Hey FOX Promo Department, where's that big '24' shock you promised me?

January 29, 10:45 PM

Well, they can't all have bombs going off, can they? Sometimes even terrorists and government agents need a little time to relax, regroup and chill out. Monday (Jan. 29) night's episode of 24 was as peaceful and serene as the adrenaline-charged series has ever gotten. It was neither good, nor bad, just forgettable and uneventful.

Perhaps the characters were dealing with low blood-sugar in the 11-12 a.m. hour? I know I usually get a little sluggish before lunch. Maybe that's why most of the episode was dedicated to people slowly strolling around a detention facility yard whispering, people milling around computers at CTU whispering and people sitting around the presidential bunker pointing at charts and whispering. And if the FOX promo department hadn't repeatedly promised me the season's biggest surprise, I might have been content with this wheel-spinning.

The entrance of Jack Bauer's dad Phillip at 9:52 obviously wasn't the "biggest shock of the year" promised by the FOX marketers in seemingly endless ads. Far from seeming like the anticipated megalomaniacal businessman, Daddy Bauer came across as exactly the kind of relatively kindly, relatively clueless old guy who would enter a pig in a sheep-dog competition.

So does that mean the big shock was that Jack's Evil Brother Graem was evil? Ummm... We knew that. We watched the show last season when he was evil. Did we think that adding him to Super Jack's family tree would just make him misunderstood?

Annoyance with the FOX promo department, particularly when it comes to spoiling the end of upcoming episodes of 24, is nothing new, but this week's lie was especially audacious, wasn't it? They managed to ruin the surprise of James Cromwell's arrival and then set viewers up for something bigger without delivering.

Other quick thoughts on this week's episode:

Poor Walid. That's a lot of abuse to take for nothing.

Where did Chad Lowe come from and is he just going to be Peter MacNicol's lackey? And what is Peter MacNicol's position in President Palmer's Brother President Palmer's staff that he can demand the resignation of a National security advisor?

Anybody else think that the producers are pulling the ol' double-reverse with Nadia (Marisol Nichols)? We're supposed to think it's evil of the government to profile her for being Middle Eastern so that we won't suspect she's actually evil?

Milo: Defender of Personal Freedoms makes me giggle.

Graem's badness wasn't shocking, but he still got off a few good insults directed at Jack including, "Protecting family is everything and I think your dead wife would agree."

Need. More. Chloe.

What were your thoughts? Hugely shocked by anything in tonight's episode?

Permalink

Comments (22)

Comments

I agree that this was not the most exciting or shocking episode but a good one none the less with the two presidential advisors "locking horns". Also the reveal of Graem to Jack and his father came a lot earlier than I expected.

Let's face it, Milo is looking for some TLC here and he is going to get himself in a lot of trouble unless he is the CTU turncoat this year. I also agree about needing more of the old Chloe.

But it can still be summed up with "All Hail The Power Of Bauer!"

Cardmar | Jan 30, 2007 5:33:18 AM | #

If you watched this show over the years, you understand that not every episode is going to be heartracing, and that these building block episodes are a necessity. All in all a very good episode. They are just laying the foundation for future explosive events to come.

Tigre | Jan 30, 2007 7:31:09 AM | #

This one started off great but before the half hour mark it hit the 24-slide into dullsville that generally happens 5 or 6 eps into the season. There have been some classic non-action 24 episodes, but this one was clearly treading water as they ramp for for bigger stuff 2 or 3 episodes away. Granted, it's supposed to be real-time so you can't expect crazy action every episode (which they over-did in Season 4). But I guess what's bothering me this season is the subplots are a little on the lame side - Palmer's sister and particularly the CTU shenanigans between Milo/Chloe and whats his name. At least Kim with a crazy stalker then a cougar was entertaining.

MQ | Jan 30, 2007 8:27:22 AM | #

A great episode, better than anything else on TV.

Paulette | Jan 30, 2007 8:28:18 AM | #

I agree with your comments. One of the slowest episodes of 24 I remember. And the Director of Homeland Security resigning during the highest terror threat the nation has ever seen? Very unbelievable. Also, Walid executes a perfect theft of a guy's cell phone? Not very believable. 24 has done well in the past with episodes that lay the groundwork for the future while still providing excitement during that episode. Last night was disappointing, but I still hold high hopes for the remainder of the season.

Rick | Jan 30, 2007 8:33:58 AM | #

Also, I kind of miss the incomplete-action sequence tension of some of the earlier seasons - Halfway through a major action sequence then cut to end of the episode. It feels like they're trying for more self-contained episodes now that the show has a big audience and not playing up the real-time as much. This one in particular sorta trailed off and felt "complete", which is simply weak editing.

MQ | Jan 30, 2007 8:41:24 AM | #

This is still one of the best shows on T.V. These "slower" episodes are necessary for story building. I personally find them more interesting sometimes because they delve deeper into the characters. As good as the show is, most everything reagarding policys, procedures, abilities, etc. are just ridiculous. Lets face it though, we watch this show to escape not for it's realism.

