The second half of the show while not having the slam bang action of the first hour, nevertheless had more than its share of twists and turns, surprises and, of course a final shock.
A general observation regarding the entire two hour finale is that the writers seemed to take more care this year than in year’s past in not only tying up some loose ends but also giving us a genuine preview of where the series will pick up next January. What I hope doesn’t happen next year is Prison Break II – Jack on the lamb from the Chinese after escaping from some jungle prison.
And if Jack is actually going to be a “counter terrorism agent,” would it be asking too much that he battle the people responsible for 95% of the terrorism on the planet? I know that America is becoming hyper-sensitive to portraying Muslims in a bad light, but if the show is going to maintain even a semblance of realism, it’s time for shows like 24 to show a little backbone and face down the CAIR bullyboys with their threats of boycotts and name calling. The global enemy we are fighting are not “Russian separatists” but rather fanatical Islamists. The more we are reminded of that fact, the better off we’ll be.
SUMMARY
There is an emptiness in the afterglow of the Logans lovemaking. Martha appears to be physically ill from the experience and perhaps even a little disgusted with herself. But she has succeeded. Jack is in place on the helicopter as Logan boards. Using their recent physical intimacy as a crutch, she begs off leaving with him on the airplane, feeding his ego by saying that he deserved to be seen coming down the steps of the helicopter alone – “A picture that will be seen throughout history” – all the while her stomach churning from her recent close encounter with a man she no longer loves and holds in such utter contempt.
Once airborne, Jack takes control of the helicopter with ease. After threatening the pilot, he tasers Logan’s Secret Service bodyguard. Taking off his flight helmet, Logan sees immediately that he’s in big trouble. Having had a taste of Jack’s methods during the Walt Cummings interrogation, Logan begins to use the only weapon available to him – his gift of gab.
He tries to explain himself to Jack as Bauer sits passionless and unemotional in front of him, eyeing the President of the United States as a cat gazes fixedly at its prey. He tries whining, wheedling, finally begging Bauer. But for what? For mercy? Not hardly.
Setting down in an abandoned industrial park, Jack tasers the pilot and leads the handcuffed chief executive inside one of the buildings. He is met there by Morris who has configured a miniature video and audio display in order to tape Logan’s expected confession. And we do indeed expect it. Jack hasn’t failed yet. If anyone can get Logan to spill his guts in front of the nation, it is this fish-eyed avenging angel who seems to have taken over Jack’s body.
Before seating him unceremoniously, Jack searches Logan, removing his phone, a pen, and a few other personal items. And then he begins.
Logan is unmoved. He points out that if he’s tortured, no one will believe anything he says. Logan also knows that help is on the way and time is on his side. Presidents just don’t go missing. And with half the US Secret Service, LA Swat, and other military assets bearing down on him, Jack also realizes it. There’s a clock ticking in Jack’s head and he sees that there’s just no time to soften up his subject the usual way. Instead, he goes for the gold.
In a speech both chilling and shocking when all the facts are laid out in front of us, Jack confronts the President by listing the charges against him just as he did with Henderson. He has killed an ex-President but more than that, his good friend. He has killed other friends. And it is time for him to face justice: “Every American who died today as a result of a terrorist attack is another murder you are responsible for.”
Logan denies everything with the practiced ease of the consummate liar. And with the clock ticking down, Jack goes for broke: “You are going to tell me what I want to know or so help me God I will kill you.”
Does Logan believe it? His brave front is beginning to crack. And when Jack gives him until the count of three to confess, the veneer of Logan’s Dorian Gray-like facade begins to give way and the sniveling goat of a man emerges. He tries to bargain with his executioner. He tells him he, Logan, will enter the pantheon of martyred Presidents while Jack will be remembered in the same breath as John Wilkes Booth and Lee Oswald. And when Jack reaches the count of three, we fully expect him to confess – or Jack to pull the trigger.
Neither happens. There is still something of the honorable Mr. CTU agent in Bauer and he just can’t bring himself to put a well deserved bullet into Logan’s head. Sensing danger has passed, Logan carefully talks Jack down as agents swarm the building. Jack is taken into custody. And Logan takes back his phone and pen.
