What with the upcoming UK ban on smoking in bars – and, coming soon, no drinking or talking or smiling – you’d think that Britain was a nation determined to give up its vices.
Yet one of them remains. The guiltiest, dirtiest pleasure of them all. That’s right – the new series of 24 has hit our shores.
Don’t worry. This isn’t going to be one of those ‘spoiler’ pieces. hecklerspray agrees that there’s nothing worse than someone who is a 24 week ahead of you babbling on about all the crazy things that Jack Bauer has done – which is why the best (and only) way to enjoy 24 remains waiting until the DVD season boxset comes out and watching it all in one go like a big scary heroin addict.
The big question is ever-present, however. Come the inevitable final season, how in god’s name are the 24 producers going to come up with a suitably explosive ending? How can they build a definitive climax to a show which will happily blow up a train within five minutes of the opening episode?
Fear not. Kiefer Sutherland has an idea.
Kiefer Sutherland – presently enjoying a career renaissance unseen since a certain Jesus Christ came back from the dead, hid in some bushes and scared his mates – has insisted that, if the whole shebang is to have a ‘good enough’ ending, then his main man character Jack Bauer should almost certainly bite the dust. Sutherland explained:
"I’ll be happy to die. In fact, it’s important to the show that Jack eventually dies. And that he does so when you least expect it. I’ve always said that if there comes a point in the show where to kill Jack is what serves the show best, then so be it. And I think every actor who has been in the show feels the same way about their role."
The sixty-four-million-billion-dollar question is – of course – how the hell do you kill Jack Bauer? He’s already been dead twice (last time we counted). He’s flown a nuclear warhead into a desert, taken more bullets than 50 Cent, almost single-handedly started a war with China, shot his boss in the face and cut off his daughter’s boyfriend’s hand. In short – he isn’t a man to be trifled with.
If only someone would tell certain members of the hecklerspray office that waving a stapler gun around and diving behind desks to avoid pretend explosions does not make them ‘look like Jack.‘
Unless they get really stuck for ideas come Season Six ….
Read More:
‘Jack Should Die’ – Evening Echo
[story by C J Davies]
Astrid says
when I first read about Kiefer being happy to let Jack die I was a bit terrified ;-). I don’t know how “24” should work without Jack/ Kiefer. But meanwhile I think different about it. I’m a huge fan of “24”, but still there might come a time when the show becomes more of a satire than a drama. Already now there’s a lot of satire going on in the web about “24”, though usually well-meaning and being written by fans.
So “24” may become an obstacle for Kiefers Career too, having been a huge promotion for half a decade now. Things change.
But we might enjoy him as Jack Bauer for a while still, because Kiefer is said to have a strong sense for his fellow acting colleagues, and he may want to communicate to them that he doesn’t claim a special position for himself in the show, too.
ashley ramin says
please send me back but i want it to be sutherland. i want it to really be him. it is always the fake people that answer me but i want him to answer . tell him to send me back on my e mail
K says
If Kiefer dies (quits) the show, like a lot of series before, that tried to survive without the main character, will die. Kiefer must understand that the show revolves around him and the drama surrounding him. The other characters are only interesting because of the interaction they have with Jack Bauer. I will not watch it anymore after Jack is gone. K
chana cohen says
I do not want jack to die. If he dies i wont watch the show, and i know many people who wont either.
Karla says
If Jack dies…….the show is done in my book. I’m already close to quitting……Love the suspense, but when you appeal to the hearts of viewers then kill off so many imprtant character attachments…how long can we go on……sorry this gal can only take so much pain before she moves on…….
BARBARA A. DELUCA says
I LOVE 24 I CAN’T GO TO SLEEP ON SAT. NIGHT WITHOUT WATCHING THE RERUNS. IT IS SUCH A GOOD AND INTERESTING SHOW IT HAS YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR CHAIR. I FOUND MYSELF YELLING AT NINA I WAS SO UPSET THAT SHE WAS A SPY . I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT. I HOPE THE SHOW WILL STILL BE ON AND THAT JACK WILL STILL BE IN IT. WITHOUT HIM FORGET ABOUT IT. LOVE YA JACK (KIEFER)
Astrid says
I fully agree with all the comments;
this week we learned that Kiefer has signed a new three years-contract; everybody is writing now that this can only mean Jack won’t die. I guess those people are partly right who argue they shouldn’t have published the news about Kiefer’s new contract because it takes the suspense out of the end of day five. But this is easy to be said because I can actually do without the suspense of him maybe being killed; I guess I really can enjoy the show more knowing he won’t die. I hope the three years contract will actually mean that. I could also very much enjoy the dvds with those seasons I had missed even though I knew that Jack wouldn’t die in them because I watched them when later seasons had already been shot.
Michael says
I love 24 and I am loyal however; should Jack dies I will never watch 24 again.
The show totally revolves around him and we all come to love him. Why change things. Besides, Keifer might be typed-cast and this could pose career problems. Maybe.
Michael
Judy says
If Jack Bauer dies there will be no more 24, he is the show, and as far as after 24 dies, Kiefer is a great actor and I’m sure will go on to make movies and maybe other tv programs. I don’t think he will be the actor to be type cast as a Jack Bauer forever, he is a man of many moods and can do anything, so kill off Jack Bauer, go out with a bang, this show can’t keep on going forever, its coming to it final days. Good Luck Jack, Kiefer, who ever you are.