tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post114835277436683803..comments2024-03-25T19:18:14.047-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: 24: the last two hoursAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148798761257503972006-05-28T02:46:00.000-04:002006-05-28T02:46:00.000-04:00I hate to say it, but Chris Henderson is not dead....I hate to say it, but Chris Henderson is not dead. Jack was just putting on a show for the Petty officer so that Henderson could "dissapear". Why would Henderson (who trained Jack Bauer to be the killing machine that he is) not check the gun for bullets? and when he finds out there are no bullets in his gun, he smiles and winks at Jack before getting "shot". This one isnt over folks. I seriously would not be at all suprised if next season consists of Henderson helping Jack out to return the favor. I know its a long shot but it is 24. We should be used to it by now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148579241655892072006-05-25T13:47:00.000-04:002006-05-25T13:47:00.000-04:00I wish I was Karen Hayes--she's gonna be getting s...I wish I was Karen Hayes--she's gonna be getting some lovin' from Buchanan soon! Homina homina!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148417139137095182006-05-23T16:45:00.000-04:002006-05-23T16:45:00.000-04:00"I'd rank this season up there with the S1 & S2, d..."I'd rank this season up there with the S1 & S2, despite the lack of cougars."<BR/><BR/>Well, Karen Hayes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148416499374627692006-05-23T16:34:00.000-04:002006-05-23T16:34:00.000-04:00You know, usually I don't notice the stuff on Alia...You know, usually I don't notice the stuff on Alias, but the bit on the mountain last night? Very poor. Otherwise I enjoyed it, even if they never did really explain what was going on with the Rambladi stuff. Good ending for Sloane, and great seeing Amanda Foreman again.<BR/><BR/>As for 24, it definitely ticked me off less than some other years, and it actually had a pretty good ending, which it doesn't always. Season 2's last episode was especially poor, which is a shame because that was probably the best year overall.<BR/><BR/>As for the deaths, Edgar's definitely ticked me off the most, just because we never got to see the Edgar/Chloe relationship go anywhere. Even if it's with her blah ex-husband, I'm still holding out hope for a future season featuring Pregnant Chloe. That's gold, Jerry!<BR/><BR/>What frustrated me about President Evil is that they wouldn't have really had to change that much to make it consistent all along. I know they like making it up, but you really would think that by Season 5 they'd have a better grip on how much story they'd need. Get the overall plot straight, you can always stick in sidetracks that don't wind up anywhere (how long did we waste on the tape recording?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148416116192671872006-05-23T16:28:00.000-04:002006-05-23T16:28:00.000-04:00Anyone figure out what happened to Wayne Palmer, o...Anyone figure out what happened to Wayne Palmer, or Curtis, for that matter?<BR/><BR/>I'd rank this season up there with the S1 & S2, despite the lack of cougars. And I'd focused so much on figuring out who had their hand up the Logan puppet that I'd completely forgotten about the Chinese, so the ending surprised me. Perhaps we will get the Manchurian Jack next season? Unless he can jump off that boat and swim back to shore...which he totally can because he's JACK! BAUER!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148411886667916522006-05-23T15:18:00.000-04:002006-05-23T15:18:00.000-04:00Not only was the Nina revelation cheap, but it tot...Not only was the Nina revelation cheap, but it totally broke continuity. The whole reason Nina and Tony held Jamey in that room was because there were no cameras. (Or the cameras were disconnected, I forget.) And yet when Jack found the surveillance video, which shouldn't have existed, Nina looked right into the camera after she killed Jamey! Even by 24 standards, that one's always bugged me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148411513733172752006-05-23T15:11:00.000-04:002006-05-23T15:11:00.000-04:00It also occurs to me that one of the strengths of ...It also occurs to me that one of the strengths of this show is its use of practical locations for the action scenes. No cheap CGI trains or cityscapes like on "Alias." When Jack is kicking butt in the Hollywood Hills, you know he's in the Hollywood Hills. If next season takes place in a foreign city, they'll have to do virtually all of it on sets, which could be enough of a logistical headache to make the action scenes fewer and less complex.