WRITERS: Evan Katz & David Fury (story by Howard Gordon)
DIRECTOR: Tim Iacofano
CAST: Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer), D.B Woodside (President Wayne Palmer), James Morrison (Bill Buchanan), Peter MacNicol (Thomas Lennox), Carlo Rota (Morris O'Brian), Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe O'Brian), Marisol Nichols (Nadia Yassir), Chad Lowe (Reed Pollock), Gregory Itzin (Charles Logan), Rade Serbedzija (Dmitri Gredenko), Boris Krutonog (Russian Agent Vasili), John Noble (Consul Markov), Mark Joyella (News Anchor), Endres Hules (Russian Security Agent), Jim Holmes (Dr Welton), Kari Matchett (Lisa Miller), William Bumiller (Agent Lowry), Eugene Alper (Suvarov's Aide Gregor), Andrea Grano (Ellen), John Brantley Col Jr (Army Corporal), Powers Boothe (Noah Daniels), Michael Reilly Burke (Carson), Bob Gunton (Ethan Kanin) & Nick Jameson (Yuri Suvarov)
jack decides to hold the Russian consolute hostage after Logan's talk fails and V.P Daniels assumes control of the country following the assassination attempt on President Palmer...Some meat-and-potatoes 24 this week in an episode that benefits greatly from an injection of new blood (V.P Daniels), the resolution of a strained subplot (Lennix), the absence of a disappointing character (Palmer) and Jack Bauer back in dangerous maverick mode!
Gregory Itzin's return evaporated into disillusion last week, but Itzin is better treated by writers Evan Katz and David Fury this time. His tense scene with Consul Markov is excellent, making me hopeful Logan sticks around to dish out more of his wonderful stares.
Powers Boothe has been in the background for awhile now as Vice President Noah Daniels, but Air Force One finally sets down in episode 12 and Daniels quickly asserts some much needed gravitas on proceedings. Between slippery Lennix and voice-of-reason Palmer the White House bunker has been curiously lacking in bite, so Daniels immediately brings some higher energy to this subplot.
Jack Bauer himself launches into another dangerous situation -- storming the Russian consulate single-handed to interrogate Makov about Gredenko's plans for his three remaining nukes. It's entertaining and tense in equal measure, although somewhat undermined because of its similarity to season 4's storming of a Chinese embassy.
Yes, sadly we have another example of the show recycling itself. The fact we get another torture scene is further evidence that 24 is straining to think up imaginative and original scenarios now. Even Gredenko's plan to deliver the nukes by aerial drone is very similar to season 4's nuclear missile!
Despite echoes of past glories, there's enough here to keep you glued to the screen. John Noble is great as Consul Markov, Itzin unleashes his magnetic gaze, Jack gets back to cracking heads for the good of the country, Boothe looks set to take the White House by the scruff of its neck and there's further evidence Day 6 is a direct sequel to Day 5 with a glimpse of President Suvarov...
24 reaches its mid-season on steadier legs, but there's still work to be done. If the yawnathon at CTU is fixed swiftly we could be back on track, just so long as Wayne Palmer stays unconscious...
