Day 6, 3 PM - 4 PM (Episode 10)
- Phillip Bauer's lackey claims that Jack is dead, simply because the bomb went off. Now, I'm certainly willing to believe that they could have planted a bomb that would have killed everyone without question. But they didn't. (They planted one that I suppose was motion-sensitive and beeped, so there would be just enough time to escape, instead of one that could be remotely detonated instantaneously, which they certainly could have done, because they were already lurking outside anyways.) Jack, meanwhile, says that "half his team is down", and he needs paramedics. So, which kind of bomb is this? The kind that unquestionably kills everyone inside the house, or the kind that injures half of a CTU team to the point where they need paramedics? (Dead people don't need paramedics.) Plus, any lackey worth his salt should know that if you lie to the big bad boss, you're gonna die.
- The other two mercenaries could have shot Milo behind a dumpster, but instead decided to bring him out into broad daylight to do it. Brilliant.
- Lead mercenary is the most helpful, friendly bad guy I've ever seen. He's willing to do whatever Jack wants (presumably, they edited the coercion part out, but isn't watching Jack coerce bad guys the whole point of the show? I want to see Jack growling to the guy that they're going to render him to Afghanistan where he'll be raped by mountain lions unless he cooperates.): Put down my gun? Sure! Call my boss? Anything! Hey, I'll even tell you how to unscramble my phone. You don't even have to cuff me. Is there anything else I can do for you? No violence, no torture, no muss, no fuss!
- The motivations of the underlings that are willing to help assassinate the President are pretty weak. They're claiming that the President is jeopardizing lives because he's not willing to imprison every Arab in the country? So, they're going to kill him, put evil veep Powers Boothe in charge, and then imprison every Arab, and then magically be safer? This doesn't even rise to the level of the time the Cabinet ousted David Palmer because he wouldn't go to war. And why wouldn't that specious method work this time, either?
- The ranking Secret Service agent on site isn't Aaron Pierce? What a travesty!
- Ok, at least Tom realized that what he was being sold wasn't quite worth the price. I'd like to think that Chad Lowe and the folks ordering him around have something a little better in mind. If you're gonna hatch a plot to assassinate the President, at least do it for a worthwhile reason.
- It was pretty silly to expect that Gredenko had been maintaining the same safe house from the time that Marilyn followed Graeme until now. Any half-decent terrorist would probably move at least once, don'tcha think?
- At 3:32, Jack, Marilyn, and Friendly Lead Mercenary enter the stairwell of the hotel from the garage. At 3:43, they emerge from the stairwell. Are they on the 100th floor? Remember that normally, it takes Jack about 11 minutes to drive 100 miles. (He really is the world's most friendly mercenary: Don't tip my dad off? Sure thing! Put these cuffs on? My pleasure! Can I get you a cup of coffee?
- I'd like to rip on the Jack - Phillip exchange, but I can't, because I actually think that their motivations could be plausible. It's reasonable to think that Jack, so beaten down and tormented, is resigned to his fate and actually guilty about what his job has done to the people who love(d) him. And it's also possible (although less likely) that Phillip was willing to kill Jack when he didn't have to face him, but couldn't pull the trigger directly, especially if he felt that Jack's apology was heartfelt. However, they've gotta be consistent, and their track record really isn't all that great.
- The other two mercenaries could have shot Milo behind a dumpster, but instead decided to bring him out into broad daylight to do it. Brilliant.
- Lead mercenary is the most helpful, friendly bad guy I've ever seen. He's willing to do whatever Jack wants (presumably, they edited the coercion part out, but isn't watching Jack coerce bad guys the whole point of the show? I want to see Jack growling to the guy that they're going to render him to Afghanistan where he'll be raped by mountain lions unless he cooperates.): Put down my gun? Sure! Call my boss? Anything! Hey, I'll even tell you how to unscramble my phone. You don't even have to cuff me. Is there anything else I can do for you? No violence, no torture, no muss, no fuss!
- The motivations of the underlings that are willing to help assassinate the President are pretty weak. They're claiming that the President is jeopardizing lives because he's not willing to imprison every Arab in the country? So, they're going to kill him, put evil veep Powers Boothe in charge, and then imprison every Arab, and then magically be safer? This doesn't even rise to the level of the time the Cabinet ousted David Palmer because he wouldn't go to war. And why wouldn't that specious method work this time, either?
- The ranking Secret Service agent on site isn't Aaron Pierce? What a travesty!
- Ok, at least Tom realized that what he was being sold wasn't quite worth the price. I'd like to think that Chad Lowe and the folks ordering him around have something a little better in mind. If you're gonna hatch a plot to assassinate the President, at least do it for a worthwhile reason.
- It was pretty silly to expect that Gredenko had been maintaining the same safe house from the time that Marilyn followed Graeme until now. Any half-decent terrorist would probably move at least once, don'tcha think?
- At 3:32, Jack, Marilyn, and Friendly Lead Mercenary enter the stairwell of the hotel from the garage. At 3:43, they emerge from the stairwell. Are they on the 100th floor? Remember that normally, it takes Jack about 11 minutes to drive 100 miles. (He really is the world's most friendly mercenary: Don't tip my dad off? Sure thing! Put these cuffs on? My pleasure! Can I get you a cup of coffee?
