At the end of last night’s episode, after Jack was willing to blow himself up in order to save Audrey’s life, her father James (Nuts Landing) Heller appears on the scene and unrelentingly disparages Jack. While it is bad enough that he forbids Jack to see his daughter ever again, Nuts also puts a whammy on him by saying, “You’re cursed, Jack. One way or another, everything you touch ends up dead.” Nuts in some ways is playing the part of Job’s comforter here, and his words add heft to the burden Jack already carries.
Since Jack Bauer has certainly put his share of people into graves (either by his own hand or dealing with someone he loves dying), viewers might argue that what Nuts says to him isn’t far from accurate; nevertheless, this cruel verbal assault literally cuts right into Jack’s heart, for he no doubt is thinking of his wife Teri and all the friends he has lost. Is Jack really cursed and has this curse brought death and misery to everyone he cares about?
I have been contemplating Jack’s relationships and the dynamics involved, and Jack’s case aligns similarly to the Biblical character of Job. One might ask how much can one man take, and when will that man eventually turn and curse that which he loves most. In Job’s case, his wife wanted him to “curse God and die,” but for Jack it is even more complicated. Jack lives in an almost godless universe, where nothing is sacred and everyone has his or her golden idols. For some it is money, others power, and for someone like Cheng Zhi it is a political goal.
Over the course of six seasons we would have to say that CTU is the place that Jack has loved to hate. If Jack has any faith remaining it is intricately entangled with CTU, the people who work there, and his desire to find some kind of love. What is clear is that Jack remains capable of love, despite all the fractured years he has lived without it. Jack wants to love, but he needs to find a way to get there first.
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Article comments
1 - Brad Schader
I am three weeks behind right now- damn Tivo backlog. I think they are just removing everything that stands in the way of Jack doing that "Bauer" thing. This season has been spinning its wheels. Every premise they bring up they drop just as quickly. I have been a fan since day one and have forgiven quite a bit, but they are pushing my loyalty now. It is a fun ride still, but how much more can we as an audience swallow and forget?
This season alone has switched gears more times than season 4 and I thought that one was ridiculous.
Great recap as usual though of what I think is a dying show. The show jumped the shark when Jack had to break into yet another embassy and has not landed yet.
2 - Victor Lana
I think you're right, Brad, and the writing has lots to do with this. Arguably, the show hit its peak in Season 3, and Season 5 was devastating in losses of favorite characters and ending on such a downbeat note (Jack's capture by the Chinese).
I do think all of this is part of a novel-like story arc, with Jack being taken down as far as posisble away from that guy in Season 1. We just need a break from this, a way to get back to the old formula (and Jack in a better place).
3 - disappointed
Where are the writers?
The Heller we know from Season 4 would never say such nonsense to Jack. He knows that Jack risks his neck time and again for his country, and knows that Jack saved him and his daughter from a highly publicized, unpleasant death in Season 4.
The Heller we saw last night blames Jack for Audrey's troubles. Huh? Jack never asked Audrey to come looking for him. Jack didn't kidnap Audrey, fake her death, and torture her. Heller has to know that Cheng is the bad guy here, not Jack.
But the writers are not thinking things through. Heller is just another character that gets dropped into the story when convenient, and will be yanked out, never to be heard from again - like the Logans and Jack's dad. I hope I'm wrong, but I fear I'm right.
Hey, and how is it that Heller was in LA? Until a few hours ago, nobody knew that Audrey was even alive. How convenient for the plot.
I liked Heller - not the Heller we saw last night, but the well-written Heller from Season 4 who appreciated Jack and, like Jack, was willing to sacrifice himself for his country. (How come none of our political leaders have this kind of backbone? They wouldn't even sacrifice reelection or a few votes for the good of the country - but sorry for digressing)
TV Guide's listing for next week's episode doesn't even mention Jack.
This season has been such a disappointment.
4 - brad schader
It is still the best show on tv. I am not sure what exactly that says about tv though. I am loving every minute of it while I watch it and quickly forget feeling like an idiot once the show starts.
5 - Victor Lana
The best show on TV? You got that right, Brad. But TV is sorely lacking. I watch 24 and The Shield and sports. Sometimes the news, but that has been a mess too.
