Image Credit: Greg Gayne/FoxChloe may have a long history with Jack, but I understood her reticence in tonight’s star-filled extravaganza. (A semi-burned Michael Madsen! An extra-chinny D.B. Sweeney!) Still, Jack’s always been on the side of good so there’s no reason to doubt his motives now, which is why I was thrilled to see her continue working on his behalf — at least initially. Pretty sneaky of the ole girl, downloading the contents of Sweeney’s phone so she’d learn the secret location of torture central (speaking of which, you must read this old but still riveting account by Vanity Fair’s Christopher Hitchens, who agreed to undergo a little water boarding for himself. Thought of it right away when I saw Dana going horizontal). But then — ugh! — conscience struck, and Chloe was back in all-business-no-matter-what-the-costs mode. She can’t betray the president, even if Taylor is lying in bed with that skeevy Logan.
At least Ethan didn’t turn out to be a major disappointment. Next to Jack, he was the only one who spoke some sense in tonight’s episode by imploring Taylor to stop the insanity and expose the Russians for the Hassan-killing cowards they really were. For a second there, I wondered if the producers were setting up a potential romance between these two (the hand touch!) but any hope of Cupid’s involvement was scuttled when Taylor choose to heed the advice of Logan. It’s pretty amazing how, on the one hand, I could revel in Gregory Itzin’s winning portrayal of a dishonest yahoo like Logan, and yet get all hot under the collar at the same time over what the writers had done to Cherry Jones’ Taylor.
I did like how we got a quick glimpse of her anguish; a president can and should shed a few tears, for pete’s sake. And I also appreciated how Ethan didn’t mince his words when he said how suppressing vital information about the Russians was “grounds for impeachment, possibly criminal indictment. You crossed the line, Madame President.” But she still did what Logan recommended? Yes, I know; perhaps the writers wanted us to begrudgingly appreciate the maddening amount of compromises that our Commander in Chief must make in order to achieve the greater good (Logan said as much) but I was still counting the seconds until Ethan gave his resignation. So glad he did! I just hope this wasn’t the last week we’ll see marvelous Bob Gunton (another 24 veteran who I hope makes the cut for the 24 movie). Until then, how much lower can you go, Allison?
And speaking of marvelous actors, welcome Mr. Madsen! Here, he gets to play a generally shady (and partially singed) dude named Jim Ricker who’s been entrusted to provide Jack with an arsenal of guns and electronics to infiltrate or commandeer or obliterate… something. It looks like Madsen’s on board for the rest of the season, so I suspect he’ll become Jack’s new Chloe while she now fights to block his every move. And she almost got her man tonight: She prevented Jack from learning the exact whereabouts of the hideaway where Sweeney’s Blackwater-type guns-for-fire were going to torture Dana until she revealed the evidence linking the Russians to Hassan’s death. But capture Jack she didn’t: An attempt to ambush Jack at a CTU safe house was foiled when Chloe said something to him on the phone to expose her duplicity. Was it the monotone way she described the building’s whereabouts and schematics? Or was it the way she mumbled, “be careful” to Jack before he entered the safe house? Whatever it was, Jack was on to her; he only went through with the ruse so he could enlist Cole’s help in tracking down Dana (“Your hands are dirty, too!” Jack barked). That means we get another week of angry Katie Sackhoff, and I think I’m okay with it!
Now that the season is almost over, I think it’s high time we rate these final episodes — so I’ll give this one a B-minus. The B is for Jack’s bitchen leather jacket, the split screen featuring Sweeney, Itzin and Reed Diamond, and the excellent way Gunton said, “I’m not abandoning you, I’m listening to my conscience. You’ve got Logan now. There’s only room for one of us.” The minus is for the 10 million times that Taylor whined “we are almost there” in an attempt to justify her ridiculous behavior. Oh, and it’s also for Freddie Prinze’s ”Boston” accent; never bought it, never will.
What would you give the episode?
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Still don’t understand why Prez Taylor is doing what she’s doing but at least Ethan gave some possible reasons for it before he resigned. Loved his “you’ve got Charles Logan now” line. Seeing Chloe turn her back on Jack was hard but you knew her heart wasn’t in it and she’s gotta do her job. When are they going to find the body stuck in the wall, anyway?? Waterboarding is tough, but if it’s being done to Dana Walsh then I say waterboard away!!
