TNMC

Tim rejoices at the return of 24

24 Season Three

1 PM to 2 PM

Written By: Joel Surnow and Michael Loceff

Directed By: Jon Cassar

 

Sweet Jeebus but it feels like it has been a while since I had to write up one of these review articles.  But with the return of 24, it’s time to get back in the saddle so to speak.  This premiere of 24 had a slightly different feel to it compared to the past season, more low key and structured perhaps.  We’re introduced to a bevy of new characters and given a sense of the character arcs that will be played out this season.  As far as the new characters go, some I already like, and a few I’m kind of wary of.  And while there was a regrettable lack of violence (okay, so maybe I’m just a little bloodthirsty), it still had enough hooks for me to want to watch how this season plays out.

 

The episode starts three years after the finale of last year.  David Palmer has survived the assassination attempt on his life by everyone’s favorite lesbian hitwoman, Mandy.  Jack has thrown himself back into the world of the Counter Terrorist Unti, and also started dating Kate Warner.  Kim has apparently graduated high school and received a nice cushy job at the CTU due to her father’s influence.  Tony is still the director of CTU, but is now married to Michelle and is considering a large career move that has recently been offered to him.  He’s also apparently been considering a box of Krispy Kreme donuts as well, because he definitely has put on a little weight.  Then again, I guess everyone does after marriage.

 

We begin with a van full of mysterious and shifty terrorist types who drive to the National Health Center and dump a corpse in front of the building while setting a timer to blow the doors.  When security comes to investigate they see a dead body, apparently stricken by some disease.

 

Our hero Jack and his new partner Chase Edmunds come in then, about to attend the confession of a drug lord named Ramon Salazar that Jack has spent the last year bringing down.  First of all, let’s get the partner situation out of the way.  I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this latest wrinkle to the world of 24.  On one hand, having a partner gives Jack a new variable to play with and prevents the character from getting old and static.  It’s a situation we really haven’t seen the character put into before, and this dynamic could prove refreshing.  On the other hand though, I can’t help but wonder if this might not hurt Jack a little as well.  To be honest, some of his appeal has always come from his lone wolf bad ass archetype, and having a younger partner might dilute that appeal a bit.  It’s too early for me to make a judgment call just yet, but I still remain a bit wary.

 

At Salazar’s confession, Jack finds himself taunted by the drug lord, and an ominous reference about him never being the same is said.  Obviously Jack and Salazar have a complicated past now, which should prove interesting to personalize the villain a bit more.  In this fashion, I suppose Salazar is more akin to Drazen, although in this case Salazar actually knows Jack well.

 

Instead of making his confession and giving up names on the terrorist cells he is in contact with, Salazar stabs his lawyer in the throat with a pen and laughing that they have no idea what’s coming up next.

 

At the same time, David Palmer arrives on the UCLA campus to prepare for a televised debated.  We are also introduced to his latest chief of staff, Wayne Palmer, played by DB Woodside.  Considering he was one of the best parts of Buffy’s last season, I’m glad to see Woodside given a new role to sink his teeth into.  Gruff and brisk, Wayne is a controlling personality who comes across as fanatically loyal to his brother.  There are also signs that David has never entirely recovered from the viral attack that almost killed him, since he becomes woozy walking down the hallways.

 

At the CTU, Tony is discussing career plans with Michelle who is looking to work at Arlington so she and Tony can be together.  I like the fact that Tony and Michelle are married and quietly happy, it really helps convey the feeling that this is a new chapter in all these character’s lives that we’re seeing.  Later, Tony receives a call telling him that Michelle won’t be given a job.  So now the two have to decide whether they should move to Arlington Virginia so Tony can pursue this step up the career ladder, or simply stay where they are so both can continue to work.  Obviously the events of this day will make up their minds for them.

 

Another new edition to the CTU staff is Adam Kaufman, the latest techno whiz.  He follows in a long line of techno whizzes, including Jaime (turned traitor and killed), Milo (never explained why he left), Paula (killed), and insert (fired), so it should be interesting to see what fate awaits this guy.  We also find out that he’s completely anal about his programs and apparently not entirely fond of women.  Which sucks for Kim, who is now working with him at the CTU.

