24“Redemption” Parts 1 & 2
Original Air Date: Nov 23, 2008
Jeff P. - TwoCents Staff Writer
jeffp@thetwocentscorp.com
We’ve waited for a year and a half to hear those wonderfully manic tones that represent the ticking clock, and to see our boy Jack Bauer again. We’ve patiently bided our time since May of 2007 when the season 6 finale aired and left us hanging on the all-too-familiar cliff again. In that time we’ve been forced to settle for two other JB’s to keep us busy…. Jason Bourne last summer in The Bourne Ultimatum, and of course James Bond in this month’s The Quantum of Solace. But you don’t have to wait to read my recap/review, which you can read now! The clock is ticking, though.
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24
ReplyDelete“Redemption” Parts 1 & 2
Original Air Date: Nov 23, 2008
Jeff P. - TwoCents Staff Writer
jeffp@thetwocentscorp.com
We’ve waited for a year and a half to hear those wonderfully manic tones that represent the ticking clock, and to see our boy Jack Bauer again. We’ve patiently bided our time since May of 2007 when the season 6 finale aired and left us hanging on the all-too-familiar cliff again. In that time we’ve been forced to settle for two other JB’s to keep us busy…. Jason Bourne last summer in The Bourne Ultimatum, and of course James Bond in this month’s The Quantum of Solace. But you don’t have to wait to read my recap/review, which you can read now! The clock is ticking, though.
We open in Sangala, Africa where it seems that a rebel clan is kidnapping young boys to use as militant soldiers. A young boy is forced to use a machete on a government official, and he kills him with the crowd rooting him on.
“The following takes place between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM.”
We meet up with Jack Bauer who is now in South Africa. He’s staying with his friend Carl apparently doing relief work. A man named Frank from the US Embassy comes by and attempts to give him a subpoena, and Jack wasn’t having that. The reason he’s being served is for the “torturing” that he’d been a part of last season. Jack tells him that if Washington wants him, they’ll have to come get him. Frank leaves him and he’s not happy.
Later we meet Jonas Hodges (Played by Jon Voigt) who we discover is supplying the weapons to the militant army looking to overtake South Africa. Hodges tells his associate that he doesn’t want any evidence of his phone call. When Hodges leaves, a man named Chris is called in the office and is asked to burn all of the evidence.
Carl pulls Jack aside for a heart to heart. He tells him from experience that if he wants to be with his family again he needs to stop running. He tells Jack that he always has a place to stay, but Jack knows that staying will only make his problems become Carl’s problems.
Soldiers from the freedom fighters clan find more children, and gun down two who try to escape.
03:26
Chris calls up his friend Roger and tells him he’s in trouble. Roger wonders if it’s another drug relapse, but Chris tells him it isn’t. He agrees to wait for him to hear his news. Roger tells his girlfriend, who doesn’t understand his loyalty to Chris, and reminds him not to be late for his mother’s inauguration. And this is when we meet his mother, United States President Elect Allison Taylor who will be taking over the highest office in 2 hours. She gets wind of the coup happening in Sangala, and asks to see President Daniels to discuss. His position is to pull out the US embassy and let the cards fall where they may. Taylor disagrees, thinking that it would seem that the US doesn’t stick by its democratic allies.
03:37
As Jack is saying his farewells to the children, he receives a call from Carl who tells him about the children who have been shot. One has died, and the other is holding on. He asks Jack to protect the children from the clan and he obliges.
The children hide in the basement of the school, while the killers arrive and a gunfight ensues. It’s always good to see Jack back in action, taking out many bad dudes single-handedly. Sure, it’s implausible to be able to avoid every machine gun’s fire, but don’t you love how he does it? Unfortunately, his luck runs out as he is taken down and captured. Carl comes back and sees that Jack has been taken prisoner.
03:50
Carl asks Frank at the Embassy if he could help, but Frank refuses. Meanwhile, Jack is being tortured in the gang’s effort to find the children. After taking some abuse, he is able to take out his torturer and Carl comes up to free him. The representative from the UN does not want to escort Carl and the children to the US Embassy, so Jack offers to help.
Hour 1 ends, continued in part 2.
24
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04:00
Hour two begins with Chris arriving at Roger’s house to discuss his problem. He tells him that he’s been working a special account making extra money, which he thought might have been embezzling from within. But then he recants the meeting with Hodges and how he was supposed to destroy the evidence. Instead, he sent the evidence to his hard drive at home. He’s hoping that Roger would tell his mother who would certainly have the power to help him. Roger wants to look at the evidence first.
04:04
We find out that the UN representative has been captured and tells the Colonel that his brother (the torturer of Jack) has been killed, and he knows who did it. He offers to help find Jack for them. Carl and Jack have a walkie talkie and find out that the killers know this and are after them. They decide to pull over and proceed on foot.
04:12
President Daniels is finishing up the transition process with Senator Taylor. He tells her to “be careful” while moving forward after a toast. When she leaves the oval office, she tells her husband Henry about what’s happening in Africa. She suspects that Daniels is pulling out before she takes over on purpose, though she doesn’t know why.
