TNMC
This site’s design is only visible in a graphical browser that supports web standards, but its content is accessible to any browser or Internet device.
24
Episode 2.21, "4 AM to 5 AM"
Written by: Robert Cochran and Howard Gordan
Directed by: Ian Toynton
The Final Four, and I'm not talking about basketball here (stupid Jayhawks costing me money). No, these are the last four hours of the day in 24; or in layman's terms, the time when the shit really starts to hit the fan. Surprisingly, this was a fairly Jack-lite episode, and even more suprisingly, it still managed to rock hard. That's because the episode chose to focus on the second most compelling character in the world of 24, David Palmer.
Last episode saw the plan put together by Vice President Prescott finally put into action, as he put together a meeting of all cabinet officials in order to enact a provision of the 25th Amendment. This states that if the Vice President and the majority of the Presidents Cabinet feel that the President is incapable of fulfilling his duties, then he can be dismissed from power and immediately replaced by the acting Vice President. This is the power play that Prescott has been angling for since the beginning and Palmer has just walked into it.
Led to a conference room by his Chief of Staff Mike Novick, Palmer is angered and outraged at the presumption of Prescott to try and usurp his presidency in such a way. His first instinct is to simply ignore this attempt as farcical, but Mike assures him that this is a very real threat to his presidency. So Palmer agrees to take the time to confront his accusers over his actions for the past twenty hours.
The first person that Prescott trots in is the reporter Ron Weiland whom Palmer had previously detained in an effort to prevent him from breaking the story about the nuclear bomb threat earlier in the day. He explains that Palmer had him detained for over three hours in order to surpress his ability to break the story. Palmer counters with the fact that his story could have started a national panic in Los Angeles and led to hundreds if not thousands of deaths. While he didn't like having to do it, Palmer took away Weiland's freedom to better the majority. Weiland counters this simply and effectively by pointing out that it should have been his choice on whether or not the story should have been broken, legal precedent or not.
The council then breaks for a moment and Mike tries to convince Palmer to reverse his decision regarding the first strike upon the three Middle Eastern countries that they believe are responsible for the nuclear assault earlier in the day. If Palmer agrees to go forward with the attack, then Prescott will be left without a leg to stand on and his entire power base will slip away from him.
Palmer's faith in Jack Bauer is unwavering though, as is his belief that there truly was an American based conspiracy behind the nuclear assault. In addition, Palmer feels betrayed and angered at Mike's actions since he obviously knew about this long before the meeting actually convened. Mike was the one man who stood by Palmer in his difficult times last year as he fought to come forward with the truth regarding his son, so to be betrayed by his most trusted friend and companion after all this time is shocking to say the least. And considering Palmer's past, it's easy to see how he could lose his ability to trust in anyone. Yet it's the very trust he puts in Jack Bauer that makes him risk losing his presidency and tens of thousands American lives by delaying a war on what might be innocent countries.
Jack himself is desperately fighting to obtain the proof that Palmer so badly needs. Unfortunately the proof is currently in possession of the inbred redneck clan that beat Yusuf to death and have now been brought to ground at Kate Warner's house. Jack offers to let them go if they give up the chip, but if they should harm it then their lives are forfeit. The same redneck that ended up saving Kate's life last episode now try's to plead with his friend to accept this offer and try to leave. The other man though is too scared by the death of his friend at Jack's hands and the thought of returning to prison. He can't bring himself to believe that what Jack is offering him is true. The first one then begins to struggle with his companion, which gives Jack the time he needs to kick open the door and subdue both of them.
He ties them both up and grabs the chip as heads to Kate's computer. He inserts the chip but the files appear to be encrypted. He contacts Michelle at CTU for help in breaking through the encryption. While working on this, it becomes evident that the chip was damaged somewhere along the way, but he transmits what he can over to CTU for them to work on.
Tony assigns Michelle and two tech guys to work on the encryption, which pisses of Chapelle who wants everyone working on war scenarios. Tony points out that Palmer reversed the order for first strike already, but Chapelle implies that the repeal itself will be repealed. This puzzles Tony, but he then tells the CTU director that Jack has found information which confirms that the Cypress Audio Tapes, the evidence that implicates the three Middle Eastern Countries, are forgeries. Chapelle seems shocked and upset at this revelation, and immediately contacts the Vice President with the news. So obviously Chapelle is a member of whatever conspiracy that the Vice President is a member of.
