24 - SEASON 8 (7/10)

USA: Various Directors, 2010 (Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran)

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24 - SEASON 7

USA: Various Directors, 2009 (Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran)

I've recently been gorging myself on the latest season of 24. Yes, the show has certainly eroded its once cutting-edge premise of taking place over twenty-four hours with events unfolding in real-time but hey it is slick entertainment in an addictive package.

This season (I've only got the season finale to go now) has been a tremendous ride with Jack his moody and explosive best at its heart. Not only has the season's first half got a blistering pace, the supporting cast captures an impressive balance of old and new faces (as for the latter Annie Wersching and Jeffrey Nordling a.ka. Michael Douglas dead ringer are both great). As the episodes have come and gone this group of characters have really knitted well - far better than in previous years. The obligatory lunacy plot-wise has been turned up to eleven and the Tony Almeida dance between good/bad guy setting a new head-slappingly silly high. But, for at least it's fun again.

I had given 24 a long berth up until my better half introduced me to the show a few years back. At that point she was up to Season 4 and she kindly went back to the beginning and we have watched each season 1 through 6.

Then came 24: Redemption, a decidedly average, if plain dull, feature length story linking the events of Season 6 with the new seventh season. If anything, 24: Redemption stopped my waning enthusiasm point blank. I had sat through the sublime highs of Season 1 and 2 (well the first half at any rate, which ranks as the most satisfyingly realised story arc in the whole 24 canon in my opinion). Then came the middling and stuttering efforts of Seasons 3 and 4. By Season 5, the whole thing was starting to get too rich for my palette and then Season 6 brought me back in to appreciate the pure entertainment and engaging drama 24 can rustle up when your not expecting it.

However, like I said before, the move length episode was just too damn bland for me to stomach. So I decided to take a break from 24 and didn't watch the show when it originally aired. Taking my time to come back to the table for another blockbuster helping with my expectations at an all-time low. This trick worked with 24: Redemption as having finally managing to sit through the whole thing now, I realise it was adequate rather than a total failure. I feel this is the thing with 24. On the one hand it lends itself, like much 'TV on DVD', to marathon viewing sessions but can actually reward the viewer for taking a much needed break for oxygen between seasons.

In case of 24 Season 7, my theory has proven correct. The more ridiculous aspects of the season's lurches from one plot-line to another would have angered and annoyed me straight off the back of an overdose of the show. However, since I've not thought about 24 for a significant amount of time, I've been able to overlook the flaws and just enjoy the ride. My girlfriend's evident delight in watching anywhere between four to eight episodes a day over the past couple of weeks has no doubt contributed to my upbeat assessment.

Bring on the finale!

Update: Having now seen the season finale I would say overall the season was strong and enjoyable. The last episode served up some more nonsensical twists and turns but it also had a nod to a deeper thematic resolution in regards to Jack's 'deathbed confession'. The season also offered fleeting moments of emotional drama which were genuinely affecting.

Score: 8/10

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24: REDEMPTION (TV) **½

USA: Jon Cassar, 2008

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24 - SEASON 5

USA: Various Directors, 2006 (Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran)

The fifth season of 24 has an excellent opening half as per usual but then the ridiculous plot contrivances again surface. Sadly, this time to almost show ruining levels as they involve the most unbelievable character arc, concerning President Charles Logan, yet witnessed in this silly but compulsively entertaining series.

Score: 7/10

24 - SEASON 2

USA: Various Directors, 2002-2003 (Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran)

The opening 12 episodes of this season is without question the strongest and most exhilarating story arc I yet to enjoy in 24. In fact, I wish in some way the season ended there despite the conceit of the show's title dictating every singe season must have twenty-four episodes occurring in real time. You see the show just can't maintain momentum for such a long run of episodes in the perpetual present of its diegesis. Instead the scripts turn to head-slappingly nonsensical twists and absurd shifts in the behaviour of its principal cast which undermines any characterisation the show has built up.

Score: 7/10

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24 - SEASON 1

USA: Various Directors, 2001-2002 (Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran)

Having encouraged my girlfriend to sit through various films she had yet to see such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Star Wars and the works of Woody Allen and Pixar. It is now my turn to sit down and catch-up with a show I have let pass me by until now. 24 is one of her favourite shows and in order to watch the most recent season I have agreed to go back and watch all the seasons aired so far. Wish me luck!

The first season was actually incredibly entertaining. I like Kiefer Sutherland as an actor and having missed most contemporary mainstream US TV drama I found the show's Hollywood inflected script, aesthetic gloss and high production values rather seductive. I also find the central premise of the show an engaging one but felt the linger the season went on the more frequently a dull or stupid episode would come along. However, I did find the season finale engaging and liked the characters enough to wade through some of the overblown acting and issues with plot credibility.

Score: 8/10

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