It would go without saying that Jack Bauer has had a rather difficult life, at least in the six seasons of 24 that we’ve come to know him. He lost his wife in season one and Kim (his daughter) almost died too; in subsequent seasons, he has not been able to maintain relationships, became addicted to heroin, had to kill two colleagues (Chappelle and Curtis), lost close friends to assassination and murder, faked his own death, and was finally kidnapped by the Chinese and tortured for twenty months. He hasn’t just had some bad days or years but has had to endure suffering of almost Biblical Job-like proportions.
In last night’s episode we learn that Jack has more family (a brother and a father), and it does not surprise us in the least that neither one brings any joy to Jack’s life. Apparently Jack’s father Phillip is somehow connected to the terrorists, so Jack sets out on a search to find him, which leads him to his estranged brother, Graham. Holy dramatic irony, Batman! Graham is very recognizable to viewers as the leader of Gang of Four, the shadowy group of power brokers behind President Charles Logan’s nefarious schemes in season five. It seems Jack can’t get a break no matter which way he turns.
As you may recall, at the end of the last episode a nuclear suitcase was detonated in Valenica, California. At the beginning of episode five, we see the aftermath of the bomb, the ghost of its mushroom cloud lingering in the air. Jack rallies from his moment of despair and doubt after shooting Curtis and seeing the bomb explode. He runs toward the mayhem of people rushing to escape their fate, and a shockwave has dumped a helicopter on a rooftop. Jack Be Nimble quickly gets up there and saves the passenger before the helicopter falls to the ground and explodes, and now he is back in Super Jack mode and ready to kick some terrorist butt.
At CTU Bill Buchanan and company are trying to deal with information that they received concerning “five visitors” (translate that as one nuke detonated, four left). Nadia (I’m Not Michelle) continues to look very good for the camera; Milo (Why Am I Here) and Morris (I’m Better Looking Than Mr. Clean) remain combative, and Chloe (I Have a New Hairdo) is ever on the side of right, which means whatever side Jack is on. She stumbles upon Jack’s father’s name on a list, checks with Bill, and gives Jack a call to let him know. This sets Jack off on his quest and eventual confrontation with brother Graham.
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Article comments
1 - Mary K. Williams
and he’s in like Flynn (though I doubt old Errol could even get a Tic-Tac from these fellows).
A lot of good lines here, but this was my favorite!
I didn't stop to do the math, but imagine of Josh (Graham Cracker's son) was really Jack's?
2 - Triniman
When I saw Josh, that's what I thought, too. Jack's son...
The series is getting more over the top with each episode, so much so that I worry it will end up burning itself out or becoming a parody. I mean, how will they top this season next year? One thing is for sure, though, I will be watching!
3 - S.Rod
I too thought about the Josh/Jack connection...but unless Jack cheated on Teri with Marilyn (which is possible) there is no way Josh could be his son.
Last season the 24 synopsis referred to "Graham" and now he his "Graem". I hate when they do this...its like the red shirts and the white shirts. Pick one and stick with it.
4 - S.Rod
I thought about the Josh/Jack connection...but unless Jack cheated on Teri with Marilyn (which is possible) there is no way Josh could be his son.
Last season the 24 synopsis referred to "Graham" and now he his"Graem". I hate when they do this...its like the red shirts and the white shirts. Pick one and stick with it.
5 - Brad Schader
To be honest, after we accepted Terri's day from the first season we really cannot complain. They tested us and we took the bait. Her daughter is kidnapped; the man helping her find her daughter kidnaps her as well; the amnesia; the rape; the being pregnant; the spending the day with the woman your husband slept with; the almost affair with the doctor; and the death.
Everyone in my house all think Josh is Jack's son. They already let us know Jack and Grey's wife had a past. Good bye political drama and hello soap opera.
6 - Victor Lana
Thanks for great comments.
Some thoughts:
-Red/white shirts are like home & away uniforms, but these guys are always home. But it could be like Star Trek and the colors mean something else or rank or whatever.
-Jack did break-up with Teri, so there was a time he was skulking and even in Nina's bed.
-Josh is very tall and Graham/Graem is short.
-While we see the dangers, there is also hope that this gives us even more "Jack" info and helps him move toward the "light" from darkness. Maybe he & MArilyn & Josh & Kim can end up happily ever...
-It's had it's soap opera elements since Day 1. We've gone along for the ride and continue to do so.
7 - Mary K. Williams
Last season the 24 synopsis referred to "Graham" and now he his"Graem". I hate when they do this...its like the red shirts and the white shirts. Pick one and stick with it.
S - I know, weird huh? I mentioned this in my write up as well. Also, didn't Chloe spell her name O'Brien last year? And now she's O'Brian?
And the Red Shirts! LOL. I prefer the white that they're using now anyway.
8 - S.Rod
On the official 24 site it says that Marilyn & Jack dated before they were married. But it does not say anything else. I hope Josh does not turn into Jack's son. That would really be upsetting. But in season 1 it was stated that Jack and Terri had a rocky marriage and were trying to reconcile. They had been separated for maybe a year before he moved back in. This is when he was seeing Nina. There was no information about them being separated before that time. Because we know nothing about Jack's family past it would be easy to put one together. I guess we will have to see. This story line might not go anywhere either and we could be working up ourselves for nothing.
Mary - I thought Chloe's last name was spelled as O'Brien also, but I checked the 24 site and it is consistently spelled as O'Brian. So, I'm not sure if I was just used to seeing it spelled wrong. ;)
9 - Victor Lana
It seems that back story is something that is dealt with as needed at 24. The nature of the beast being real time, we can't have flashbacks like in Lost that help flesh out characters and give us their history. That said, I'll take 24 over Lost any day.