Arriving at the airport, he is greeted by Martha who has been informed of Jack’s failure to get him to confess. Realizing her emotional sacrifice to buy Bauer time went for naught and caught up in the solemnity of the airport scene with David Palmer’s casket, she appears to lose control and lashes out at her husband, accusing him of murder. The Secret Service hustles her into an empty hangar followed by her husband who dismisses the agents in order to be alone with her.
The sound of the face slap by Logan is jarring. It shows a side of him we had not seen and only guessed at; a viscousness that explains much as to how he rose to the highest office in the land. We see he is capable of anything.
He searches Martha for a wire, ripping at her clothes while spitting out his spite and hate. He threatens her with a fate worse than death; a drug induced fog in a mental institution with no chance of ever getting out. We can see she is plainly terrified – but not too frightened to once again accuse him of being a faithless public servant. Almost by rote, he tries to explain himself again to her. He didn’t mean for things to go so horribly wrong with David Palmer. He didn’t know the terrorists would double cross him. He didn’t mean to cover everything up. Shallow words from a shallow, empty suit of a man.
After pulling themselves together, the first couple make their way to the stage for Logan’s speech, the President an apparent victor in this high stakes game. But unbeknownst to all but Chloe and Jack, the river card is about to be turned over.
“There’s always a back up plan. You know that Jack.” (Chris Henderson to Jack Bauer, Episode 14)
At CTU Chloe has had the audacity to contact the Attorney General of the United States in order for him to listen to a recording of some kind. Bill and Granny Hayes come into the situation room and are surprised, as is the AG who is totally in the dark.
Chloe clues him in. It’s a recording that just took place in the hangar between Martha and Charles Logan. Despite his protests that he doesn’t want to hear it and Granny’s attempts to apologize for taking the AG’s time, Chloe hits the play button.
At the airport, the President is droning on, giving one of the most hyper-hypocritical speeches in history – eulogizing a man he is responsible for killing. Martha and Mike stand behind him, apparently defeated and resigned to the situation. Cut to a man taking a phone call on the tarmac. It is a federal Marshall and the call comes from the Attorney General himself. After asking for verification, the Marshall turns to nearby Secret Service agent and, along with another team of agents, approach the stage and mount the steps.
Logan knows exactly what has happened. He doesn’t know how, but he knows what it means. Quickly finishing his speech, he demands to know the meaning of the phalanx of agents that now flank him. The Federal Marshall whispers something in his ear and Logan deflates like a dead jellyfish. The Marshall then shows Logan what was his undoing; a tiny transmitter hidden in the pen he took following Jack’s attempt at getting a confession. He tries to order the Secret Service to save him but to no avail.
Not quite doing the perp walk but still all but in custody, Logan marches to the waiting limo while a 21 gun salute to David Palmer goes off and the 24 theme music swells in the background dramatically.
Perfect.
In the parking lot where the SWAT team has released him, Jack sees Audrey get out of the car. They make plans to be together when an agent tells him he has a call “from his daughter.” After promising to be right back, Jack goes in a hangar to take the call where, instead of talking to Kim, he is quite literally shanghaied – chloroformed and dragged away by unknown assailants.
At CTU, Bill and Karen say their goodbyes, comrades now after having stormed the battlements and brought down a President. Hayes promises Bill that he can still run CTU which bodes well for next season – perhaps for both of them.
Seeing Chloe ready to leave, Bill hands her a picture of Edgar and Chloe in happier times. As Chloe begins to cry, Morris comes up and suggests they talk about it. The two of them leave together, a sign we hope of things to come next year.
After several minutes, Audrey goes inside where Jack took his phone call only to discover Jack missing. Alerting the other agents to Jack’s disappearance, it looks like poor Audrey is destined to go through another horrific day next year without her love.
And Jack? We discover that the Chinese, probably alerted by Logan to Jack’s existence, have kidnapped and beat our hero severely. Lying on a dingy floor (in what we later see is the cargo hold of a ship bound for…Shanghai), we are reacquainted with the Chinese chief of security at the consulate who reminds Jack that the Chinese have very long memories. Thinking he is to be executed, Jack begs to make a phone call. Who would he call? Audrey? Kim? It doesn’t matter because the Chinese have other plans for him. “Kill you? You’re far too valuable to kill, Mr. Bauer.”
