Not 1/2 bad

Oh yeah - almost forgot to mention....

I got caught up on 24 - even finished it actually - and I'm happy to report that I really liked it. After the muddled storytelling mess that preceded it, last season was a heck of a comeback for the Bauer franchise.

Some high and low points -
1. The return of Tony - albeit evil and scarred Tony

2. The loss of one Bill Buchanan (rest in peace Silver Fox)

3. The return of one Kimberly Bauer (accompanied by a husband and a grandchild for Papa Jack)

4. The introduction of a proper foil for old favorite Chloe O'Brian - hello Janis Gold!

5. (Although I never thought I'd say it) The introduction of a proper foil for Jack - hello Agent Freckles a.k.a. Renee Walker (played in oh so scrumptious style by Annie Wersching)

6. The surprising return of White (House) Knight Agent Aaron Pierce!

7. Yet another annoying President - hello Ally Taylor (as always - a moment of silence for President David Palmer)

8. Last season's winner of the Sherry Palmer Character Close To The President That We All LOVED To Hate - presidential daughter Olivia Taylor.

9. Lastly - because he needs his own space....a special shout out to SAC Larry Moss. Larry, you started off as one of the most annoying characters we've ever seen on the show and unfortunately you were taken from us just as we started to warm to you. As much as it pains me to say it, you will go down in history (with Ryan Chappelle) as one of the annoying guys who died too soon. We'll miss you.

In the words of President Jed Bartlett (sorry for the show hopping..) - WHAT'S NEXT?

ON SUNDAY JANUARY 17TH THE NEW SEASON BEGINS WITH ANOTHER TWO-NIGHT 4 HOUR EXTRAVAGANZA!!!!!!!

If that's not enough to get your blood flowing it's time for you to rush out to the local Blockbuster (or just add it to your NetFlix queue), grab any of the first 4 seasons of the show and watch Jack get his screaming, torturing, terrorist fighting groove on! I'm out of breath even typing it.

Cya back here real soon - same Jack time, same Jack channel.

Twenty-Ten

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Welcome Twenty-Ten!

What is the New Year plan for the space here at 24geek?? At this point there is none. Too many times I go on a blogging hiatus only to return with grand plans to write something every day or just not be as absent as I've been over the last XXXX period of time.

This time I am doing nothing of the sort. Whatever happens happens...and if we are all lucky you'll have something interesting to read going forward in the foreseeable future.

The fact is that I always have a ton of random thoughts bouncing around in my head. It's the writing about them here that is the difficult part. If it's not some useless television or pop culture observation, I have been leery to write about it in this space.

24geek - keeping the "personal" out of "personal blogging".

Is it my intent to change that?? I'll go as far as to say - hopefully. Will this space still be filled with useless TV and pop culture observation?? But of course! It IS a decent portion of what I actually have floating around in my brain. With any luck I won't be afraid (there's that word) to take a chance and really write about what or how I'm feeling.

My feeling at the moment - how lucky I am to have the family and friends that I have. Back in the middle of November, very unexpectedly, my job was eliminated and I found myself back in the hunt for a new job. Based on what I do (AR, Credit and Collections) and the time of year it was (the last 6 weeks of fiscal year 2009) my prospects for a new job were very limited. Facing up to the realities of the current economy have made this a scary time and have taken away - in a small way - from my enjoyment of the holiday season. That said - being able to still enjoy the holiday season with the above mentioned family and friends as well as being able to volunteer some of my now abundant time at my daughters school has made me realize the blessings that I have in my life. Yes, things are difficult but they could be much worst. It's definitely all a matter of proper perspective. Keeping that perspective has been a major challenge over the last 6 weeks. Tomorrow is January 4th - the first business day of Twenty-Ten. I am confident that it not only marks that day but also the beginning of a new year of job possibilites and opportunities. Wish me luck in my quest and let the new adventure begin.

Behind - - - WAY behind

So I've fallen behind this season. Not too far but far enough. I promise to share some thoughts once I catch up.

Until then - please be patient with me.

Please.

FBI Rodent

Sean Hillinger.

He's not just a strange adulterer anymore.

The Mole revealed

So I heard/read that last nights episode revealed who the FBI mole is.....I happened to be in bed and asleep last night at 9:30p so unfortunatley I am still blissfully unaware.

