Josef’s probably wishing he were suffering from a little radiation poisoning of his own right about now. Miraculously, Sergei’s henchman managed to track down his two sons at Dr. Levine’s Mt. Vernon clinic (and how they pulled that off, we’ll probably never know) and bring them back to papa, who gave Josef a licking before stopping his other boy’s heart from ticking. And then, he sealed it with a kiss and a threat (never disobey me again)! Damn intimidating, that Sergei – though he probably just made an enemy out of his surviving offspring. Not that Josef is the sharpest pin in the cushion; did that dude actually accuse his pop of putting the family at risk by offing the doctor and his staff? As if dealing in weapons grade uranium was just another hazard-free affair?
Just one week ago, I couldn’t understand how Dana was getting in so deep with a louse that she could probably eradicate with a click of her mouse – and then color me disappointed when I realized tonight’s episode had ended before she helped to pull off a pretty sneaky robbery. Following through with Kevin’s demands that she help secure him some cash, Dana used her computer skills to track down a large stash at a police department warehouse; all he and his mysterious, rifle-wielding cohort would need was a special keycard (made by her) to allow them access. As predicted, that lechy Arlo finally began to sense trouble: when Dana didn’t complete the mundane task he requested, he monitored the parking lot video and discovered her meeting with Kevin behind his sleazy van. Unfortunately for Arlo, he’s the only one at CTU who’s noticed that Dana seems a bit distracted (Cole are you there? Cole?). When Arlo tried to find a like mind in Chloe, she promptly excoriated him for flirting and then questioned whether he was going to stare at her ass when she walked away. And what did the camera do? Allow us to stare at her ass when she walked away. Nice one, producers (and I mean that about the shot and her skinny little ass).
But let’s get back to Renee. I remain hugely conflicted about this character’s journey, especially since my cynical side had me thinking that Fox once saw her as the future of the 24 franchise. Call her a veritable Jackie Bauer! But since there’s no replacing the Kief, she’s now devolved into a caricature of an anti-hero that I don’t like nor am I particularly eager to root for. We know now that Jack was wise to worry about sending Renee back to Vlad, who’s not only still a rapist but who’s decided to take advantage of her life-is-so-not-worth-living attitude and bring her back into his lair. Clearly, her skin crawls at the very sight of this man and yet… she stays! To save Hassan and his people! Even with Jack yelling in her ear that he can find another way! Her decision to acquiesce to this goon really irritated me, to say nothing of how it robbed her character of some power that we were led to believe she (still) had. Thank God our man Jack (looking and sounding most sophisticated with his Hugh Grant-like frames and superb Deutschland dialect) knew enough to have Cole and his team at the ready to kill Vlad’s team. Jack’s getting closer to the nukes… or so it seems.
And look who’s getting unspooled! Fantastic Sam is starting to distrust everybody, including a member of his own team who’s been taken into custody. A hunky bodyguard seems concerned, so he places a call to Hassan’s daughter Kayla – who you know has a few more secrets that have yet to be revealed. That’s all we got from that arc tonight, so it’s time for you to pontificate about her involvement — but not before you answer the following questions: Are you down with Renee? Did you buy her ultimate sacrifice? And did she actually take a shower with the earpiece still lodged in her head?
It’s official: Dana’s an idiot to actually believe that they would leave her alone after pulling this one off; and all of the terrorist guys are sick and sadistic this season. In one corner we have a psychotic rapist and in the other we have another nut job who would shoot his own flesh and blood. This season is all about the worst kind of betrayal. Something is fishy about the daughter. I disagree with you about Renee and my opinion was not changed by what she did. Jack sacrifices all the time for love and country and she did the same thing, the only way she knew how, but in a different way. I think she was brave and admirable for what she did.
I agree this DW story blows… IF (and a very big doubtful if at this point) there is a big, satisfying, and totally believable payoff for the whole Dana/Jen storyline, I might rethink that the writers just phoned this one in in order to have some kind of issue/distraction @ CTU that would be a severe hindrance to the mission (aka the CTU mole element which has been done in ad nauseum)… and this one is really poorly conceived. As mentioned, she has to know that he will not leave her alone, it might be more of a beleivable twist if she led Kevin and crony into a situation where they are eliminated, getting them out of her life… they aren’t even threatening her family, just exposing her former identity, which we’re led to believe that she paid for already but just wants to forget.. And don’t get me started on the Arlo sexual harassment thing – totally unbelievable that would go on so blatantly in a government office nowadays maybe in provate, but things are so uptight now… not believable at all…
Same here, totally agree
I kind of hope that Dana is setting Kevin & his partner up, but I’m probably too optimistic about that. I agree with Davi, the B-storyline of the CTU operative with the complicated personal life is played out by now. Let’s hope this is the last time the writers/producers pick that card.
