24 5.18: "Day 5: 12AM -1AM"
Written by Unavailable
Directed by Unavailable
In which Jack and Audrey meet with Secretary Heller, but things don’t go as expected, while the truth threatens Logan and Chloe finds herself under fire with Karen and Miles…
Status Report
It would have been better to keep the Jack and Wayne Show going for a while longer, but if it brings back Bill Buchanan for some fun and games, who can argue? Jack could use all the help he can get, especially since the screws are being tightened on Chloe at the exact same time. The urgency of the episode is quite nice, because unlike some episodes this season, the events don’t feel manufactured. It’s Logan vs. Bauer, and everything makes sense within that context, since that’s how it should have been from the beginning. (OK, it was, if one accepts the season as presented to this point without cynicism!)
Heller should have been brought in before this point, but now that the game is on, it gives his return that much more heft. Heller is Jack’s most powerful ally, with so many others dead, which once again gives the fourth season more retroactive meaning. He asks the right questions about that recording, but since Heller has dealt with Logan in the past, there’s enough history for the evidence to speak for itself.
Heller’s response is a nice change of pace, because he’s completely right. Unseating the president shouldn’t be a public spectacle. It can’t be a military coup, or for that matter, a coup of any kind. It should be done carefully and quietly. Heller understands that it shouldn’t be public, but he’s smart enough to make sure he doesn’t have the evidence in hand when he confronts Logan on the truth. And of course, it complicates Jack’s personal crusade even more, which is always fun.
Miles is one slimy bastard, but he also knows how to push a person’s buttons. He does exactly what it takes to push Chloe into exposing her methods. Yet all it does is give Logan another chance to demonstrate his inability to keep things in control when things go off plan. Despite having Karen in his back pocket, he keeps giving her orders that conflict. It adds to her existing suspicions, and suddenly Novick is back in play, exposing the weaknesses in the conspiracy. (Where he’s been for the last few hours is an interesting matter of debate.)
This is also the second time that Martha has seen Logan take one of these unexpected phone calls in the apparent wake of the crisis, and it’s just a matter of time before she figures out that something is wrong. The nice thing is that the beginning of the season established that once she gets something into her head, she won’t let it go until she’s satisfied.
The whole Chinese issue finally comes up again, even if it’s only in passing. The confrontation between Logan and Novick is one of the highlights of the episode, especially since it’s clear that Novick isn’t so stupid as to believe that Logan is being open and honest. This is one of the interesting aspects of this final conflict: it’s as much about Logan as it is about Jack. Jack’s not leading the charge, so much as playing a part in something that was probably inevitable.
Chloe’s little escape was way too easy under the circumstances, but at least it gave the writers a chance to use that ridiculous sexual harassment subplot. Any chance to get Chloe in action is a joy to behold. It also seems that DHS security protocols are as pathetic as CTU protocols. Chloe never should have gotten so far for so long! And she certainly shouldn’t have gotten to Bill so easily.
It’s interesting that Logan doesn’t bother to hide his complicity once Heller confronts him. And given the conservative leanings of many on the cast and crew of the series, it’s amazing that Logan’s entire plan was about securing foreign oil interests. Heller’s ultimatum, however, puts Logan in one of those positions where he seems to excel all too well: finding a means of opening up options and shifting responsibility.
Heller’s security detail makes for another nice set of red shirts, and as one would predict, it all comes down to Henderson getting his hands on Audrey and forcing Jack to make a choice. Sure enough, it undercuts Heller’s entire gambit. It gives Logan a nice temporary victory, but there’s one small question that hasn’t been answered. Does Henderson really have the recording, since it was never demonstrated that he played it and knew it was the genuine article? Could Jack have switched it out? For that matter, couldn’t there be a copy by now?
Of course, the obvious question is why Henderson would call Logan without confirming that the only copy of the recording was in hand. He had plenty of time to come gunning for Jack, considering Audrey’s condition. Speaking of Audrey, she’s prime material for another loss for Jack this season, and this takes her one step closer to that. Then again, she’s probably prepared for that sort of thing after being around Jack lately!
With six episodes left, there’s plenty of time for the various players to move and counter as the conflict escalates. This episode was about building the tension to the next level and making sure that the audience saw where the lines were being drawn. All of the players that should be in the game are on the board, and it’s going to be a nasty fight to the finish. As usual, once the season gets to the final turn, a lot of the stupid subplots fall away and the writing tightens tremendously. This episode was a return to form, and a welcome one at that.
