wenBLOG

The following takes place after the airing of each new episode of 24 on FOX…

As I’ve said previously the last few hours of the program have been disappointing. Not enough blood and guts, too many threads seeming to go nowhere and the constant development of new romantic relationships that only add time and not real content for the story. Last night’s show did little to change this (although with the deployment and disabling of the nuclear bomb-laden drone things are looking up).

Other highlights from last night’s 14th hour included the intention of Vice President Daniels to move forward with a limited nuclear attack in the Middle East, the potential of Nadia as a spy, a radiation leak in San Francisco, and the revelation that Audrey Raines died looking for Jack in China. Indeed I think things are looking up for the final 10 hours.

I’m starting to recognize what it is that has captured and held my interest about the phenomenon that is 24, and I must admit I’m a little embarrassed.

It’s a soap opera - with explosions.

Just look at the front page of the 24 website - today there’s a poll that asks, “What can Jack do with floating rib fragments and broken ribs in his chest?” and offers among the choices for answer: “Remain a sex symbol“. Or the currently available Photo Gallery tease that says - ” Every woman’s fantasy is to kiss Jack Bauer. Some get closer than others, but are still denied.”

Yuck! I’m not concerned that my fascination with all things Jack Bauer is some kind of subconscious homo-erotic fantasy, but I do find it ironic that the themes of daytime television have ensnared so many men like me. Weird…

Okay here are my things for the week:

• I told you a while ago that Milo’s proffering of his access codes to Nadia would come back to haunt him. When the leak was found through Nadia’s system, it opened Milo up to scrutiny. His playing fast and loose with the rules didn’t cause the leak, but will get him in trouble. I don’t think that Nadia is a spy, because what we will find is that…
• Doyle is the bad guy. He had control over all of CTU’s systems when he came in and he could have used Nadia’s system to provide the information to the Russians. He will also serve as the link that will bring Phillip Bauer back into the story’s web. Not only that, but something tells me that Doyle’s involved with Audrey’s death.
• President Palmer won’t die from next week’s attempt to resuscitate him, but it will have a profound effect on his mental capacities. Look for him to make a return to the active storyline in the last few hours and to make a critical error in judgment that will cause his sister’s death.

That’s all for this week… no video treat for you today. No time to monkey with FOX and the codes that they’ve made more and more prohibitive to use (probably a message in there about copyright infringement…). See you next week.