What, exactly, does America owe Jack Bauer?

April 16, 07:51 PM

[The recap was written between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. and contains the usual assortment of spoilers for Monday (April 16) night's episode of 24.]

Look, I'm not going to argue that Jack Bauer has done a lot for the fictional United States of America. He's stopped or diverted nuclear attacks, temporarily saved presidents from assassination, partially prevented the spread of biological weapons, voluntarily sacrificed himself to terrorists and gotten hooked on smack. There's no question that the government owes him a few favors (if you assume that civil servants are entitled to make demands of the government).

I think, however, that there may be limits.

"President Palmer, when I come out to Washington next month, you're buying the first round... You owe me."

Absolutely.

"Bill Buchanan, I'd like you to strip naked and streak on the field at Dodger Stadium... You owe me."

Sure, if that's the kind of guy Jack is.

"Chloe, I'm sick of driving around Los Angeles, so you're going to chauffeur me around for the next 10 years... You owe me."

That seems fair.

"Mr. President, I'm going to steal vital components from the nuclear devices I just secured and turn them over to the Chinese in exchange for my ex-girlfriend, even though that has the very real possibility of setting off a nuclear crisis far worse than the one I just averted... You owe me."

It's here that if I'm the leader of the free world, even one whose brains have been scrambled by a really difficult day at the office, I'm going to call shenanigans. Yes, President Palmer and Mike Doyle and Bill Buchanan and several other people with various quantities of common sense had reservations about Jack's plan, but he got really serious and promised that he'd never let the Chinese actually get the Macguffin, prompting this slightly paraphrased exchange.

"I promise, Mr. President."

"Cross your heart and hope to die?"

"Ummm... Sure."

"Literally?"

"Literally."

"Jack, how do I know you don't have your fingers crossed behind your back?"

"I promise, sir... Stick a needle in my eye."

"Fine. Go for it, Jack, you wacky rogue."

That's why I love the Palmers. They're usually willing to just let Bauer be Bauer. And I may be joking about it, but the line "Mr. President, you owe me," was like the epitome of Bauer-dom.

Beyond having a higher than usual ration of implausibilities (gaffes in logic that true 24 fans swear I'm supposed to ignore), it was a tense episode, albeit a good deal less action packed than last week's. We got an explanation for how the Chinese subplot relates to the first 17 hours of the season (badly, but I'm not sweating the details), we got plenty of Chloe and President Palmer collapsed on national TV.

And what was up with that, anyway? I'm President Palmer and I've already passed out, blacked out and been blown up multiple times today, do I really want to be giving a live speech to the American people? Sure, I guess I want to show I'm in charge. Do I really want to give the speech with the press assembled on an over-lit stage? Well, no. And after my long speech under the hot lights, do I want to open the floor for a Q&A session? Say what you will about our current president in real life, but he has the sense not take questions from the media any more than's absolutely necessary. But even though President Palmer's on-stage swoon couldn't have been more easily predicted, I can't have been the only one close to yelling at the screen to get the guy off the podium and safe, saving the world from President Sy Tolliver. That being said, Ol' V.P. Daniels actually made sense when he treated Palmer's deal with Bauer with the proper derision.

Good fun.

Highlights of the episode:

Why aren't we looking for another mole in CTU? I don't know how else Cheng knew that Jack recovered the nukes before even President Palmer. And who would win in an Evil Stereotypical Asian showdown -- Cheng or Agent Lee from Prison Break?

Tom Lennox has to be the most frustrating character on TV. Just when you start to begrudgingly respect him, he turns around and lets Vice President Daniels pull his second 25th Amendment trick of the day. You've still got the tape, man. Use it.

After several weeks of romantic squabbles between Milo and Nadia, it was good to have Morris and Chloe back having inappropriate conversations about their relationship in the middle of a crisis. I also adore that Jack called Chloe for help and her immediate response was "Can't it wait?" Nothing can ever wait with Jack Bauer.

