Writers: Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran.
Director: Jon Cassar.
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Kim Raver, Tate Donavan, William Devane, Yvonne Strahovski.
Synopsis: Taking place between 10pm and 11am, Jack closes in on Cheng whilst Heller tries desperately to avert war with China.
Jacks back! It’s hard to believe I know, but it has been a whole four years since we watched Jack, now a wanted man, bid Chloe farewell and disappear from our TV screens. You can’t keep a good man down though and everyone’s favourite rogue agent has this time set-up camp on British soil. Though not quite 24 this time around, with only twelve episodes, 24: Live Another Day promises to be crammed full of just as much action. THN will be here every step of the way in our new episode-by-episode Bauer Blog.
Audrey found herself in a perilous predicament as the episode opened with Cheng giving her some simple instructions, sit. This proved instinctively intolerable as Audrey tried to aid her injured contact. She promised not to flee, explaining she just wanted to help her friend. Cheng’s solution? Shoot the woman in the head – problem solved. Audrey’s mission for the next hour was then clear, sit absolutely still.
We then linked-up with Jack, Kate and Mark again, who were searching for information to Cheng’s whereabouts. Thankfully Jack is a smart man and something as troublesome as a secret drawer doesn’t fool him. Just as they got the intel they needed Jack, Mark had a phone call and picture text of Audrey sat in the cross-hair of a sniper riffle. This threw Jack, and for a moment we were thinking the same as Mark, he was going to let her die. It was then that Mark blurted out what we’ve all known all season, that Audrey loves him. Jack wasn’t too pleased by this news screaming to Mark to shut-up. Kate then stepped in, saying that she would go after Audrey whilst he went after Cheng.
Given that they are on the brink of nuclear war with China, Heller and his men have been relocated to the secure CIA headquarters. Well, it’s more secure than the hotel where they’ve been up until now.
Meanwhile Chloe was found wandering down the street by some do-gooder Brits. They helpfully lent Chloe their phone so she could call Jack. They then, not so helpfully, left her on the side of the road again. Chloe apologised to Jack for trusting Adrien over him. She admitted that she had let him manipulate her and that he had been using her to help create the override device. In the car on the way to capture Cheng, Jack and Chloe had a lovely heart-to-heart where both apologised to the other, though neither needed to. During Chloe’s apology, she bluntly stated to Jack that she’s ‘the only friend you have left whether you want to admit it or not’.
Kate arrived at Audrey’s location in less than ten minutes. How small do they want us to think London is? I know we’re a lot smaller country than the US, but still. Anyway, Kate arrived and covertly called Audrey to let her know that she was there to rescue her. As Audrey didn’t know the location of the sniper Kate had a very ‘Jack Bauer favour’ to ask, – could Audrey make a sudden movement to draw fire and get the sniper to give up his location? Audrey was brave enough to do this which, given the gunman’s orders where to kill her should she move, showed a lot of guts. Luckily the hitman had a heart and chose to let off a couple of warning shots and not a kill shot. Cheng found this out and ordered her dead the next time she moved.
Jack, Chloe and Belcheck arrived at the shipping yard ready to kick ass. It would seem that Chloe was in a slightly different yard to the boys though as there was torrential rain pouring on her, but not at all on anyone else. I guess that’s the pitfall of filming on location in Britain. It was the quickest shower in history though seeing as soon as the trio were ready to move, it had stopped entirely, even on Chloe. She set herself up in a cosy little cabin where she could be the armed-pair’s eyes, and a beautiful job she did too; it was something out of that old TV show Knightmare – one step this way, one step that way. Belcheck has been a very underused character this series as well, we never really got to know much about him, and he has been completely enigmatic the whole way through. His need to be explained more is highlighted by that beautiful little synchronised kill – ‘on my mark, three, two, one’ and they blew the bad guys away. This is a man who can fight by Jack’s side. We need to know more.
Tragedy then struck as Audrey was hit in a drive-by shooting. Kate tried her best to save her, but her fate was sealed years ago when she fell for Jack Bauer. Audrey now joins all of Jack’ other conquests on the other side. Much like Bond, Jack has been cursed when it comes to the mortality of his ladies. Other dead lovers include Nina Myers, Renée Walker and of course Terri Bauer. RIP Audrey, enjoy your silent clock.
Rather than let Jack focus on the mission at hand Kate decided that Jack had to know right away that Audrey was dead. He didn’t take it well, we very nearly almost got a repeat of the end of season three where he breaks down (you know the scene, it was used to advertise ‘the power of Sky TV’ for years). Jack swallowed those tears down though and channelled them into pure rage becoming a real-life Terminator. Everything was a weapon for him, gun, knife, cleaver, and katanna sword.
Now the President’s staff showed a little more tact than Kate as they waited until the threat was over before breaking the news of Audrey’s demise. Its a good thing they did as well given Heller’s reaction was to pass out.
Jack got to Cheng just in time to avert nuclear war, he’s punctual like that. Once facial recognition and voice recognition was verified, Jack took matters into his own hands. The Chinese agreed to call their attack off, but they want Cheng passing over to them, whoops. And everything was all wrapped-up. All Jack had left to do was to collect Chloe and they were out of there. There were still fifteen minutes left though, and as Jack discovered Chloe missing, he got a secretive phone call.
Cut to twelve hours later (what?). In a first for the show we skipped several hours, stopping in on the main players to see where they had ended-up; the show covered 24 hours after all. Kate, unable to deal with having Audrey die, hung-up her badge and gun. Mark was in custody and on his way to America to face his treason charge; he didn’t care about that though, he just wanted to know how Heller was. In a very moving scene Heller and our Prime Minister, Stephen Fry, had a sombre discussion about Audrey and how soon Heller will have forgotten he ever had a daughter, let alone the fact she died. Devane has handled this health plotline beautifully, casting light onto such a tragic disease. And where’s Jack? Well he’s making that meet and exchanging himself for Chloe. And off to Moscow he flies.
Well that’s it folks, 24 Live Another Day is over. Does Jack’s helicopter lift mean that, if we get another series, we’ll be in Moscow? With the exception of a couple of touristy shots, and some liberties being taken with London conventions (London is never as quiet as the show portrayed), 24 Live Another Day has been a welcome return. Jack’s managed to entirely suck us back in so we’re more than up for another return.
CIA Blunder: Mark asks how Heller is, to which Ritter tells him he’s just about to board Air Force One. Hello security breach. Pretty certain that the CIA shouldn’t be giving out the President’s itinerary to someone on treason charges.
Badass Bauer Moment: In one swift motion Jack effortlessly separates Cheng’s head from his body.
‘Damnit!’ Counter: Not a single damnit, damnit!
[usr=5] 24: Live Another Day has now finished (Noo!). Why not console yourself by reading our interview with Agent Aaron Pierce a.k.a Glenn Morshower.
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