I hate the Dana storylines. Starbuck would never stand for that kind of bull!
Star buck she is not! she is a different character now. So let her be a different character.
@harry – sadly I just can’t let go of BSG especially with the Cylon who was obsessed with Starbuck playing Vlad on 24 now too…I know Dana is not Starbuck but I was hoping this charachter would be just as kick-a$$. Oh well!
Jack shot his own brother several seasons ago. Not surprised the nut Russian Dad killed his son; he was a liability so he had to go.
Jack tortured his brother, but he never shot him. My mother always said its’ better to stay quiet and look stupid than open your mouth and prove to the world how stupid you are. Maybe you should heed that advice you friggin’ moron.
…says the guy who just spelled “it’s” wrong.
Chad you sound angry.
I’ve decided that Dana’s setting up this heist is nothing but a feint; she fully intends that her beefcake loser ex will get caught, and probably killed in a shootout at the break-in location. Now, if only Arlo will stay out of the way for another hour or two for her wicked scheme to succeed….
@EricO – I really, really hope you are right. Especially then we could wrap up this crappy storyline sooner rather than later.
Love the title for your review. Vlad apparently needs to invest that 5 million dollars in Viagra or something, ’cause it looks like he only lasts about two minutes in the sack.
I was thinking that same thing! As When they were laying there afterwards I thought, “This is 24. If that was real time, it clocked in at under 5 minutes!” LOL!
HATED the stupid Dana story line so much I changed the channel to Big Bang Theory and never looked back.
@Otis – BAZINGA!!
My main question is why did Renee actually take a shower??! lol. obviously that was going to lead to something with Vlad. No one ever showers on 24 and now all of a sudden she needs to? what?! When Vlad said there was a shower in the bathroom, I said to myself, well she wont be stupid enough to get naked around u…and then I was legit screaming at the tv..did anyone else think that was so stupid??
Yeah, that shower was ridiculous. This show just isn’t the same anymore. I’ve been hooked since the first season, but this one is on pace to be worse than season 6.
Absolutely!
She says she didn’t go there for that, yet gets naked.
So stupid. If I thought there was a possibility of getting raped ~ Not only would I keep my clothes ON, I might use superglue so they wouldn’t come off.
I really don’t get it. I just don’t understand why they have to add incredibly ridiculous stuff like this just for the shock value.
There is so much stuff going on ~ It’s not as if we get bored.
I completely agree. I was like “clean up”? This man raped you, you’re in the middle of a huge deal going down, and you stop and take a shower?!
She took the shower cause she was stalling. Do you think he would have taken up an offer to play poker or backgammon. She was buying Jack time.
Thank you! I was asking the same question. Not a good sign plot-wise if 24 characters have time to take a shower.
This fits in with the “how far inside your ear does the COM piece go?” questions from a couple recaps ago, about how the bad guys never seem to hear or see the earpieces connecting Jack to his cohorts.
For a series that displays empowered woman, this season seems to be turning into the season of the used and abused. Hassan’s wife. Dana and the Redneck. Now Renee and the Rapist. What? Were the fellas feeling threatened? At least Hassan’s wife didn’t cave to his “remorse”. Dana just needs to be slapped. HARD. Oh wait…. As for Renee, I’m with everyone else. What was she doing taking her clothes off within 100 miles of her former (probable) rapist?
Oh well…Let’s just write off Renee altogether because she banged the bad guy. Much too early to tell where that sub plot is going. Can we please give the writers of 24 a little slack, people? If you’ve watched the show faithfully over 8 seasons, you know you will be rewarded with a great end game. Do you seriously think they just decided to “phone it in ” this year?–Get Real!! There are so many storylines going on already…The very least being that now Chloe’s “skinny ass” now will be commented on ad infinatum…Leave a good thing alone and just enjoy the f-ing ride!! Sheesh!!!!
amen paco!! 24 has always delivered. just enjoy the ride. btw, please ew find someone else to recap 24. this article was just a play by play.
Except season 6. That crashed and burned fast after the first four episodes.
And to be fair towards Lynette, Dan’s recaps last year were nothing but play-by-play articles either. He didn’t offer any strong opinions either, besides a few side remarks. The only big difference is that he injected humor in his reviews.
Paco, in previous years, I would have agreed with you (except, of course, for season 6 which the less said about the better!). But we are now six hours in to Jack’s latest bad day, and I’m still waiting for one of the story lines to grab my attention! If this is the last season of “24″, I hope it improves because if not, it will be another TV series that wore out its welcome!
Hear Hear, Paco!! SOMEONE finally gets it!!!
Maybe you didn’t notice, but some of us dispute that this season, so far, is “a good thing.” (Who are you, Martha Stewart?)