The plan is to watch tonight and report in to anyone who might actually care tomorrow.

I'll bet you can hardly wait.

24 Day 7 3pm to 4pm

I apologize if this week’s effort comes of as a bit underwhelming. While I thoroughly enjoyed the hour, when it came time to recap I just felt like I came up empty. I guess it’s up to you to decide…


Day 7 3:00pm - 4:00pm

President Taylor makes a speech to the nation about the terrorist attacks and she pledges her commitment to Sangala. Meanwhile, Vossler brings Henry to Dubaku. Henry accuses Dubaku of murdering his son.

GOTTA GIVE THE MAD PROPS TO HENRY. AFTER A SLOW START THE MAN IS SHOWING SOME SERIOUS SPUNK.

Jack, Buchanan and Renee bring Matobo to the White House. Renee and Matobo assure the President that Jack is on her side. Jack explains that there is a mole inside her Administration working with Dubaku and he needs to go around the FBI and Homeland to uncover the source. Dubaku calls President Taylor and tells her that he has captured her husband. He demands she withdraw her forces in Sangala and deliver Matobo to him. He starts to cut off Henry's finger to get her to acquiesce. Ethan learns that Gedge helped abduct Henry and killed Samantha. This confirms Jack's story, and he pledges to try to bring Henry back himself. Taylor is unsure if she can trust him. "With all due respect, Madam President, ask around." Jack says. She agrees.

THIS WHOLE SCENE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WAS PRICELESS…AND WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY PRESIDENT TAYLOR ANNOYS THE HECK OUT OF ME.

SHE’S ALL HAPPY TO SEE MATOBO – ALL CANDY CANES AND BUTTERFLIES – THEN ONCE HE IS GONE THERE IS NO THANK YOU TO THE BAUER BUNCH FOR GETTING HIM BACK….SHE’S ALL – NOW I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE…..WELL – DUH! OF COURSE THEY’LL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO HER. MADAM PRES - HOW ABOUT YOU KNOCK OFF THE ATTITUDE AND SHOW SOME GRATITUDE!

AFTER THEY TELL HER THE STORY SHE “FINDS IT ALL HARD TO BELIEVE” AND STARTS GOING AFTER JACK AND TONY LIKE IT’S ALL THEIR FAULT THIS IS HAPPENING.

AFTER ALL THAT – SHE GETS THE CALL FROM COUNT DUKU. HE HAS HENRY. JACK VOLUNTEERS TO DO ALL IN HIS POWER TO GET HIM BACK AND SHE HAS THE BALLS TO SAY SHE’S UNSURE IF SHE CAN TRUST HIM?

THE PROPER RESPONSE TO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN – “F-U MADAM PRESIDENT. YOU CAN GET YOUR DAMN HUSBAND BACK YOURSELF.” THE ALTERNATIVE - "WITH ALL DUE RESPECT MADAM PRESIDENT, ASK AROUND." REALLY WASN’T HALF BAD.

Jack asks Renee to search Gedge's phone records, and she says she will need Larry to do it. She calls Larry's cell and begs him not to tell anyone she is alive because the FBI is corrupted. Yet Larry wants to meet her in person to prove that she is not under duress.

I CAN’T BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW MUCH LARRY ANNOYS ME. HE ANNOYS ME MORE THAN PRESIDENT TAYLOR – SO YOU CAN TELL IT’S A HELL OF A LOT.

WHEN RENEE CALLED I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO START CRYING RIGHT THERE IN THE HALLWAY.

At the FBI, Sean doesn't understand why the President is ignoring the fact that the CIP is still out there. He thinks they are being kept out of the loop. Janis realizes that Sean is having an affair with Erika, and he confesses that it is true.

THE FBI WHISPERER HAS RETURNED….I SURE AS HECK HOPE THE REASON THAT SEAN AND ERIKA ARE HAVING AN AFFAIR IS BECAUSE ERIKA IS THE MOLE AT THE FBI. THERE I SAID IT….CAN YOU THINK OF ANYONE MORE USELESS SO FAR. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE….WHICH PROBABLY MEANS IT’S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO TRUE...AND IF THAT’S THE CASE – THEN WHY THE HECK EVEN HAVE THE SEAN/ERIKA AFFAIR STORY??