04:21
Chris gets home and starts the process of copying the evidentiary files to his hard drive. It doesn’t take long to discover that someone is in his apartment. There are two scary fellows who begin to question him on what he knows. They start to torture him to find out how much he has told to anyone.
04:33
Jack again tries to split up with Carl and the children, but a helicopter arrives and forces Jack to stay with them longer. While walking through the woods, one of the children almost steps on a mine, but Carl pushes him out of the way to save him. He leaves his foot on the mine and tells Jack to take the children to the Embassy instead. There is no time for Jack to disarm the mine. Then the soldiers find Carl with his hands raised. They ask him where Jack is and he refuses. Finally, Jack hears the mine go off in the distance, assuming the worst.
04:46
On the final walk to the Embassy, Jack notices that the clan have arrived and starts another gunfight. Meanwhile, across the ocean President Elect Taylor is about to get inaugurated, and standing in the crowd is Jonas Hodges watching over it. He tells his associate to keep his eye on Taylor.
Jack and the children arrive at the gate in time for the last copter. Frank meets up with him at the gate and tells him that the children can’t pass without their guardian. Jack tells him that Carl is dead. Frank gives Jack an ultimatum: Turn himself in and he will waive the guardianship requirement. Jack reluctantly concedes. He is taken into custody, and the children are taken in for asylum.
As the new President is giving her inaugural speech, we get the cascading boxes showing that the intensity is rising in South Africa and we see that Chris was murdered and is being buried in cement. The episode finishes up with Jack on the copter heading back to America, this time as a prisoner.
Wow. I always forget how much fun that this show is. It’s always been great at putting you at the edge of your seat, and forcing you to watch uncomfortable scenes. I thought that this was a great foray into Day 7, since it set the table for the new season but also was a good story in and of itself. Kiefer has truly settled into his role as the embattled ex-CTU agent. I;’m happy to say that I’ve been taking this ride with him since the beginning.
I am very much looking forward to January, but unfortunately there will be 2 months of real time to get there.
What did you think of the season opener? How long have you been watching the show? Your two cents is always appreciated. And I won’t even time you.
Well, you know I'M gonna reply!!! Listen, this chick President elect "Hillary".. Is sabotaged even BEFORE she sits on the seat... And whatta ya think about my gorgeous hubby jack taking the blows and the punches and the burning of his ear ey!? WAY TA GO JACK!! That's the way we do it! This guy Jolie's Daddy... Is a great actor! Loved him in Deliverance! He's gonna be a good villian!.. And speaking of "Villians".. We haven't seen the last of Daniels, lemme tell ya! But Jason Bourne and James Bond?.. Oh HELL NO sweet guy!... NO ONE can EVER compare to the power of Bauer! Man, I hope I don't have heart failure, or a kniption fit during one of these episodes, I'm on the edge of my seat! Talk about stress! January is a long way off.. But I'll be waitin just like everyone else! Go Jack!
ReplyDeleteQueenie is in the hiz-ouse!
ReplyDelete:)
I think you're right about Daniels. We know he'll have some unsavory dealings with Hodges or one of the baddies. I was also interested to see the casting of Colm Fiore as as the First Dude. It was interesting to hear that he was going to help her investigate what Daniels was doing in Africa.
We know how great the show is, but we forget how much it brings us to the edge, year in and year out.
Thank you for the feedback, Queenie!
I like the "twists" that were already apparent too... This Momma's boy Roger.. You think that HE was the one who tipped off Secret Service (obvious Daniels boys).... And then we find out it's the freakin DRIVER!?... God, these driver's are SUCH busybodies, I swear!.... Oh yeah... whatta ya think about the "That's 70's show" dude?... OMG.. I'm gonna find it hard to think of him not calling someone a "dumbass" while questioning Bauer!. Couldn't they get someone else!!!? GEEZ!... You know like a Ron Paul type fella... lol.
ReplyDeleteYes... I was thinking of that possibility too! After the first HUGE twist when we found out about Nina in season 1. Now it's hard to trust anyone.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see Kurtwood Smith (that silly questioning senator) I always think of Dead Poets Society. He is usually very good at playing a meanie-pants.
I was glad to have 24 back, though I'm not sure the real-time conceit worked so well in such a short period of time...like I'm so used to 24 hours that it started to gain steam and then it was over. I enjoyed it, though: the death of Benton actually moved me to tears (even if we could all guess he was probably not going to make it, this being 24).
ReplyDeleteJon Voight is working out really well; although I normally like Gil Bellows, I want to hit him with a bus. And then fire his hairstylist.
I see what you mean, Brittany. As is, we always have to suspend disbelief a bit with the real time concept. I thought they did a pretty good job with the 2 hours. It could have been worse... they could have had a mountain lion go after a side character, as they did with Kim Bauer in season 2.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Benton thing was sad. But is there a little part of you that is wondering if he's really dead? He should be... but they didn't show us, those stinkers.
And Gil Bellows hair? You are SO right about that. I think he may have had Keith Richards' people style it. Yikes!