So this week we finally finished 24 Day 5. Delayed mostly because of I’m A Celebrity (Jenny was hooked like a really hooked thing), we survived Jack Bauer’s fifth worst day battered and bruised, feeling somewhat like an invincible lemming, veteran of so many cliffhangers, twists and turns.
Day 5 begins with a bang when former US President David Palmer is assassinated in front of his brother. More assassinations followed, seemingly targeting those few people who know that Jack is alive and well, having shaken off the wrath of the Chinese government by faking his own death. Soon, Jack is called back in to action when CTU uncover a genocidal plot to kill thousands with nerve gas.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen 24. Since it went off terrestrial TV we’ve waited each year for the DVD box set to be released. The following fortnight included many late nights, where we intended to stop at 11.30pm but found the cliffhanger too much to bear, only to discover at 12.10 that the next cliffhanger was even worse.
Released on DVD back in August 2005, the new series only came out in November, so since we last watched 24 we’ve experienced the first 2 seasons of Lost, and our datum for great telly was calibrated against the island drama \ soap thingy. Lost is great but 24 is brilliant. Day 5Â is by far the best of the bunch. Amazing drama, action, humour, everything you hope from a decent trip to the cinema stretched over 24 episodes. The storyline is gripping, and at times completely mental, however the plot stretches are carried by brilliant acting and direction. Check out the performances of Jean Smart and Gregory Itzin (Martha and Charles Logan), both nominated for Emmys, who absolutely steal every scene, which is a tall order given some great turns from Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe) and, of course, Keifer Sutherland as the seemingly indestructible Jack Bauer.Â
So, if you’ve yet to experience the show, pick up the first series on DVD and be happy in the knowledge that each series you get is better than the last. It might just help you through the torrid TV that smothers every channel over the festive period.
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