24 4.5: "Day 4: 11AM - 12PM"
Written by Peter Lenkov
Directed by Jon Cassar
In which the efforts to track down the terrorists and rescue Heller are derailed when Jack’s only lead becomes aware of the fact that he has been compromised…
Status Report
After the four-episode blitz that marked the season premiere, it would be easy to think that the audience was already worn out by the constant over-promotion. Granted, there’s ample evidence that the series benefits from the DVD format. Viewers seem to enjoy the series more when they are able to watch several episodes at a time. That makes sense, given that the seasons are typically broken out in roughly 8 episode acts, but there’s one small difference in this case: airing all those episodes at once eliminates the viewer’s ability to choose when to spend those hours watching the damn show!
There’s also the minor consideration of quality. The network took a real gamble when they decided to front-load the season, because they had to ensure that the plotting was strong enough to carry the momentum that the schedule was providing. The first two episodes came together nicely, especially with the final scene of the second hour. The next two episodes were average at best, and one has to wonder if the network tried to hard to get the audience to pay attention.
The writers pull off another quick bait-and-switch when it comes to Jack and his field status. After building up the fact that Jack is working on his own, with nothing resembling a safety net, Driscoll bails him out and lets him go back to work without the slightest resistance. For someone trying for a couple of hours to take Jack into custody and be done with it, Driscoll certainly gives up the opportunity damn fast. Which, of course, suggests that the whole “rogue Jack” concept was only on the table as long as it was convenient for the drama.
Rather quickly, however, the plot turns from a matter of convenience to some great character work. Unlike most of the CTU agents, who might as well drop off the face of the Earth, since no one would give a damn, Heller and Audrey manage to make the audience care about their decision. Heller acts like a man with a solid military rationale, all too aware that he has been reduced to a symbol, and the only way to stop the terrorists is to take that symbol out of their hands.
In a nice consistent bit of character work, Heller still can’t take the clinical evaluation of his own life and apply it to his daughter. Even if her logic is delivered with more emotion, it is delivered with the same finality. When Heller is forced to acknowledge that his daughter is right, and that they both must sacrifice their lives to prevent the charade of his show trial, it is a powerful moment. The score is especially strong in this scene, and for the first time, it’s easy to see why Jack would find Audrey worthy of his time and effort. She’s not afraid to make the tough choices.
As if to highlight how annoying Marianne is going to be all season long, the episode quickly turns to her blatant machinations. It’s hard to believe that her little games aren’t immediately noticed, but then again, this is the office run by Erin Driscoll, so Marianne’s behavior might actually be considered acceptable. Edgar should have simply admitted his part in helping Chloe, since he could have easily made it sound like he was trying to follow Driscoll’s orders. Instead, if Marianne is a mole, she’s gaining access to critical systems in record time.
While this early attempt to isolate Jack didn’t quite work out, perhaps it was to show the audience what would happen if Jack really were to go rogue. If so, then it makes sense for him to have one ally early in the season, only to see that ally removed. If Chloe is really being written out of the story, then it would be a shame, because her character has made a huge turnaround since her first appearance. Compared to the rest of the CTU dolts, she had an admirable quality of self-confidence.
The intrigues of the Araz family continue to provide compelling drama. After expressing her disappointment in Behrooz in the previous episode, Dina goes to great lengths to make Behrooz look good in Navi’s eyes. For all that Dina doesn’t trust Behrooz to stick with the cause, she knows that Navi will accept nothing short of complete dedication. Thus Dina makes it clear that Behrooz must shoot Debbie’s body to make it look like he did his part. (One can forgive, at this point, the fact that Debbie wouldn’t bleed the right amount if shot this long after the fact, since the heart would no longer be pumping.)
Just when things appear to be going well for the good guys (if Heller’s suicide can be considered a victory), everything falls apart, thanks to the dependable bigotry of the American people. Like the disastrous racially motivated attack in the second season, the writers once again point out that stupid acts of racism can quickly derail anti-terrorism activities in progress. In a matter of minutes, Kalil becomes aware of the fact that he’s being tailed, and like Heller, he takes the necessary step to ensure that he cannot be used against his cause.
