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Rating:  -
Many shows undergo a sophmore slump, but 24 manages to acheive nearly the same levels of excitement as seasons 1 and 3. The show takes a nosedive from season 4 on, when the writers seem to have run out of plot ideas.
Season 2 is still fresh with life. We are introduced to our first nuclear threat, while it was entertaining still (season 4, 5, and 6 all get nuclear so it wears out by then...). The focus on the Warners and Reza was masterful, at first the viewer does not see their importance, but you KNOW one of them is involved, just which one?
The reason this season did not merit five stars in my opinion was that the story lost some muscle once the nuke was detonated (a little more that halfway). Also, the story arc involving Kim Bauer was a little ridiculous: kidnapping, car theft, dead woman in trunk, boyfriend losing legs, cougars wanting to attack, crazy man with bomb shelter....
The involvment of Sherry Palmer in the story got a little overboard as did the removal of Palmer from power. I found the ending a little anti-climatic because all Jack was doing was trying to prove that an audion track was a forgery...apparently killing a bunch of terrorists in the LA Collesium will prove that...
We also got to see a glimpse of what would have made an amazing plot thread: the rumored 'Sons of Liberty' or Freemasons or whatever you want to call them. Basically a group of super wealthy and powerful men who use their influence to truly run the country and the economy. Using them as a plot backdrop could have created a mystifying element similar to the Smoking Man and company in X-files; however, the writers never revisit this aspect.
I bumped the rating up to four stars since the first half rates a five and the second half rates a three.
Rating:  -
I was not one of those that hooked up with the show 24 during its initial run. Matter of fact, I didn't fall in line for season two either. I felt that I couldn't find the time to make certain I was sitting in front of my television that one particular night each week. Nor could I be certain that I would have a tape ready to go. I now regret that decision.
This is one of the most innovative concepts for a television program I have seen in some time. For those not in the know, the show takes place in one hour segments each episode. In other words, it is supposed to happen in real time. The only fault in this is that no one seems to eat or use the bathroom. But we'll forgive that and have no need to view either option.
The stories have revolved around two central characters. The first is Jack Bauer (Kieffer Sutherland), an agent of the CTU (Central Terrorist Unit), an espionage agency determined to take down terrorists. Along with Jack we have his backup team and boss as well as his daughter Kim. During the first season, Jack's wife was killed by a terrorist Jack was pursuing, leaving him a broken man and causing him to leave the CTU.
The second main character is President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) and the members of Washington based powers that surround him. These include members of his cabinet and his ex-wife Sherry, a power player with her own interest and goals in mind.
In the first series, Palmer was running for office and his life was saved by Jack, a man he now trusts implicitly. Then Palmer was running for office. Now as President the story shifts from gaining power to wielding it.
The show begins at 8:00AM and the President's vacation plans are interrupted by the news that a terrorists organization has managed to smuggle in a nuclear weapon on US soil. And the bomb is set to go off sometime within the next 24 hours in Los Angeles. Palmer does what he thinks is best. He contacts the CTU and asks that Bauer be brought in to help deal with this problem.
Bauer is in the midst of reconciliation with Kim. Meeting her at her new job as a nanny for an upper class LA couple, the pair reunites but has their time cut short by the President. Kim returns to her job only to find that her employer is a wife and child beater. She high tails it with the kid in tow and goes for help.
Jack begins reluctantly begins his task of finding the nuke before it can be detonated on the condition that they get his daughter to safety. The promise is made but they can't follow through since she's on the run.
Jack uses the most unorthodox methods to find the information he needs, going so far as to....well I won't say. To do so would be to blow one of the many surprises that this show pops out each episode.
Along with this story is that of the President discovering that members of his staff are working against him throughout this event. Just who is behind it and who he can trust makes for as suspenseful a story as the Jack's search.
All of these story arcs combine to make one stimulating viewing experience. You watch each one, get to the end and can't wait to start the next. I found myself checking the clock as each episode ended, wondering if I couldn't deal with perhaps one more less hour of sleep that night so that I could see what happened next.
Everything about this series is fantastic. The direction keeps the flow of the story moving along at breakneck speed, using visual tricks to heighten the suspense. The story itself is a marvel as the threads of each story are combined to make on long narrative. While a TV show may seem like a chapter in a book, this one that runs 24 hours is like reading an entire novel when watched back to back.
The acting in this series is some of the best I've seen on the small screen. Sutherland is totally believable in the role of rogue hero that does whatever it takes to get the job done. And Haysbert's performance as the President makes me want to go out and campaign for him tomorrow.
Few shows have captured my imagination and enthusiasm like this one has. The last was perhaps THE X-FILES. Now that I've finished with this series, I can't wait for the new fall season to begin.
Rating: -
I VIEWED THE DVD AND REALLY LIKE THE 2ND SEASON OF 24. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO BUY SOME MORE OF THE 24 SEASON'S. Robert
Rating: -
What can you say about 24, I'm a diehard 24 fan, no 24 for the 2008 season, so I'm purchasing all 6 seasons,until 24 return's, I'll still be watching Jack Do His Thing. Love IT...
Rating: -
After seeing season one, I never thought they could possibly top it, but they did. Riveting and addictive. Keeps you guessing every step of the way. Every episode leaves you wanting to know more. Difficult to watch only a couple of episodes at a time. One of the best TV show ever produced!
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