Renee and Jack go to Lafayette Park to meet Larry, who says that Gedge spoke to Vossler and that Vossler used to be Special Forces in Sangala. Jack questions whether Vossler has a family, and wants Renee to go to his house. Larry thinks that forceful interrogation is not the way to go, but Jack is insistent because it is "necessary." Larry faces off with Jack about Renee turning into a torturer like him.

I WOULD THINK THAT SECRET SERVICE AGENTS WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER VETTED BEFORE GETTING PLACED ON THE WHITE HOUSE DETAIL….OR HAVE I JUST READ TOO MANY POLITICAL THRILLERS??

SIDENOTE: AGENT VOSSLER – THE PRESIDENT OF THE HORRIBLE TV HAIRCUTS CLUB CALLED. IT’S YOUR TURN TO BRING COOKIES AND PUNCH TO THIS WEEKS MEETING.

QUITE THE LOW BLOW BY LARRY GOING OFF ON JACK LIKE THAT. DO YOU THINK HE WOULD EVER THINK THAT FORCEFUL INTERROGATION IS THE WAY TO GO?? PERHAPS IF IT HAD TO DO WITH RENEE HE MIGHT…AND LARRY – DON’T GO BLAMING JACK FOR RENEE’S ACTIONS. SEEMS LIKE SHE’S BEEN STANDING PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT LINE FOR A WHILE NOW AND JUST NEEDED THE RIGHT MOTIVATION TO TAKE THE STEP. IN THE END SHE IS THE ONE MAKING THE DECISION.

Dubaku gets a call from his girlfriend Marika and claims he will not make dinner because he has a "stack of shipping requests." Marika's sister Rosa accuses her of not knowing anything about "Samuel" the importer. Although Rosa is trying to protect her, Marika will not listen.

UMM – WE CARE ABOUT THIS WHY? THIS SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THOSE POINTLESS TANGENTS THAT THE WRITERS LOVED TAKING US ON IN SEASON 6.

MOVE ALONG PEOPLE – NOTHING TO SEE HERE.

Renee arrives at Vossler's house and takes his wife and baby hostage at gunpoint. She handcuffs the woman to the table, not allowing her to tend to her crying child.

ADD THIS TO THE LIST OF UNCOMFORTABLE SCENES WE’VE HAD SO FAR THIS YEAR. AT NO TIME DID I EVER THINK THAT FRECKLES WAS EVER GOING TO HURT MRS.VOSSLER AND THE BABY BUT BEING A FATHER, I COULD IMAGINE MRS.VOSSLERS FEAR AND HELPLESSNESS IN THE SITUATION. FRECKLES DID A GREAT JOB OF CONVEYING THE INNER TURMOIL SHE WAS DEALING WITH. NICE ACTING.

Larry searches Vossler's location and Jack follows, crashing into Vossler's car. Vossler will not give up Henry's location, and Jack calls Renee who puts her phone on speaker. Vossler speaks to his wife, who is frightened. Renee goes to the baby out of the woman's eyesight with her gun, and Vossler is forced to confess to Jack where Henry us. Renee has tears in her eyes as she gives the woman her baby. When Vossler attacks Jack with a knife, Jack fights back but Vossler is stabbed in the stomach. Jack leaves him and hijacks a car on the street. He calls Renee and tells her about Vossler's death. She admits that she cannot handle this, and Jack asks if she wants out. She is determined to stay.

ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF MAJOR INTENSITY HERE. AGAIN – NO REAL THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY HARM DONE TO THE VOSSLER’S (AT THE HOUSE) AND NO REAL FEAR THAT JACK WOULD BE TAKEN OUT BY THE KNIFE (HE IS JACK BAUER AFTER ALL).

BRAVO TO RENEE FOR KEEPING HER INNER DEMONS AT BAY AND DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THINGS DONE.

ENJOYED WATCHING JACK STOP THAT GUY AND STEAL HIS CAR. THAT’S WHAT I CALL A CAR—JACKING!!! COME ON PEOPLE – I HAD THE SHOT SO I TOOK IT. I’LL BE HERE ALL WEEK. DON’T FORGET TO TIP YOUR WAITRESSES!

