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| Day 4: 2:00 AM - 3:00 AM | ||||
| Original Airdate: May 2, 2005 | ||||
| Writer: Peter M. Lenkov | ||||
| Director: Bryan Spicer | ||||
| As the season wraps up, the producers can finally use the ideas they were plotting while the post-override episodes were made.� As the transition went on, many became impatient with the slow pace, but didn't give up on the show.� It seems like the last few weeks are our reward.� The show has taken some high stakes risks and the end looks promising. | ||||
| I think this episode was made better by simply including Palmer in it.� He has always had a great presence on the show, even when his storyline was less than stellar, as it was last season.� Of course, hard core fans got a kick seeing Agent Pierce (the 4th member of the "All 4 seasons Club") reappear, even if it was a cameo.� It helped continuity to include the bit about Pierce's son signing on for more military service.� 24 is one TV's most scrutinized shows, so references to little things the fans remember is a nice touch. | ||||
| Now some critics may question 24's choice to write Palmer back into the show.� If this season was to introduce a new world of characters, putting Palmer back in the role of the president is back pedaling.� However, he works so well with the other characters, especially Jack.� In addition, Keeler wasn't much of a character and Logan wasn't more than a launching pad for Palmer's comeback. Regardless, his return is easier to accept than some of last season's ham handed returns. | ||||
| Palmer could've been petty with his relationship with Novick. Considering their history, he has reason to be.� However, they're in a crisis and Mike's an asset.� Mike betrayed Palmer because he thought Palmer wasn't acting in the country's best interest as opposed to supporting the terrorists. �I wish more of these characters could put aside their problems like this.� Palmer, we've missed you! | ||||
| Back to the Suburban House of DOOM, Chloe is working on Nabilla's hard drive while CTU workers are making sure she's OK.� During this, Jack asks to see how she's coping after having killed someone. �Jack has gotten used to killing people for the purpose of his job.� If anyone could help a socially awkward person like Chloe cope with her actions, it would be him. | ||||
| On the drive, she finds e-mails Sabir received that were sent from someone within the United States.� In record time Edgar finds that it belongs to a man fired from China's nuclear weapons program, Lee Jong. �I wish they did more with Nabilla's storyline, but usually sources like this only yield one lead.� If there was one fault, it was that Marwan and the terrorists with the warhead had little coverage this week.� The story abruptly shifted to China, which made the narration a little clunky.� This is a minor complaint as Marwan's absence could be justified when he reemerges. | ||||
| Most people have instinctively known that Audrey is going to leave Jack by the end of the season.� It has to wait until then.� Audrey wants to go with Paul to a special hospital.� This tender moment is interrupted by Jack's awkward arrival.� She hasn't informed him of this decision yet.� Through his medicated daze, Paul is still modest about the sacrifice that saved Jack's life.� Pushing Jack out of the way turned to be instinctual, which adds to the effect of his actions. | ||||
| Why wasn't Paul moved to a real hospital?� CTU is in the middle of LA.� Paul seems to be doped up enough not to notice or mind a car ride.� Paul has had trouble maintaining stability and CTU's medical staff isn't equipped for much as we saw.� In some ways, they seem to have wanted the end of this episode to happen.� They're in the middle of a crisis and few people are working in the infirmary.� As we saw at the end, if they had another patient rushed in, one would die. | ||||
| Marwan's speech is far more chilling when the final cut is shown for Edgar, Buchanan and Michelle.� It's damaged, so the image appears raw and distorted at times.� The audio's echoes provide a haunting effect.� As I correctly predicted, the video provided a clue of Marwan's plans.� They deduct that the warhead will be deployed before dawn.� The sun will rise on the east coast in two hours.� This could be ironic as they used time zones in the beginning of the season to determine that the terrorists would attack within that first hour.� While they have reason to worry about the East coast, it may prove to have similar results. | ||||
| This week's 24 introduced an interesting dynamic to the typical seizure of a terrorist suspect.� Knowing that CTU is onto his trail, Lee found sanctuary at the Chinese Consulate, which is considered Chinese territory and not subject to US jurisdiction.� Palmer still tries to appeal to Chinese Consul directly, but his hands are tied and will have to go through red tape to release Lee into US custody.� Even when Palmer negotiates benefits for China, it doesn't move thing along quicker.� Desperate, he phones Jack, implying that he needs to do what needs to be done to prevent this warhead's deployment. | ||||
| During work, Michelle gets a call from Jen, Tony's girlfriend.� Why wouldn't she have called CTU earlier? �The last time she saw Tony, he left with Jack.� Maybe she isn't that bright.� Tony apologizes for not informing Michelle about Jen.� Michelle says it isn't her business, which mirrors her comments when Tony inquired about her love life.� Considering the rest of this episode, this segment doesn't quite fit, but serves the overall story between Tony and Michelle. | ||||
| Chloe returns to work, and Edgar asks how she is.� It doesn't seem like we'll see much bickering between them now.� She's worried that she doesn't feel anything after killing a man, regardless of the circumstances.� Knowing her, it isn't unusual she'd shut down emotionally in such stress.� This could hint at where her story could go for the rest of the season. | ||||
| Jack prepares to go in the Consulate alone.� If he's caught, he can claim that he wasn't working as a part of the government.� However, he stands to face the Chinese judicial system if he's caught.� With Tony's help, the mission goes unimpeded, but once the other guards catch on, Jack's again in a place where he can't return.� Carrying Lee on his shoulders, the guards fire at them.� Why did the guards start shooting at someone they were protecting?� Maybe they were shooting to wound, but like many guards shooting at the hero of a piece, they can't hit anything, but when Koo steps in to see what's going on, he is caught in friendly fire. | ||||
| What really screws them is the Chinese guard unmasking Bern, the third man with Jack and Curtis.� While Su Ming, the Deputy Consul, has hunches regarding US involvement in this siege, he doesn't have proof yet.� The guard is an eyewitness and can identify one of the men involved, a US government agent.� Extracting Lee could be seen as an act of war, with consequences that would rival those Marwan has planned. | ||||
| Lee is shot during the extraction.� He's bleeding internally. Simultaneously, Paul has another relapse as fluid fills the sack around his lungs.� This coincidence does feel contrived, but it serves an exploration on how unforgiving the fight against terror can be.� Jack forced the infirmary surgeon to stop operating on Paul so they could work on the Lee.� Audrey is shocked and appalled at first, which gives way to hysteria when Paul dies, despite Jack's attempt to revive him.� Looking at Jack and Audrey's arc, it feels unnecessary, but its brutality is a part of the show's gritty style. | ||||
| Audrey should not be anywhere near Paul during surgery.� She isn't capable of deciding to take the surgeons off Paul so they can save the man with vital information.� Jack hates this decision, but unfortunately, they had no choice.� Lee is the only link they have to Marwan.� As we know well, capturing Marwan is the only chance they have at preventing this nuclear warhead from being used. | ||||
| Although the narrative jump from Marwan to Lee was garbled, they rebounded and saved the episode.� Some of the twists, while over the top like sacrificing Paul, are good simply for their potential.� Now Palmer has to face an international crisis that may escalate to war on top of finding Marwan.� This episode helped show what is at stake and escalated it to the point where no one involved will come out unscathed. | ||||
| Score: 8/10 | ||||
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