The writers do change at whim as mentioned above. This is not the Heller we used to know. Absolutely. Unless he changes his mind like last year when he asked for Logan's resignation, but then he ended up driving over a cliff. Come to think of it, he seems to be wearing the same thing he wore when he did that. Strange.
Yes, this season has been disappointing at times, but it is still worth putting in the time to watch every week.
6 - El Bicho
"It is still the best show on tv."
if that's the case, it's only because "The Wire" is between seasons.
7 - Mary K. Williams
Nadia is like, "Bill, Bill, Bill!"
Like "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!"?
Yeah, the Heller thing shocked me too. Is it me or did his hair get a LOT whiter since Day five?
8 - Christopher Rose
"24" the best show on TV? Not in our house!
Better shows include "Criminal Minds", "CSI", "Cold Case", "Battlestar Galactica", "Bones", "King of Queens", "Time Team", "Scrubs", "The Bill", "Blue Murder", "That 70s Show", just off the top of my head.
9 - Victor Lana
I can only say that 24 is the "best" show on TV that I watch. I can't say anything about the shows mentioned above because I have never seen them, except King of Queens, but I used to watch that years ago.
10 - Angie B
I really liked and appreciated this review of the episode and it pains me to read and hear the criticisms.(Although I understand them)Ladies and gentlemen if you've been a fan since season 1, I urge you to NOT give up on "our" show. Give it at least one more season. I am terribly upset with Secretary Heller at the moment for his treatment of Jack but what another amazing performance from Kiefer Sutherland!! I am sticking around for the remainder of the season AND have hope they'll turn things around for season 7! Remember, 7 IS a lucky number right? :)
11 - Temple Stark
You get all that in Spain Chris? Now I'm depressed. 24 is not the best show on TV, that's crazy talk. First season? - now you've got a case.
The show Shark is pretty good - and it has Jeri Ryan and James Woods in it.
Casting for the 24 movie has started. That could be a lot of fun - and obviously a different format. ... After missing the Emmy year I've tuned in to the last seven or so episodes this year - and its disgusting. I'm fascinated that the writers are SO unoriginal. The first one I tuned into had the 25th Amendment caper AGAIN (the first time it happened this season, not the second time). If the country truly had to invoke that so many times in the space of a decade or less, the country would be close to having a mental breakdown.
12 - Temple Stark
Oh and James Woods plays a guy called Stark, so that doesn't hurt. ;-)
24 has been a disappointment. I think my first inkling was in season 2 (2?) when Jack brings in the head of a guy he's killed in a bowling ball bag to prove his undercover manliness. No, undercover is NEVER that important.
yada ...
13 - Christopher Rose
Temple: Don't be depressed, entertainment is one of the things your young country does best.
14 - Mr.Clark
Hate to break it to you chief, but fluffy is a curse. Because of Jack's mess up before day 1; the Drazen's wouldn't of used this as a motivation to kill Palmer.
Because of Jack, Audrey wouldn't of gotten accused of treason in season 5 then tortured at CTU; then later on kid napped by Christopher Henderson and stabbed him.
Because of Jack hiding, Tony and Michelle were killed.
Because of Jack, Audrey wouldn't of gone looking for Jack in China.
Because of Jack, Curtis Manning died.
Like it or not, Jack Bauer is a curse. Countless of people of told him this, like Chase Edmunds back in season 1 and Kim Bauer back in season 3--What's so hard that accepting that dude is just a curse?
15 - fiji
I'm also a bit disappointed in season 6, but I'm even more sad about what happened to Jack. This guy is definitely not that Jack we knew before. He was never that emotional. And the biggest problem with season 6 was, that the second half of it wasn't a surprise at all. I don't know how could the writers after 5 seasons believe that we won't find out what Jack is up to. Everyone knows that once Jack is arrested or captured, he will definitely find a way to escape and he won't let other people tell him what to do. So unfortunately I could perfectly predict what he was going to do next. Apart from that 24 is still very good but I seriously hope I'll find unexpected events in season 7. Sorry if my English is not the best.
16 - NelsonJames
Yeah I have to agree that season 6 didn't live up to expectation, but if 24 has become a 24 ep soap opera, the writing is still better than many a blockbuster movie out there making millions of bucks. It's also still better than a whole host of shows. I can forgive one bad season.