It's hard to imagine four years has already passed since 24 ended it's run. The ending of the series was fitting and it suitably left the possibility of a return for Jack Bauer either in a mini series or perhaps a feature film. Well, the feature film never happened (was sure that's what would happen, events would be in real time of course but the storyline would be like Redemption, over a couple hours instead of 24). I thought 24 : Redemption was a test run for the format more than a TV movie prequel to Season 7. What you have after Sutherland's imaginative TV series Touch ran its course is a limited 12 episode run for the show.
The change in format makes perfect sense. Firstly, because the 24 episode format always had a different villain to chase after the first 8 or 12 episodes concluded the initial storyline and second shifts to maybe 6 or 8 episodes and the final conclusion in the last 4 to 6 episodes., the financial investment wouldn't be such a burden for the network. One of three things sink every TV show eventually, either the ratings are lack luster or the cost of production eventually outweighs the advertising value. Cost of production includes salary increases for regular cast members which grows significantly after three successful seasons. The last being a creative decline because the well of imaginative ideas ran dry. A key informant can suddenly die before talking only so many times. It gets to be like those nameless ensigns on Star Trek who beamed down with all of the regular cast. It was just a matter of time before the cliche was going to happen.
24 survived two of the three listed above. The show plateaued ratings wise which led to its cancellation but there was never a major drop off. The cost of production skyrocketed by Season 5 and I can't imagine anyone feeling Season 6 wasn't a sign of trouble in the writing room. Worse yet for 24, Season 6 with its sour ending was followed by the writer's strike which held up production for two years. I for one never returned to watching the show after the strike and I am sure others felt the same. Bringing Bauer's daddy into the story smelled of Fonzy jumping over a shark to me
I recently watched both Seasons 7 and 8 in their entirety and found it departed from the bizarre (and I felt quite hackneyed) plot twists in 6. The show was back in form specifically in 7 with its blend of drama ,action, political intrigue and mystery. The writers looked to be developing their story lines along a basic theme as well.
Season 9 was a kind of mixed bag in terms of good ideas and after such a delay, the season felt unnecessary. The storyline picks up awhile after season 8 ends. Jack Bauer again defies the odds, again is forced to outrun tue authorities before they make a mistake because they don't know the facts on the ground as quickly as they do.
Both Chloe and Jack return working with many of the same political interests they fought against. This Jack Bauer could have been one of the terrorists along the side of Vladimir Bierko except Bauer is cautious not to turn his activites on the US. They drag the Hellers back and Cheng Zhi. The series could have benefited with more new characters to go along with the new setting.
The show did prove that 24 could work in 12 episodes. Obviously there are gaps and less shifts from villain to villain via shifts in storyline. The plot twosts are good. The action is good. The show is more violent than it was in the past at times.
In hindsight, i wish they left it at 8 seasons. This final series is like closing the barn door after the cows left. The American public seemed to lose interest in 2010 and it hasn't returned except in international markets. Which was proven with 24 Legacy. Im still interested in seeing how 24 India turned out though It only ran 2 seasons.
The change in format makes perfect sense. Firstly, because the 24 episode format always had a different villain to chase after the first 8 or 12 episodes concluded the initial storyline and second shifts to maybe 6 or 8 episodes and the final conclusion in the last 4 to 6 episodes., the financial investment wouldn't be such a burden for the network. One of three things sink every TV show eventually, either the ratings are lack luster or the cost of production eventually outweighs the advertising value. Cost of production includes salary increases for regular cast members which grows significantly after three successful seasons. The last being a creative decline because the well of imaginative ideas ran dry. A key informant can suddenly die before talking only so many times. It gets to be like those nameless ensigns on Star Trek who beamed down with all of the regular cast. It was just a matter of time before the cliche was going to happen.
24 survived two of the three listed above. The show plateaued ratings wise which led to its cancellation but there was never a major drop off. The cost of production skyrocketed by Season 5 and I can't imagine anyone feeling Season 6 wasn't a sign of trouble in the writing room. Worse yet for 24, Season 6 with its sour ending was followed by the writer's strike which held up production for two years. I for one never returned to watching the show after the strike and I am sure others felt the same. Bringing Bauer's daddy into the story smelled of Fonzy jumping over a shark to me
I recently watched both Seasons 7 and 8 in their entirety and found it departed from the bizarre (and I felt quite hackneyed) plot twists in 6. The show was back in form specifically in 7 with its blend of drama ,action, political intrigue and mystery. The writers looked to be developing their story lines along a basic theme as well.
Season 9 was a kind of mixed bag in terms of good ideas and after such a delay, the season felt unnecessary. The storyline picks up awhile after season 8 ends. Jack Bauer again defies the odds, again is forced to outrun tue authorities before they make a mistake because they don't know the facts on the ground as quickly as they do.
Both Chloe and Jack return working with many of the same political interests they fought against. This Jack Bauer could have been one of the terrorists along the side of Vladimir Bierko except Bauer is cautious not to turn his activites on the US. They drag the Hellers back and Cheng Zhi. The series could have benefited with more new characters to go along with the new setting.
The show did prove that 24 could work in 12 episodes. Obviously there are gaps and less shifts from villain to villain via shifts in storyline. The plot twosts are good. The action is good. The show is more violent than it was in the past at times.
In hindsight, i wish they left it at 8 seasons. This final series is like closing the barn door after the cows left. The American public seemed to lose interest in 2010 and it hasn't returned except in international markets. Which was proven with 24 Legacy. Im still interested in seeing how 24 India turned out though It only ran 2 seasons.