Ethan and Buchanan devise a plan to send a Matobo look-alike to Dubaku in order to buy time.

NOT THE WORST IDEA I’VE HEARD SO FAR TODAY….

Sean asks Larry why Homeland is lowering their security level when the CIP device is still at large. Larry brushes him off. Renee calls Larry and asks him to keep Vossler's death quiet. He is furious that she is going against the rules like Jack.

SO FUNNY WATCHING LARRY GET ANGRY…HIS FACE TURNS ALL RED AND SCRUNCHY AND HE STARTS HUFFING ABOUT. IT’S LIKE WATCHING A 7 YEAR OLD FREAK OUT BECAUSE HE CAN’T PLAY WITH HIS PLAYSTATION 3……OF COURSE HE AGREES TO DO IT BECAUSE IT’S FRECKLES AND HE CAN’T SAY NO TO HER.

Rosa calls "Samuel" and says that she knows that no one with his name has emigrated from Sangala. She threatens to tell Marika the truth unless he breaks up with her.

LOVED THIS CONVERSATION….COUNT DUKU ASKING HER – HAVE YOU TOLD ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THIS??? I’M YELLING AT THE TV – YES – TELL HIM YOU TOLD THE NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION, ALL YOUR FRIENDS, THE MAILMAN…..EVERYONE!!!! NOPE – AND WE KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS….ROSA IS DOOMED.

When the Matobo decoy arrives at the meeting site, Dubaku gives the order to blow up the car. Taylor watches in horror over the satellite.

SHE’S 2 FOR 3 NOW……TWO PLANES DOWN AND OUT AND THE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS AND THE DECOY OUT. SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN 3 FOR 3 IF NOT FOR THE BAUER BUNCH TAKING OUT COUNT DUKU’S LAIR…..OH YEAH – SHE’S NOT SURE SHE CAN TRUST JACK……(SHAKING HEAD)……ANY OTHER BRIGHT IDEAS MADAM PRESIDENT??

Jack and Renee meet at the location Vossler gave up behind a grocery store. Dubaku calls his men at the hideout and order them to kill Henry. Before they do anything, Jack and Renee raid the premises and a gunfight ensues. One of the guards shoots Henry in the chest. Jack rushes to his side and has Renee call for an ambulance.

OH DEAR. POOR HENRY. HE’S BEEN A REAL PUNCHING BACK FOR THE TERRORISTS SO FAR. AT LEAST THEY DIDN’T ENGINEER LATHUM HIM AND BLOW HIM UP. NOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY HARD TO SURVIVE…

I'm sorry folks but that's all I've got for ya this week. Hopefully the entertaining creativity will return in the coming weeks. I hope you are all around to find out. :)

24 Day 7 2pm to 3pm

I’m sorry but after having my doors blown off for the first 6 hours – this week’s episode was a bit underwhelming. Yes – lots and lots of neat stuff happened but it seemed to be more of a transitional episode than a game changer. Maybe I’ll be inspired as I make my way through the re-cap.

And off we go…


Day 7 2:00pm - 3:00pm

The Matobos are brought to Dubaku's hideout inside an office building. Meanwhile, Renee helps Jack, Tony and Buchanan infiltrate the building where they have tracked Matobo.

COMMENT: I’m liking Freckles as part of the team. I think she thrives on living on the edge. The question is how will Larry feel about her when she eventually returns as a changed FBI agent? I can’t wait for that exchange…”Time to grow a set Larry!”

At the FBI, Janis looks for potential firewall breaches and she sees weird activity over Kidron, Ohio. She calls the plant manager at a chemical plant there, and he mentions that his he has lost control of safety valves on toxic insecticide tanks. When he tries to shut down the tanks, they do not respond. Janis tells him to evacuate the premises. The President is briefed that half the town of Kidron would be killed by the plant leak.

COMMENT: In a shout out to Star Trek, the plant manager should have been wearing a red shirt since he’s not going to live past the 2nd commercial break…..

Janis pulls up the operating procedures of the tanks and walks the plant manager through releasing pressure on the valves. Unfortunately, it leaks the insecticide into the sealed room where the plant manager is. He sacrifices himself to save his workers.

