We live in a world where whether or not we realize it, every second counts. For counter terrorist agent Jack Bauer, it’s a lesson he knows all to well. The last 24 hours of his life were nothing short of horrific and millions of people watched every minute of it.
It’s been a year since the hype surrounding FOX’s precedent-setting powerhouse ’24’ was unleashed on television and now it’s starting all over again. For those of you not familiar with the breakout show of last season, here’s a quick summary. Actor Kiefer Sutherland plays CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) agent Jack Bauer, who has 24 hours to stop a terrorist plot to assassinate Senator David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), the first African-American candidate with a real shot at being elected President.
Along the way, Bauer realizes that Palmer isn’t the only target, Bauer and his family are in danger as well. While the show’s plot may seem like it could be summed up in a two-hour movie, here’s the twist: each episode is shot in real-time, meaning each episode is one hour of the 24 hours. Each episode also spends time making sure each character’s personal link to the plot is fully explored.
An idea of this magnitude has never been attempted before and set a new precedent in how TV shows are produced. The show is truly one of a kind and had my friends and I hooked all year. Now with season two and with the six-disc set of the first season you and your friends can get hooked like we did.
On Oct. 29, ’24’ returned to FOX and sucked in viewers all over again. The hit drama scored its best ratings yet and has been steadily increasing ever since. Among the major changes this season, the show now not has one less character (fans know who and why) but started the clock at 8 a.m. instead of midnight as in last season. The show also did not pick up from where it left off. Time has passed, during which Palmer is now president and calls on Jack to help stop another terrorist plot. This one involves a nuclear bomb hidden in Los Angeles and unless he finds it soon, it will explode sometime in the next 24 hours.
At press time, we were two episodes in and we knew a few more major plot points for the season. After last season’s surprise ending, Jack and his daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) are more estranged than ever, and she is now currently an au pair. Of course, the perfect family she works for has some issues. The father turns out to be abusive which leads to Kim fleeing with his daughter.
Viewers are also being introduced to a new character, Kate Warner (Sarah Wynter), whose sister is about to get married to a man who could in actuality be a terrorist. Warner will also serve as the closest thing to a love interest for Jack.
Take the time to get hooked on ’24.’ While it can be a little slow off the bat, it’s only a matter of time until the show picks up the pace and turns back into the greatest adrenaline rush on television. ’24’ is one of the best and more interesting shows on television today.
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