With time running out and their best chance for locating the terrorist site now roadkill, the situation turns rather bleak. Oddly enough, CTU now has enough information to establish a maximum perimeter for the terrorist site, which narrows the location down rather nicely. With Heller’s supposed trial coming within the hour and Jack scrambling to save the life of the woman he loves, Driscoll takes that very moment to check in on her daughter and make herself effectively unavailable!
In earlier episodes, it looked like Navi might be the FBI contact working with the terrorist sleeper cell, but it could be the new character, Gelfand, since Audrey recognizes him. One would have to wonder why Gelfand would be working with the terrorists, but as previous seasons have indicated, there are always personal reasons that get in the way. This also speaks to the fact that Heller’s situation is only the opening act in a much larger game (which the writers may or may not have already worked out).
With all attempts to thwart the trial all but derailed, it comes down to a last minute military solution. Enter Robert Franklin, an aide who seems ready to shoot anyone and anything for a few giggles. This is a scene where the difference between Palmer and Keeler becomes very, very clear. Palmer would have found a way to contact Jack and get his input, and a military strike would be an absolute last resort. With Keeler, there’s nothing to stand in the way, other than the loss of a Cabinet member.
Meanwhile, Debbie’s mother gets into the act back at the Araz abode, which seems to prove Navi’s point all too well. If it hadn’t been for Behrooz and his inability to break things off at the very beginning, he wouldn’t be trying to fix the mess so his father would settle the hell down. One begins to wonder, when Debbie’s mother won’t go away, if something so simple as Debbie’s interest in Behrooz could end up giving Jack the in-road he needs to win the day. It’s an interesting and subtle lesson, when taken in context with the earlier scene with Kalil and the bigots: simple American tolerance is more powerful than any hateful cause.
With the trial beginning over the internet, Keeler orders the missile strike, and Jack is told to get out of the line of fire. Driscoll seems to think that Jack will actually follow orders, but hey, she’s apparently as crazy as her daughter, so she’s probably shocked when Jack refuses to let go of the idea that Heller and Audrey can be rescued. Knowing this series, it will turn out that the terrorists have anti-aircraft weapons at their disposal, and the missiles will be repelled against all odds, making Jack’s assault the only logical alternative!
The last couple of episodes have largely been a stepwise progression from the announcement of the trial to the beginning of that trial, and the journey has been completed with this episode. Like the previous two episodes, there are high and how points, and they come in the expected places. Nearly everything with Jack and Heller works, and nearly everything related to the CTU office politics is highly annoying.
The writers seem to be making a concerted effort, like the first several episodes of the third season, to force a cliffhanger at the end of every episode. It would be odd for the episodes to end without one, but it’s always obvious when the writers had an ending in mind and just messed around for an hour to get the characters at the right places on the board. At least in this case, the time was spent stripping away every other potential solution to the problem of avoiding the internet broadcast, rather than bizarre diversions into robbery for the sake of giving the writers time to waste on mindless CTU office drivel.
This episode also provides an interesting parallel between the actions of those on both sides of the conflict. Heller is willing to kill himself to prevent the terrorists from reaching their goals; Kalil is willing to kill himself to prevent the Americans from getting in the way. Each group is willing to take whatever step necessary, to the point of personal sacrifice, to get the job done and achieve victory. It’s rare for writers for such a conservative-leaning series to provide that kind of dual perspective. Each group is fighting for what they believe in, and each side is willing to take extreme action in the name of that belief. Making that clear without excusing the terrorist behavior is a delicate proposition, but the writers make it work.
If the writers stick to the usual plot progression, then the next episode is still at least two episodes away from the first major twist of the season. That seems to confirm what the terrorists themselves have been saying all along: Heller’s abduction was only the beginning of the master plan. While the search and rescue operation for Heller and Audrey is a good enough beginning, the writers should make a concerted effort to ensure that the second act of the season transcends the first. They cannot afford another season where it takes more than half the season to get it right.
Final Analysis
Overall, this is another transitional episode, finishing the job of marking time before the trial scheduled for the next hour. In this case, however, the writers manage to demonstrate how nearly every available option is rendered ineffective. There is an interesting level of perspective in this episode, particularly regarding the question of self-sacrifice. Still, the CTU office politics are becoming the albatross around this season’s shoulders.
Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 7/10
Season Average (as of 4.5): 7.2
Directed by Jon Cassar
In which the efforts to track down the terrorists and rescue Heller are derailed when Jack’s only lead becomes aware of the fact that he has been compromised…
Status Report
After the four-episode blitz that marked the season premiere, it would be easy to think that the audience was already worn out by the constant over-promotion. Granted, there’s ample evidence that the series benefits from the DVD format. Viewers seem to enjoy the series more when they are able to watch several episodes at a time. That makes sense, given that the seasons are typically broken out in roughly 8 episode acts, but there’s one small difference in this case: airing all those episodes at once eliminates the viewer’s ability to choose when to spend those hours watching the damn show!
There’s also the minor consideration of quality. The network took a real gamble when they decided to front-load the season, because they had to ensure that the plotting was strong enough to carry the momentum that the schedule was providing. The first two episodes came together nicely, especially with the final scene of the second hour. The next two episodes were average at best, and one has to wonder if the network tried to hard to get the audience to pay attention.
The writers pull off another quick bait-and-switch when it comes to Jack and his field status. After building up the fact that Jack is working on his own, with nothing resembling a safety net, Driscoll bails him out and lets him go back to work without the slightest resistance. For someone trying for a couple of hours to take Jack into custody and be done with it, Driscoll certainly gives up the opportunity damn fast. Which, of course, suggests that the whole “rogue Jack” concept was only on the table as long as it was convenient for the drama.
Rather quickly, however, the plot turns from a matter of convenience to some great character work. Unlike most of the CTU agents, who might as well drop off the face of the Earth, since no one would give a damn, Heller and Audrey manage to make the audience care about their decision. Heller acts like a man with a solid military rationale, all too aware that he has been reduced to a symbol, and the only way to stop the terrorists is to take that symbol out of their hands.
In a nice consistent bit of character work, Heller still can’t take the clinical evaluation of his own life and apply it to his daughter. Even if her logic is delivered with more emotion, it is delivered with the same finality. When Heller is forced to acknowledge that his daughter is right, and that they both must sacrifice their lives to prevent the charade of his show trial, it is a powerful moment. The score is especially strong in this scene, and for the first time, it’s easy to see why Jack would find Audrey worthy of his time and effort. She’s not afraid to make the tough choices.
As if to highlight how annoying Marianne is going to be all season long, the episode quickly turns to her blatant machinations. It’s hard to believe that her little games aren’t immediately noticed, but then again, this is the office run by Erin Driscoll, so Marianne’s behavior might actually be considered acceptable. Edgar should have simply admitted his part in helping Chloe, since he could have easily made it sound like he was trying to follow Driscoll’s orders. Instead, if Marianne is a mole, she’s gaining access to critical systems in record time.
While this early attempt to isolate Jack didn’t quite work out, perhaps it was to show the audience what would happen if Jack really were to go rogue. If so, then it makes sense for him to have one ally early in the season, only to see that ally removed. If Chloe is really being written out of the story, then it would be a shame, because her character has made a huge turnaround since her first appearance. Compared to the rest of the CTU dolts, she had an admirable quality of self-confidence.
The intrigues of the Araz family continue to provide compelling drama. After expressing her disappointment in Behrooz in the previous episode, Dina goes to great lengths to make Behrooz look good in Navi’s eyes. For all that Dina doesn’t trust Behrooz to stick with the cause, she knows that Navi will accept nothing short of complete dedication. Thus Dina makes it clear that Behrooz must shoot Debbie’s body to make it look like he did his part. (One can forgive, at this point, the fact that Debbie wouldn’t bleed the right amount if shot this long after the fact, since the heart would no longer be pumping.)
Just when things appear to be going well for the good guys (if Heller’s suicide can be considered a victory), everything falls apart, thanks to the dependable bigotry of the American people. Like the disastrous racially motivated attack in the second season, the writers once again point out that stupid acts of racism can quickly derail anti-terrorism activities in progress. In a matter of minutes, Kalil becomes aware of the fact that he’s being tailed, and like Heller, he takes the necessary step to ensure that he cannot be used against his cause.
