Season eight of 24 doesn’t have any big openers like killing David Palmer, killing Tony Almeida or bringing Tony Almeida back. In the history of the show’s four hour premieres, this one is comparatively lackluster, but its standard 24 action and twists still makes good entertainment.
I love how they catch all the characters up. Jack Bauer has just finished his last treatment. You know, the treatment for being almost dead last year? He’s actually planning to go back to L.A. with Kim and live a peaceful life as grandpa to her baby. I really thought he was going to go with her. I just couldn’t believe circumstances transpired to keep Jack in New York to face another terrorist threat.
Actually, the show seems to have fun with the obvious conceit that he’s not going to retire, even though he is too old for this sh*t. Jack really makes a believable effort to stay out of things, and the show just stops short of saying, “Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.” They set up elements that, within 24, require Jack’s supervision.
In the White House, president Taylor’s ex-husband (catch that? They’re no longer together after the events of last season) has been slamming her in the press for prosecuting their daughter. Meanwhile, Chloe’s off her game. It’s a little disconcerting to see Dana Walsh (Katee Sackhoff) school Chloe on the current CTU technology. As sad as it is to see Chloe in an inferior position, it’s really fun stuff for Mary Lynn Rajskub to play.
Walsh is the boss so her headset supercedes Chloe’s. She has a secret though and we find out a big part of it by hour four. It’s standard 24 but it’s good fun. She’s also engaged to Cole Ortiz (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) who makes a good CTU badass.
There’s some good action along the way. Actually seeing a rocket’s path visibly is cool, and there’s an axe kill. There are some betrayers, some explosions and by hour three Jack is in an impossible situation where he can’t possibly explain why he looks incriminating and he just has to get himself out of it.
By far the best part of 24’s return though is the new Renee. She doesn’t come in for a few hours but she’s in a really dark place. Her action in the end of hour four is the 24 cliffhanger we’ve been waiting for. As the clock ticks, now we really can’t wait to see what she does next week.
