'24' becomes the Brady Bunch

March 26, 07:53 PM

I don't care much about it one way or the other, but before I discuss anything that did happen in Monday (March 26) night's decidedly odd episode of 24, I want to quickly mention something that didn't: We've now gone two full hours since Martha stabbed President Logan in what the FOX promo department said was the most shocking moment in 24 history and nobody's mentioned the former president's condition. Not even in passing. Not a word.

But yes, it was an odd episode of 24 that I'm about to discuss (and therefore spoil, just in case you didn't figure on that).

How odd was it?

Well, it was another Jack-lite episode, though primetime's most patriotically directed psychotic did something even more threatening and shocking than all of the torture and mayhem and slaughter he's taken part in over the years -- he was kind and gentle to a somebody. I know. I shudder just thinking about it.

Did we previously know that Jack Bauer has a soft spot for autistics? Now we do. And potential future terrorists will learn that the most logical way to get past Jack's watchful eye in the future is to blink rapidly, play with your fingers and talk like you spent your weekend watching Rain Man. Points to friendly, computer-savvy savant Brady, who may have been hacking into the databases for a nuclear power plant, but he was doing it for a good reason -- because his brother was played by Devon Gummersall and therefore must be evil in the most bumbling, well-intentioned way possible. I'm glad to see Gummersall working again. You sexually assault one former Power Ranger in a J.J. Abrams show and the next thing you know, Keri Russell's cut her hair, Jennifer Garner's had Ben Affleck's baby and you're off the radar.

As pieces of character-writing go, Brady the Autistic was horribly contrived, but he helped CTU catch Gredenko, so somebody should get that guy on the government payroll.

Brady was odd, but was he the oddest part of the episode?

Nah. How about President Palmer spending most of the episode in a coma, nearly coding before the second-to-last commercial break and then miraculously sitting up in bed at the last second and calling off V.P. Daniels' nuclear strike? That was pretty odd. And while I'd gladly watch Powers Boothe threaten to kill everybody in the phone book, surely the writers will give Daniels a little character dimension at some point, right? He's a raving lunatic and he's being dragged down the same 25th Amendment path that this show travels whenever things get slow.

So was the recovery of Robo-Palmer the oddest part of the episode?

Nah. I'm going with the blooming of the barely developed romance between Nadia and Milo. Nadia, you see, wasn't actually the mole. There was no mole, at least not until it turns out that somebody actually was a mole, but in that case it probably won't be Nadia. After the Bill Buchanan expressed his sincere regret, Nadia came downstairs, told Milo they couldn't be more than friends and then he threw her up against the wall and shoved his tongue down her throat. I'm surprised the promo department didn't play it up as The Most Romantic Moment in 24 History.

Other quick thoughts on the episode:

Did anybody watch what was playing on the TV in Gredenko's holding room? I'm assuming it was some 20th Century Fox movie or other, but I didn't instantly recognize it.

Martha stabs Logan in the shoulder. He gets arterial bleeding. Somebody shoots Devon Gummersall in the leg and he gets arterial bleeding. President Palmer gets blown to bits, experiences brain swelling, gets put into a coma, gets pulled out of a coma, codes and he's going to be back in the War Room in a suit and tie by next week? I'd better not hear any more mockery of Wayne Palmer's manliness.

Any theories on what happened in Denver?

Thoughts on this week's episode? Opinions on making Brady a cast regular?

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Comments (40)

Comments

I'm sorry, season 5 is by far the worst season of 24. This year is pretty good except for the weird things tv gal mentioned (Logan, Wayne's miraculous awakening, same story as season 2) here's my list from best to worst:

2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 5 yes, i like this better than last year

TIm Evans | Mar 27, 2007 7:12:42 PM | #

ha ha SO true 24 killed off all of the characters that the audience cared about i agree with Tim, season 5 blew, they shouldn't have killed michelle, tony, president palmer, hell, even edgar would be interesting at this point please fox kill off nadia, milo, ricky s., karen hayes, sandra palmer, and bring back tony (maybe he's still alive?) also, jack needs to boink chloe sorry morris here's my season list from best to worst:

2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 5 yes, i haven't seen season 7 yet, but i'm sure it's better than 5 was get bent all you season 5 fans! po

Sebastian David | Mar 27, 2007 7:22:14 PM | #

I'd say the same to all season 2 fans. Automatic disqualification for the season-long Kim storyline, which was its own show within a show. Cannot be the best, but is in contention for the worst.

Dean | Mar 27, 2007 8:05:29 PM | #

24's biggest mistake was with Martha and Charles' storyline. They are the only 2 actors other than Keifer to be nominated for Emmy's, and we've seen Martha for an episode, and Charles for maybe 3? The scenes with these two are unlike any scenes in the show. They are phenomenal actors and don't compare to the current cast. It's unfortunate that Charles isn't president anymore.

Steve | Mar 27, 2007 8:59:48 PM | #

I can't believe so many people think 4 and 5 were better than 1 and 2. Season 1 I thought played the hour-by-hour plot the most realistically. It seemed possible that everything could have happened in those 24 hours. Each season beyond that it progressively got more unrealistic time-wise due to the amazingly difficult nature of writing in that format. And while season three had its weak points (Tony's recovery, Palmer's issue with Alan) I still thought it was the best performance by a terrorist with the guy who played Steven Saunders. And beside the Kim angle, I thought season 2 was awesome as well.

1,4,2,3,5,6

dan | Mar 27, 2007 10:02:38 PM | #

1,4,2,5,3,6 for me. Looks like a SAT question. :)

Eric | Mar 27, 2007 11:58:16 PM | #

I agree that this season, so far, has been very subpar and obviously recycled from previous seasons. Am I the only one that thinks that it would have been awesome for season 6 to have been about him escaping from China and his captors from the end of last year in 24 hours? While very different, I think that would have been very cool. Shot on location in China, he and Audrey (who they just wrote off w/ very little story) try to escape to a waiting plane/ship back to America

IlliniChief | Mar 28, 2007 6:19:09 AM | #

I've been up in the air about this season. Other than needing a haircut, I thought Jack looked pretty good for having spent 2 years in a Chinese prison. (But that's the "24" universe.) High points have been Martha stabbing Logan (I actually think he died in the ambulance) and VP Daniels itching to launch some nukes at somebody. But all the relationship stuff is slowing this down (Chloe, Milo & Morris, Martha & Aaron, Milo and any female with a pulse). I'd like to see CTU give Brady to Chloe to mentor and deep six Milo & Morris. Finally, I'm going to go out on a limb here. Keifer Sutherland has said even Jack Bauer could be killed off. I'm thinking that might happen and Mike Doyle take his place. I have not missed an original broadcase episode of "24", but it may need a major change or just wrap it up and head off into the sunset.

Jim | Mar 28, 2007 7:56:45 AM | #

I thought last year was ridiculous and barely understood the plot, but at least it was exciting. This year is BORING.

My order:
2, 4, 1, 3, 5, 6

Mike | Mar 28, 2007 12:49:59 PM | #

Last year's season was phenomenal! Yes--the killing of Michelle, Tony, Edgar, etc. was excessive, but the Logan storyline was fantastic. Last season, this was a show I would never miss for ANYTHING. This year, I watch more out of habit.

The best scenes so far this season have come from the Logan storyline once again. They are spectacular actors, and we have some emotion invested in them.

WHO CARES about Nadia/Milo? I'd rather they put Chloe and Bill back in the forefront. CTU drama is SO old, just do you job everyone. Too much romance flying around on a stressful day. Don't get me wrong, romance is not ALWAYS bad, just don't rush it and then cram it down the viewer's throat.

More Chloe/Bill, More Jack, WAAAY less Milo and Nadia and Ricky Schroeder.

Oh, and can we please find out what happened to Logan? This whole thing is just a bit unrealistic. 2 hours later, let's have SOME information!

I've very upset with this show right now.

5,2,1,4,3,6.

Justin | Mar 28, 2007 1:01:30 PM | #

Sorry Mike....you're BORING!

Ken | Mar 28, 2007 1:31:05 PM | #

After 6 years, I'm surprised people are still complaining about plot holes and unrealistic storylines. The show has always been about entertainment, not accuracy.

Regardless, I wish they’d focus this season’s storylines more on Jack/Logan/Martha/Pierce, rather than the melodrama of CTU. What really bores me about the Milo/Nadia/Chloe/Morris stuff is that we’ve already seen this stuff before with other characters. Why not just focus on the main storyline?

Bob | Mar 28, 2007 2:09:24 PM | #

MY FAVORITE SEASONS ARE.........

SEASON 5
SEASON 2
SEASON 4
SEASON 6
SEASON 3
SEASON 1

DAN | Mar 28, 2007 2:42:19 PM | #

I thought last season was just a hodgepodge of incoherency. Season 1 was by far the best. (i bought it on dvd and watched it straight through. Agreed the characters this season are completely shallow, but i find morris a charming character who has potential

brett | Mar 29, 2007 12:27:38 PM | #

Well we all know that keifer sutherland is great, and we have all stereotyped him as being what he is, but i think the reason this season, like season 5 has started off like it has is because, Keifer is tired, and we all know that there will NEVER be another Jack Bauer. The man needs some rest. Lets just wait and see what pans out in the end and i promise you that like all other seasons, you will be hanging off the edge of your seat and cant wait until season 7 starts.
my order is:
season 4
season 3
season 5
season 1
season 2
thanks

diane | Mar 30, 2007 10:21:52 PM | #