24 - Day 7

[Al]

I'm torn.

I felt very burned by Season 6 of 24. After tuning out from a patchy Day 4 and restored to full faith by the tautness of Day 5, I approached last sesaon with high hopes, even abandoning Heroes for the Jack Bauer Power Hour. The first four episodes were spectacular, possibly the best the series has ever offered. Then, for 20 straight episodes, it got worse and worse and worse. Season 6 sucked, almost top to bottom.

Fast forward eight months, and the season 7 trailer has been floating around for a little while. I'm beyond annoyed at some of what they're doing, but (and I hate to say it) the rest of it looks pretty good. I swore I wasn't watching this season, but I don't know... Am I ready to love again?

[TheLuckyOne]

You're right that season 6 started amazingly and went downhill from there... I didn't hate it as much as some people did, but it certainly wasn't the series' best. But I know I'm in for season 7, and that's without watching that trailer. 24 has been so good in the past, I think it would have to get really terrible for me to stop watching.

Although, really, I will say that the nearly complete whittling down of the cast in the last 2 seasons doesn't thrill me. Who's there left to like, other than Jack? (And don't say Chloe, do NOT say Chloe.)

-D

[TheOogieBoogieMan]

I guess it was kinda dumb of me to watch the new trailer, having only seen the first two seasons. TMI for my virgin ears.

Anyway, one of the comments I saw on the YouTube page made a good point. It seems like they're just mashing together Die Hards 2 and 4 to make up the new season. I'll still watch it, as soon as I catch up on past seasons, but I hope the similarities aren't as blatant as they look.

[momo]

I haven't actually watched Season 6 yet (oh college...) but thanks to Dave Barry's blog and my brother blabbing everything, I generally gathered that it sucked something awful. I was so disappointed- if I couldn't count on Jack Bauer to deliver an hour of new ways to kill people each week, where else could I go?

Yet, watching the trailer gave me the same feeling of excitement that I associate with the greater seasons of 24. And despite the possibly huge copout return of a certain character (you know which one), I admit that my curiosity is piqued. Season 7, here I come. Please be good.

[Lordmoon]

Probably old news for you 24 fans but check out this pretty funny "24: 1994"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMLH_QyPTYM

I've only seen part of season 1. Never really wanted to go beyond that. I never really like reality based shows that required you watching the series from start to finish. CSI is the closest I've ever gotten. I always perfered fantasy shows like Buffy, Lost, and Heroes.

[wdm0744]

I figured it was time to resurrect this dormant thread.

After having seen the first 4 hours of Day 7, what do you think? Is Jack back or not so much?

Personally, I feel like "Redemption" and the first hours of Day 7 are a return to form for the series. I gave up on Day 6 somewhere around the 10 hour mark, but so far, I am greatly enjoying Day 7. In many ways, it feels like the glory days of Seasons 1, 2, and 3.

***SPOILERS***

Sure, there is still some cheese. I could do with less office macinations, there is yet another mole, and the whole explanation of Tony's return from the dead is a bit far fetched.

And when are we going to get away from the stupid side plots like the investigation into the President's son's suicide? I realize this will probably tie into the main plot (given what happened in "Redemption") but, still, these side quests have always been the most boring part of the show.

But....

There is also so much awesome to be had.

I like the new President - she's strong and smart. I totally would have voted for her.

I like Agent Walker a whole bunch. She hot and I'm really enjoying her story arc so far. I like how dedicated she is to her job.

The whole escape from FBI headquarters was sweet. It was awesome to see uper-techs Chloe and Jeanane Garofalo's character fighting over control of the security system and having Jack and Tony back to together is a dream come true.

On a bigger level, I'm enjoying various aspects of the plot is season. They seem to have backed off ripping "Die Hard 2", and like that the main threat is tied in so closely to the proposed action in Sengala.

I also like that (at least so far) there is no hint of "the evil old white man behind the curtain" as there has been in almost every season of "24". You know what I'm talking about.

Think back to Seasons 2, 3, 5, and 6 - in every one, it is revealed that the Arab or Latina bad guys are actually just pawns in the scheme of some rich, white American, Briton, or Russian.

I get why they do this. I get that they don't want to come across as xenophobic or racist, and that's admirable, but then again, it's lazy to keep falling back on this device, AND, it strikes me as insulting.

It seems to be saying that only a rich white guy is capable of masterminding such elaborate plots and that the non-whites are too stupid to realize they are being used. I think that should be more offensive than if a minority ended up being the main bad guy for the season.

So, I think it is cool that, at least so far, the ultimate bad guys seem to be the Sengali warlords who are, in contrast to previous seasons, actually using rich white guys as their pawns.

Finally, I like that "24" is facing its critics and really addressing the issue of torture. I like that there is a lot of discussion going on as to how far we should go to ensure the safety of our countrymen.

I like that Agent Walker is having to make tough calls concerning interrogation, and I like even more that she is being faced with the consequences and emotional inner turmoil of having to make those decisions.

I think it is really cool that "24" is looking at all sides of this issue without really making a stand. It shows that the "soft-gloves" techniques used by FBI Agent Moss aren't really effective, but it also shows that the tougher stand taken by Bauer and Walker is taking its toll on them emotionally and that they have to ultimately answer for their actions.

It's a really deep and important issue, and I love that "24" is finally tackling it instead of just using it as a narrative crutch.

Well, enough from me. What do you guys think?

[jman912]

just based on the stuff I've read about this season and the "Redemption" movie, it seems like the writers actually laid this season out for the most part beforehand. Season 6 seemed like they wrote the first 4 hours, took a break, wrote the next 10 hours, realized it was terrible, then wrote the last 10 hours. It was so horribly disjointed.

[wdm0744]

Yes, Day 6 sucked.

But, I am telling you right now - if you've ever had any interest in 24, now is the time to embrace the awesomeness that is Jack all over again.

Day 7 is the best 24 has been since Season 2. This show is rocking. Last night was some darn good tv.

[jman912]

====SPOILERS AHEAD====

whoa whoa whoa, let's not skip over all the stellar things from seasons 3(the whole undercover scenario with jack shooting tony and all that fun stuff, Jack chopping off Chase's hand and shooting Chappelle), 4(Jack killing Audrey's ex), and 5(Christopher Henderson, IMHO the best bad guy on 24 ever)

I am loving this season 1/4 of the way through though. My complaint after last season was that they needed to do some more offensive/proactive stuff, and then this season you've got Jack and Tony undercover. and even better, operating outside all the government BS.

plus it's nice to be back having a president who isn't a wuss, dirty, or in a coma.

[Al]

Jan 27, 2009 9:48:27 GMT -5 jman912 said:

plus it's nice to be back having a president who isn't a wuss, dirty, or in a coma.

Amen. Cherry Jones is kicking butt in the oval office, which is refreshing, and the season in general has been a nice change of pace. I'm glad I decided to tune back in, but I'm still not totally sold that the show is back in full effect. We're headed in the right direction, though. Don't let me down, Jack!

[No Smoking]

Isn't 24 a show that panders to Republicans?

Yea-heah... I don't watch that kinda thing.