COMMENT: Is it just me or do you think when they designed the place they should have designed the plant so that the manual pressure release valves weren’t IN THE SAME ROOM where the pressure FROM THE TOXIC GAS gets released? And if that’s how it is set up – how about a haz-mat suit somewhere REALLY close by just in case someone needs to manually release the pressure? If you want to have the plant manager die saving the town of Kidron, OH, can you come up with something a little better than that? Sheesh. Plant Manager Dude – we hardly knew ya!

Also – Janis seems to be taking it all so personally….oh yeah – I forgot….she’s weird!

Dubaku sees Jack and Tony entering his building. Fearing he will be caught, he orders the CIP module to be disengaged so that they can escape. At the FBI, Sean sees the firewall breach close. Janis notifies the plant manager, who says that the tanks are shutting down. Yet he is already infected and dies on the scene.

COMMENT: Doesn’t seem like Count Duku had a very good escape plan in place just in case his lair was discovered. He struck me as someone who is usually a bit more prepared for stuff….oh well.

As for Plant Manager Dude – bummer.

Btw – that is some SERIOUS insecticide. What exactly is it supposed to kill (besides plant managers)? Yikes.

Jack, Tony and Buchanan raid Dubaku's hideout in a shootout. Renee rescues the Matobos. The CIP device is destroyed. Dubaku grabs Latham, the captured engineer who built the CIP device, and rigs him with explosives. When Jack and his team find Latham, Dubaku sets off the bomb and escapes from the building.

COMMENT: Talk about a guy who has been bumming since the start of the day – poor Engineer Lathum. He and his daughter get hit by two trucks, he gets kidnapped and beaten, he builds this device that takes down two airplanes and instead of being let go when he is no longer of any use, Count Duku BLOWS HIM UP to cover his escape. Today would have been a good day to call in sick eh?

Ethan Kanin is annoyed because he cannot get in touch with Agent Gedge or Henry Taylor. With the national security threat still in place, Ethan reluctantly tells the President that her husband is missing after trying to drudge up information on their son's death.

COMMENT: My GOD – President Taylor annoys me. Not quite in the sniveling incompetent way that Charles Logan did but rather in the way she reacts to everything that happens like she’s 12. She tries to sound all serious and in control but it never works. I hate to say it (because it’s the ultimate insult) but actually – she IS like Logan - Charles Logan-lite.

Agent Vossler hears the Secret Service radio alert for Gedge and tries to call him. The ringing wakes Henry. Vossler holds Henry at gunpoint. Dubaku calls Vossler and orders him to bring Henry to him alive.

COMMENT: It’s about time Agent Vossler woke up and went to check on Gedge. How long did he think it was going to take to kill Samantha and frame Henry??? I mean – Hank (I refuse to refer to him as the First Gentlemen) and Gedge were out for quite a while after their tumble off the 2nd floor loft (Gedge much more so than Hank). You’d think he would have gone up for a quick looksie.

So now Hank’s been kidnapped and about to be turned over to Count Duku….Wow – the Henry storyline just keeps twisting and turning.

Jack convinces Buchanan that they need to bring in help from the feds to find Dubaku. He believes that Matobo can help them access President Taylor because they don't know who else they can trust. Matobo calls the President and asks to meet her privately at the White House. She is confused, but agrees.

COMMENT: “She is confused, but agrees.” Truer works have never been written. I have to admit to being a bit leery of Ethan. So far he’s given us no reason to think he is secretly a mole and that usually makes him the perfect candidate for that kind of thing. We’ll see.

Jack is surprised when Tony leaves instead of accompanying him with the Matobos.

COMMENT: No Tony? Why do I get the idea he somehow ends up back in the mix very soon? Because he's one of the main characters that's why!

Dubaku arrives at his apartment and there's a knock at the door. It is his girlfriend, an American woman named Marika, who calls him "Samuel." He hides his gun. She reminds him that he is supposed to come to her place for dinner. When she leaves, Dubaku calls Vossler to arrange for Taylor to be brought to him.

COMMENT: WHOA….A girlfriend for Count Duku. What a nice little twist. You know she’s going to end up in the middle of this mess when she comes by looking to borrow some sugar or something. Give the woman a red shirt!!

