Blow by Blow Review: "24" March 14th, 2005

Something I find is that the episodes of this show I like the most, I write less about. Hence, this edition of the "24" Blow by Blow is much smaller.

This was a fantastic episode, filled with straightforward points, cool lines of discussion and valiant thought sometimes unrealistic attempts at trying to show that good really does win out. with that said, on to this edition of the Blow by Blow - 3-14-2005...

-- Heroic Moment of the Arab Brothers: I had caught a syndicated radio show last week that wanted to turn this in all directions. Everything from "This is where they're encouraging the Arab-Muslim community to not stand for what the other Muslims are calling a holy war", to "this is so that they can do whatever they want on the show because they've already given props to the community on which they want to bash." I'm not a fan of either of those theories. Very often the point that you want to make is right in front of you - unencumbered with political correctness, unfettered by "what will be best for the show" and just laid out bold - The Arab Brothers aren't just making a "one nation under God" Speech, they're making a "what is right" speech, because they know (as does Jack, via his letting them stay in the store) that what they are going to do and want to do IS right. Nothing more, nothing less.

-- Ugly Side of Nature is Never Easy to Like: Audrey conveys the fact that she is very scared about seeing another side of Jack - which she should be. The man has a single purpose, a steadfast determination and woe to the people or things that get in his way. Often things that seem simple have come at a price none of us can imagine and I find it irritating sometimes that people are unable to jump out of something other than their point of view regardless of the consequences. Consequences is something that is quickly evaporating in our communities, workplaces and society overall in an what has become a veiled effort to make more things available to more people. while everyone is allowed to dream, to imagine the impossible, to chase the brass ring of the future, there are things that some people just shouldn't "do." Jack has found that one thing that he has no problem doing is ensuring the safety of the nation - if Audrey really has a problem with that, there is always the stuffy careless Brit that calls her from time to time and calls her "wife."

-- Sarah, the Door - The Door, Sarah: This moment in the episode is one of those "things of LEGEND" items that you hardly ever hear about. Sarah comes to call only minutes after Driscoll, the mother of a 14 year-old suicide victim to ensure that the expunging of her record and two-level pay grade increase is still intact with Michelle now inplace. While it was certainly a noteworthy item as per my last blog, her tact left much to be desired. As TV watchers, all of us are screaming at the screen: "You BITCH Man I wish they'd fire her!"

And they do!

Recognizing that someone doesn't have the priorities of what's needed and CONSEQUENCES for doing so (as listed above no less) is something that is great to see yet hardly ever witnessed. Kudos to the rights and the actors (including the poor gal that portrayed Sarah :) ) on some very well executed story-telling.

-- Perimeter vs Trailing Potential Locations: In many of my Blow by Blows, I have been picking some rather bold nits that have come up. This is one of the first episodes that not only addresses my nits as fast as I can type the notes about them down in my Sidekick, but initiates action to "solve" the nitpicking! That being said - in addition to Sarah being fired you get:

Michelle decides that the Perimeter rather than trailing potential locations is the way to go with support for Jack, even though Tony, who clearly knows how Jack works, believes that there is a better way to go. Everyone says to yourself _"Lady, just because he's your ex-husband doesn't mean he doesn't know anything." You also say "she really should apologize to him about the "drinking effecting your life" comments.

And she does! By the episodes end she rights both of those wrong and more.

-- Why Not Try to Use the Store Owners to Deflect Interest? As Jack begins his long discussion with the store owners, the thought comes to me: Why not use the store owners to help deflect interest in the store and let the special forces teams go on their merry way to search for Jack? Put Jack and Paul and the document in an air duct or one of the display tents shown on the screen? Hell, anywhere in that store would have been fine considering how dark it was in there. The size of the special strike unit wasn't all that large and they wouldn't have been able to cover the city.

-- Gun Shop Vs. Sporting Goods Store: For the first and last time in my articles, it's a "sporting goods store" not a gun store. How does Mike know this? From the bullet-ridden door and 25 foot sign outside the building, Jackasses :)

-- Nice Impassioned Speech But Who's Watching Outside? I, like most red-blooded flag-waving Americans appreciate the solid, fact-filled "for our father and our country" speech from the brothers. Meantime, who the hell is watching the street where the assault force will be arriving in just a few minutes?

-- Assault Force Vs a CTU Agent, a Diplomat, and Two Arab Sporting Goods Store Clerks: I didn't originally insert this one, but I also was completely unimpressed with the make up of the assault force. The "captain" for instance really seemed out of place and "not in charge." How many were there? Where they hell was a coordinated attack? While I would say that Jack & company would be screwed against a S.W.A.T Team, these people were surely something less than that. Where were the grenades to clear the front door? How about some gas? What kind of assault force doesn't have at least Tear Gas? How about some sniper action to take out the unfriendlies at the window? Some flanking action? I'm a graphic designer and only watch shows and movies that feature things like that but -- nothing like this from "the Assault Force" of McClennan-Forster.

-- Thanks from Paul = Terminal Cliche? I continue to amaze myself with the ratio of "Terminal Cliche" I've made so far this season. As we know by the end of the episode, Paul is shot at near point blank range by the dying Security Chief from McLennan-Forster. We'll see if there is significantly less in the way of competition for Jack and Audrey's relationship in about an episode probably.

-- Some People Are More Comfortable in Hell: Secretary Heller provides some noteworthy blow by blow of his own in this episode: He states that "some people are more comfortable in Hell" which I know to be true from my many interactions with people during my short 35 years. Strife, arguments, quick decision-making, on-the-move - all of those things and more make many people uncomfortable, while many actually thrive on it. Jack is surely one of those who can "exist" but only lives while on the ragged edge of something much larger than himself. Might that be the "Terminal Cliche'" for Audrey's and Jack's relationship regardless of what Paul's fate is? Could be. We'll find out soon enough.

-- Newfound Respect for Sporting Good Departments and Stores: The next time that I am in the middle of an corporate company EMP-induced city-wide blackout, I will remember that in lieu of heading for the local police station, that I will head for the Walmart down the street, and make a bold dash to the Sporting Goods Department.

As I stated above, this was an excellent episode. While there were few nitpicks in this one, it was very solid and yet another shining example of why people should be watching this excellent show.