Lying on the floor, beaten and in chains, heading for an unknown destination and uncertain future, we hear from Jack’s lips what we always felt was in his heart and mind but that he never expressed before.”
“Kill me….Please kill me…”
This from a man who has faced death a thousand times, a thousand different ways. Has Jack Bauer had a death wish all along? Or does the prospect of spending the rest of his life in a Chinese prison make him think that death is preferable to an existence without friends, family, or purpose?
BODY COUNT
This year’s body count for the show is surprisingly close to last year’s totals. We don’t know how many died in the submarine nor do we know a few other loose ends like Evelyn and her 8 year old daughter left by Henderson’s men in the motel room as well as a few others. But Jack’s total of 42 from last year is close to this year’s butcher’s bill.
Petty Officer accounted for one terrorist while Jack, using a tremendous variety of weapons (including his thunder thighs) took care of 5 bad guys. Poor Agent McCullough should have called in sick.
JACK: 35
SHOW: 200
MARTHA: 1
If you’re interested, I’ll have some final thoughts on the show posted later this afternoon.
Make sure to stop by Blogs4Bauer for the best summaries and info on 24.
11:19 am
[...] PUNDIT VINCE AUT MORIRE VODKAPUNDIT WALLO WORLD WIDE AWAKES WIZBANG WUZZADEM ZERO POINT BLOG THE AVENGER (PART I) THE AVENGER (PART II) LEAPIN’ LEOPOLD! JASON KEEPS SLASHING AWAY THE SPOILED BRAT WING OF THEGOP SO MUCH FOR PLAYING THE “CORRUPTION CARD” 24 TILL “24″ CROSSTOWN SHOWDOWN HAMSTRINGING INTELLIGENCE BUSH BASHING 101: WHEN IN DOUBT, RECYCLE WHY I WILL DRAG MY SORRY ASS TO THE POLLS ON NOVEMBER 6 LEOPOLD’S LATEST LACKS LOQUACITY LOOKING FOR MIDDLE GROUND IN THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE ARE PARTS OF THE NSA TELEPHONE RECORDS STORY BOGUS? SITE NEWS: BLOGROLL OPENINGS MY OBLIGATORY RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT’S IMMIGRATION SPEECH CAREENING TOWARD THE FINALE “24″ POST SLIGHTLY DELAYED ABC NEWS CALL MONITORING: WHAT’S GOING ON? “24″ SPECULATION FEST “SPEAK THE SPEECH, I PRAY YOU,” MR. PRESIDENT THERE’S STILL FIRE IN THE BELLY OF THE RIGHT LEOPOLD’S FAIRY TALE HAS THE LEFT ATWITTER MARY McCARTHY: HEROINE PLEASE ADJUST YOUR TINFOIL HATS BEFORE BOARDING…. WILL THE RIGHT SELF-DESTRUCT OVER IMMIGRATION? “24″ (63) ABLE DANGER (10) Bird Flu (5) Blogging (82) Books (7) CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS (66) CHICAGO BEARS (9) CIA VS. THE WHITE HOUSE (24) Cindy Sheehan (12) Ethics (54) General (277) Government (39) History (53) IMMIGRATION REFORM (11) Iran (25) KATRINA (26) Katrina Timeline (4) Marvin Moonbat (14) Media (78) Middle East (24) Moonbats (47) NET NEUTRALITY (2) Open House (1) Politics (187) Science (14) Space (12) Supreme Court (19) War on Terror (105) WATCHER’S COUNCIL (44) WHITE SOX (1) WORLD POLITICS (40) WORLD SERIES (14) Admin Login Register Valid XHTML XFN 10 Responses to “THE AVENGER (PART I)” [...]
