Everyone has heard of 24. I had a feeling I would like it and put it off for a long time, letting my preconceived thoughts on it build up until I had a lot of expectations.
The Show:
24 is on Fox and has won a good number of Emmys over the years. The show is about a man named Jack Bauer who in the beginning works for the Counter Terrorism unit in Los Angeles. This show is the epitome of suspense. What's most unique about it is the time frame: each season has 24 episodes. Each episode happens in real time, so basically one season equals one day and each episode equals an hour. In between each season a lot of time passes, sometimes 4 years or more. Jack Bauer is a ruthless man who will do anything to protect certain people, whether it means hurting those around him or not. Over time he will go under cover and do a lot of illegal things to get information or things from the terrorists, resulting in him being in trouble most of the time. The plots always has to do with the President being in jeopardy, so whoever plays the president is always one of the main characters and a big part of the season. By season 7, regardless of all that he's done for his country, he is still being put in front of a grand jury to explain his actions and facing a large amount of jail time. I think that's the biggest part of the show is Jack's struggle with right a wrong.
Review:
The show has a pattern for me. I really didn't like season 1, loved season 2 and 3, couldn't even finish season 4, was amazed by season 5, couldn't even finish season 6 and once again amazed by season 7 (haven't seen the last season 8 yet). The show is very well done. It has a very specific style to it. The acting is always excellent and has to be with this kind of show where the characters are put through a lot throughout the course of the season. I had never seen Kiefer Sutherland in anything except the Lost Boys, so I wasn't sure how I would like him in this, but I absolutely stand behind him being on of television's best actors. Always does a great job and was very challenged in this kind of role. The same goes for the rest of the cast, some regulars, some only in a couple episodes. When a season is good, it's really good. Keeps you on your toes. There's always complex story lines, which I appreciate and a lot of government, FBI, CTU, field ops. lingo that you kind of have to figure out on your own. But if you stick with it and follow the story, it's very good. The show has a predictable pattern in some ways, but the details within those are anything but. For example. It always starts off with Jack being told about and asked to join in a new case involving some kind of nuclear explosion or toxic gas. He joins in with the FBI or CTU and works with them, until he has to break some rules to get something and now is being chased by them with a warrant for his arrest all the mean while trying to stop the bad guys (stressful, right?). As the season unfolds, several of the main characters will be revealed as bad guys who were in on it the entire time. About half way through the season one story will end just before another related one presents itself, starting the viscous cycle once again.
Rating:
I love this show and have rarely heard anything bad about it. It does have it's weak seasons, but the good seasons are extremely worth it.
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