Taking a shower was a little strange but I’m not surprised that Renee would go so far as to sleep with Vlad to save the operation. Jack did drugs when he was undercover. What I’m disliking is making Arlo a nosy guy. There is always someone at CTU who can’t mind their own business. And we know Dana’s hair can move to the other shoulder but yet when she’s back at CTU it’s smoothly on her left only. Arghh.
Evidently left-shoulder hair is a job requirement?
Hate the Dana storyline as well, but hope that Paco is right and we’ll be rewarded for our tolerance (Dana sets up the redneck?). As for Renee, she did what she had to do.
Those poor kids. Dana, Renee and Josef. held in an abusive situations by those dastardly villians. Though I have no love for Dana, I hope she can get help. I’m actually liking Josef in spite of his back ground. Jack is awesome as always. Next week looks amazing not to mention talk about swoon worthy
I can’t wait for the “I’m here for you” moment between Jack and Renee!! These two need each other….
I wondered about the earpiece & the shower as soon as she stepped out of the shower & started talking to Jack. I wouldn’t think that electronics like that would be water safe.
I’m sure she didn’t turn her ear to the shower head just wet her hair. A comm-piece like that is easily water resistant. If not, then CTU ops have to shut down whenever it rains.
I thought right before Renee went into the shower she took the com out, put it in the bathroom sink, and washed it away.
Mike:
A correction: sorry but your timeline is slightly off. When we saw Renee take the ear piece out and wash it down the sink, she had already taken her shower — hence, her wet hair. Immediately after going dark we saw Renee leave the bathroom (although per Vlad’s instructions she was left alone in the bathroom to “dry off” and yet came out just as wet as ever).
Every season there’s a subplot that’s so bad I end up skipping past it. This year it’s Dana.
Hmmm…makes me think back to the other bad plots in the series:
S1: Teri’s Amnesia
S2: Kim. Cougar. Need I say more.
S3: The Sherry Palmer plot. Ugh.
S4: The *&%^(*&% Chinese plot
S5: Gas’d CTU (and Kim/Jack…brat!)
S6: Where to begin…Sandra Palmer, crazy VP, the Bauer family…I better stop now before I have a coronary.
S7: First Old Man..er…Henry Taylor’s investigation. Then Olivia Taylor’s story…with the exception of Aaron Pierce!
Thank goodness 24 has infinitely better plots than the bad ones.
I am the world’s biggest 24 fan, but I’m finding it hard to stay involved so far this year. I’m confused about the timeline with Renee and really not liking her!
Also, sorry Lynette, but I miss our previous reviewer, with comments about the white van of justice etc. A show like this needs a little levity, please!
Shoot, and here I thought I was the world’s biggest 24 fan.
I don’t get the big deal about Renee having sex with Vlad. 30 minutes earlier she couldn’t care less about being shot and killed, so a little sex at this point shouldn’t bother her a bit.
I agree totally. I see no conflict with what Renee did.
Sex? That’s nothing, I mean she could have shot her boss in the head.
This season of 24 is finally starting to come together!! IMO, Renee knew exactly what was going to happen with Vlad, it was Jack and Hastings that didn’t, shower or not. It’s horrible, but it’s what fans expect from 24.
If only the Dana’s storyline would be left on the cutting room floor. Poor Renee’s sacrificing so much for the mission and the idiot Dana can’t even do her job and stand up to her redneck ex. I hope Dana’s killed soon. She’s the worst character on 24 since the Cougar.
Bite your tongue! I enjoyed that cougar!
I agree with what everyone else has posted so far though. I just cannot get invested in this season. I like the character formally known as Sark from Alias but you know he’s going to die in four/five episodes… and I do feel like all the women lost their power this season. I just don’t buy this whole “I don’t care if I live” business. If Renee really felt like that, she’d be more reckless (trying to do something that makes her feel alive) or catatonic (and not care if Jack lives/dies or if the mission succeeds).
Hey! I resent that statement. How many *other* secondary characters can you name from Season 2?
I totally agree. That was a totally fleshed out, believable animal character. Complete cougar essence. I wish he/she got a screen credit. That cougar and Behrooze (sp?) my two favorite characters.
Totally agree. She knew what she had to do and did it. Can’t fault her for it.
I can’t wait for Jack to gt his hands on Vlad, the scene where Jack was just listening at the staging area, you could see he just wanted to rip the guy apart. I agree they need to lose the Dana storyline it’s becoming a drag to the other storylines.Can’t wait for next week the previews look good.
I’m totally bored with the Dana storyline. Ugh. Loved Jack’s mad language skills (although as a fluent German speaker, I did have a bit of a problem with the way he delivered his lines, but I read that he learned the dialogue phonetically…). Renee, Renee, Renee…what’s the first thing they teach you about confronting your rapist? DON’T TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES!