19 months, 20 days. That's the length of time between season's 6 & 7 of 24. In that (short?) amount of time the writers of 24 scripted a decent opening, great middle, the "twist", ...and that's about it.
In a season where the producers of 24 made a proactive choice to mirror the newly elected administration's refresher course of the Geneva Conventions, they inadvertently reflected one aspect of the previous administration: No exit strategy.
My question is this: Are season finale cliff hanger endings ruining television? I pose this question to the "Doin' Work" staff as i am split. My argument is this, if a show is serialized, i.e. Lost then no, they're ok. But 24 is not. Each 24 season finale usually ends with something unexpectedly happening to Jack to set up the following season, but not before wrapping up the current season. They didn't do that this year. They completely robbed us of the Renee/Jack story arch, as well as their respective outcomes. (does Renee murder Wilson? Does Kim save her Dad?) No. Instead they grind out the ending with the President and her daughter, the one story I least cared about. It upsets me because the chances of us seeing Renee next year are slim, and if we do it's short term. (think Audrey Raines)
24's season finale was the equivalent of the NFL playing only 3 quarters of a Super Bowl and making us wait until the pre-season for the 4th quarter. It's garbage.
While we are on the subject of the show 24, here's a list of things i no longer want to see in the show and i swear if they bust these oot next year I'm done.
1. "Jack has gone rogue!" (not excluding: "We've lost Jack's signal", "Jack's disabled his cell phone/transponder", "Believe it agent (agent's name), Jack's been working for (bad guy's name) all along. He played us")
Every (expletive) season there comes a point where Jack temporarily goes "rogue" to get things done. This is NOT necessary. I repeat, NOT necessary.
2. "There's a mole in the (name of government agency)!"
The reason why Jack Bauer goes rogue every season is because in each season there is a mole in the government. So fixing this will fix number one on my list, right? I believe in order for a mole to work effectively in a show it can't be used every season and when it is used, it should be towards the end of a season not the middle.
3. "We need Chloe O'brien."
So Chloe O'brien is supposed to be the Jack Bauer of computers, striking fear at the hearts of viruses. If they had hearts. My question is this: Which producer is this chick sleeping with? Don't get me wrong, I like Chloe, but there's got to be someone else who knows how to reset servers 1 through 6 and open sockets 97 & 98. C'mon.
4. The President's Story
I am not loving the way they are spending time inside the oval office. These stories just bore me to death and always have me searching for the remote. Who cares if the President's advisor has his own agenda only to be thwarted by the secret service. BORING. I'd prefer to see the inner workings of the pentagon. In order for the military focus to work this show needs a second star and two locations. What I'm saying is Jack Bauer needs a Scottie Pippen. My story arc would be Scottie Pippen is in the United States working the political/intelligence angle and Jack Bauer is in Mexico City delivering the wrath of Lebron, oops I mean God, on a couple of drug families as their violence has spilled into the U.S. and Bauer is NOT hearing it.
So i know "El guerito" is a fan. Anyone else? Thoughts? If i missed a few things feel free to comment. I am almost positive i have.
So I inadvertently deleted this post when i purged the blog of "he who shall not be named". I was able to retrieve it via the email carbon copies which i must say in retrospect: Great call, Freddie. Feel free to comment.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what happened. I went to re-read it last week, but was stunned at my incompetence when I couldn't find it. Almost felt like Slideshow trying to post an image. I now feel better. I'll have more thoughts on this, but for now, allow me to comment on the egregious allegations in pt 3. Chloe's value is not just as a tech-savvy analyst; rather, her unyielding allegiance with Jack. Jack needs her as much as he needs anyone. Her instincts are an extension of Jack. They think as one and her execution is flawless. (e.g. Just because this is the most recent one, who recovered the database when all seemed lost to uncover Sean's involvment?) When "Jack goes rogue" who is the first to help oot? Chloe. Chloe reached the point of no return early in season 4. Remember the hacker friend who was stealing code and came across the internet jam ploy related to Heller's kidnapping? Well, Chloe had her doubts with Jack because her friend was in danger. When he was kidnapped, Chloe threw a fit and refused to cooperate further with Jack. But, the bonding moment that followed was a thing of beauty. And lastly, tell me you didn't get emotional when Chloe finds oot Jack is "terminally" ill? Reminds me of a scene in Tombstone when Doc Holliday is dying yet shows up to help Wyatt Earp. He's asked, "why you doing this?" "because Wyatt Earp is my friend." "Hell, I got lots of friends." Doc: "...I don't..."
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling Chloe doesn't have many friends.
Let me revise pt 3.
ReplyDeleteEverything you said about Chloe is on point and I agree with. My probrem with Chloe stems from parts 1 & 2. I would like to see Chloe established at a government agency (preferably military where her no-shit attitude would thrive) as an authoritative figure heading up intelligence.
I've had enough of her having to be brought in from pleasantville to provide IT support and starting a pissing contest with the local IT person only to be thrown into holding for secretly helping Jack.
Misx it up is all I'm saying.