After everything Bauer has done for Chloe all of these years. After the times she has got to give whatever CTU director who was in charge that shoveface smirk when Jack was right and everyone else was wrong. After all of that, Chloe finally gets her shot at the glass office and sells out not 2 hours later. B*tch. BUT MY BOY CHARLES LOGAN HAS RETURNED IN HIS PRIME.
Dustin:
Your are a douche. Your comments make no sense. After all the things Jack has done for Chloe? What the hell are you talking about? Chloe has been Jack’s lifeline for every mission he’s had since she first joined CTU. Jack said a few episodes back that he trusts her with his life. Damn right! She found herself in an impossible position–to support Jack’s renegade mission, or to remain loyal to the President and follow her orders. She tried to do both. She did not “sell out” Jack.
Oh, what’s the sense of trying to make an idiot like you see reason.
One: I’m not a dousche. Two: Every season, at one point, Jack follows a hunch that nobody else agrees on. Every time, Chloe is the one that helps him out, gets busted, and when it pans out shes the one saying i told you so. SO YOU DOUSCHE, WOULDNT IT MAKE SENSE TO LET JACK DO HIS THING SINCE HE HAS BEEN RIGHT FOR 8 SEASONS, ALL OF WHICH CHLOE HAS WITNESSED FIRST HAND? I don’t make sense? THIS F*CKIN SHOW MAKES NO SENSE. She’s went against orders for 8 seasons, but now that she is in the big chair, she HAS SOLD OUT! Do you have a rebuttal, besides telling me i make no sense and calling me a dousche?
To Dustin:
The thing is, it’s easier for Chloe to help Jack in rogue operations when she wasn’t at the very top, because it would draw less attention. When everyone at your job knows when you do something that goes against the president, all it takes is ONE person to squeal, and bam, you’re marked for treason. Jack may be right, but too many people risk their lives and reputations for the man, and often wind up on the wrong end of the law as a result. Remember, Michelle was killed in season 5 for helping Jack fake his own death, and Chloe nearly died the same way. That risk rises exponentially when becoming CTU director.
And if you think the idea of people betraying their allies to assure a comfy job is far fetched, go watch The Wire. Individuals fighting whatever bureaucratic system they’re in while keeping their principles intact never last.
What the hell are you talking about. Chloe was helping Jack all along. She was talking in code and Jack knew it. He knew the whole thing was a sting. What are you bitching about?
To: All 3 of you.
Chloe was not helping Jack. He knew she would try and bring him in because as the president told her thats what she had to. Jack was playing off what he knew was Chloe’s sense of loyalty and commitment in order to get to Cole, who he knew would end up helping him. Remember the line “I know Chloe”? The line wasnt “Chloe is helping me”. and Dustin… the word “douche” is spelled right in front of your face. at least copy it down right you douche.
HA-HA…at the last line of the above comment
LOL, my husband and I have been wondering for weeks when they are going to dig the body out of the wall, but then again, has that only been 5 or 6 hours?
I’m so disheartened by Taylor’s capitulation to the dark side, I don’t know what to say about the episode. How could she possibly believe that her actions—and the actions of the Russians—will be kept secret, especially with Logan around? Taylor’s done; she can’t come back from this. And Jack knew that Chloe would do what she thinks is right—even if it’s against him. Jack’s right: Cole does have blood on his hands. I give it a B.
President Taylor < David Palmer, that's for sure.
If we know anything about 24, nothing good can come out of this for Pres. Taylor. I’m on the verge of crossing her off my list of characters that might appear in the movie.
All subsequent presidents < David Palmer!
Sure do miss me some President Palmer! He’d never cave.
We all remember Palmer as a stand-up guy, but rewatch season 1 and you’ll see that he was okay with covering up his son’s doc’s murder to secure the white house and prevent his son from being framed for the murder. Everyone has a price.
Excellent point about secrets and Charles Logan. One would think that the President would be mindful that her behavior decisions could be used as leverage against her later.
