means no reruns and, as with an ethos many punk bands have adopted, all killer and no filler. The story of one day in counter-terrorist superagent Jack Bauer’s life already gathers speed from the combined forces of twisty plots and a running, real-time clock for each of the 24 episodes. Frankly, without TiVo or a consistent place in your television schedule, this show works best in quickly released seasons (seasons one through three already are available, with one at a pretty good discount).
But 24’s fourth season appeals even to those who missed the first three times the world as we know it almost ended. Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland, with the type of up-all-night voice and instant authority perfect for this role) finds himself crunching budgetary numbers for the U.S. Secretary of Defense (William Devane, who’s still the lovable coach from ABC’s tennis comedy Phenom to these eyes). A train bombing and the subsequent abduction of said secretary — and his daughter, who happened to be in love with Bauer — set the stage for another really eventful day.
Some Arab American groups have criticized the show for using what initially appears to be Muslims as the central bad guys. Thus far, though, such casting does not seem exploitative to an outsider’s eye. Instead, the plot thus far oozes realism (besides Bauer shooting a suspect in the leg for information), but unfortunate generalities could break out at any time.
24 appeals to a public’s desire for what the Department of Homeland Security really accomplishes: Despite evil and bureaucracy and sapped cell phone batteries at every turn, Americans are protected … even if it means overtime pay for Jack Bauer. |