- I'd like to rip on the Jack - Phillip exchange, but I can't, because I actually think that their motivations could be plausible. It's reasonable to think that Jack, so beaten down and tormented, is resigned to his fate and actually guilty about what his job has done to the people who love(d) him. And it's also possible (although less likely) that Phillip was willing to kill Jack when he didn't have to face him, but couldn't pull the trigger directly, especially if he felt that Jack's apology was heartfelt. However, they've gotta be consistent, and their track record really isn't all that great.
posted by Dave at 11:04:00 PM
4 Comments:
Best Episode of the Season, so far. Hooray for 24! Smut-Li gives it an 'A'. I'm beginning to dig the character of Morris, not because of any plot related tension, but because his character is just getting more and more interesting. I have nothing to rip on with him, I just find his vices and combination of arrogance and weakness compelling.
Hmmm.... If I was a woman, I'd be pretty upset at the typical woman depicted in 24 lately. Wife of Mr. Screamy is complete moron-bad-guy. Graeum's wife is a total invalid without men telling her what to do, and even when she is being told what to do, can't do it! "run away when I create a diversion!".......(you were supposed to run away).
President's sister is just playing the "glorified angry black woman" role that has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Chad Lowe is winning my respect in his role. Busts out his flashlight O'dominance, he did! Snap! Beat on Lennox. s'more I say. I loved that. There needs to be more pistol-whipping and flashlight bashing of the washington wussies as power-plays, says I. Not torture, not for information. Not because they are resisting, but precisely because they are soft and becase they are not resisting. I say beat 'em just cause they're squishy! Make 'em snivel! More of that, please! That's quality entertainment!
I really like that we were left wondering what happened to Phillip, and what his real motives were for not killing Jack. That ambiguity is great. I also applaud Jack asking for it. It makes his horrible day's seem like they have taken their toll. The writer's either got really lucky, or thought through Phillip and Jack's relationship more than I had anticiipated. Good for them.
My final thoughts with this episode are on how many reserve field units they keep at CTU. If I'm not mistaken, this is field unit #4 we are on, and that means that the first three have all been killed. All killed today. Shoot, all killed in the last 10 hours. Do you think they just have a big secret gymnasium where there is a continuously influx of "new field unit recruits" and outflux of "new field unit soldiers" ready to be given the green light to go out and help jack? I'm not sure, but it would seem there must be.
This episode of 24 does get some bonus points for turning a few conventions on their heads. However, it's bit like giving T.O. credit for not being a complete jerk to Tony Romo after the botched snap. The only reason those conventions even exist to be subverted is that 24 created them in the first place. The reason we expect Tom to undermine the President at every turn is because they've done that storyline three times before. The reason we expect Jack to turn the tables on his Dad at the last minute is because he's done that to every big bad guy he's faced.
So, I give them credit for adding some slight twists - namely that it's now a big bunch of evil people trying to kill the President instead of just having his Administration undermined from the inside. And they did a good job with the conflicted Jack, but they need to be consistent about it - I want to see him have his hands shake when he has to shoot someone, or have it affect him in different ways.
24 clearly disdains women. I think that's obvious. Almost all women depicted have horrible character flaws. (There are plenty of noble, determined men, however.) From Nina to Mrs. Palmer to Mrs. Logan to Teri Bauer to Kim Bauer, they all are weak or stupid or evil or conniving. I think Chloe exists solely in response to those criticisms, but even she has some critical character flaws, unlike many of the more noble men portrayed on the show. (Three other somewhat respectable women, for the sake of completeness: Audrey Raines, Karen Hayes, Michelle Dessler. All are quite dependent on the men in their lives.)
I think the way they are playing Jack is just right w/r to his conflict. I don't see Jack as being completely broken or nervous-breakdown mode yet. I don't think he should be having trouble doing those things that are second nature to him, I.e. the easy decisions he's never had trouble making. I think it's those situations that are stressful that he should be vulnerable, and I think that's what we've seen so far. He's having trouble justifying his actions when they are in conflict with hurting those he loves/respects.
Shooting Curtis revealed this. (he got sick and fell apart)
Torturing his brother revealed this. (he lost control and ordered the dude to give the brother enough drugs to kill him)
He's always been this way, but been quite able to compartmentalize or supressed his pain and focus on the task at hand. Now, it would seem, he can no longer supress or move on from these events without it taking his toll on his frame of mind. He's clearly subverting CTU now, hence the lack of informing them about his father's involvement. He'd never have done that before. He's also prioritizing his role in the investigation towards his family. He was text messaged about the Gradenko house being empty and put that quest on the back burner.
Hooray!
KLF has returned!
Smut-Li have much rejoicing alot
I agree with KLF about Logan. yeah!
P.s. Good work Dave on deleting a comment. I have no idea what it said, but good work, none-the-less!
Smut-Li guesses it was Endorsements for the Christian Coalition.
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