and enjoy the show instead of chewing the insides of our mouths out of stress.
5 - Victor Lana
You definitely have it right, Brad. That scene with the Drazens in Season 1 is very similar to the one with Fayed & company last week. Jack's eyes glaze over and he goes in for the kill. You have to love when that happens, and you know the bad guys are going to be toast.