21 January 2007 - Sky One, 10.00 pm
WRITER: Manny Coto DIRECTOR: Jon Cassar
CAST: Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer), Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe O'Brian), D.B Woodside (President Wayne Palmer), James Morrison (Bill Buchanan), Peter MacNicol (Thomas Lennox), Jayne Atkinson (Karen Hayes), Carlo Rota (Morris O'Brian), Eric Balfour (Milo Pressman), Marisol Nichols (Nadia Yassir), Regina King (Sandra Palmer), Alexander Siddig (Hamri al-Assad), Michael Angarano (Scott Wallace), Megan Gallagher (Gillian Wallace), Adoni Maropis (Abu Fayed), Kal Penn (Ahmed Amar), Rapael Sbarge (Ray Wallace), Scott William Winters (FBI Agent), Steven Schub (Henchman #1), Eric Bruskotter (Stan), Adrian R'Mante (Omar), Van Epperson (Ticket Agent), Alfred Woodley (FBI Agent Nichols), Muttalib Ibrahim (Malek), Julie Quinn (IAA Staffer), Herzi H. Tobey (Middle Eastern Man #2), Marci Michelle (CTU Worker), Patrick Sabongul (Nasir)
Jack escapes from his captors with information about the real mastermind behind the terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, with nobody trusting his judgement, he's forced to take matters into his own hands...Only 24 can get away with silly plot contrivances like having everybody disbelieve Jack Bauer. How many times has he saved the country? I think it's about time those suits in the White House just follow Jack's lead. Still, frustrating decision-making is part and parcel of the show and just one of the many clichés 24 somehow makes a virtue of.
The second episode of the sixth season sees Jack back doing what he does best: taking matters into his own hands and getting the job done, despite what his superiors think. But as the story progresses it becomes clear the Jack Bauer we know isn't quite the same man now. The months of torture have resulted in Jack feeling more compassion for suspects he's forced to torture himself, leading to a great scene where Jack fails to extract vital information.
Of course, I'm sure it won't be long before Jack's gets rid of his demons (probably with a fatal neck snap). Remember how long it took him to kick the drugs habit back in season 3? Already, just by pulling on a fresh sweater, Jack's physicality is back to its peak...
Episode 2 introduces us to some more recurring characters. First there's plucky Sandra Palmer (Regina King), sister of the President, who works at the Islamic-American Alliance (IAA), then there's terrorist reformer Assad (Alexander Siddig), who is believed to be the mastermind behind the nation's bombings but is actually hoping to start political talks with the US. Both actors are very good, particularly Siddig, who many will know as kindly Dr Bashir in Star Trek Deep Space Nine, but almost unrecognisable with beard and grizzled features.
Plot B of the new season is focusing on the suburban Wallace family, whose neighbour Ahmed (Kal Penn) is in cahoots with Fayed and his team. The use of a parallel plot is something 24 does regularly, although this one isn't particularly fresh. It's clearly designed to give us a look at the paranoia and racism sweeping across the country, but the idea of throwing an ordinary family together with a terrorist sympathiser just isn't that interesting. The use of a terrorist sleeper cell back in season 4 was much more effective, but obviously 24 is using up its store of original ideas.
Still, Megan Gallagher is good as mother Gillian (remember her in Millennium?), Michael Angarano is fine as dad Scott, but it's Kal Penn who makes the strongest impression. Some critics are already griping that Mulsims are the villains again, but they seem to forget that Mexicans (season 3), British (season 3), the Chinese (season 4), Americans (season 1 and 5) have also been vilified.
The second hour is more expansive than the first, with the use of some great stunts involving Apache helicopters and a thrilling pursuit of a bomber aboard an L.A subway train, but there's also a general feeling of apathy regarding the Wallace family subplot.
