Comments on: THE AVENGER (PART II)

By: JPL

JPL — Thu, 25 May 2006 13:57:07 +0000

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.

By: Jennie C

Jennie C — Thu, 25 May 2006 11:05:12 +0000

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 :))

By: GW

GW — Wed, 24 May 2006 16:33:29 +0000

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.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 24 May 2006 13:48:54 +0000

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.

By: steve sturm

steve sturm — Wed, 24 May 2006 03:58:59 +0000

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.

By: Jennie C

Jennie C — Wed, 24 May 2006 01:45:30 +0000

Okay, will forgive you *this* time

By: Rick Moran

Rick Moran — Wed, 24 May 2006 01:31:27 +0000

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.

By: Jennie C

Jennie C — Wed, 24 May 2006 01:29:04 +0000

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.

By: diamond

diamond — Tue, 23 May 2006 23:20:33 +0000

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…….

By: m&m

m&m — Tue, 23 May 2006 22:36:22 +0000

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!!