Final Analysis
Overall, this episode escalates the conflict with some nice twists and turns. Some elements might be considered predictable, and some might feel like nothing happened, but when the writers stick with good story instead of shock value, the season as a whole gains integrity. The conflict is a lot of fun, and it looks like it’s only going to get better.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
Directed by Unavailable
In which Jack and Audrey meet with Secretary Heller, but things don’t go as expected, while the truth threatens Logan and Chloe finds herself under fire with Karen and Miles…
Status Report
It would have been better to keep the Jack and Wayne Show going for a while longer, but if it brings back Bill Buchanan for some fun and games, who can argue? Jack could use all the help he can get, especially since the screws are being tightened on Chloe at the exact same time. The urgency of the episode is quite nice, because unlike some episodes this season, the events don’t feel manufactured. It’s Logan vs. Bauer, and everything makes sense within that context, since that’s how it should have been from the beginning. (OK, it was, if one accepts the season as presented to this point without cynicism!)
Heller should have been brought in before this point, but now that the game is on, it gives his return that much more heft. Heller is Jack’s most powerful ally, with so many others dead, which once again gives the fourth season more retroactive meaning. He asks the right questions about that recording, but since Heller has dealt with Logan in the past, there’s enough history for the evidence to speak for itself.
Heller’s response is a nice change of pace, because he’s completely right. Unseating the president shouldn’t be a public spectacle. It can’t be a military coup, or for that matter, a coup of any kind. It should be done carefully and quietly. Heller understands that it shouldn’t be public, but he’s smart enough to make sure he doesn’t have the evidence in hand when he confronts Logan on the truth. And of course, it complicates Jack’s personal crusade even more, which is always fun.
Miles is one slimy bastard, but he also knows how to push a person’s buttons. He does exactly what it takes to push Chloe into exposing her methods. Yet all it does is give Logan another chance to demonstrate his inability to keep things in control when things go off plan. Despite having Karen in his back pocket, he keeps giving her orders that conflict. It adds to her existing suspicions, and suddenly Novick is back in play, exposing the weaknesses in the conspiracy. (Where he’s been for the last few hours is an interesting matter of debate.)
This is also the second time that Martha has seen Logan take one of these unexpected phone calls in the apparent wake of the crisis, and it’s just a matter of time before she figures out that something is wrong. The nice thing is that the beginning of the season established that once she gets something into her head, she won’t let it go until she’s satisfied.
The whole Chinese issue finally comes up again, even if it’s only in passing. The confrontation between Logan and Novick is one of the highlights of the episode, especially since it’s clear that Novick isn’t so stupid as to believe that Logan is being open and honest. This is one of the interesting aspects of this final conflict: it’s as much about Logan as it is about Jack. Jack’s not leading the charge, so much as playing a part in something that was probably inevitable.
Chloe’s little escape was way too easy under the circumstances, but at least it gave the writers a chance to use that ridiculous sexual harassment subplot. Any chance to get Chloe in action is a joy to behold. It also seems that DHS security protocols are as pathetic as CTU protocols. Chloe never should have gotten so far for so long! And she certainly shouldn’t have gotten to Bill so easily.
It’s interesting that Logan doesn’t bother to hide his complicity once Heller confronts him. And given the conservative leanings of many on the cast and crew of the series, it’s amazing that Logan’s entire plan was about securing foreign oil interests. Heller’s ultimatum, however, puts Logan in one of those positions where he seems to excel all too well: finding a means of opening up options and shifting responsibility.
Heller’s security detail makes for another nice set of red shirts, and as one would predict, it all comes down to Henderson getting his hands on Audrey and forcing Jack to make a choice. Sure enough, it undercuts Heller’s entire gambit. It gives Logan a nice temporary victory, but there’s one small question that hasn’t been answered. Does Henderson really have the recording, since it was never demonstrated that he played it and knew it was the genuine article? Could Jack have switched it out? For that matter, couldn’t there be a copy by now?
Of course, the obvious question is why Henderson would call Logan without confirming that the only copy of the recording was in hand. He had plenty of time to come gunning for Jack, considering Audrey’s condition. Speaking of Audrey, she’s prime material for another loss for Jack this season, and this takes her one step closer to that. Then again, she’s probably prepared for that sort of thing after being around Jack lately!
With six episodes left, there’s plenty of time for the various players to move and counter as the conflict escalates. This episode was about building the tension to the next level and making sure that the audience saw where the lines were being drawn. All of the players that should be in the game are on the board, and it’s going to be a nasty fight to the finish. As usual, once the season gets to the final turn, a lot of the stupid subplots fall away and the writing tightens tremendously. This episode was a return to form, and a welcome one at that.
Final Analysis
Overall, this episode escalates the conflict with some nice twists and turns. Some elements might be considered predictable, and some might feel like nothing happened, but when the writers stick with good story instead of shock value, the season as a whole gains integrity. The conflict is a lot of fun, and it looks like it’s only going to get better.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
posted by John Keegan | 17:24
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