In 24, Jack Bauer has managed to successfully battle presidential assassinations, nuclear bombs and wild cougars over the years – but latter seasons have left audiences less than gripped.
Season 7 sets to bring back what made the show unmissable – and it’s the best season so far.
If you are unfamiliar with 24, then there isn’t too much to catch up on. We have an ex-CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit) member named Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) shouting, punching, torturing and nipple-pinching his way to the truth in a long line of national disasters.
This season actually rounds Jack off into a conflicted hero, taking breaks between all that shouting and fighting to reflect on his controversial efforts. Shining a light on these ways is the FBI, with whom Jack is working. He partners up with Agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching) and the two make a good cop/ bad cop/ melodramatic self-reflective cop partnership. In fact, the series takes a refreshing look at Jack’s battle with his inner demons, making for a more character-driven show than previous seasons.
That doesn’t detract from the action, though. Jack is soon confronted by his previously dead colleague who has taken a buzz cut and a lesson in villainous snarling. Suffice to say that it’s an exciting start and one that sets us up for an unrelenting day.
The pace of the season becomes breathless. Constant twists and turns – sometimes bordering on the absurd – prevent lags, packing in a video store full of thriller-like plotlines and set-pieces into each 45-minute episode. The show does demand some suspension of disbelief, as the trail of deceit begins to run so long that it starts to loop back round on itself. Although a negative point, it can also be positive – it contributes to the exhilarating and action-packed season, and stops it becoming complacent.
Swapping the LA setting of previous outings for Washington DC also helps. This gives the banter between the president and Bauer a greater sense of urgency as the White House becomes part of the landscape being targeted. It also helps to maintain relationships between the politicians, FBI and Jack? – this show has always been as much about the bureaucrats as it has popping caps.
This is a deeper story than before, constantly evolving. After one piece of the puzzle falls into place, another ten pieces appear. But that’s why we love it. This season stands out – not just for being the most action-packed and narratively labyrinthine, but for the effort put into the characters. Bauer has always been a hero, a patriot wearing the flag, but this season takes the premise we know and explores the conflicted morality of a man facing the frontline.
Invigorating, refreshing and unmissable, Bauer is back with the best 24 hours you’ll ever spend with him.
24 Season 7 is out on DVD and Blu-ray now. DVD & Blu-ray Special Features include 14 Deleted Scenes, UK created featurette ? ?24 in 24? (not on US version) behind the scenes footage, production details and 12 Audio Commentaries.
Follow hecklerspray on Twitter