Tony receives a call from Kim, who is being escorted back to the house of Psycho Dad in order to retrieve her things. She asks to speak to her father, so Tony patches her through. Jack and Kim share a tender moment together, as this is the first time they've had a chance to talk to with one another since they thought they were saying goodbye for good. Whatever barriers there were between them in the beginning of the day have completely been torn down in the wake of all the tragedy.
I was a little surprised at how glad I was to see Kim again to be honest. While I've certainly ragged enough on her story line this year in my reviews, I've never had that much of a problem with the character. Well at least when she isn't written as Super-Victim. And while there is a vocal minority of the fan base that is clamoring for her blood in the same they were for Teri last year, I can only state that killing Kim off would be a huge mistake. Not only would it be repetitive of last year, but it would kill off the one character that makes Jack even remotely human and normal. And while loner psycho Jack would be super kewl!!!!!, it would also be a character with no firm anchor or relatability. In other words, Kim is all that keeps Jack from turning into The Punisher. And Elisha Cuthbert does imbue the character with a level of warmth that is appealing to watch. Not to mention that she's a major hotty.
As in regards to Kim's story line, it seems pretty obvious that Psycho Dad is loitering around his house and will kill Kim's police escort, leaving her alone at his mercy. I'm just hoping that Super-Victim manages to tap into her Bauer side of the blood and kick the crap out of Psycho-Dad.
Jack has enough good feelings left over from his conversation with Kim that he provides comfort for Kate who is reeling over the events of this past day. She can't help blaming herself in someway for everything that has happened. Jack reminds her that she's not responsible for the actions of those around her. That some times things happen that are simply out of your control to handle or stop. And though this is good advice for Kate, it also serves as proof that Jack is finally coming to terms with the loss of his wife at Nina's hands. The two actually look ready to share a kiss when a call from CTU interrupts. The section of the microchip that contained the audio files appears to have been damaged beyond repair. The proof that Palmer needs is no longer there. There is one hope left though. The microchip possessed a great deal of junk information patterned in a similar manner. It's a hackers calling card, and it allows Michelle to track down the name of the man who might have put the Cypress Audio Recordings together. Luckily that man ends up living in North Hollywood, so Jack is off to the races to track down this last hope.
Meanwhile Palmer's second accuser Roger Stanton, has stepped forward. Unlike Weiland, Stanton blatantly lies about what occurred between himself and Palmer. Stanton accuses Palmer of having acted fearfully and indecisively all day long. He claims that the torture he underwent was done for no reason, and then videotape of his torture is played for the Cabinet officials. This tape has been tampered with though, because it only shows the torture of Stanton and his initial confession. It does not have the subsequent confessions and information that Stanton provided which led to the capture of the nuclear bomb. Stanton flat out states that he did not provide that information either, he simply cracked under the pressure of intense torture.
It's then that Jack calls Palmer and admits that he does not have the proof that Palmer needs to vindicate himself. Palmer flat out asks Jack if he still believes that a conspiracy was behind the nuclear assault this morning. Jack states that he does not have a doubt in his mind. That's good enough for Palmer who sticks to his guns and refuses to back down on the issue of the first strike, even if it costs him his presidency.
Unfortunately, what's good enough for Palmer is not necessarily good enough for all the Cabinet members. They don't know Jack Bauer from Joe Blow, and all evidence points towards the Middle Eastern countries being behind the assault. And if America does go to war, and does not take advantage of this first strike opportunity, then tens of thousands of American lives will be forfeit. Thus, it comes as little surprise that when the vote goes down, Palmer loses 8-7. He is now no longer the President of the United States of America, Prescott is. And the assault upon innocent Middle Eastern countries will go ahead as planned.
The only one who can stop this now is Jack, who has arrived at the hacker's apartment in North Hollywood. He finds the place empty, but as searches for a clue of its inhabitants he hears the elevator. Hiding himself he watches two people enter the room, what looks to be a bodyguard and David Palmer's ex-wife Sherry. This is actually a neat twist since we've never seen Jack and Sherry directly interact with each other. Next week promises some spectacular fireworks.
But this episode was Dennis Haysbert's to own, and own it he did. The actor brings such a sense of passion, bravery, and culture to his character that makes him infinitely interesting to watch. Hell, if the show was centered around David Palmer I'd still be hooked. 24 has always been anchored by Keifer and Dennis, and while Keifer usually gets the lion share of the credit, its important to note just how vital Dennis Haysbert is to the success of the show. Here's hoping the Emmy folks can see that as well.
Episode Rating: 9 out of 10
-- Tim Ritenour
What do you think? Talk about it on the Forums
