Right Wing Nut House

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“I don’t want to get caught up in it. I’m staying out of it”.
Tony Almeida

Jyah, shure!

Life’s been a bitch for the former federal prisoner turned unemployed self-pitier Toni. I mean how would you feel if you threw your life and career away for a woman only to have her leave you when things got a little rough? Not only that, you’re now shacked up with the number one piece of slutty trailer trash in all of Orange County, bartender Jen. Top it off with a gun battle where you killed two terrorists before lunch and you have the makings of a real bad day. (Note: Doesn’t anybody ever eat anything on this show? Haven’t these people ever heard of hypoglycemia?)

SUMMARY

After escaping from the terrorist trap at the security firm thanks to Toni’s intervention (and apparently undimmed marksmanship), Jack and Secretary Heller lay a trap for the mole at CTU.

Maryann, on instructions from Powell, “stings the stingers” by setting up Sarah to take the fall. It works. Sarah is arrested and brought to the infamous CTU “Holding Room” where they ought to put a sign up outside the door that reads “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.”

That room has an interesting history over the last few years. Not only did Jack just up and off a terrorist two years ago, this year he kneecapped a guy. Nina was brought there to be browbeaten by Jack, and innumerable traitors, snitches, suspects, terrorists, and moles have graced that gray, empty, forlorn room. And let’s not forget the ordeal of Heller’s now estranged son Richard who went through a “sensory deprivation” experience (somehow, I think it would have been more painful if they had strapped Richard down and made him listen to the soundtrack from “Sound of Music”).

Fat geek Edgar starts to put two and two together and suspects Maryann. He hacks her workstation (what a great co-worker) and finds the message that she sent to Powell. He finally stands up to the witch and goes to Driscoll with the evidence.

Maryann, realizing the jig is up (she has a great sense of self-preservation) tries to escape but is caught by Curtis, who must feel an enormous sense of satisfaction as he nabs her. He orders CTU security to “turn the car inside out.” Security has some help when a bomb goes off and indeed, turns the car inside out and backwards. Maryann hits her head as a result of the explosion and it’s unclear how badly injured she is.

Meanwhile, Audrey is safely returned to CTU headquarters into the loving arms of her father where she’ll probably be safe for oh…say 15 minutes or so. It will also give her estranged husband Paul a chance to work on her while Jack is out saving the country. (Prediction: Paul will suggest that they “go someplace and talk” where Audrey will be kidnapped and once again find herself in the clutches of the merciless terrorists.)

After identifying the man at the Heritage Club party as one Henry Powell who works for McGlennon-Forster, the company that made the override device, CTU discovers that Powell is about ready to flee. Jack gets off the best line of the night in his conversation with Erin about going after Powell:

Erin: Jack, do you need any help?
Jack: No. I want to maintain a low profile.

Heh.

As Jack readies to go after Powell, Tony realizes what he’s been missing and joins him. I think he just wanted to get away from trailer trash Jen. Can you blame him? She looks like the type of woman who would nag a guy just because he wanted to sit around all day, watch TV, and drink beer while letting her work like a slave to support him. Some women just don’t have a sense of humor about those kind of things.

As Jack and Tony arrive at the helipad and discover Powell about ready to take off, Jack drives his car down an embankment and races towards the copter with guns drawn screaming at the pilot to stop.

So much for the low profile.

Powell turns out to be a squirming, sniveling, cowardly wretch. He looks at Tony and Jack’s hackneyed appearance and asks the obvious question:

Powell: Who are you guys? Police? FBI?
Tony: Actually, I’m unemployed.

That turns out to be the last laugh for Powell as he’s subsequently gunned down by a sharpshooter dressed like a SWAT guy (helmet, vest, uniform). Back to square one.

BODY COUNT

A light night for the grim reaper. Two dead; one from the car bomb and Powell. Here’s the running total:

JACK: 18 dead, 1 gratuitous wounding, 1 viscous pistol whipping.
Show: 90 dead total

LOOSE END:

This is a minor point but Heller’s beard changed from scene to scene. When he talked with Jack on the phone, his stubble was quite pronounced. Later when talking to Erin, it was barely visible. Finally, when Audrey got back to CTU, it was different again.

This is a question of continuity and it’s why they have a Continuity Director. Because scenes are shot “out of sequence,” it becomes vital for the Continuity staff to check little details like this.

Bad production values.

That’s it for this week. I’d like to thank all the great people over at “24 Forums” who make it a point to visit every week. I enjoy reading your speculation…keep ‘em coming!