Just how long has he been in the country that he has a girlfriend and seemingly a whole life here?? Hmmm – that Count Duku is quite the evil dude.

So – looking back I have to admit there were some interesting moments this week. What’s going to happen when Jack/Bill/Chloe/Tony/Freckles (there’s gotta be a better name for them --- I'VE GOT IT...THE BAUER BUNCH!) get President Logan…ooops sorry……Taylor involved with their little group outside the government?

Although the episode seemed a bit FBI lite, we were treated to Larry going off on Sean for something trivial as he gazed longingly at a photo of Freckles on his computer as well as Janis bonding uncomfortably with the Plant Manager Dude. We can only hope for more of the unintentional comedy that is the FBI under Larry’s command.

So what’s next??

Two words – Hostage Henry!!

24 Day 7 - 1pm to 2pm

Day 7 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Larry expands the search for Jack and Tony because they abducted Renee. Sean intercepts a phone call saying that Renee can be killed because they don't need her.

IT IS A REAL HOOT WATCHING LARRY GET ALL BENT OUTTA SHAPE DUE TO THE ABDUCTION OF RENEE. HE KILLS ME….

EXPANDING THE SEARCH BECAUSE THEY ABDUCTED RENEE??? SHOULDN’T THEY BE EXPANDING THE SEARCH BECAUSE THEY HAVEN’T FOUND JACK AND TONY???

Buchanan and Chloe arrive at the construction site where Tony has sent them. They dig up Renee, who is passed out. Buchanan pumps her heart and injects her heart with adrenalin to start it. Renee breathes. They explain that they are working with Jack, outside of any agency to uncover Dubaku's breach of the U.S. government. They plan to use Matobo to get to Dubaku.

DEFINITE PULP FICTION MOMENT THERE WITH THE NEEDLE. GOTTA HAND IT TO RENEE FOR IMMEDIATELY WANTING TO CALL LARRY TO LET HIM KNOW SHE IS ALIVE….NOT SURE WHY SHE HAS SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING THE NEW MOTTO WHEN IT COMES TO THE FBI – TRUST NO ONE. (X-FILES IS IN THE HOUSE – WOOP WOOP!)

In the van, Jack asks Emerson why he hasn't told Tony how he got him out of CTU. Emerson says that he was helped by Christopher Henderson, who purposefully missed Tony's artery when he "killed" him. Henderson wanted Tony alive. Emerson says that Tony chose to stay with his team because he was angry about what the government did to Michelle.

SCARRED TONY REARS HIS HEAD….ALONG WITH EMOTIONAL TONY. WAS THAT A TEAR MRS.GEEK SPOTTED ROLLING DOWN HIS FACE? SO THEY SLOWED HIS HEARTBEAT DOWN SO IT “APPEARED” HE WAS DEAD….YOU’D THINK THEY WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE THOROUGH THESE DAYS TO MAKE SURE HE STILL HAD A HEARTBEAT – NO MATTER HOW SLOW IT WAS! JEEPERS.

When the van arrives at a hangar, Emerson grabs Jack from behind. Tony pulls his gun on Emerson, saying he doesn't want to kill the Matobos. Jack urges Tony to take the shot and he does so reluctantly. Tony rushes to Emerson's side to tend to his wounds. Emerson refuses to forgive him. He then dies.

OOOH – GURGLING BLOOD. MRS.GEEK IS NOT THRILLED AT THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT. UMMM – ABOUT THE WHOLE “PLEASE FORGIVE ME” LOOK TONY WAS WORKING ON RALPH WALDO…WHATS UP WITH THAT? DUDE WAS EVIL AND YOU TOOK HIM DOWN. I KNOW HE SAVED YOUR LIFE AND WAS YOUR BEST BUDDY (IN EVIL) BUT ENOUGH ALREADY – MOVE ON.


Jack calls Buchanan and tells him to come. He informs the Matobos that he is really working to stop Dubaku, and he needs to deliver both of them to Dubaku to get inside.

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PART OF THE WHOLE MATOBO SITUATION – MRS. MATOBO. SHE’S AWESOME. I HOPE SHE GETS TO HANG OUT FOR A WHILE.

Ethan advises President Taylor to prepare to pull back troops because they need Matobo's support, and he is now missing. She is firmly against this.