If I were a man-in-uniform, I'd be vaguely offended by the fact that Jack was able to gain access to a nuke by telling two soldiers that he was an agent and then yelling at them and that Mike Doyle was able to convince those same soldiers to cold-cock Jack just seconds later by yelling even louder.

V.P. Daniels trying to get morally self-righteous about President Palmer blackmailing him was a little like Charla and Mirna accusing the Beauty Queens of playing dirty on Amazing Race: All-Stars.

No reference to President Logan. No reference to Daddy Bauer. But Jack did mention Curtis. Poor Curtis.

Thoughts on this week's episode? Have the past two episodes put 24 back on track for you? Does it still have work to do? Or do you figure that even when 24 is awful, it's still perfect and your devotion never wavered for a second?

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Comments (37)

Comments

I'm definitely in the third camp.
Not a single shot fired and still a great episode. I think these last seven episodes are going to be the best of the year. Jack works best alone anyway.
And Daniel, when did you get so funny?! It was your best episode too. Keep it up brother.

Dean | Apr 16, 2007 11:39:46 PM | #

Mr. Fienberg is always funny; he just holds back to spare our sides. You gotta dole that good stuff out carefully. Always leave 'em wanting more.

dan fan | Apr 16, 2007 11:48:24 PM | #

I'm with Dean and dan fan - Daniel's funny. Is 24 in danger(!) of becoming a parody of itself? Anyway, I bet there's more coming from Tom Lennox re VP Daniels - he still has the tape as an ace in the hole. (trouble is, VP Daniels knows he has it, so maybe Tom's days (oops, hours) are numbered. Hope not - gotta love Tom. Or maybe they'll bring back DP (Disgraced President) with the pen in his neck and everything. Maybe, maybe, maybe - it's 24, anything can happen, and they have 6 more hours (like, all night)!

PGB | Apr 17, 2007 5:45:55 AM | #

What does America owe Jack Bauer? Ha. Good one.

I think Jack's actions would be accepted more if the character he was trying to save was more popular among fans than Audrey is.

Fred | Apr 17, 2007 6:14:27 AM | #

If the Chinese were holding Audrey all this time, why didn't they threaten to torture her to get Jack to spill all the government secrets? If anything would have worked, it would have been that.

Wayne Palmer needs to stop staring at his brother's picture. It reminds us of how lame Wayne really is. David Palmer would never have spent all that time hiding in the bunker.

And David Palmer would have said, "Jack, you know I love you, bud. But we can't take that risk with the Russian technology".

Tim | Apr 17, 2007 6:16:26 AM | #

Why does everyone at Zap2it love the word "shenanigans" so much?

Mike | Apr 17, 2007 7:02:08 AM | #

Good show but a silly premise. I actually looked at a basedball game when the "you owe me" dialogue started. Came back, though!

Mike | Apr 17, 2007 7:19:41 AM | #

I'm thinking it probably wasn't necessary for President Palmer to hold a live news conference at 3:45 AM EST.

"We interupt this infomercial for an address from the President of the United States."

Bill | Apr 17, 2007 8:18:01 AM | #

re: shenanigans -- i was wondering the same thing, Mike. maybe there was some sort of friendly bet to see how many times they could use the word this week in their stories. i've seen "the office"; i know how this works.

ciw | Apr 17, 2007 8:31:13 AM | #

I've watched 24 since it started and have seen every single episode. I also own all the Season DVDs through 5. While I don't want to address any specific criticism, I'll say these two things: one, some of the criticism in this article is on the mark and two, overall, the show is losing it's luster.

The current administration seems like Bill Clinton with Dick Cheney as VP. Not buying it. I doubt a ticket was ever balanced that widely. I could be wrong.