Do you think Charles Logan was a member of Skull and Bones?
Why Taylor would listen to disgraced Logan rather than trusted Ethan is inexplicable. Taylor’s done, she’s in bed with the devil now.
Of course no president would ever act in such a way. I mean you find out the russians try to irradiate a good chunck of NYC and you turn the cheek? I don’t think so. But it’s TV man.
Good stuff… Although a little hard to believe Madam Prez would send her daughter to prison rather than covering up her involvement in killing Jon Voight, but she’s willing to go this far. Loving Gregory Itzen as Charles Logan. I forgot how deliciously evil he can be. Great moment when Madam Prez said “The greater good” and Ethan instantly knew Charles had her. Season 5 was littered with that statement.
Yeah, that cold, soulless stare from Logan brought to mind that song by The Who: “No one knows what it’s like / to be the bad man / to be the sad man / behind blue eyes.”
Good one.
He’s so full of BS they should be brown. Which brings to mind another song title – Don’t it Make Your Brown Eyes Blue!
PS. I still REALLY want to see Tony and Agent Aaron again! Don’t let me down, 24 producers! And the return of zombie Bill Buchanan, zombie David Palmer, and Zombie Michelle Dessler would also be a-okay by me. I’m just saying.
They’re gone, dude. Get over it!
But Tony’s not. I would have loved to have seen the President pardon Tony to assist her in apprehending Jack Bauer, or something along those lines. Also, that could lead into a spin-off series with Tony as the main star.
um…Tony is in Jail…get over it people. He turned out to be “evil” last season, even if he had the right intentions…he is in Jail now…probably for a long time.
As for Aaron, I want him to return…that is actually possible.
Not if Tony receives a pardon you ass. This would be the most plausible scenario out there..
Call in Secretary Heller!
Excellent idea!! Putting William Devane and Gregory Itzen together again for scenes would be great … these are great actors along w/Cherry Jones and Bob Gunton.
ROTFLMAO. Love your comment.
I have watched 24 from the beginning and I have a strong feeling that President Taylor will redeem herself even if it cost her life.
I agree. She won’t go out as the female version of Logan.
It was a good episode, but not great. I’m furious with everyone except Ethan right now, but in a good way. I loved Taylor up until the moment she called Logan.
I guess I was wrong last week. I thought for sure Pres Taylor was covertly turning Jack loose on the Russians. I kinda hoped Ethan would pull a Robb Weiss and call Chole and tell her to counterman the President’s order, but he is too much of her friend to do that. The way Ethan was talking to Logan, I was sure he was going to punch him. I wish he had.
I REALLY enjoyed tonight’s episodes. Any scene that Ethan was in tonight was especially great and I totally bought the Jack-falling-into-Chloe’s-trap bit. Some excellent dialogue tonight and I think it progressed the story in a very interesting direction for the home stretch. A-.
I really loved it too. One of my favorites of the season. It kept moving along too! AND we found out for sure that Logan as been in with the Russians all along!
The look of fear on Dana’s face as they carted her of to the secret safe-house was priceless, like a fine Timex watch–She’ll take a lickin’, but she’ll still keep on tickin’…Can’t wait for a final confrontation between her and Jack.
Michael Madsen’s character must have some kind of backstory, wonder if we’ll see it.
Really good episode tonight. I am torn between hating Chloe for turning on Jack, but on her side for just doing her job. That’s just the way she is, I guess. I knew Jack was good, but seeing through that double-cross from Chloe!? Damn! When I heard Taylor utter those words “For the greater good”, I knew she was gone because it sounds exactly like that rotten SOB Logan. Once again, Jack has to take down another President. The only question is: Will he get any help this time? I know Taylor has good intentions, and Dana deserves to be put down like the backstabbing heffer she is, but the way this is happening just feels so wrong. I hope Jack can stop them and live happily ever after in the process. Man, I love this show!
I have a feeling, Chloe was actually helping Jack without beign obvious about it. There was no way he was going to fall for that trap, so I wonder if she said something to him that clued him into it being a trap, knowing that he would be able to get out of it, while still looking like she wasn’t helping him and keep her out of trouble?