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148411089843510882006-05-23T15:04:00.000-04:002006-05-23T15:04:00.000-04:00I love the idea of 24 taking place in China (or, a...I love the idea of 24 taking place in China (or, anywhere but LA for that matter). But I wouldn't get my hopes up. The writers seem glued to the idea of having Jack at CTU. <BR/><BR/>I wouldn't be surprised if the first episode features Jack strolling through the airport after having just landed in Los Angeles. And then we could see that he's a brainwashed killing machine, there to get the President (or a CTU or Homeland Security staffer). Would be lame, but I could see them doing it.Johannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18074716152904939126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148408652653704162006-05-23T14:24:00.000-04:002006-05-23T14:24:00.000-04:00I'm with you, jim treacher. Though I enjoyed Seaso...I'm with you, jim treacher. Though I enjoyed Season 5, I wouldn't go so far as to call it the best season ever. <BR/><BR/>In spite of the silly Kim Bauer storylines, I still retain a soft spot for Season 2: it's the first season to really articulate the themes that the show has played with since, even more so than its groundbreaking first season. And I think that, at its best, Season 5 reminded me of what I loved about the show in its first two seasons: the emphasis on the humanity of the characters amidst all the action, the ambivalence towards Jack's violence, etc. <BR/><BR/>And while yeah, the President Evil twist was cheap in retrospect, is it that much cheaper than the 11th-hour revelation of Nina Myers' being a CTU mole towards the end of the first season? (If anyone disagrees with that, let me know, by all means.)<BR/><BR/>I've actually written up some of my thoughts on the <I>24</I> finale on my own brand-new blog, and I'm wondering if I'm the only one who thought of the climax of <I>Vertigo</I> when I saw that second scene between President Logan and his wife Martha: Logan sounding all angry, desperate and Jimmy Stewart-ish for having allowed himself to be led on by Martha's deception of submissiveness and compromise. Obviously, it doesn't have quite the same impact as Jimmy Stewart's confronting Kim Novak about her deception---Scottie Ferguson wasn't a baddie like President Logan was---but the same emotional vibe, I think, was there. Or maybe I'm just seeing things that aren't there...Kenji Fujishimahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10635553450551818306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148406457935590222006-05-23T13:47:00.000-04:002006-05-23T13:47:00.000-04:00jdj, we said the same thing! "THAT was quick!" Log...jdj, we said the same thing! "THAT was quick!" Logan's quite the "minuteman," eh? It might not have been so obvious if the episodes hadn't run back-to-back like that.<BR/><BR/>If I had to rank the seasons, I'd go with 2 just because of George Mason. That dude was awesome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148397051278358892006-05-23T11:10:00.000-04:002006-05-23T11:10:00.000-04:00Alan -- Love that cast photo. Very dramatic. =)I ...Alan -- Love that cast photo. Very dramatic. =)<BR/><BR/>I don't think Jack had to worry about the confession being "coerced." It's enough to get that audio and present it to the right people. After that, the President is done, whether he's found guilty in a trial or not. Once he's forced to resign -- either by threats of impeachment or legal action -- he's shamed, ruined, and made into a disgrace. That's all the justice Jack needed, perhaps. The man who was more responsible for the deaths of all of Jack's friends was already taken out by Jack.<BR/><BR/>My theory on Jack next season? The Winter Soldier. He's the perfect assassin for the perfect times, only to be placed back into freeze until he's needed again. Hey, it worked for the Russians in CAPTAIN AMERICA, so why not on 24?<BR/><BR/>How does it all rank? The second season is still my favorite, although in retrospect that's partially because it was still all so new then. This season followed a lot of similar tropes to that one. (Can Mike Novick possibly keep his job while turning on his boss time and time again?) I think I'd rank it my second favorite, actually. <BR/><BR/>JDJ -- you weren't the only one laughing at the president for having such a quick trigger. . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148391161349890892006-05-23T09:32:00.000-04:002006-05-23T09:32:00.000-04:00Debate my wife and I had: Was Martha’s line “I de...Debate my wife and I had: Was Martha’s line “I delayed him as long as I could” after putting the moves on the Prez meant to be comedy? Since 24 supposedly occurs in “real time”, there appeared to be only about 4-5 minutes where the Logans were unaccounted for. I thought this short time period was a subtle shot at the Prez’s – ahem – “prowess”, but my wife thinks I’m giving the writers a little too much credit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148388503397410302006-05-23T08:48:00.000-04:002006-05-23T08:48:00.000-04:00Although I really started to sour on this season w...Although I really started to sour on this season when we learned Logan was eeeevil, I enjoyed the finale, particularly the last scene. I hope it's a sign that they're going to do things completely differently next year: No more moles; no more demands for/grants of "full immunity"; and no more revelations of layer after layer of bad guys.<BR/><BR/>It's funny you should mention <I>Homicide,</I> Alan, because that show crossed my mind, too, when Jack conducted his quasi-interrogation of Logan. <I>24</I> did not do well by the comparison.