In season one, I was taken by this fast and furious, time sensitive mission where paranoia and anxiety reigned supreme. I was left freaked out at the end of each episode and couldn't wait to tune in the next week. Now, the show seems predictable and no where near as freakish. Powers Boothe has somehow kept Daniels interesting despite the predictability of everything that's happened so far in the Washington scenarios. I do mean everything. Completely predictable. Just as you can count on one of two things - either Lennox is offed or Lennox forces Daniels to step down. Either way, revenge plot for season 7, if I can stand anymore of this predictability.

I wish the writers would forget the patriotic and moralistic issues and return to what made the show good originally: our greatest fear is the unknown.

Franklin | Apr 17, 2007 10:28:20 AM | #

i will not streak naked

bill | Apr 17, 2007 12:00:08 PM | #

This show has jumped so many sharks I lost count. I still love Chloe and some of the other characters, but 'plausibility' should not be used anywhere near any discussion of this series at this point. The only reason I watch at this point is to see how early in the episode I can predict the Episode Cliffhanger.

We all know what'll happen: Jack & Co will clash with Evil Chinese Villains, Murphy's Law and Hobson's Choice will make their regularly scheduled appearances, and I will get a headache from eye-rolling and head shaking. No doubt the Chinese will get hold of the gizmo, Jack will have to go through hell to get it back/destroy it, and he will or won't die in the process. He probably will or won't die in the last 15 minutes of Hour 24. I'm betting that JB takes a dirtnap this season, since Kiefer Sutherland is bound to see the handwriting on the CTU wall. It would be better for his bankability to go out with a bang this season, in my opinion.

Siansonea | Apr 17, 2007 12:09:58 PM | #

BTW, I'm a big fan of the word 'shenanigans'. I also really like 'hooligans' but that's neither here nor there . . .

Siansonea | Apr 17, 2007 12:11:30 PM | #

"24." Used to be good. Heck, it was great, a lot of the time. The past two seasons were probably the best, although I still have yet to watch the first 11 episodes of Season One (although I do own the DVD set, it keeps getting "loaned" out to friends). Does anybody remember the premier week of this season, when Fox ran the first 4 episodes in 2 nights? Those were spectacularly exciting. I actually spent so much time on the edge of my seat, my left butt cheek is still a little numb. But this year's "24" keeps sliding a little further down hill each week, to the point now where I am struggling to care what happens next. I DVR'd last night's episode and the wife and I have yet to watch it, so my criticism will have to be for the rest of the episodes. You know what I think it is? I feel like they have taken to shooting a lot more backlot stuff, so the production costs would be a lot less and they could suck more profit out of the franchise. I do respect the fact that they still shoot in 35mm for the movie realism, but it seems like they are usually indoors, and when they are outdoors it's obviously staged areas most of the time; fewer car chases in the daylight and out in the open means less drama. And I think in some way "24" is a victim of its own success: they have used "surprise deaths" as a plot device so often that it has lost much of its dramatic effect. Remember the time, a couple of season's ago, when they shot down the president's jet? That was pure drama with all the shock value you can imagine. Now, nothing shocks me anymore. And I am sorry I cannot suspend my disbelief for the contrived-feeling plot points any longer. And I have all but forgot that this is supposed to be happening in a single day; no way that feels right. It's a sorry state of affairs when 2 million more people tune in to a "King of Queens" episode than watch "24," but that was the case last night. Personally, I watch them both, but this season we often wait for a few days before we get around to watching Jack Bauer and all his shenanigans. And before this season, it was hard to let the DVR get a 15-minute head start so we could blast through the commercials.

A | Apr 17, 2007 12:23:24 PM | #

Uhhhhhhhh, I said 'shenanigans.'

A | Apr 17, 2007 12:26:22 PM | #

To Siansonea: Kiefer signed like a 7-year deal this year, so that wish, while justified, seems highly unlikely.

A | Apr 17, 2007 12:28:41 PM | #

I find it interesting that many are complaining about the predictability of 24 by saying, "Either x or y will happen," with the choices being diametrical opposites. Yes, I guess it's easy to predict when you have both sides covered.

