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OK, so I admit it, I’m a 24 junkie.  I didn’t start watching the show until after the first season (luckily somebody I worked with was kind enough to tape - remember VCR’s? - the whole season and loan it to me… I was so hooked that I watched the entire thing over the span of one weekend), but after that I have faithfully watched the show (or DVRed it).  Since the program seems to be one of the most frequently discussed topics I encounter online and in friendly conversation the day after an episode airs, I figured why not provide a regular postshow analysis.  Here’s the first installment and I hope (as long as the show doesn’t tank) to continue to put these up following each airing.

I don’t think that I need to rehash the first and second hours for you (but if you need a quick review you can click on those links and see the blow-by-blow), so I’ll just get on with it.

This season’s show opening (as with previous seasons) starts with some pretty far-flung concepts - most specifically that the Chinese return Jack Bauer to American custody with a vague reference made to what the new president, Wayne Palmer, has given up to secure his return.  No offense, but I find it hard to believe that the Chinese would just “give up” Bauer.  I also have some difficulty with Palmer being President - I mean the concept of two African American presidents in such a short time (much less brothers) is a bit of a stretch… but then again the idea of presidential sequencing in the last twenty years being Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton? could very well be a reality so what do I know?

Along with the assumptive stretches some things are too easy - the bad guys are muslim fanatics and the concentration of activity in California (doesn’t CTU have any other branches?).  Although I do like the addition of using the White House as one of the story settings this year.

In any case, the plot line of suicide bombers in the United States is so potentially plausible that it scares the hell out of me.  That we haven’t actually experienced it (yet) only heightens the anxiety that this piece of the story creates.  I’ll be curious to see what the motive (beyond the obvious) is for Abu Fayed and the terrorists and also why Hamri Al-Assad is now on a mission of peace instead of terrorism.

Some observations from last night:

Fayed is not the top guy as it relates to the villains.  I think it’s possible that it could be Sandra Palmer’s boyfriend Walid Al-Rezani, but Al-Rezani comes across as so meek that it’s almost too obvious of a juxtaposition. 

Something that could become a plot twist is the issue of what it was that Palmer promised the Chinese for Jack’s return.  Was it weaponry? Secrets? Money? Technology? People? Land?  This could be something that comes up later to change the story’s direction or create a plot change later in the story.

Did anybody else notice the bizarre “six degrees of seperation” connection last night with the movie Major League II?  Other than the obvious with actor Dennis Haysbert

as former 24 character President David Palmer (Pedro Cerrano in Major League) haunting the show and appearing in commercials during the program, but how about the casting of Eric Bruskotter as the pissed off neighbor Stan (Rube Baker in Major League).  Cerrano still can’t hit a curveball and Rube still can’t toss the the ball back to the pitcher.  Talk about two actors going in opposite directions - Haysbert is everywhere and Bruskotter’s losing his hair and doing bit parts.

All in all I enjoyed last night and I’m looking forward to tonight’s two hours.  I’m also praying that the show will follow a plotline that keeps me guessing all season long.