<BR/><BR/><I>I just wish we could have seen more of the redhead Bauer was shacked up with.</I><BR/><BR/>Yeah -- to me, the fact that Jack would choose <A HREF="http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/4087/Events/4087/KimRaver_Ausse_7084016_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Raver,%20Kim" REL="nofollow">Audrey</A> over <A HREF="http://www.imdb.com/gallery/hh/0110168/HH/0110168/ConnieBrittonheadshot.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Britton,%20Connie" REL="nofollow">Diane</A> is proof positive that he's a Republican.Louishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00320979906551787343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148384342107314592006-05-23T07:39:00.000-04:002006-05-23T07:39:00.000-04:00Henderson wasn't technically the guy who killed Mi...Henderson wasn't technically the guy who killed Michelle or even Palmer, but he was one of the ringleaders. That's all I meant. <BR/><BR/>And I was thinking the same thing about torture vs. threat of killing, Jim -- but I choose to believe that entire scene was staged so Jack could slip the listening device into the pen in the hope that Logan would then confess to someone else while Chloe listened. No more or less ridiculous than any of his other schemes, really.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148383872431789102006-05-23T07:31:00.000-04:002006-05-23T07:31:00.000-04:00I was so, so excited to see the end of this season...I was so, so excited to see the end of this season. This is where I wanted last year to end...with Jack in a Chinese prison. Because now they can plan some cool escape, and they finally are getting Jack out of L.A.! That was starting to get stagnant.<BR/><BR/>Best ending yet for this show. <BR/><BR/>I think you are right--all of next season will have to take place in China or somewhere nearby. Can't have Jack spending 12 hours of the day on a plane to get back home. Unless he never makes it to China....?<BR/><BR/>Chloe is so going to be kicking someone's ass for beating up Jack and stealing him away.K J Gillenwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12023089365553324315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148367558647453612006-05-23T02:59:00.000-04:002006-05-23T02:59:00.000-04:00I used to look forward to reading the TV Watch col...I used to look forward to reading the TV Watch columns on Entertainment Weekly's websites. No more. Alan, your blog has seriously become my favorite TV haunt. Thanks for another great commentary -- now I'm off to forward it to all my TV-obsessed friends.Johannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18074716152904939126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148363077492041402006-05-23T01:44:00.000-04:002006-05-23T01:44:00.000-04:00Yeah, Henderson killed Tony. I thought it was nic...Yeah, Henderson killed Tony. I thought it was nice that Henderson got a smile off before Jack took him down. There was almost a mentorly thing, like the torch finally being passed betwixt the two of them.<BR/><BR/>What if the Chinese are planning to brainwash Jack into killing some enemy in the US? Could make for a great first half of Day 6, although, everyone was chasing Jack most fo this season sothat could be lame. I think it would be neat to see Jack isolated without much CTU support.<BR/><BR/>How to rank the seasons. That's a tough one. I think 4 is the weakest by far. I think 3 is great, 1 is great and I have only seen 2 once and need to watch it again soon. Overall, this remains the best show on netywork TV. Period.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148357066851635242006-05-23T00:04:00.000-04:002006-05-23T00:04:00.000-04:00Tony was killed by Henderson, actually.I thought s...Tony was killed by Henderson, actually.<BR/><BR/>I thought season five was probably the strongest overall year since year two, but I enjoy the show, implausibilities and all, most of the time.<BR/><BR/>That said, I think the final eight episodes of season three were probably the show's strongest stretch of work (everything from when the virus got out). The first 16 of that season, though, were pretty bad.Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10538651542043518746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1148356981699181482006-05-23T00:03:00.000-04:002006-05-23T00:03:00.000-04:00So Jack didn't torture Logan, because people will ...So Jack didn't torture Logan, because people will say anything to avoid torture and the confession would be meaningless... but threatening to kill him avoided that problem? 24 logic.<BR/><BR/>No, I didn't really buy President Evil, but it's 24 so you're not supposed to buy it. Ever since the third season, when Bauer spent half a season chasing drugs tainted with some kind of biological weapon that not only turned out to be fake but his own doing, I've given up trying to make sense of this show. Just enjoy the hitting and shooting.<BR/><BR/>I just wish we could have seen more of the redhead Bauer was shacked up with. And I mean "see more of" in both ways.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com