Scott Prebosnyak | Jan 30, 2007 9:00:19 AM | #

You shouldn't be blaming the FOX promo dept. only--all of the 5 major networks are guilty of overhyping mediocre episodes. I would say that NBC is the worst offender. I would be rich if I had a dime every time the network promo voice-over promised 'the one episode that will change everything' or 'be sure not to miss the last five minutes of the show'. It gets especially annoying during the Sweeps months, with promos using cliched lines like 'the most EXPLOSIVE episode ever'!

Last night's episode of 24 was not shocking or action-packed, but I know the writers will have more surprises coming up for February sweeps. The most shocking thing to me was that Walid wasn't actually killed by the other detainees, just beat up.

According to his profile on the show's official website at fox.com, Tom Lennox is the 'Special Advisor to the President/Chief of Staff'. Does that mean that he is BOTH advisor and Palmer's COS? Also, I think that later on Chad Lowe's character might betray Lennox, in an attempt to get a promotion. Some other viewers suggested that maybe Nadia is working with Assad, NOT with Fayed. I'm not sure if Nadia is a double agent, but CTU is known to be sloppy at employees' background checks.

Jamie | Jan 30, 2007 9:18:49 AM | #

I noticed the same thing you did with that episode. If that were the real world, and a nuclear weapon was just detonated 2 hours ago ... I doubt everyone would be walking calmly around CTU. It felt like nothing even happened in LA just a few hours ago. Kind of disappointing episode.

Matt | Jan 30, 2007 9:32:38 AM | #

Please ZAP2it give us someone else to do the recap. Thanks.
24 is still the best show on TV.

Stevo | Jan 30, 2007 9:50:28 AM | #

MacNicol is the White House Chief of Staff and can just about demand the resignation of anyone who is not a cabinet member.

24_4_ever | Jan 30, 2007 9:53:30 AM | #

Perhaps the biggest shock was there wasn't a big shock, tickey.

VincentClark | Jan 30, 2007 10:36:06 AM | #

a little slow but if you compare it to the young and restless - need i say more

karen resigning so fast a little thin on the details and the prez just says i need you but duh no questions ok bye

still the only show i gotta see!

tommy | Jan 30, 2007 10:40:39 AM | #

Yeah the Karen situation is the sort of plot twist that works fine in a regular hour-drama where days can pass, but it feels forced on 24.

MQ | Jan 30, 2007 11:12:19 AM | #

I actually look forward to the 'so called' boring episodes. Not one episode is boring to me. Those that dont have as much 'bang' actually do more to mess with my head, since the following week, there is usually something fantastic.

Netty | Jan 30, 2007 12:09:59 PM | #

Somewhat of an off night for 24, which still makes it heads and shoulders above a "regular" episode from another Monday night program.
Karen and Tom squaring off was pretty intense; you won't find too many better actors on TV after Peter MacNicol.
I'm sure we'll have more "explosiveness" next week. 24 continues to be original in its 6th season; nothing on tv is in its league.

Chris | Jan 30, 2007 1:26:04 PM | #

This is similar to last season where the first 4 episodes were great and things just go downhill from there. These episodes are written and directed by the second-tier staff at 24 while Cassar and Surnow take a break. More Chloe? NOT! Less Chloe and her annoying boyfriend. A Brit working for US CTU...right. We need more Jack vs. evil guys, more kick butt action, less annoying characters wasting our time, less lawyer Palmer. Currently, MacNicol's character as the Neocon is the only thing interesting.

Chaz | Jan 30, 2007 3:01:46 PM | #

I never watch the scenes for next episode. It only ruins the fun the next week, knowing what to expect.

Brian | Jan 30, 2007 3:35:54 PM | #

This was a very slow and boring episode,I agree with the reviewer.

And what is with people saying this is the best show ever? On the Prison Break review people were also saying that. Both are exciting and fun shows and I know everyone has their own opinion,but come on! Best show ever? Please!

You want quality,intelligent television,watch what actually is one of the best shows ever made-HBO's The Wire.

Eoin | Jan 30, 2007 3:58:04 PM | #

Definitely slow. I watch it with my daughter and wife and we didn't have anything to discuss afterward. But I still love the show. I saw that Marisol Nichols is the second most Googled 24 cast member. I did Google her after the first show.

RONNY | Jan 30, 2007 5:11:56 PM | #

This episode was slow, sure, but still captivating as ever. Has anyone noticed that hours spent watching 24 pass faster than regular hours? But this one felt definately rehearsed, with Walid just "falling" on the guy's phone without him noticing. How was he going to put it back? And why did it take so long for the security guards to save him? Absolutely nothing was surprising in this episode, although i didn't think Karen would actually resign... And, this bothered me the most, the subplot of Walid and Sandra Palmer was a COMPLETE waste. Couldn't something important have come from it?

RYAN | Jan 30, 2007 6:17:10 PM | #

Where was Karen's sense of loyalty to her country in this time of crisis? That was disappointing. She better be useful at CTU. The CTU tactical unit was a pretty sad display since they were killed before they even got out of their SUV. CTU needs Chase back in place of Curtis.

sarah | Jan 31, 2007 12:19:46 PM | #