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 8pm and 9pm, Audrey pursues diplomatic channels to try to prevent a full-scale war. Meanwhile, Jack leads Kate and Mark on a mission to locate their target before it’s too late.
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.
Remember the days when Chloe spent her days sitting behind a desk nice and safe? Well those days are well and truly behind her as she now finds herself a hostage. Adrien has been killed and she needs to call Jack. Thankfully she spies a phone on the floor so she fakes a stumble so she can pick it up. Cheng didn’t come down in the last shower though and has seen he plan a mile off, and he snatched the phone off of her. Don’t worry Chloe fans, her plan wasn’t to make a call at all but instead record Cheng’s voice so that when Jack found it he would know who he was dealing with.
And boy was Jack pissed when he found out that it was Cheng; the man who snuck him into a secret torture prison. It was his time spent in this environment that really toughened Jack up; he was bad ass before, but on leaving the Chinese prison he was even more resiliant, having not uttered a single word during all his years captive. Kate asked if he recognised the voice on the recording to which Jack replied ‘I’ll never forget’. He was even more upset as he connected the dots to find out how and why the Russians had been pursuing him.
The news that Cheng was still alive shocked everybody. The Hellers had previously been told that he was killed during a prison break. Audrey was not happy about this news; he did kidnap and torture her for several months so who can blame her for wanting him dead. In light of one of their subs being blown-up by an American vessel, you can’t really blame the Chinese government for not believing the American President when he said that it was actually an attack from a man whom they believe to be dead. Unfortunately they aren’t going to just take Heller’s word, but Audrey knows someone who might be able to help…
On her journey to meet her Chinese contact Audrety received a call from Jack. Jack now knew that Mark wasn’t as squeaky clean as he appeared and was about to tell Audrey, however, after hearing what Audrey had to say he didn’t have the heart to tell her that her husband was a traitor.
The pair then exchanged some touching words which clearly made Kate feel more than a little bit of a third wheel. Jack professed the only reason he came out of hiding today was to keep the Hellers safe. Audrey confessed that she never blamed or hated Jack, never could. It was a beautiful and poigniant scene that had the old fashioned romantics screaming at their televisions (no? Just me then).
Heller was meeting some resistance from his security officers, they wanted to prepare to retaliate against the Chinese whereas Heller thinks its best to wait. His authority might be lessening though as he spilt his pills all over the floor in front of them all. Before anything could be discussed further Jack burst in and demanded to speak to Heller and Mark, who clearly realised his time was up.
Mark’s duplicity was finally revealed to the President, and Heller’s response was not good. Jack was not too pleased either that Mark tried to give him to the Russians and accosted the man by gun point. What was his reasoning? That Jack is a ‘political liability’ and Mark hoped to make him an ‘asset’ by giving him to the Russians. Heller was all for trying Mark on treason charges, but that wil have to wait as Jack demanded that he be used bait in a mission to trap the Russians.
Mark was shocked to put the pieces together and realise that the Russians and Chinese were working together. He was even more surprised to find out that the man whom he believed to be an aide was actually a covert operative; he then agreed to help. The operation being a 24 operation not set in the final episode, obviously went wrong. Mark played his part well and used his story of seeking immunity to get inside the heavily guarded compound. The slightly inept Gavin managed to jam the security signal allowing Jack and Kate access to the militarised mansion, but once inside Hell broke loose. Realising that his play was up Mark went ‘a little Jack’ on the Russian covert agent and the pair trashed the lovely study. The mission then went from bad to worse as the Russian bled out before Jack could get the necessary information out. Damnit!
Meanwhile Chloe was doing her best Jack impersonation as she made her rather daring escape from Cheng. She whacked a couple of the henchmen with a pole before leaping out of the moving truck. She wasn’t quite as skilled as Jack though as she landed in an inelegant bundle, unconscious. She did wake up just in time for the last hour though; she needs to get out of the woods.
Audrey’s plan to convince the Chinese government that Cheng is still in the land of the living was also an epic disaster as she now finds herself in the midst of being taken again.
So there’s just the one episode left of this new shorter 24 series and boo how time flies. With only one hour left Jack is going to have his work cut out to tie everything up. His current to do list features rescuing Chloe, rescuing Audrey, capturing the override device, putting it out of action and capturing Cheng to put him out of action.
CIA Blunder: Agent Reed’s replacement doesn’t seem too keyed-up on security. The only people allowed access to the tracking device on Jack’s phone should have been the CIA, he didn’t realise that he shouldn’t have given it to the President’s aide no questions asked. Doh.
Badass Bauer Moment: Jack and Kate in action side-by-side was a thing of beauty. We all loved Reneé Wheeler (RIP), but Kate definitely is the epitome of female Jack Bauer. Whilst fighting of the Russians she tells Jack they need to aim for the propane tanks, a task which Jack does effortlessy, I’m pretty sure he could have done it with his eyes closed.
‘Damnit!’ Counter: Two non-Jack Damnit’s this week with Erik getting onboard the wagon. Jack has upgraded to his secondary default curse of ‘son-of-a bitch’ of which I lost count after four.
[usr=4] 24: Live Another Day airs on Sky One Wednesdays at 9pm.
