When I heard that 24 was being taken down of the shelf for another run, I was as excited as anyone. I mean, I consider the show to be my second-favorite of all-time (right behind LOST). Those first couple episodes, I was thrilled to see Jack Bauer back doing his thing on the big screen, and I was really hoping that the show would step right back into where it left off. What I had forgotten? After the eighth season, the show had gotten out just in time.
For a basic plot summary (minor spoilers), "Live Another Day" takes place on foreign soil in England. With President James Heller (William Devane) and daughter Audrey (Kim Raver) on a diplomatic mission involving the British, a device is stolen by terrorists that can control American attack drones and use them to launch missile attacks. Margot Al-Harazi (Michelle Fairley) and daughter Simone (Emily Berrington) have a vendetta against the current U.S. President, and nothing will stop them from extracting revenge. Of course, it doesn't take long for Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) to get wind of what is transpiring, as he is hiding out in London as a fugitive from the law. In order to help out an old friend (the President), Jack once again enlists the help of Chloe O'Brien (Mary Lynn Rajskub), but can she be fully trusted? Also, a current agent (played by Yvonne Strahovski) crosses paths with Bauer, but is she a friend or foe?
For the first few episodes of "Live Another Die", everything seems to be progressing nicely. Old friends make their way back, new characters are introduced, and the plot shows much promise. While watching, I felt like it was the "glory days" of 24 once again, back when the show was on the cutting edge of political drama.
But then, my hopes for greatness were slowly dashed over the remaining 8-9 episodes. The reason? All those plots/characters that were introduced in the beginning don't provide nearly the type of drama that they could/should have. Some examples (again, minor spoilers may be present here):
-It was great to have Heller as President...until he turns into the worst POTUS in show history. He isn't bad, per se, but the list of incredible Presidents of 24 is daunting. There are also a number of subplots involving Heller that don't have nearly the emotional payoff that they could have. -Jack is back, indeed...but with very little insight into his mind. For most of "Live Another Day", Jack is just a gun-toting machine being sent on missions. I wanted to know more about his emotional state or what he had been doing since the end of Season Eight. -The first main plot is interesting, but once it runs its course none of the other ones could get me emotionally invested. -The potential of Strahovski's character was off the charts...until it was never realized. Once again, a great opportunity for an interesting backstory and some chemistry with Jack, but it just doesn't come together. -For the first time I can really remember in this show, some deus ex machina was obvious. Maybe they have used that kind of plot resolution method before and I missed it, but in earlier seasons they could cover it with political intrigue and emotion. Not so here.
So, despite my initial excitement for the return of 24, "Live Another Day" ends up being the worst single season in show history. Now, granted, having your worst single season still garner three stars isn't anything to sneeze at, but still. In its prime, 24 thrived on real-feeling, hard-hitting political intrigue and Sutherland's intensity/emotion. Maybe we've moved on as a country (less enthralled by terrorist-centered plotlines the further 2001 is in the rear view mirror of history) or maybe it's just impossible to sustain that kind of writing, but this ninth season just didn't resonate with me like the others did.
When I wrote my review for Season Eight, I remember titling it "Got Out Before Too Many Cracks Began To Form". In that season, the show was starting to "lose it" just a bit, but it managed to pull together for one more sterling campaign. Sadly, though I thought "Live Another Day" could reverse the trend, it did not. It ended up just slipping a little more, now into the "okay" category.
Would I like to see the show continue? I think it could, as long as next time it realizes its potential. All the pieces were present in "Live Another Day", but it just didn't come together.
For a basic plot summary (minor spoilers), "Live Another Day" takes place on foreign soil in England. With President James Heller (William Devane) and daughter Audrey (Kim Raver) on a diplomatic mission involving the British, a device is stolen by terrorists that can control American attack drones and use them to launch missile attacks. Margot Al-Harazi (Michelle Fairley) and daughter Simone (Emily Berrington) have a vendetta against the current U.S. President, and nothing will stop them from extracting revenge. Of course, it doesn't take long for Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) to get wind of what is transpiring, as he is hiding out in London as a fugitive from the law. In order to help out an old friend (the President), Jack once again enlists the help of Chloe O'Brien (Mary Lynn Rajskub), but can she be fully trusted? Also, a current agent (played by Yvonne Strahovski) crosses paths with Bauer, but is she a friend or foe?
For the first few episodes of "Live Another Die", everything seems to be progressing nicely. Old friends make their way back, new characters are introduced, and the plot shows much promise. While watching, I felt like it was the "glory days" of 24 once again, back when the show was on the cutting edge of political drama.
But then, my hopes for greatness were slowly dashed over the remaining 8-9 episodes. The reason? All those plots/characters that were introduced in the beginning don't provide nearly the type of drama that they could/should have. Some examples (again, minor spoilers may be present here):
-It was great to have Heller as President...until he turns into the worst POTUS in show history. He isn't bad, per se, but the list of incredible Presidents of 24 is daunting. There are also a number of subplots involving Heller that don't have nearly the emotional payoff that they could have. -Jack is back, indeed...but with very little insight into his mind. For most of "Live Another Day", Jack is just a gun-toting machine being sent on missions. I wanted to know more about his emotional state or what he had been doing since the end of Season Eight. -The first main plot is interesting, but once it runs its course none of the other ones could get me emotionally invested. -The potential of Strahovski's character was off the charts...until it was never realized. Once again, a great opportunity for an interesting backstory and some chemistry with Jack, but it just doesn't come together. -For the first time I can really remember in this show, some deus ex machina was obvious. Maybe they have used that kind of plot resolution method before and I missed it, but in earlier seasons they could cover it with political intrigue and emotion. Not so here.
So, despite my initial excitement for the return of 24, "Live Another Day" ends up being the worst single season in show history. Now, granted, having your worst single season still garner three stars isn't anything to sneeze at, but still. In its prime, 24 thrived on real-feeling, hard-hitting political intrigue and Sutherland's intensity/emotion. Maybe we've moved on as a country (less enthralled by terrorist-centered plotlines the further 2001 is in the rear view mirror of history) or maybe it's just impossible to sustain that kind of writing, but this ninth season just didn't resonate with me like the others did.
When I wrote my review for Season Eight, I remember titling it "Got Out Before Too Many Cracks Began To Form". In that season, the show was starting to "lose it" just a bit, but it managed to pull together for one more sterling campaign. Sadly, though I thought "Live Another Day" could reverse the trend, it did not. It ended up just slipping a little more, now into the "okay" category.
Would I like to see the show continue? I think it could, as long as next time it realizes its potential. All the pieces were present in "Live Another Day", but it just didn't come together.