 

Kim is a low level data entry operator at this point, but Adam doesn’t like her because he thinks she only got the job because of her father.  Which, quite frankly, is the truth.  But that doesn’t mean she can’t do the job now that she has the opportunity, which she proves quite succinctly by locking Adam out of his own system when he refuses to work with her on an assignment given by Michelle.  Now I know some people have a problem with this, feeling like Kim simply isn’t qualified enough to be at the CTU.  But I tend to think that a man who has saved the president’s life, stopped a nuclear bomb from detonating in the middle of Los Angeles, and then prevented America from being led falsely into a catastrophic war, would probably have the pull needed to get his daughter a job where he works.  Hell, he could get her a job if she was fiending crack whore at this point.  Besides, at least she’s no longer being chased by mountain lions and psychotic fathers.

 

A phone call from Jack lets Tony know that the corpse found in front of the NHC might be connected to Salazar, and the NHC reports that the virus that killed the corpse could be a deadly weapon in the wrong hands.

 

And those hands prove to the hands of Salazar’s brother Hector, who is threatening to release the virus into the LA population if his brother is note freed.  Early projections have the fatalities reaching as high as nine million people if this virus is not released.  Since it is an experimental virus, the NHC has no known cure for it.  So the CTU is now in prevention mode, trying to find a way that this virus will be released and how to stop those responsible.

 

Turns out the virus is contained within a bag of cocaine that was smuggled into the country by an unwitting teen named Kyle who’s looking to make some quick cash to support his family.  Kyle is also under the direct observation of the drug lords.

 

Palmer is still getting ready for his debate, and it is quickly brought up that despite his debilitated condition, those responsible for the attempt on his life have been captured and caught.  What’s not stated is who those individuals are.  We have no way of knowing whether or not it was really Nina, Mandy, and Max who Palmer ended up catching, or simply some low end hustler set up for the fall.  I’m hoping for the latter to be honest, because it would be a shame to see one of the major influences of the past two seasons wrapped up with quick bit of exposition.  I have more faith in the 24 writers to realize this though.

 

David’s doctor Anne then comes in to check up on him, and the way that David’s features soften when she’s around shows that something might be going on with them.  And the lip lock they lay on each other later on proves that.  I also appreciate the fact David’s in an interracial marriage isn’t seen as this controversial thing, but is simply something that is.  I just enjoy it when a show manages to look beyond color barriers and stereotypes.  On the other hand, Wayne doesn’t seem entirely enthused with the influence the good doctor has on David’s life.  Whether this is his own control issues shining through, or out of legitimate concern has yet to be seen.  The president is alerted to the dangers of this viral threat, and tells Wayne to keep him updated.

 

On the way back to the CTU Adam again questions how well Jack is doing, implying that he knows whatever it was that Jack was subjected to at the hands of Ramon Salazar.  Jack brushes him off before receiving a call from Kate Warner.  Apparently Jack and she have recently called it quits, although neither seems exactly glad about the fact.  I’m curious why they included this scene to be honest.  Sara Wynter, who plays Kate Warner, is not a member of the cast this season, so there has to be a specific reason for them to want to include Kate.  Perhaps it’s to provide greater emotional depth to Jack and to hint that the events of this day might set him on a course to get back together with Kate.

 

When they get to the CTU headquarters, Jack retreats to his office and begins to show signs of seriousness illness.  He bites the head off his secretary Chloe and seems to be shaking for whatever reasons.

 

Chase sneaks off to see Kim, whom he has been seeing for the past three months.  Of course Jack hasn’t been told about this just yet.  And that’s a confession that is just not destined to end well.  Still, Kim insists on telling her father the truth, and Chase promises to tell him today.

 

When he goes to speak to Jack though, he ends up seeing Jack acting erratically and actually reprimands him to get his act together.  As Chase leaves, we finally find out why Jack has been acting so erratically and what he might have had to do to catch Ramon Salazar.  Jack brings down a hidden box full of heroin, and is prepared to inject himself when he receives a call from Kim which distracts.  This snaps Jack back to reality, and with a cry of frustration he snaps the heroin injection and throws the drug cache across the room.  Jack is determined to kick the habit.

 

This is another interesting wrinkle to take with Jack, showing a needed weakness in his seemingly invincible armor.  It provides greater depth and struggle to the character, while at the same time demonstrating his strength to be able to turn his back on the heroin.  It also adds the wrinkle that Jack’s faculties might not be at their sharpest due to the withdrawal he will undoubtedly suffer, which might be a reason for the inclusion of Chase into the cast.

 

As a set up episode this was handled well, and provided a nice introduction to this world and its characters to all new viewers.  But a lot of the suspense and action that drives this show was absent.  Then again, that looks to start building next week.  So to all those who have never watched this show before, trust me, there is better to come.

 

7 out of 10

Tim Ritenour