I am Stalking a Man Named Jack - A Review of "24"

I am Stalking a Man Named Jack...

During the last three years, I have been stalking a man named Jack Bauer and have been watching his life closely - each week I have taken the time to watch how he, interacts with his co-workers, his family members, and almost single-handedly saves the day against the people trying to destroy our way of life. For those of you that haven't figured it out, I am talking about a man named Jack Bauer - the lead role in a television show on FOX called "24" that recently initiated it's 4th exciting season, and what a barnburner.

There are many shows that start with an exciting event: an argument, a shocking admission of murder, a car chase - how many of them start with a TRAIN WRECK? "24" has made a re-introduction of the roller-coaster ride show that has you on the edge of your seat, from beginning to end, and continues this tradition in it's fourth season. It also brings to light one of the worst real0life fears that we face as a nation in regard to Homeland Security. Let me explain.

THE STORY:
A family of Arab descent, that has been living in the United States for a period of almost 5 years, is now the spearhead for a revolutionary terrorist event - the kidnapping of America's Secretary of Defense. At the same time, an internet-wide virus-like program is about to be released by the same terrorist faction. And this all from the first episode of this season.

Another great feature of "24" this season is it's almost completely new cast. Gone are almost every single familiar face from the previous season, including the past President of the United States. While many would think it would offer something negative to the mix, I would take another tack: Now we have no idea at all who might be next to go. This raises the level of anticipation, excitement an adds to the you-never-know-what-will-happen charm of this program.

I am one of the fortunate people on the planet that has only about 4 hours of television-watching programmed into their weekly schedule, "24" is a fantastic submission that occupies my time weekly and I recommend it.

I have included a "Blow by Blow" review of the most recent season premiere to help get those of you on the fence to watch it. Contact me with questions and give it a chance: You won't be disappointed.

Mike Wilkerson's Blow by Blow Review: 2005 4th Season Premiere of "24":

-- Paths Literally Derailed: There are many shows that start with an exciting event: an argument, a shocking admission of murder, a car chase - how many of them start with a TRAIN WRECK? The bar continues to be raised from previous seasons and it is exhilarating.

-- The Return of Cloe: This season of "24" has discarded almost all of the familiar players, and begun anew. Other than Jack (the lead) there are only a few remnants of our cast from last season -- Enter Cloe. Just about everyone has worked with the whiny, overbearing, inflexible co-worker, and "24" features one as well. What is also present is the fact that, in many cases, the whiny, overbearing, inflexible co-worker is right about a great many things and "24" helps to depict this reality. Cloe single-handedly represents the co-worker you want to strangle but simply cannot do without.

-- The Breadth of Casting: For those of you that think casting a television show or film is a piece of cake, I dare you to watch episodes of television today on television where the scope of casting is as rich as "24"s is. I believe every face I see, whether they be the hero, the background extra, the know-it-all co-worker, or the United States' Secretary of Defense. It's all there and it is genius.

-- Terminal Cliché' That Works: Any of you that have seen the movie "TOP GUN" remember when Goose (Anthony Edward)'s Wife comes a'callin' in that film. Then Goose subsequently dies from a broken neck when being ejected from his aircraft during an unrecoverable "flat spin". When Goose's wife arrives, Goose instantly is the victim of "Terminal Cliché'". The difference in "24" is that Terminal Cliché' works wonderfully here, because of their absolute resolve to make sure that the viewer knows that anyone can die, at any time, for any reason that you probably haven't even thought of yet. The introduction of Jack's new girlfriend (the Secretary of Defense's daughter), the introduction of Jack's "replacement", the introduction of the wanting girlfriend to the son of one of the lead terrorists, and on and on. They all are set up, along with others, and you never know what can or will happen.

-- The Admission of Wanting Something Different for Our Lives: While preparing for a conference at his former workplace (CTU [Counter Terrorist Unit]), Jack is able to admit to his new girlfriend that he "wants something different for his life." If you review your own lives, just about everyone has some facet of their lives that they wish was 'different'. The wonder here is that while he can wish for something different, he is placed himself in the same volatile surroundings that make it almost impossible to change the course of his life. Sounds familiar doesn't it?