With time running out and their best chance for locating the terrorist site now roadkill, the situation turns rather bleak. Oddly enough, CTU now has enough information to establish a maximum perimeter for the terrorist site, which narrows the location down rather nicely. With Heller’s supposed trial coming within the hour and Jack scrambling to save the life of the woman he loves, Driscoll takes that very moment to check in on her daughter and make herself effectively unavailable!
In earlier episodes, it looked like Navi might be the FBI contact working with the terrorist sleeper cell, but it could be the new character, Gelfand, since Audrey recognizes him. One would have to wonder why Gelfand would be working with the terrorists, but as previous seasons have indicated, there are always personal reasons that get in the way. This also speaks to the fact that Heller’s situation is only the opening act in a much larger game (which the writers may or may not have already worked out).
With all attempts to thwart the trial all but derailed, it comes down to a last minute military solution. Enter Robert Franklin, an aide who seems ready to shoot anyone and anything for a few giggles. This is a scene where the difference between Palmer and Keeler becomes very, very clear. Palmer would have found a way to contact Jack and get his input, and a military strike would be an absolute last resort. With Keeler, there’s nothing to stand in the way, other than the loss of a Cabinet member.
Meanwhile, Debbie’s mother gets into the act back at the Araz abode, which seems to prove Navi’s point all too well. If it hadn’t been for Behrooz and his inability to break things off at the very beginning, he wouldn’t be trying to fix the mess so his father would settle the hell down. One begins to wonder, when Debbie’s mother won’t go away, if something so simple as Debbie’s interest in Behrooz could end up giving Jack the in-road he needs to win the day. It’s an interesting and subtle lesson, when taken in context with the earlier scene with Kalil and the bigots: simple American tolerance is more powerful than any hateful cause.
With the trial beginning over the internet, Keeler orders the missile strike, and Jack is told to get out of the line of fire. Driscoll seems to think that Jack will actually follow orders, but hey, she’s apparently as crazy as her daughter, so she’s probably shocked when Jack refuses to let go of the idea that Heller and Audrey can be rescued. Knowing this series, it will turn out that the terrorists have anti-aircraft weapons at their disposal, and the missiles will be repelled against all odds, making Jack’s assault the only logical alternative!
The last couple of episodes have largely been a stepwise progression from the announcement of the trial to the beginning of that trial, and the journey has been completed with this episode. Like the previous two episodes, there are high and how points, and they come in the expected places. Nearly everything with Jack and Heller works, and nearly everything related to the CTU office politics is highly annoying.
The writers seem to be making a concerted effort, like the first several episodes of the third season, to force a cliffhanger at the end of every episode. It would be odd for the episodes to end without one, but it’s always obvious when the writers had an ending in mind and just messed around for an hour to get the characters at the right places on the board. At least in this case, the time was spent stripping away every other potential solution to the problem of avoiding the internet broadcast, rather than bizarre diversions into robbery for the sake of giving the writers time to waste on mindless CTU office drivel.
This episode also provides an interesting parallel between the actions of those on both sides of the conflict. Heller is willing to kill himself to prevent the terrorists from reaching their goals; Kalil is willing to kill himself to prevent the Americans from getting in the way. Each group is willing to take whatever step necessary, to the point of personal sacrifice, to get the job done and achieve victory. It’s rare for writers for such a conservative-leaning series to provide that kind of dual perspective. Each group is fighting for what they believe in, and each side is willing to take extreme action in the name of that belief. Making that clear without excusing the terrorist behavior is a delicate proposition, but the writers make it work.
If the writers stick to the usual plot progression, then the next episode is still at least two episodes away from the first major twist of the season. That seems to confirm what the terrorists themselves have been saying all along: Heller’s abduction was only the beginning of the master plan. While the search and rescue operation for Heller and Audrey is a good enough beginning, the writers should make a concerted effort to ensure that the second act of the season transcends the first. They cannot afford another season where it takes more than half the season to get it right.
Final Analysis
Overall, this is another transitional episode, finishing the job of marking time before the trial scheduled for the next hour. In this case, however, the writers manage to demonstrate how nearly every available option is rendered ineffective. There is an interesting level of perspective in this episode, particularly regarding the question of self-sacrifice. Still, the CTU office politics are becoming the albatross around this season’s shoulders.
Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 7/10
Season Average (as of 4.5): 7.2
posted by John Keegan | 16:59
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