IT’S HOUR 6 AND I AM ALREADY SO DONE WITH PRESIDENT TAYLOR….HOW SAD IS THAT?? I MEAN I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE “CAN’T GIVE IN TO TERRORISTS” THING BUT DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE BASED ON REALITY – AND SHE SEEMS TO HAVE LOST THAT ABILITY. CAN WE RAISE DAVID PALMER FROM THE GRAVE? PLEASE…

Dubaku orders Nichols to dump all of Emerson's crew. With no caving from the President, Dubaku wants to next target an airplane heading for Washington. He calls the White House and tells Taylor to look out the window. She sees two planes collide and fall to the ground. He threatens to harm more if she does not comply. The President meets with the Cabinet, who all agree that they need to withdraw their troops because they cannot protect Americans from Dubaku. Taylor does not give in.

COUNT DUKU CHANGING THE RULES? HE’S DEFINITELY GOT SOME SPUNK (NOT AGENT FRECKLES SPUNK BUT THEN WHO DOES?).

UMMM – GOTTA SAY THAT WATCHING THE TWO PLANES COLLIDE AND FALL FLAMING TO THE GROUND WAS A LITTLE TOO REALISTIC FOR ME. MRS.GEEK AND I SAT THERE IN KIND OF A STUNNED SILENCE. IT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO WATCHING A NUCLEAR BOMB GO OFF IN LA A SEASON AGO. JUST SOMETHING YOU DON’T WANT TO ACTUALLY SEE ON TV.

WAS SOOOO HAPPY TO SEE THE SECRETARY OF STATE GO OFF ON THE PRESIDENT!! I AM SORRY TO SEE HIM GO (JUST BECAUSE HE SEEMED TO REPRESENT THE VOICE OF REASON) BUT I WOULD HAVE HAD NO RESPECT FOR HIM HAD HE JUST SAT BACK DOWN WITH HIS TAIL BETWEEN HIS LEGS. HE WILL BE MISSED.

Buchanan drives to the hangar. As Chloe fits Matobo with a transmitter, Jack tells Renee that she would have never believed him had he told her the truth earlier.

“I’M A STAY AT HOME MOM!” CLASSIC CHLOE. STILL WAITING FOR THE INEVITABLE CHLOE – JANIS THROWDOWN!

NICE TO SEE JACK AND AGENT FRECKLES GET SOME FACE TIME TOGETHER….AND NO FRECKLES – YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE BELIEVED HIM HAD JACK EXPLAINED THIS ALL TO YOU BEFORE HE PUT YOU IN A STRANGLE HOLD, KNOCKED YOU OUT, GOT YOU CAPTURED BY THE TERRORISTS, SHOT YOU IN THE NECK (INSTEAD OF THE HEAD), BURIED YOU UNDER A TARP AND LEFT YOU FOR DEAD….UMMM – SORRY.

In Samantha's condo, Henry Taylor sits on the couch paralyzed. When Samantha arrives home, she is surprised to see him there. He is unable to speak. Gedge stabs her from behind, as Henry watches helplessly. Ethan calls Gedge, looking for Henry. He is furious that Gedge allowed Henry to get near her, and Ethan orders him to return him to the White House. Gedge hangs up and puts Henry's fingerprints on the knife used to kill Samantha.

OTHER THAN THE INCIDENT WITH THE PLANES – THIS WAS THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE/INTERESTING STORY OF THE HOUR. NO MORE ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ FROM THE HENRY STORYLINE!!! WHO KNEW?? (THE WRITERS DID – THAT’S WHO!) GOING INTO THIS I WAS SURE THAT SOMEHOW SOMETHING WOULD GO WRONG WITH THE EVIL PLAN BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT MIGHT BE. WOULD SAM SURVIVE?? WOULD HENRY?? WOULD THEY BOTH??

ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS WAS ANSWERED IMMEDIATELY WHEN GEDGE PLUNGED THE KITCHEN KNIFE INTO SAMANTHA’S BACK……UMMM – GOTTA SAY THAT THE SOUND EFFECT WAS WAY TO REALISTIC….IT WAS ALSO QUITE FUN WATCHING HIM WIND UP AND PLUNGE THE KNIFE INTO HER CHEST….NOT…. I’M WINCING JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.