They’ve really pulled out all the stops. In the worst possible way. Keeping the audience on it’s toes is one thing, altering characters’ psychological DNA is another. This ‘day’ has been been one ridiculous turn after another. But they’ve absconded with the multi-layered baked goods this time.
Peace at all costs isn’t peace. The information is out there and once the tiniest piece leaks, there’s no un-ringing that bell. The treaty would fall apart almost immediately, and then all the lying and cover-up will have been for naught. It’s so unbelievable, you just can’t excuse it. How do you contain Bauer? Okay, let’s arrest him. So many people are looking for him, someone’s gotta ask “Why?”. Even if they (had to) kill(ed) him before they arrested him, someone would still want to know.
My grade: F-! Some of the plot holes and devices were hard to, but acceptable to look over, thus far. But the story is falling apart at the seams and taking all the characters with it. Almost every character has willing put themselves in the most impossible of situations; which would be okay, if there was some logic to it. But it’s all leaping and no looking. This show used to be a bit smarter than that.
I completely agree. I love this show and will take all the crazy leaps they ask me too (cell phones working in underground caverns, breaking the space time continuum, etc.) but the characters have always held true. This episode was a preachy mess!
Thank you! The woman who sent her own daughter to prison is now willing to let terrorists get away with their crimes for some peace treaty because…for some reason that hasn’t really been explained…It is impossible to have a peace treaty with a middle Eastern country unless Russians are there for the signing? Still don’t understand Taylor’s full plan. Are we supposed to keep Jack under detainment for the rest of his life so that he doesn’t spill the beans?
And why are they waterboarding Dana Walsh? So that she will give up the evidence that Russians were involved in the attacks? That would be great if they were planning to use the evidence…But they’re not! So they are torturing her to get information that they then plan to keep buried…Makes sense to me.
You could drive a dump truck through these holes. Right now, I’m just really hoping for the truth to come out. How much fun would it be to see Mrs. Hassan just totally clock President Taylor in the jaw? But in the end, Taylor will make some dramatic speech to the United Nations confessing her sins and offering her resignation and the peace treaty will be signed anyway.
To help you out Tim: Dana has an audio file proving the Russians were behind the nuclear threat, Hassan’s assassination and Renee’s murder. She’s hidden it. After deciding not to give Dana immunity, Taylor was persuaded by Logan to have her “convinced” to give up this proof. As Logan explained, once the “private security firm” had the evidence, Dana as a witness against the president would be less credible and less of a threat. And she is actually going to be quite less of a threat if they carry out orders, because the private security firm has already asked permission to shoot her once it’s all over and make it look like she was escaping.
So the torture does have a purpose: to get Dana’s proof and deep-six first it, then her. Does that help?
You got it right!
The plot line no longer makes sense (if it ever did.) It takes two parties to make war (and it was never clear that there was a war with the IRK anyway). So if the Russians walk but the IRK signs a peace agreement with almost everyone else and stops committing terrorist acts or whatever they were doing before the peace agreement, then how is there not a peace agreement?
Also, the writers have brought down every President in the series, including David Palmer, who decided not to run for a second term because of events related to his presidency. Do they really need to bring down another one? Are they trying to say that every American president is going to be corrupt?
I actually thought that it was going to turn out that Mrs. Hassan was behind the attacks on her husband, because she was pissed about his cheating on her. I suppose that’s still possible.
And it doesn’t matter that Jack is right about the coverup – just because the president makes a decision he doesn’t like doesn’t give him permission to go off the deep end and violate every law on the books.
But on the other hand, he’s going to save Dana Walsh from being killed, but then he’s going to force her to give him the evidence. Which she’s going to do because it’s better than getting killed. But then somehow, she’s going to die anyway.
And we still don’t know what is truly behind Logan’s schemes. It’s not just about getting back in the game — there has to be something more behind it. There’s some extra level of manipulation going on.
And where is the VP in all of this?
And how come no one on the show ever has to eat or sleep in a 24 hour period? The only one who ever even claimed to have to use the facilities was Dana. Their clothes aren’t even rumpled and they’ve now been working for at least 18 hours. And how come no one has noticed the smell of the dead guy yet?
