Top 10 Moments From 24

by David Schwartz on February 2, 2009 14 Comments

Did you know that 24 was originally planned to be a romantic comedy showing 24 hours in the life of a wedding?

It seems ridiculous now to imagine Jack Bauer as some nervous bridegroom-to-be on his big day, especially when you consider some other facts about 24.

For example, would the script writers have managed to find time for their nervous groom to kill 198 people over the six-and-a-half series of the show? Probably not.
Or indeed, manage to fit six presidents of the United States somewhere into the proceedings.
They could also have found it hard to fit in the 67 torture scenes – although weddings are there to be endured.

The point is, 24 is not your average show. Don’t get us wrong, we love the show. We enjoy every second.

But, having started to compile a list of our favourite moments from the series, we have started to realise just how ludicrous it is. And we mean, totally implausible. We know, we’re a bit slow on the uptake. But 24 has a great way of making you just enjoy the ride rather than actually checking out which car you are in.

We were fooled, OK – for every enjoyable second. When you are trying to save the world, you have no time to focus on what is plausible, for God’s sake.

Anyway, please enjoy our latest burnt offering, and, as always, please send us your favourite moments, so we can laugh at them.

10. Chloe turns into Ripley
Day 4 – 1:00am-2:00am


Oddball computer nerd trades in her floppy for a huge machine gun and guns down an assailant. Finally we start to see her in a different light. Sexy? Maybe not.

9. The president who looks like Richard Nixon is a bad guy shock
Day 5 – 10pm-11pm


Who would have thought it? However, you have to say Gregory Itzin was brilliant in the role. Just beats the moment when his wife stabs him in the following series.

8. CTU is bombed
Day 2 – 10:00am-11:00am


Not much to add to this, apart from the fact they needed a new set and extras anyway.

7. Edgar dies
Day 5 – 6:00pm-7:00pm


Just when we were getting used to his fat, little chops, Edgar sacrifices himself and dies. The message? Don’t ever do selfless acts, you will die and people will forget about your character. Well, we didn’t, Edgar. Heroes can look like paedophiles.

6. Jack’s wife Teri killed by Nasty Nina
Day 1 – 11:00pm-12:00am


Let’s face it, she was annoying anyway. But it was still quite shocking.

5. Jack Bauer kills Chappelle
Day 3 – 6:00am-7:00am


Jack Bauer steps it up a notch when he kills CTU Division Director Ryan Chappelle – incidentally a boss he hates – to fulfill one of Day 3 big baddie Stephen Saunders‘ demands. Hmm. Not saw what the message is there.

4. Victor goes out fighting
Day 1 – 11:00pm-12:00am


OK, forget Dennis Hopper‘s ridiculous East European accent. No, really. Stop thinking about it and focus. Despite his shortcomings as a mimic, Hopper is back to his Frank Booth best as the first day’s big baddie Victor Drazen. However, his plot to fool Jack Bauer backfires as Jack unleashes hell, wiping out his henchman before finally turning the gun on Drazen, who has surrendered, and blowing him away.

3. Bombing of airplane
Day 1 – 12:00am-1:00am

That mischievous Mandy. After nicking a journalist’s ID while shagging him in an airplane bog, she then plants a bomb and skydives out of the window. Aired at the end of the pilot show, it was the moment you realised 24 was actually pretty good.

2. Get me a hacksaw
Day 2 – 8:00am-9:00am


If ever there was a scene that defines the brutality of 24 it’s this. After shooting a handcuffed criminal in cold blood, Jack Bauer proceeds to saw off his head and present it to a terrorist group so he can get in their good books. Not sure that’s quite legal, Jack, but we forgive you. After all, it’s all for the greater good.

1. Nina is a dirty mole
Day 1 – 10:00pm-11:00pm


Nina a baddy? No way. Not Nina. But she looked so… wait. Actually she does kinda look a little evil. Two words: TV gold!

Other moments worth mentioning:
President Palmer almost killed by handshake
Robert Carlyle is mined
Bomb goes off in California
Sherry Palmer lets old man die
Jack says goodbye to Kim while flying a plane with a nuclear bomb in it
Kim gets stuck in the woods
Jack lets Audrey‘s husband Paul die

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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }

David Scarborough February 2, 2009 at 3:55 pm

Where’s the couger?

Reply

John Davis February 3, 2009 at 1:58 am

Wow, you hit that nail right on the head.

RT
http://www.internet-privacy.us.tc

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DPTAKLE February 3, 2009 at 2:03 am

Duh? What about Jack ripping a man’s throat with his teeth while hand cuffed. If that doesn’t say bad ass then you and I have different definitions.

Day 6: Hour 1

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Lecorybusier February 3, 2009 at 5:08 am

What about the time Jack escaped the clutches of the terrorists by eating one’s neck off, while handcuffed to a chair!?

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David Schwartz February 3, 2009 at 9:25 am

Cougar bit is the worst 24 moment, along with the nuclear bomb going off in LA.

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David Schwartz February 3, 2009 at 9:26 am

I forgot the bit when he rips out that bloke’s throat though. Good shout!

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alizee February 3, 2009 at 1:14 pm

Wow, you hit that nail right on the head..

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Nattyb February 3, 2009 at 6:14 pm

Nice work boys

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jason February 3, 2009 at 6:56 pm

Note to self no need to catch up on day 6.

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Brit February 3, 2009 at 7:27 pm

What about when Jack cuts off Chase’s hand with an Ax to stop the bomb?

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Michelle March 23, 2010 at 6:17 am

That is my all time favorite scene! But nothing is more revealing than Jack being called on the radio as he is breaking down crying at the end of that season! “Jack? are you there? Jack?”—then he answers “Yeah” and speeds off to save the day again…end of season…TV GOLD!

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Peter February 3, 2009 at 8:36 pm

How could you forget Jack killing his fellow ctu agent in season 6 to stop him from killing a terrorist

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Lost Guy February 5, 2009 at 6:36 am

omg a romantic comedy? I am so glad that they got rid of jack bauer’s wife she really added 0 to the story. I hope season seven doesn’t have much with his daughter in it either as she just puts a kink in the storyline and makes it boring for me to watch.

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Iago February 9, 2009 at 9:09 am

“What about Jack ripping a man’s throat with his teeth while hand cuffed.”

DPTAKLE, absolutely, that was totally unexpected and completely Jack and the same time. I cheered at that and decided to remember that tactic in the event I ever found myself in similar trapped and perilous circumstances. But then later, when I was trapped and at risk of being murdered by terrorist scum, I, well, choked. And the terrorists were disgusted and just released me. I was saved but humiliated. I hope that never happens again.

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