HEY – LOOK THERE…….HENRY MOVED HIS HAND!!

Tony greets Nichols at the hangar, telling him that Jack and Emerson are dead because he wants to keep the payment for himself. Tony hands over the Matobos. As Nichols' men are about to shoot Tony, Jack takes them out. Tony sends Nichols off with the Matobos. Chloe is tracking them.

I HAD FORGOTTEN FOR A MOMENT THAT NICHOLS AND HIS TEAM INTENDED TO KILL TONY AND THE REST OF THE GANG ONCE THEY HAD THE MATOBOS SAFELY TUCKED AWAY…..SO I WAS A LITTLE ANTSY WHEN THEY SHOWED UP WITH A SUV FULL OF MEN.

FEAR NOT FRIENDS!

JACK BAUER.
HIGH POWERED RIFLE.

NEED I SAY MORE??

Gedge rigs a rope to make it look like Henry hung himself. Henry musters up whatever strength he can and fights him. The two fall over the loft balcony, and Henry lands on Gedge, who is killed.

WAY TO GO HENRY!!!!!!! OR AS I WROTE IN MY NOTES……..HENRY – SWEEEET!! YOU MIGHT JUST ADD SOMETHING OF VALUE TO HOUR NUMBER 7 AFTER ALL…..I KNOW – I KNOW…AS ALWAYS (EXCEPT FOR SEASON 6) THE LESSON IS – TRUST THE WRITERS.

Annoyed that President Taylor will not give up, Dubaku sets up the next target -- a chemical plant in Ohio that, with a leak, will kill almost 18,000 people.

NOT.
GOOD.

WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR PRESIDENT TAYLOR TO REALIZE THAT STICKING TO HER PRINCIPLES IS ONLY GOING TO GET MORE PEOPLE KILLED??? INTERESTING THAT ETHAN AND HOMELAND SECURITY DUDE TIM ARE ALREADY QUIETLY WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS THE GOAL OF TROOP REMOVAL.

DO I SENSE SOME SORT OF IMPEACHMENT DOWN THE LINE?? ALL I KNOW IS THAT SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE.

THIS EPISODE WAS A LITTLE BIT FBI LITE. NOT MUCH OF LARRY, SEAN AND JANIS AND THEIR UNINTENTIONAL COMEDY. I’M SURE THERE WILL BE PLENTY MORE DOWN THE LINE….DON’T WORRY - I CAN WAIT.

I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT SO FAR I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS NEW SEASON. THE STORYLINE LINE HAS HAD ENOUGH TWISTS AND TURNS TO KEEP US ALL ON OUR TOES AND THERE HAS BEEN THE TEASE OF MUCH MUCH MORE.

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS?
-WILL PRESIDENT TAYLOR COME TO HER SENSES AND GET THE TROOPS MOVING OUT OF SANGALA??
-DOES SHE EVEN CARE WHERE HER HUSBAND IS??
-WILL TONY AND THE GANG GET THEIR HANDS ON COUNT DUKU BEFORE HE CAN DO MORE DAMAGE WITH THE CIP UNIT?
-WILL HENRY BE ABLE TO GET REVENGE (JUSTICE) FOR THE KILLING OF HIS SON??
-WILL HE REMEMBER TO GRAB THE MURDER WEAPON WITH HIS FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT BEFORE HE FLEES SAMANTHA’S APT??
-WHO IS/ARE THE LEAK(S) IN THE FBI?
-WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH SEAN?? WHY IS HE WEIRD?
-WHY IS JANICE SOCIALLY STUNTED? IS THAT HOW IT IS WITH BRLLIANT FEMALE COMPUTER ANALYSTS ON THE SHOW??
-BILL AND CHLOE TO THE RESCUE!!!!!
-WHAT IS THE TRUE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LARRY AND FRECKLES? PLEASE CONFIRM A PRIOR OR CURRENT RELATIONSHIP. I GET THE FEELING NOW THAT THEY DATED PREVIOUSLY, BROKE UP BUT STILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. HE’S STILL PINING FOR HER AND SHE DOESN’T WANT TO MAKE HIM FEEL BAD.

INQUIRING MINDS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW!!