'24': Jonas takes the red pill. No, really, he does

So it's come to this: "24" has resorted to referencing The Matrix (or Total Recall, take your pick) in order to get a point across. Is there any chance I can take the blue pill and live in blissful ignorance?

The Spoilers wouldn't go into the building if they were you!

It doesn't take long for Jonas' attorney to make her way to the White House, except two mysterious figures disable her with the intent of stealing her identity. The female baddie is a near dead-ringer for our disabled lawyer, so with her newly acquired fingerprint, she gains access to the White House to meet with the incarcerated Jonas. She's clearly pissed at his psychotic break and offers him the easy way out. All Jonas has to do is take the red pill. Yes, if he swallows it, he'll die a clean death of cardiac arrest, but he'll leave his family at peace and Starkwood's reputation in tact. On the surface, why would he do that after all he's done to get to this point. The non-lawyer calls her superior to update him, and to give props to Tony, calling him a "bright spot on an otherwise dreary day." I'm sensing an awesome and sexy bad-guy hookup!

Meanwhile, Renee learns of Larry's death and reacts predictably. For the sake of brevity, let's say she was sad. After she tells Janis to notify the ex-wife, she prepares a team to find the missing suspect and canister, but not before trying one last time to have Kim stick around. Once clear of the Bauer spawn, Jack emerges to tag along. I'm sensing he's tired of debriefings and is ready to move on. Of course, Renee wants nothing more than for Jack to kick back and relax. Yeah right. The chopper flies off into the night, our happy couple together again... except when he tries to sympathize with her, she gives the coldest of shoulders.

Tony is doing his best not to blow is cover. He starts by shooting himself, then explaining his version of the attack to the arriving Renee and Jack. At the same time, he attempts to extract his Suspect friend, but when this proves impossible (mainly due to the secured perimeter), he orders his accomplice to rig a nearby building with the remaining C-4, and then lure as many agents as possible to their horrific deaths. When Renee and Jack question Tony about the "ambush" and the story doesn't add up, she immediately doubles the security.

We're almost rid of Kim, but as her seemingly normal husband tells her she can stay if that's what she wants, she gets that look on her face. Nope, she ain't going nowhere. It's good to know she's in a stable relationship (and her daughter Teri is quite the cutie).

The suspect successfully masquerades as an agent and lures most of the field agents into the wired building. Jack stays behind at the command post, asking to overlay the agent trackers onto a map. When the suspect/agent is found to be way off the grid, he implores Renee to evacuate immediately... except the building blows before many of the agents can escape. Some are dead and some are missing, but Jack insists they hold the perimeter so the suspect cannot escape. This is when Tony casually enters and extracts his friend himself.

Looking for President Taylor? She doesn't do much, except think offering a pardon to Jonas might help him talk. Even Olivia doesn't think much of that idea. That's about all their involvement in this hour.

Speaking of, the military paddywagon arrives to take Jonas away. He notices a soldier with a Hellfire tattoo, and begins to ask him if he thought Starkwood did a great job in Afghanistan. When the soldier makes the briefest nod in the affirmative, Jonas feels vindicated enough to swallow the red pill. He suffers almost immediately, allowing for the soldiers to wheel him off to the hospital. Tony does the same for his suspect friend, gaining him an exit via ambulance, where he proceeds to kill the tech and hijack the driver. As for our Turncoat Tony, he's been outed as the liar he is when one of Jack's stories to the debrief agent doesn't check out (Vincent Carter is alive after all!). Jack is ready to kill him over the meaningless lie, but begins seizing before he can pull the trigger. It just so happens Tony has his medical kit, who calls over unsuspecting paramedics to tend to Jack.

If only Jack could regain the use of his faculties before he invades the Big Apple... the time is now 3:00:00.

Kim's baby is named Teri... that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

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