Beth | Apr 17, 2007 12:38:59 PM | #

24 ain't what it used to be. Let's hear what happened to Logan, please? He was the best part of this seeason. Not even Tony & Michelle, or Sherry Palmer can save this season.

I will be mighty upset if all of the loose ends aren't at least acknowledged by the end of this season. AKA--Logan's condition, Jack's dad, Martha's demise, Curtis' funeral arrangements....

So sad to see such a good show slide so far, so quickly.

Justin | Apr 17, 2007 1:01:56 PM | #

Questions: All I want to know is what is with Doyle and his attitude?

Did Doyle really think Jack just fell off the turnip truck (re: Doyle's call with Bill)

And why does "Ricky" look so much older than Kiefer? Must be that good old Phoenix sun. He has more lines in his face than a wrinkled shirt. I remember him saying that the Pacific Palisades was no place to raise a family -- smart move.

How much longer of this drip Ricky Shroder do we have to put up with? I miss Tony, Curtis, Chase, heck I would rather see more Milo or put Morris in the field than him.

Hank | Apr 17, 2007 1:08:00 PM | #

Beth, so you're saying if I flip a coin it will be either heads or tails - WOW, so I too can predict an outcome for 24. In seven hours it will end the day or NOT.

Jake | Apr 17, 2007 1:26:21 PM | #

Say, exactly how did Cheng manage to get a hold of Jack's number? 411?

Hubert | Apr 17, 2007 2:49:42 PM | #

i love action.I DO BELIEVE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TV SERIES THAT I AM OBLIGE TO STOP EVERYTHING UNTIL THE SERIES IS OVER.

HYGIENUS GOHLA | Apr 17, 2007 5:09:36 PM | #

I've enjoyed 24 so much that's I'm willing to overlook minor gaffes, but last night’s show made me feel a little queasy. The writers have built a very elaborate house of cards that apparently came tumbling down in one episode, making us question the premise of the entire series, the last thing you want to do in this type of show. But I have hope. Maybe there’s some wrinkle that we don’t understand and Jack will emerge the moral hero after all. He’s pulled it out of his hat before. We owe it to all good stuff that’s preceded to hang on and find out.

Henry | Apr 17, 2007 5:16:15 PM | #

This was definitely an improvement over the episodes of late. Vintage Jack-in-action, tons of Chloe and Bill, and even an engaging White House storyling (seriously, this is probably the first season where the White House storyline has been generally more entertaining and BETTER than the CTU shenanigans. And I never thought I'd say that). Plus, Audrey! I knew that I'd miss Kim Raver when she left for The Nine, but I hadn't realised how much until this week. On the flipside of that, I had completely forgotten about Curtis until Jack mentioned him again.

I'm always willing to overlook the technobabble explanations on this show, not because I think you *have* to if your a 24 fan, purely because I have no patience for that sort-of thing! I'm willing to let it go and just run with it, after all I sat through (and enjoyed) all five seasons of Alias...!

My money is still on Milo being the mole (and thank GOD the Milo/Nadia storyline has faded away for the moment). I still think that his logging Nadia in under his account will have some ramifications (I know, I know, I'm like the only one). I'm also wondering how long Karen and Tom will last at the White House now that the Veep's got his feet under the table - it's too late for Karen to get one of those military helicopters and fly back to LA, so I hope she stays around in Washington for these last six episodes. The Karen/Bill ship is *almost* enough to satiate the Tony/Michelle shipper in me :D

"Bill Buchanan, I'd like you to strip naked and streak on the field at Dodger Stadium... You owe me."

Jack should sell tickets, because I would pay money to see that *drools*

Patrick | Apr 17, 2007 5:37:00 PM | #

can people stop saying jump the shark like you know what it means you know what just stop saying it altogether

alex | Apr 17, 2007 10:26:25 PM | #