"24:" Why It's Working (For Me) (The TV Zone)

"24" is working for me.

Is it working for you?

I missed last night's episode, and for all I know, it's NOT working for me anymore, but I doubt that. (And yours truly will catch up later today.) I hear another mole has been uncovered - PLEASE DON'T TELL ME WHO. Though I think I can guess...

But here's the important thing: "24" is back firmly on "track" - track being the favorite metaphor of TV scribes who like to describe this classic as either on track or "jumping off the tracks..."

As we close in on the half day mark - the half day solstice passes overhead next Monday night when the two-hour special airs - I decided it was time to do one of my lists. This morning: The Ten Things That Are So Very Fine About This Season's "24."

And away we go, in order!

1.) Annie Wersching and Renee Walker. To me, she's this season's stand-out addition. The semi-conflicted FBI agent who bends the rules, tears up a bit when she does, and then - five minutes later - blasts away four guys in some basement. Like Jack, Agent Walker doesn't believe in falling into a Hamlet-like swoon. Jack needed someone like Walker - there's no sexual tension here at all (and Jack Bauer is truly the most sexless superhero on TV) but she offers that invaluable "hold on, pal. Think about what you're doing..." She's made JACK better.

2.) Washington: A city I'm hardly wild about, along with the rest of the country, but we DO feel like we're in a different world with a different set of insane problems. The B Unit has captured some gorgeous shots, and given the show a whole new dynamic. And here's the amazing thing! Just like LA, there's no traffic. Imagine that...

3.) Bad guy Dubaku, played just about flawlessly by Hakeem Kae-Kazim - who's had a fine career, mostly on South African TV, dating back nearly a quarter of a century but is hardly known here. Oh, that Dubaku's an evil rancid bastard, who will kill as effortlessly and as thoughtlessly as if buying an ice cream cone. I love the guy. Let me re-state: I love the guy in the context of "24." The show needs a complete moral vacuum for Jack to fill, and Dubaku's our man this season, so far.

4.) Janeane Garofalo: What a spectacular addition this season. This has worked perfectly for me. (And please don't tell me she's Mole No. 2...) That red smudged lipstick. The frumpy pantsuit. The office shuffle, from one computer to the next... One of the best lines this season: When Sean Hillinger (Rhys Coiro, and yet ANOTHER good add) tells her, "you're a little bitch," she walks away, and tosses this over her shoulder back at him: "YOU'RE a little bitch..."

5.) The new Chloe: New shag cut, a new kid, and a new sauce-free Morris is back as well.

6.) Tony Almeida: I put the return of Carlos Bernard down here only because I'm slightly conflicted about his character development. I thought the Bad Tony was more interesting than the Good Tony - that psychically scarred Robin (to Jack's Batman) who had turned into a Libertarian Monster after Michelle's death. I was intrigued about the Jack/Tony stand-off, and wondered if Jack had finally found a worthy adversary. But... Still, great to have Tony back. (I wonder - was Michelle REALLY killed in that blast?)

7.) Cherry Jones, President Allison Taylor: She has been a good president indeed, a fraught POTUS who just days into her reign must deal with a son's suicide; a husband's quixotic quest to find the truth; an invasion; Jack Bauer; the kidnapping of a prime minister; a couple of planes colliding over DC; a pesticide plant that nearly went poof; Dubaku; a renegade operation run by Bill Buchanan; the shooting of her husband; the stealing of the thingamajig that breached the nation's security wall...am I missing anything? And good Lord, it's only 8 p.m. Taylor is dealing with more in four hours than Lincoln dealt with in four years...Yet, she purses her lips, gets a little misty-eyed, and then says "charrgge....!"

8.) The plot: Yes, insane, as always, but somewhat believably insane. There's some real care and loving going into the season. You don't get the sense that the writers have broken into the liquor cabinet and drained the gallon of Maker's Mark...

9 .) The peril of the innocents: One of the great hallmarks of "24" is when innocent people are thrown to the wolves...by Jack! (A classic scene many seasons ago - when Jack commandeered that fast food restaurant.) Dubaku's girlfriend is one example here...the wife and child of that creepy renegade spy/agent is another. There the lady is, chained to a coffee table screaming, while Renee is bending over the crib...

10.) The oldie but goodies: I mentioned Chloe and Morris..and Tony...but also Aaron (Glenn Morshower.) I'm sure I'm missing someone. Wouldn't it be splendid if Charles Logan - the wonderful Gregory Itzen - found his back on to the show? Let's see...

(Pix: Fox)

Search TV Zone

Bloggers

Latest Headlines

Blogroll

Entertainment News

Subscribe

The TV Zone

"24:" Why It's Working (For Me)

Tags:

Comments (224)

Post a comment

Search TV Zone

Recent Posts

Popular Tags