11:47 am
Yes, an excellent season finale. It was nice of the writers to tell us that, because the sub was at a commercial dock, security was practically nil. I was thinking several crewmembers might have survived. Nope, only one. That whole Jack/prez forced confessional episode was off-center & couldn’t figure out why…until we heard the prez-Martha recording. The whole thing was set up so Jack could plant the recording device, right? Meantime, has the prez been working with the Chinese all along? Mr. Big a part of this plot? How did the Chinese know Jack was where he was so they could make the phony phone call? One of their moles clue them in? And since the call was supposed to be from Kim, who always used a cell phone, why wasn’t Jack more suspicious – of that & fact that the call was from his estranged daughter? And who’d have thunk that Chloe had been married? Don’t trust her ex.
11:51 am
I think it’s obvious that Logan tipped off the heathen Chinee (a little TSE lingo there). He told Mr Big that he had plans for ‘’Mr Bauer.’’
Jack’s confrontation with the president Turned Out to be a setup, but I think he would’ve been happy with a confession right there too.
How will I get through the weeks until next January? Well, there’s still season 3 that I haven’t seen, but that’ll only take a week or two….
12:02 pm
Remember Logan told Jack, “I can help you find Kim” Does that mean something I wonder? Maybe she has been kidnapped too.
Putting the mic on Logan was a great twist.
Will Curtis get a team on the boat and save Jack?
Can’t wait till next season.
12:20 pm
Great summaries throughout the season. You’ve been my first stop on Tuesday mornings!
I’m surprised you didn’t comment on the smug look that Martha gave Logan after the marshall showed him the mike. Priceless. She was clearly sane throughout the entire day, with very few people giving her the credit she was due.
12:31 pm
Just some funny observations:
What’s up with the black bra under a see through shirt on Audrey??
I heart Aaron and Mike Novik and Chloe AND Edgar. Oh yeah, and Bill.
1:39 pm
Why didn’t Jack just record the Pres confessing on the helicopter?
Unanswered questions: Who revealed Jack was still alive at the beginning? In other words, how did Henderson/Logan et al know to kill Chloe, Michelle, and Tony? That’s never been answered. Who else knew?
Who was the woman that Henderson talked to in the car and told that Bauer knew nothing before he tried to blow him up in the bunker?
Since everything in the show happens in LA, can we expect the Chinese to turn around and hold him in LA instead of the ship?
Time continuity was a little ridiculous last night. You pointed out the 5 minute “hook up” and dressing with Martha and the President. How about the abduction of Jack, beating senseless, and setting out to sea in 5 minutes?
But hey I guess if I care enough to ask these questions it’s an entertaining show. Thanks for your posts on each episode, and let me give another plug for the Unit which does at least on occasion kill Islamic terrorists.
2:51 pm
[...] Hope everyone enjoyed last night’s 24 season finale! I thought it was pretty good, especially the first hour. As usual the Right Wing Nut House has a full summary and analysis. See part one here and part two there. Thank you very much Rick for providing thorough Tuesday morning entertainment. I can’t wait for next season. [...]
4:06 pm
Martha is the real hero. She followed JFK’s advice: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” She’s my kind of woman!
Great finale – hope Jack doesn’t have to pay roaming charges on his cell phone.
4:54 pm
If Jack goes to mainland China the ChiComs will be Donald Trump capitalist by hour two.
Did I miss something? Where is Wayne Palmer?
5:36 pm
Well, from now until next January gives a whole new meaning to “Slow boat to China”.
Martha has once again proven that a “good” woman can get the best of a “bad” man every time. (I wonder if Aaron secretly wishes he was real bad?)
Yes, the ChiCom’s need to be real careful. If they take Jack on a forced “pilgrim”age (a la John ‘Duke’ Wayne)to their homeland, the result will be many, many of their men falling into the category called…’one-hung-lo’.
Rick—great job as always!!
6:20 pm
Have just received a coded message from Jack. PDPJRNIXYL QYBPJ SMYNJMU. BMY’N AYMV IMV NIPR ZMQYB FP MJ VIM NIPR EJ VMJAXYL VXNI. SEY’N LXDP UMSENXMY, CPPF NM HP EN CPE, SMQUB HP VJMYL. LPN CEUNR EXJ MBMJ. YM MYP CWPEAXYL PYLUXCI PKSPWN ZMJ NIPXJ XYXNXEU SIEJLPC. EUU CWPEAXYL FEYBEJXY. VMQUBY’N RMQ AYMV XN, FR FEYBEJXY XC JQCNR! NIXYA NIPR VEYN FP EUXDP. CPPXYL NM FR YPPBC, PVS. VPUU YMN XY SMYNJMU ESNQEUUR, LMXY’ BEJA…....
