It started as it meant to go on, tension filled action with the usual brilliant score from composer Sean Callery (who doesn’t get nearly enough credit). The tension was almost unbearable as four unidentified men drove up to a health centre to dump a body and blow a whole in a wall.

Most of the regulars are back, and those who aren’t will probably be seen latter in the series (it wouldn’t be the same without Nina, would it). The flash back seemed to serve as more of a grounding for the fans, than providing any kind of reference for the story to come.

This new series takes place three years after the second series, (which if my maths is right, makes it September 2005), events have developed, and the characters we know and love, have developed new relationships with some interesting new ones. Chase Edmunds is probably the biggest new character, the actor James Badge Dale has already developed quite a fanbase (those not living on the moon, probably noticed), he’s going out with Kim, (were to late lads) who in her ultimate wisdom has decided, today of all days is a good time to tell Jack of there relationship. Jack having a partner is a good thing in my eyes, Kiefer can’t be the lead character forever, and Chase could well fill the gap when or if he leaves.

Wayne Palmer, is David’s brother, who for some reason we’ve never heard about in past episodes. He replaces Mike Novick as Chief of Staff. Wayne is played by D.B. Woodside who has been a fan of the show since it began, and has been trying hard to get a role on the show since then. Adam is a rather up himself new member of CTU, who is the character I’d most like to see developed some people might think he’s a bit of a jerk, I’m don’t think he is, I have a horrible that won’t happen, I see him slowly shunted into the background as Milo was in the first series. Soon he’ll be happy to deliver a line of techno talk.

Talking about techno talk, was it me, or was Kim, totally unconvincing developing her lines of technological jargon. This episode was fine, by normal TV standards, it was more than just fine. On Sky One, it jarred a little, it just didn’t seem right. First of all, the ever present Sky One logo was just plain annoying, and adverts! Ugh! They might have seemed worse of my video, than they did watching it ‘real time’, but hey, they were still ugh!. The show, isn’t at it’s best until the third or forth episode, when we get into the story, and start to care about the new characters.

The acting was just as good as we’ve come to expect, especially from the regulars, and of course, Kiefer. It’s quite amazing that we’ve had two series worth of Kiefer as Jack, and yet he can still surprise us, by bringing something different to the role, Jack was on edge like I don’t think we’ve seen, dunno about you, but I was convinced and whole heatedly felt for him. While I’m on the subject of Jack, was it just me who found that last scene totally shocking, even though I knew it was coming. This drug story could well, bubble up to be a nice little distraction for him.

Other points of interest include, that Kiefer’s producer credit from last year has changed to a Co-Executive Producer one. What he actually does for this credit, I’m not sure, but a producer credit is a must now a days for all Big American TV stars. Also on a totally superficial note, I can’t decide if I like the new look CTU. Is it nicely modernized or is it too far removed from old CTU?.

Another thought, that has just popped into my head, the episode didn’t seem to take into account of new viewers like the series two premiere did, but still 24 seems to infecting everyone I know, just like that virus threatens to do, a friend of mine, who saw the show for the first time on Thursday said the show seemed to "ooze coolness", I think that is a complement.

Story Checks

Ramon’s brother Hector, is threatening to release a ‘weaponised immuno pulmonary virus" into the general population of L.A.’, it can kill people within 24 hours of infection! (isn’t that a surprise!) and will infect 9% of the population within the first week.

Time checks

Hector wants Ramon released in the Next 6 Hours

Quotes

"Honey, if your promise not to cook, I’ll take you anywhere" - Tony
"Nothing, It’s just gonna be another one of those Days" - David Palmer

Overnight Rating

Media guardian reports that it pulled in just under one million viewers, roughly a third of it’s BBC2 viewership. That doesn’t sound good, but for sky, only football and simpsons get them better ratings.