Writers: Evan Katz, Manny Coto.
Director: Jon Caessar.
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Kim Raver, Tate Donavan, Jon Boyega, Benjamin Bratt, William Devane, Yvonne Strahovski.
Synopsis: Taking place between 11am and 12pm the CIA manage to track down fugitive Jack Bauer. After being on the run for the last four years they start to question if his capture was a little too easy.
Jacks back! It’s hard to believe I know, but it has been a whole four years since we watched Jack, now a wanted man, bid Chloe farewell and disappear from our TV screens. You can’t keep a good man down though and everyone’s favourite rogue agent has this time set-up camp on British soil. Though not quite 24 this time around, with only twelve episodes, 24: Live Another Day promises to be crammed full of just as much action. THN will be here every step of the way in our new episode-by-episode Bauer Blog.
The first question every fan has when a new season starts is what time is it? Season one kicked off at midnight with the start times of following days shifting around, meaning that in terms of sleep deprivation, some of his days are a lot ‘longer’ than others. Jack’s ninth day kicks off at 11am, and with it only being twelve hours long this time, all the action will be done and dusted well before the last London tube.
That Jack Bauer is a slippery customer. How the CIA didn’t see anything fishy with how easy it was to capture a seasoned Houdini was a little laudable; has no one other than this Kate lady watched the boxsets? Did anyone else also notice her similarity to an ex-flame of Jacks, Kate Warner? You remember, the woman from season two whose sister had been radicalised. I’m pretty sure she is even wearing the same cardigan; will this similarity throw-up some conflict for Bauer later on, or will romance come from a reconciliation with Audrey?
Audrey of course has no idea that Jack is lurking nearby as new husband and Presidential aid Mark is keeping the information close to his chest. Is he really keeping the secret to spare the family pain or does he have a more devious agenda? It could of course be all based on jealousy, maybe Audrey has never gotten over Jack and Mark is scared that she’s just settled for him.
Whenever there is a Presidential change in the show it inevitable that the fans compare them to old favourite, David Palmer. Heller isn’t a stranger to the show though, having appeared in seasons four and six as the US Defence Secretary, and it will be interesting to find out just how he became President. From the rumblings between Heller, Mark and Audrey it would seem that he is approaching the end of his term and the three hope to cover-up his illness for as long as possible. It’ll also be interesting to see how long into the day he can keep this medical condition secret.
Jack’s stoic silence is reminiscent of the opening of day six where he was mute. It takes him a full forty-five minutes to utter a word. His first words? “Where is she?” Bauer’s implanted himself into the CIA unit to break out old accomplice Chloe.
Chloe has morphed from tattle tale nosey-parker to the Edward Snowdon of 24 land having released years of DOD secrets to the public. She is also described as being a ‘free-world hacker’, so it would seem that after her stint in prison, after her letting Bauer escape at the end of the last series, she’s turned to the dark side.
Yet another American that we are introduced to is the future Star Wars VII star John Boyeda. A Brit actor in reality, Boyeda plays a soldier who clearly has issues with his superior. He didn’t look too pleased when he lost control of the drone and could only look on in horror as his commander and unit were blown-up.
Hurray, Jack and Chloe are back together, whether Chloe realises it or not is unclear at the moment though as the poor woman has been pumped full of drugs. No sooner united though than Jack chucks her out of the van telling her to go somewhere safe, remarking to his driver after she’s left that he has no friends; what is Jack up to?
So how is it having 24 in the UK? Personally I found some of the locations a little jarring, seeing places so familiar brings you out of the story a little, but hopefully once it gets going it wont be as noticeable. With this series being half as long as a usual 24 run those thinking it might be a more relaxed affair are wrong. We’re only an hour in and we’ve already had two interrogation scenes, a rogue drone attacking its own people and a prison break.
CIA Blunder: How on earth do their mobile phones work? I’m amazed at the CIA and their use of mobile phones. One I’m pretty sure it would be against protocol to have such devices in what is supposedly a classified area. Two the office is clearly at least one flight underground and they actually have signal to call one another. I want their phone plan.
Badass Bauer Moment: Hooked up to an extremely high-tech lie detector Jack is as cool as a cucumber meaning the CIA can’t get a single reading off of him.
‘Damnit!’ Counter: Twice, but only the once by Jack. Once may not seem like much, but remember he only spoke during the last fifteen minutes of the show.
[usr=4] 24: Live Another Day airs on Sky One Wednesdays at 9pm.
