It is revealed that the virus was nothing more than a plot to get Jack back undercover.

Due to a mistake by the friend who records the episodes for me, I haven't actually seen the first 5 minutes. But by all accounts it was pretty darn good, but all I have to go on is the episode guide and comments on message forums. So I'll skip past it.

With this new twist, life at CTU suddenly got a whole lot more interesting, after becoming slightly stale. Chappelle is reeling in the way only he knows how after being he finds out Tony and Jack have been preparing a huge top secret sting operation right under his nose. Serves him right for being so horrible to everyone. Michelle also ain't that pleased about the fact that Tony kept this secret so well from him. It makes for a fare bit of drama, and also means the rather boring Chloe O'Brian doesn't get a word in the whole episode.

Back at the Salazar's Ranch, Ramon, Hector and Jack are having one of those scenes, that the audience gobbles up with much appreciation as we relise just how clever the writers have been. The scene also gives us some good lines for Jack ("I'm tired of putting my ass on the line for nothing....I'm done putting my ass on the line for nothing") which Kiefer delivers says so well, I thought for a moment he was actually turning to the dark side and had totally forgot about the back undercover bit.

From here we're back to CTU and the "here's what's gonna be happening scene" courtesy of Tony barking out orders, which is an improvement on the tired CTU meeting every hour format.

Jack and Claudia's scene could have been a highlight of the episode but was totally ruined by Vanessa Ferlito's uneven acting, as it was the script and Kiefer saved it from turning into a soap opera. Having said that the dialogue for this scene, while great in places, I think tryed to cover to many things, Jack suffering from heroin withdrawl, Jack and Claudia's apparent liaison and Claudia's disgust. All these things asked Vanessa Ferlito to go from mildly caring woman bringing Jack food, to Taunting Jack about Heroin and Hector and Ramon's decisions back to Caring woman worried that Jack "used to be a man". All of this strecthed Vanessa's acting skills (of which I'm sure there are some, somewhere) to far.

Palmer and Co's storyline revolved souly on Anne and Her ex-husband. I have to admit to not liking Anne up to this point, but her scenes with her ex, did have some tension, even if they do now seem unimportant now that she has seemingly said goodbye to the show. Shame, I was just starting to like her. Now, with Anne gone, it leaves just David and Wayne in this story thread which seems to be going no where fast, and quite frankly it's got to pick up soon, or there's nothing to stop Palmer going to Bed for a nice kip. What we need is Sherry back.

Action this episode was again left on the shoulders of Jack Mark 2, as he lands in Mexico, to a welcoming party of a Mexican Intelligence (never thought there was a thing) Agent and a section of the Salazar's personal army. I'm a little confused as to how a plane can land perfectly without a pilot, but I'll let that go as well, no wait, where did the pilot go?, hmm, we ain't gonna get any answers, so there is really no point dwelling on it.

Back at the Ranch, it is decided by the Salazar's to go ahead with the deal, then kill Jack, Jack calls Micheal Amador who we see briefly thanks to a Wallace-esque lighting set up. Also doesn't he sound a lot like Wallace did last series, with his "you know I can't tell you that Jack". Anyway, everything was going so well, until Chase is bundles in, and Jack is asked to show his allegiance by shooting Chase, the Gun ofcourse proves to be empty, but in the madness, Chase inadvertently breaks the transmitter in Jack's watch. Hence giving us the cliffhanger

Which was so well signposted for the slower views by Tony - "When the Delta Teams are in place, we'll have no idea where he is?!". Now this I can't handle, the continued dumbing down of 24's twists. What's the point having twists and intrigue, when there gonna write such clunkly diaglogue to explain them. Argh. It's things like this which will mean that this or any future series will never top the orginal. People who ain't seen the first series, do yourself a huge favour and buy or rent the first series.

Time checks

Jack had to call Micheal Amador within an Hour of the start of the episode, But he's done that now.

Quotes

"Your a man without a soul" - Claudia "I'm tired of putting my ass on the line for nothing, I'm done putting my ass on the line for nothing" - Jack Bauer

Overnight Rating

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