-- The Perfect Symmetry of "Not Telling Your Father About Us": Those of you that are veterans of "24" know that last season, Jack's daughter, Kim, and Jack's partner, Chase, had a relationship which remained hidden to Jack for almost half of last season until he stumbled onto that fact. Now, Jack is dating his boss' daughter (the daughter of the US Secretary of Defense no less) and he wants it to remain hidden. There is poetry and irony in there someplace and it is very true to life.

-- One of the Most Realistic Threat Representations Ever: We're not in danger of some freak with a giant "LA-SER" - we don't have much to fear from a guy building a weather machine that's going to destroy the Earth. We don't even have to worry about Darth Vader and his Legions of Stormtroopers descending from orbit, but we do have to understand and battle the fear of modern-day terrorism. Of the many scenarios facing our nation today (nuclear/dirty briefcase bomb, random reasonless terrorism, foreign abduction, etc) there is one thread on which we are almost completely defenseless: What if an entire family were to emigrate here from their native land with the sole purpose of establishing a "normal life" and then, as per the giant plan, begin one of the most outrageous attacks we have ever seen? That scenario is being played out on "24" and while it is exhilarating, it is also terrifying.

-- Storyline Immersion: I have long been a fan of Steven Spielberg because of his ability to "immerse" viewers into the line of his movies. "24" has something along the same lines the difference is that in just an hour's time, you have been completely immersed in at least three different storylines. It is amazingly straightforward, and always leaves you with a sense that 'something's coming and I have no idea what it is."

-- Cameos of Previous Skilled Actors: One of the hallmarks of great television is the ability to enlist the aid of skilled, lower-level actors that add the right spice to the right situations. Two cases in point here: Andrew Paige, a dude "downloading software" (he's stealing programs from companies) stumbles onto what could be the most significant threat to the Internet, ever. Just when I thought I had the characters placed, who do I see? Andrew Paige is the kid from "WITNESS" (Lukas Haas)! Samuel Lapp himself is in peril again in one of my favorite television shows! I also see, as the Secretary of Defense, William Devane, a veteran actor that always adds flavor, intensity and believability to any role I have ever seen him in.

-- Addiction Comes in Many Flavors: For some of us, drugs are an addiction, for others it's food or other things that "give us pleasure." Jack's strange, but sudden understanding of his action not to heroin (an unfortunate side-effect experienced after a long undercover assignment), not to food but to something totally innocuous: his previous lifestyle as a CTU agent. You can actually see "the life" he's been running from for a year begin to course in his veins once more as he works his way thru guards, defiance and reason to reach his objectives during this first episode.

-- "Rightly" So: Over the last several years, the media has been quickly continuing it's undeniable bend "to the left" - I think that just about everyone has had a discussion where one thing done will solve a world of malice’s and life just simply doesn't work like that. A quote from this most recent episode: "Spare me your 6th-grade Michael Moore logic" makes this episode one that reaches far to the right, and it's refreshing, folks. The discussion of Michael Moore and his "principles" is left for another venue, but it's good to see some good old common sense fly forward.

-- The Running Beep of Time, In Real Time: The novelty of "24" is that it is a real-time hour, in the space of one hours time watching television. Not only do they give you the running of the time in numerical format, they are actually running AT the numerical format; Sample: When the character says "but that's going to happen in 10 minutes - it's going to happen at 8am" then cut to the clock and it reads "7:49:58" and as the clock appears, "7:50" strikes. It helps to add to the realism, the sense of urgency, and absolutely grabs your attention and doesn't let go.

-- Cliffhanger, Schmiffhanger - Give me "24": Many shows claim that they have a "season finale' cliffhanger episode. "24" provides multiple cliffhangers in one episode, so much so that you just may have to secure a massage therapist to work on your shoulders once the show is over. While other shows claim "and the father of the baby is..... Continued next season" or "I remember who the killer was now, and it's.... To be continued", "24" trumps them all. How about this for a first season opener to the next episode: "With a well calculated clock-smashing bullet-ripping entrance of armed terrorists, rocket propelled grenade-cause explosions and the screaming of one's girlfriend through a recently dropped cell phone, the first hour of the 4th season of "24 opens with a literal bang as terrorist abduct the US Secretary of State and his daughter while killing 5 Secret Service Agents." Completely intoxicating.

Look for more "Blow by Blow" Reviews of "24" and more...
Click Here to visit the "24" Website online via Fox.Com