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'24' returns: One way out
Jack Bauer channels Frank Sinatra during Sunday’s return of the Fox thrill ride “24.” Frustrated by the constant references to the sins of his tortured and torturing past, Bauer turns to the new tough female FBI agent on board and says: “Frankly, I’m done ... I’m going to do it my way.”
Regrets? Jack doesn’t seem to have even a few in the suspenseful first four hours of his latest bad day. The opening hours, which premiere at 8 p. m. Sunday and Monday on WUTV, are as riveting as any in the series’ run.
It would even be more thrilling if it hadn’t been for the spoilers that have been revealed about the return of former CTU characters Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), Chloe O’Brien (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and Bill Buchanan (James Morrison).
Beautifully set up by the November movie “24: Redemption,” which included the inauguration of the nation’s first woman president, Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones), at a time America had to consider preventing a genocide in Africa, “24” returns with a script that could have been co-written by Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.
Brought in to testify before a Senate hearing on torture, Jack is whisked away by a beautiful and strong female FBI agent, Renee Walker (Annie Wersching) because the country needs him to fight a domestic terrorist threat.
Jack initially has to play by the FBI rules, but it isn’t long before his unapologetic “ends justify the means” mantra takes hold. It is the only way he knows how to beat the bad guys out to destroy America and its allies.
The opening hours follow three story lines — President Taylor deciding whether to act in Africa, her husband trying to learn if their son committed suicide or was murdered, and the FBI trying to stop domestic terrorism.
Naturally, all three stories are eventually connected. As usual, the family issue is the least riveting, perhaps because it has been done to death by the series. “24” does have a tendency to repeat itself. Once again, there are a few leaks that threaten the security of the government, and they appear to come from high places.
After all the times Bauer has had to deal with internal security problems, you might think the new president would run a tighter ship.
Jones makes President Taylor a strong women who only appears vulnerable in front of her husband, Henry (Colm Feore). At one point, she asks her hubby, “Wish me luck.”
Wersching, a “General Hospital” actress who has appeared as a guest star in a variety of network series, also impresses as the tough FBI woman who appears to have some things in common with Bauer.
The cast includes old TV pros Jeff Nordling as the FBI leader, character actor Bob Gunton as a key presidential adviser, character actor John Billingsley as a computer expert and an almost unrecognizable clean-cut Rhy Coiro (the mad director Billy Walsh from “Entourage”).
Admittedly by the third hour, the show cries out for some humor. Then it is the unintentionally comical Chloe to the rescue. When she is reintroduced to Bauer, she sympathizes with him over his Senate appearance and adds: “You looked good though.”
Not much can be revealed about the surprising return of Jack’s old buddy, Tony Almeida, who was believed to have died a few seasons ago. Let’s just say he is much more assured that the old Tony and that his motivations are suspect.
Like many viewers, Jack can’t instantly believe that Tony has turned into a bad guy.
By the finish of the first four hours Monday, viewers will get a clearer idea of who some of the good guys and bad guys are and how difficult at times it can be to tell the difference.
Of course, much of “24” is farfetched and ridiculous and the fourth hour is slightly weaker than the first three. But as Chloe says, at least “it looks good” and is addicting as ever just to see how Jack manages to unapologetically save the world.
TV Review
“24”
4 stars (Out of four)
8 p.m. Sunday and Monday, WUTV Channel 29
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