The greatest threat Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland, pictured) has ever faced may be viewer ennui. According to the Los Angeles Times, 24’s producers are feeling the sting of criticism and defection of viewers over the ho-hum plot twists of Day 6 (count me among those fans not feeling this season, especially in contrast to the gripping Day 5), and they’re promising big changes next year. "This year could be seen to be the last iteration of it in its current state," writer/executive producer Howard Gordon says ominously.
How radical will next season’s changes be? Maybe not that radical; "It won’t be a musical or a half-hour," Gordon tells the Times. Also, Jack won’t be undergoing any major career changes; as Gordon puts it, Bauer "won’t be flipping burgers."
Actually, I’d kind of like to see Jack flipping burgers. "You have fiveseconds to tell me the secret sauce recipe, or I’m going to put yourface in the fryolator." Seriously, Gordon & Co. need to dosomething different, not just because longtime fans are finding 24’scurrent storytelling predictable and stale, but also because (as thearticle notes) it’s not 2002 anymore, and American viewers areincreasingly skeptical of 24’s terror-threat scenarios, just asthey are of the government’s efforts to sell a real-life War on Terror.So let’s have it, PopWatchers? What challenges should Jack Bauer faceon Day 7? What would 24 have to do to become must-watch Monday-night viewing again?
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Every time Jack “goes rogue” I’ve thought it would be an interesting idea to spend an entire season with CTU or some other agency chasing Jack. The hunter becomes the prey, so to speak.
But, yeah, this season is missing…something.
As someone who has been an avid 24 fan–been there since the beginning, own every DVD set, stay away from spoilers at all cost lest I be…well…spoiled–I feel I can truly say that it is not perfect. It’s still a nail-biter, and one of the best shows on TV, but I agree that season 6 has been sub-par, for many reasons, too many to list here. It’s actually had me roll my eyes a few times, and season 4 didn’t even do that…at first…then I rewatched it…
Anyway, I think for season 7, they need to go back to their roots and do something smaller. Not a nationwide crisis; something more intimate and personal like season 1 and the assassination plot. I think they should expand on what they did for three of the episodes of season 5 and do a hostage crisis, but one of a larger scale. The writers would need to fill in the blanks, but let’s leave the President and his team on the sidelines until we have more interesting characters like Logan and Martha. Just my thoughts.
How about not adding cast members for the sake of having more cast members around (did we really need the return of Milo? And Nadia? Snoresville.) How about giving our favorite secondary characters more interesting things to do (ie: Don’t make Chloe’s storyline about picking boring ex-husband over boring ex-date. Make her shoot somebody please!)
I think the show has run its course. When it started just after 9/11, we felt like we had to destroy those who opposed us By Any Means Necessary. 5 1/2 years later, as we see the ravages of Iraq and the Patriot Act, it’s hard to get behind a character who uses American vigilante terrorism and torture as the means to an end. I for one just can’t support Jack Bauer’s rogue ideology any longer, however patriotic and well-intentioned.
Now if we could just get Jack into a suit and get him into diplomatic dialoguing, we’d have something!
Go “Rambo II” with it. Jack, retired and finally enjoying the quiet life with Audrey gets called back in to run a black op that only he can handle. Whether it’s for personal or professional reasons, Jack’s the only guy who can lead a special strike force on a Mission: Impossible-style strike to take out a Big Time Terrorist. Perhaps the mysterious Guy on the Boat at the end of Season 2. He assembles a team that includes faces old and new, and goes on the hunt. For once, Jack can cut loose, and it’s not 24 hours of Jack trying to figure out what’s going on. Instead, it’s 24 hours of Jack staying on his toes and accomplishing his objective. After all, he did start out in Delta Force.
I call it the rule of 3’s. Seasons 3 (until the hotel bit at the end, which was gripping) and 6 were both subpar.
And as for what Stacey said, I TOTALLY thought season 6 was going to be Jack escaping from custody and running away from the Chinese. THAT would have made for good TV.
First things first, and I know this has been mentioned and rumored, they really need to change cities. Everything can’t happen in L.A. I think a fresh city would be an envigorating factor.
Second, I think that moving away from outside terror threats is a good idea. Season 5 was great because so many of the bad guys were Americans doing what they thought was right. It wasn’t good vs. evil like this year. It was more complex. It was two sets of American citizens with differing views on what is good or moral. That made Season 5 great. Somehow that dynamic needs to come back.
Third, get rid of all of the other characters, with the exception of Jack and Chloe. The other characters are tired. We have seen very little of either Jack or Chloe this year.
Sadly no matter what the writers were going to do was going to be a let down after the awesomeness that was Day 5.
Maybe the writers should try planning things out instead of flying by the seat of their pants.
I’m an avid 24 watcher- been watching since day 1.
However- like most, I feel that something is just “off” this season.
I agree with several ideas: (1) End the show – it’s run it’s course (2) Take it out of LA – I was so excited with the prospect of part of this season being in China, but no such luck. (3) For a show that’s been groundbreaking with killing off major characters…why not kill Jack? Don’t get me wrong- I love Jack, but they need to breath some new blood in to this show pronto!
I’m just not as interested. It’s almost if the show suffered from too much success and they tried to do way too much this season.
When are networks going to stop killing shows by keeping them on too long? Don’t be the last one standing around at the party…leave while it’s still good!
Here’s an idea (born from this season, too): Bill Buchanan is on “trial” for letting Fayed go while working in Seattle. Witnesses present include Jack, Chloe, Karen Hayes, and Nadia (she’s hot, and must be included).
As the trial begins, a shady group of terrorists (maybe those behind the plot to kill Wayne Palmer?) hijacks the proceedings, knowing that Buchanan’s defense (led by Wayne Palmer’s sister) plans to reveal their secrets. Held captive while the world watches the tense standoff, it’s up to Jack and crew to work their way out, from the inside.