8:29 pm
Rick!! What are you doing to us? It’s 8:30 your time, which is early, but it’s 9:30 my time which is well past “afternoon”.
Where are your final thoughts?!
After all, I have to get up at 5:00 to get to work at the Eddie BAUER (any relation?) warehouse tomorrow. And then there’s the 9-11pm finale of Lost….
You Central-timers really have it made for watching-TV-times.
8:31 pm
Alas, real life intruded late this afternoon and I’ve just now gotten back on line.
You will have to wait until tomorrow for my pearls of wisdom. Sorry.
8:45 pm
Okay, will forgive you this time
10:58 pm
The Chinese twist was a nice one, but was done so badly. Even assuming the Chinese had a mole (logan?) telling them Jack was alive and where he was taken, just how were they supposed to have gotten their crew there so quickly (less than 15 minutes by my count) and without suspicion? These guys show up in a helicopter and nobody asks questions? And just how were they supposed to have kidnapped Jack and gotten him to the ship so quickly and without suspicion? And just how did the Chinese consul get to the ship so quickly?
I know that to some degreee we’re supposed to suspend reality for the show to work. But sometimes I think the writers take us for granted.
8:48 am
Since the show takes place over a 24 hour period this limits the locations that can be used during the show. Unless Jack escapes or is rescued from the ship at the beginning of next season then the show could take place in China. In that case I would speculate (and likely be wrong as usual)that the Chinese will be hit with a terror situation and will have to have Jack’s assistance. This would open up many new locations by taking the story away from the Southern California area. Maybe an extra on the 5th season DVD set will give a clue.
11:33 am
Taiwan will threaten to invade the mainland. Jack will be dropped off on the island to thwart the evil Formosans from taking control of their big brothers. The ChiComs will give Jack Taiwan out of gratitude. Jack and Audrey will live happily as rulers until Kim comes for a visit.
6:05 am
GW: When you said they’d drop Jack off on the island, my first thought was that you meant the one on Lost
Too bad it’s another network. Talk about a twist for both shows!!
Rick was just kidding about final thoughts, right? (he’s gonna ban me from his site :))
8:57 am
Jack Bauer’s plan was never to kill, or even try to get Logan to confess. He just needed to convince Logan he planned to.
The reason the plan worked was that it played into all of Logan’s weaknesses. Jack Bauer’s greatest strength (other than the ability to come back to life, only angrier, after being killed and the ability to kill people using only his legs) is to get inside the heads of his enemies, something we could use more of.
When he needs to break Syed? Hey, remember your wife and kids?
Saunderson? Hmm, what would the terrorists do to me?
And when Jack needs to take Logan down, Jack plays to Logan’s weaknesses. First off, Logan’s fundamental arrogance. First off, Jack makes Logan think Jack’s just as arrogant as the POTUS; Yeah. Sure. I’m going to interrogate the president at gunpoint, and not only will I break him in 10 minutes, but it’ll be believed. As Logan said, eventually you’ll say anything under torture. And then Jack plays again into Logan’s arrogance by making Logan think that Jack can’t execute him, because he’s the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES- failing to realise that the Presidential Seal provides as much protection from Jack as tissue paper. If Jack wanted to kill him, Logan’s brains would have wallpapered the Abandoned Industrial Building of Mysterious Origin if he was the President or the President’s Janitor.
I just about threw up when Logan said “It’s okay, Jack. I’m the President. You can’t kill me.”
And then, he continues to play onto Logan’s arrogance with the placement of the bug. Of course Logan is going to search his wife for a listening device; but on me? On ME? I’m the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, so clearly I’m Better Than Normal People. And Jack also plays into Logan’s constant need to justify himself: I’m a patriot! And of course I’m gonna say so again!
Jack played into Logan’s weaknesses; and the Chinese played into Jack’s weaknesses. And that’s why who won, won, and who lost, lost.