And “24th Street & Cleveland”? That may be an intersection in Ohio, but it’s definitely not an intersection in Manhattan. These idiot writers know nothing about NYC geography. You know they have this new thing called Google Maps where you can actually get a map of the streets and see what the reality is. And failing that, I’m sure L.A. has a map store somewhere.
But I suppose they have Jack screwing up so badly so that he has to leave the country, because supposedly, the movie is going to take place in Europe. So we’ll have another movie where the great white american bwana has to save another culture.
I also give this episode and sadly, the entire season, an F. I have loved 24 and been willing to look past the many plot holes over the years because the show has always compensated by delivering gripping action moments along the way. This season has been one abject failure after another with no payoff. Even a spectacular ending won’t tip the scales at this point. In addition to the points mentioned previously, Jack is now a traitor to the USA. Several hours earlier he killed and righteously scolded soldiers working under command of a General to hand Hassan to the terrorists – for the greater good. Jack’s reason was that it is treason to go against the orders of the President of the United States. Unless, it’s a decision that Jack disagrees with apparantly. The writers have butchered the previous chatacterizations of Pres Taylor and Jack Bauer and if Ethan’s remarkable and ridiculous recovery can be attributed to healthcare reform, sign me up. I am sad 24 is ending with a down year. I truly now wish it ended last year after a strong season as opposed to going out like the body of the hidden parole officer – a decomposing mess that just stinks.
Frank,
Tony had same problem with Jack–best expressed in season 3 when Jack stopped Tony from trading Saunders daughter to get back Michelle. His beef was Jack made up the rules as he went along and whatever based on what suited him.
I think it’s been a great season. I can’t explain or figure out Taylor, especially since she has always relied on Ethan’s advice..but it hopefully will have a compelling ending.
There are many legitimate complaints and sure the writers could do a better job–but its still fun. Jack is great at law enforcement and fighting terrorism but those close to him die.
Now he is going up against Chloe who is in an impossible situation. History is full of leaders who because they saw a different light from the top chair, changed their position on a topic. Chloe is there now. Plus it would be hard to assist Jack discreetly now–though Tony and Michelle did so from the top at the end of season II.
I will have a void in my weeks from Jan-May next year and will badly miss what I think has been a unique, mystifying, twisting, often unpredictable, and brutal show.
of course, the plot is ridiculous. no president would go ahead with such a treaty with all that baggage hanging on to it.
I disagree with that. Almost every treaty (like most legislation) ever signed was highly flawed and completed only for political gains and because making small improvements is better than no improvements.
gregory itzin is so good playing logan i wish he never left the show
Uneven episode, it looked like the one that all the actors realized had a lot of difficult transitions to set up, there was a lot I didn’t buy: Knew Jack was on to Chloe, knew that the President would fold back to Logan’s side, I thought while KS did a good job with Freddie Prinze talking him into helping, it felt stilted a bit. Need the Russians back to have a baddie for Jack to avenge Renee….
that waterboarding Dana was rather disturbing even for 24 and I don’t disturb on this show easily.
I’ll go on the record to say that Allison Taylor lost all my respect and admiration for her as president, Selling her soul to the devil just to keep her precious peace treaty alive, and losing Ethan in the process. My hatred for Logan has risen to a new level. Itzin really plays a good Satan incarnate the man’s is one posioned apple and Taylor’s gone and sunk her teeth right in. Their both going done you mark words on that.
Loved the episode. But then, I’m savoring each one at this point. Anyone catch the reasonably long shot of Jack standing in front of a store-front window filled with guitars? Can’t be a coincidence.
I like Chloe as the boss and both she and Jack respnded in character. However, if Chloe is his adversary like this in the movie, I’ll be very bummed. I like them on the same side.
I’m still sore about losing Renee. She’s so missed.
(Who else thinks the series will end with Kim not having taken the flight to L.A., and cute grandaughter with J in the final moment? Yup. I see it coming.)
I like Jack and Chloe on the same side, too. I think he understands the position she’s in. She’s the most honest person he’s ever known, so he knew she would have to keep herself from crossing the line the way Jack does regularly.