Contains minor Season 1 spoiler within the last paragraph. If this concerns you, I have another spoiler, but this one is for your life: You are wasting it.
Remixed: There is a major Season 1 spoiler in the 6th comment. If you are waking from a coma, watch Season 1, then come back to this post.
"24" is the best hour of television available each week. I don't have cable, and I don't need it, because I watch one show. This is all there is.
This sharply-produced action-drama provides much more than enthralling entertainment. In the cavernous void left by every clueless network news program, "24" also plays the role of illuminating the terrifying reality of a terrorist threat. Wiretaps, torture, assassination, you name a current hot topic within the realm of homeland security and this show has been there. It's strange but true that the truth behind the necessary brutality of national security lies somewhere between the fiction of this program and the fiction of the nightly news.
I was trying to explain to my brother why he should begin watching this show every Monday night. I coerced him into viewing the current season's premiere, and during commercials and lulls in the on-screen dialogue, I tried to fill him in on some character history.
My intent was to lure him into the dynamic world of "24", but what do I say to a man that knows nothing of Nina Meyers? How do I begin to describe the virtues of the greatest president played on TV, or even any film, one David Palmer? What of Sherri Palmer, AKA "the dirtiest player in the game"? Finally, what words capture the essence of Jack Bauer, that paradoxical defender of the U.S. whose greatest feats occur when he is forced to act as an enemy of the state? While the season premiere went on, I came up with the most appropriate line I could spit out. As it happened during the show, I narrated, saying:
"That's what Jack Bauer does. He steals helicopters."
My brother is hooked.
10 comments:
Abe, I always encourage people to watch 24 from the beginning, in order, as I think it makes the show 100x better. The previous seasons are definitely worthy of DVD viewing, but with the way the seasons build upon each other, watching the episodes out of order ruins the previous seasons.
Also, when I hear politicians talking about torture, I think to myself "just let Jack Bauer do what he's gotta do!"
Teresa
I love that quote! If I wasn't already hooked, I would be after hearing: "That's what Jack Bauer does. He steals helicopters." (No, seriously. I love helicopters. I once got in trouble with my parents when we came back from Virginia Beach with an entire film roll full of Naval and Coast Guard Helicopters. If my job were to steal helicopters, I could die happy.)
Regardless... I must admit that I've really only seen THIS season's episodes. Now, now. Don't kill me. I have an excuse! See, I was, um, in law school... and I was busy... and then I didn't own a TV for two years... so, yeah. Are the earlier seasons really great? Because I gotta say, I caught part of a Season 1 episode (Jack Bauer's wife was shooting someone or something), and I didn't really find myself pulled into the storyline. Now, don't get me wrong- I still loved the parts with Jack Bauer. But the wife and daughter parts kind of irritated me, and they seemed to be a large section of the show... so I didn't bother watching it.
On the other hand, with THIS season, I watched the premiere and was immediately hooked. I think it must be because it was so chockfull of straight Jack Action... he's just got so many fun lines. And he steals helicopters and then shoots people with their own guns. I just don't see TV getting any better than that.
Anyhoo- are there any previous seasons that would you consider a 'must see'?
I'd say that ALL seasons are a MUST see. Since you're already watching now, at least watch the other seasons in the correct order so there will be some suspense left. If you watch episode 1 from season 1, you will be hooked...I was!
I have often debated with friends which season was the best, and nobody agrees...they are all incredible, and better than any other TV show. Ever.
Teresa
"In the cavernous void left by every clueless network news program..."
I like that. This post has brought me nearer to watching a series than I have ever been since X-files.
Ariel, you can go to: http://www.netflix.com/Register
or
http://www.blockbuster.com/
and sign up for a FREE two week membership, rent DVD 1 of Season 1, and see what you think. You have nothing to lose, and so much viewing pleasure to gain.
Teresa
Oh! I forgot to and this in:
1.If Jack Bauer was in a room with Hitler, Stalin, and Nina Meyers, and he had a gun with 2 bullets, he'd shoot Nina twice.
2. Upon hearing that he was played by Kiefer Sutherland, Jack Bauer killed Sutherland. Jack Bauer gets played by no man.
3. You can lead a horse to water. Jack Bauer can make him drink.
4. Osama bin Laden's recent proposal for truce is a direct result of him finding out that Jack Bauer is, in fact, still alive.
5. Jack Bauer once forgot where he put his keys. He then spent the next half-hour torturing himself until he gave up the location of the keys.
6. Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.
7. Jack Bauer was never addicted to heroin. Heroin was addicted to Jack Bauer.
8. 1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Jack Bauer. Sounds like a fair fight.
9. Jack Bauer is the leading cause of death in Middle Eastern men.
10. Every time you get a drink of water Jack Bauer, kills a terrorist. Not because you drank the water, but because that is how often Jack Bauer kills terrorists.
11. Jack Bauer loves his family, and he loves President Palmer. Anybody else is fair game for him to punch in the face.
12. Lets get one thing straight: the only reason you are conscious right now is because Jack Bauer does not feel like carrying you.
13. Never, under any circumstances, assume that you're safe just because you've got a machine gun and all Jack has is an emergency flare.
14. Simon Says should be renamed to Jack Bauer Says because if Jack Bauer says something then you'd better freaking do it.
15. When you open a can of whoop-a**, Jack Bauer is what jumps out.
16. When the boogie man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Jack Bauer.
17. If Jack Bauer says, "I just want to talk to him\her", and that him\her is you...you're screwed.
18. Jack Bauer doesn't miss. If he didn't hit you, it's because he was shooting at another terrorist twelve miles away.
19. Jack Bauer is going to need a hacksaw.
20. In 96 hours, Jack Bauer has killed 93 people (most of them terrorists) and saved the world 4 times. What the crap have you done with YOUR life?
21. If you send someone to kill Jack Bauer, all you've done is supply Jack with fresh ammunition and a few new weapons.
22. When life deals Jack Bauer lemons, he uses the lemons to kill terrorists. Jack Bauer freaking hates lemonade.
23. Jack Bauer can hit two birds with no stones.
24. Always remember: if you wake up tomorrow morning, it's because Jack Bauer spared your life.
(Hope you don't mind me taking up so much space, Oneway! There are various versions of this list floating around- I like this one best.)
Teresa,
>>"just let Jack Bauer do what he's gotta do!"<<
I'm stealing that.
linds,
Great personal helicopter love story. Definitely made my quote better.
I would rent the DVDs in order, like Teresa prescribed. 24 is an avalanche that builds from the very beginning.
But, I myself missed Season 4 but chose to watch the current season 5, after hours of struggling with my conscience and consulting Kevin Trudeau.
Ariel,
Your comment transports me to a time when life was simple and school was easy. The X-Files, in its early seasons, was an excellent TV show. I caught a couple shows with Robert Patrick, which were different, but cool in their own way, however, sadly the writers lost the momentum they built in the first few seasons and never recovered.
Linds,
I'm with the_dude.
Sorry I've not stopped by sooner. Great stuff.
Thanks, R. Sherman.
When someone presents me with a question or problem my first response to them is always "What would Jack do?"
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