So long as the producers don’t get trigger happy and end it after 8 hours, such a terrorist/hostage situation could be good for a 24 episode arc.
Simple: Have Jack join the “The Unit” and the job is done.
What about having Jack leave CTU to run the family business? I’d think there would be some intersting ground to explore in the world of private military contractors. There could be some moral drama in Jack trying to steer daddy’s business one way while the business is pulling him in another. Jack’s world has always been very black and white when it comes to what is right for the country and which side you are on. It might be interesting to see Jack explore some greyer areas.
Before this season, I was hoping that it would be a complete change. My idea for the show was Jack on the run, escaping the Chinese prison. What would be more interesting than Jack in the Himalayas or Jungle trying to survive in the wild? What a great change the series could have taken for this season.
One more thing. Don’t schedule day 7 of “24″ against “Heroes.” One or the other, I don’t care which, needs to shift slots by an hour.
One thing will make 24 much better – a reallocation of spending. How much of the budget each week goes to gun fights and explosions, and how much goes towards paying for strong actors? A highlight of this season has been Paul McCrane as Tom Lennox – he is a seasoned TV veteran who makes every scene with his character, no matter how convoluted the plot, an interesting one. Take the show back to the way it was in Season 1, where the plot moved in a realistic way, and Jack Bauer was not a killing and torturing machine (www.bauercount.com – Jack only had 10 kills the entire season, with 2 spans of over 7 episodes without one). Put the huge budget they now have towards getting a group of strong actors to anchor CTU and the White House. Oh yeah, and a terrorist leader who is interesting. That would be good.
Also, Nadia and Milo need to be gone. They are terrible, please, kill them off. Both of them. Put them out of their misery.
Oh yea, and no more Martyr Jack … hes not that interesting when hes trying to blow himself up every change he gets. Jack fighting to die isn’t fun.
Here’s all the help the show needs;
cancel it before it’s too late, don’t be a Lost!
I always thought Season 3 (Kim vs. the Cougar) was the worst season, but this is turning into the longest and potentially most boring season.
To me; this season ended when Jack hung Fayed. The season should have been over. This Jack whining and trying to get Audrey back has me turning on the NBA playoffs immediately.
How about jack being the head of CTU and get new field agents-ones that want to do things “by the book” and defy Jack when he wants them to do things a little more shady…
Sad we have to endure lazy and pointless comments from people like Nathan. Why rip on LOST, when most fans and critics agree it’s been a great third season, especially since the hiatus? Thanks for nothing, man!
Get back to having other character kick some butt too. Send Audrey on her own leads as well, and Chloe too. These are 2 great characters that are underused this season. Get people out in the field (ala Michelle in season 3).
Get rid of Audrey. Barf. I’m really tired of Jack mooning over her. You know it’s bad – I was half rooting for Doyle to shoot Jack last week. Not to kill him; just to get him to shut the heck up about Audrey already!
Also, Chloe needs some majorly awesome stuff to do. Last season she shot people, tased a guy and did all sorts of other sassy things! This season – dealing with her yawn of an ex-husband. Excuse me while I sleep through it.
Stop trying to be a soap opera, jack is the only person the show was about. It is ok to have a supporting cast, but do not focus on thier love like(Milo Chloe Nadia Bill) or thier personal problems (Morris). Jack used to be more of a machine, doing what ever had to be done, now he is giving into demands for one women he thinks he loves, this from the same guy who shoot Chapelle in the back of the head because it had to be done.
Not meaning to be nit-picky, but I can’t help it: Ray, Peter MacNicol plays Tom Lennox; Paul McCrane played Graem Bauer. And Fire Millen, Kim vs. the cougar was season 2. Sorry sorry sorry.
I had read that originally this season was supposed to be entirely about Jack escaping from China. That would have been a complete change and more refreshing than what they did. Also, by killing off so many supporting characters they had no choice but to introduce a new cast. The series just needs to take a fresh approach to next season.
Maybe do a prequel type thing with Jack and the drug cartel that they talked about in season 3 when he became a drug addict.
Hey Chuck, good job reading the other posts
Get rid of Doyle!
Sure, this hasn’t been the best season, but the concept of the show is still the best out there and they shouldn’t mess too much with a great thing. Some minor tweaks, focus more on Jack and less on new minor characters we don’t care about (that doesn’t include Chloe or Buchanan, both of whom have earned our affection), and can the Silver Spoons boy and it’s all good in CTU LA.
They really need to change things up next season. I am among the millions of viewers “not feeling” this season. It just sucks. My power went out last week in the middle of the episode, and I didn’t even care (if it was Lost that would have been quite a different story).
When they talked about the stuff in China with Audrey I couldn’t help but think that would have made such a better story. Think about it- how killer would this season have been if it were about Audrey hunting for Jack in China and getting captured? Exactly.
The current 24 structure is getting old. (I mean, does there ALWAYS have to be a mole? How lack is CTU security?) Most of us can probably predict everything, even in all its lunacy.
Seasons 1 and 5 were some of the best seasons of any drama on television. 24 has simply just ran out of steam it seems. End here at the 24th hour, release that movie, and stop.
I’m getting tired Jack. Why aren’t you?
Do a smaller scale story. Instead of reacting to a threat, show Jack undercover infiltrating a terrorist cell. Or extracting another agent who has been undercover. Even Bond isn’t trying to save the world every time around.
They already dropped the ball — this season *could* have been about his escape from China. It would have been a fascinating change of formula.
Another idea is what I heard they were considering of rthe second season — instead of the whole season covering 24 hours, each episode would.