24: Season 4, Episode 24: Day 4: 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM Review

Day 4: 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM
Original Airdate: May 23, 2005
Writer: Robert Cochran & Howard Gordon
Director: Jon Cassar

I had hoped that they would be able to pull together a fine finale. After a few too many awkward episodes in the middle, it frustrated me to see such stalling and preaching. My faith was certainly rewarded. The last third was good, but the finale was great. Even with the main plot solved in the first two acts, the episode is exciting and serves as a bridge to season five.

Logan prepares to sign Mandy's pardon when Agent Pierce enters. He informs them that the woman they are about to pardon attempted to assassinate Palmer at the end of season two. This instance shows why Pierce has become a likable character among die-hard 24 fans. Though he serves Logan, he is still fiercely loyal to Palmer. But what really shows character is Palmer's firm consent to sign the pardon. This is the Palmer we know and love. Despite the harm he caused to his life, it's nothing compared to millions of lives.

Once her immunity is confirmed, she tells them that Marwan is now preparing to chopper out of the city. They race downtown where an impatient Marwan can't wait for Mandy any longer. Before they can get in the air, Jack choppers out of a plot friendly wormhole and hovers overhead. Now, why doesn't Marwan kill himself there, like many of his associates? This helicopter ride into international waters is mysterious, or could be a plot hole.

It could further support the theory that some master group is behind this like the other threats, but kept quiet to avoid a gapping loose end like in season two. Mandy seems to be a freelance terrorist, but she could reply to some mysterious boss. This group could've demanded that Mandy be flown out, since we know the missile was heading for LA.

Jack succeeds in killing the motor, which leaves Marwan and his pilot on the run. They need him alive to learn where the missile is heading. Before Marwan exits, he shoots a tracking device. Curtis, Jack and another red shirt follow them, killing the pilot before entering a parking complex. The red shirt proves his use by dying. Curtis gets shot, but is OK.

Jack takes advantage of Marwan's shifted focus (and his reloading) to shoot his ankle. Despite this injury, he still drags himself over one of the parking lot railways. Jack hangs onto him, but Marwan's free hand grabs a knife and slashes Jack's hand. He can't hold him and so one of 24's most recurring villains falls to his death. It's a shame that despite this massive appearance he didn't get to do more than just run from CTU.

Logan continues to berate Palmer for Marwan's death, although Marwan was likely not going to talk. While they argue Su, the acting Chinese consul, interrupts to inform them that they have a confession and they want Jack in custody. Palmer doesn't want to hand Jack over, considering what he's done. Walt, the aide that was a little suspicious earlier when Logan first assumed office, implies that they should whack Jack to protect security secrets. To borrow a common phrase: these guys don't know Jack. Palmer does, and he argues against these seedy politics. Logan reluctantly says no.

They find what Marwan shot before leaving the helicopter. It's damaged, but hardly enough not to give them enough missile information within minutes. Chloe and Edgar discover that it is a flight pattern. The missile is heading straight for LA. Considering every other operation has taken place there, it seems fitting to destroy it as the end. F-18s are able to find the missile and take it down. Now it may have been a little anticlimactic to hype this missile only to have it discovered and shot down within minutes, but this episode serves more to establish what season five will be.

The field agents walk back into CTU triumphant, but still deal with resolving their relationships. For the last half of the season, Michelle and Tony's relationship has been parallel to Jack and Audrey's. It's fitting that they're resolved in back to back. Tony and Michelle end happily, a rarity on 24. Despite some of their choices, it doesn't matter since it's over and they're safe. However, Audrey breaks up with Jack. It is the right decision. Audrey can't handle the decisions Jack has to make and whether Jack likes it, he is born to be in the field.

One of the best relationships on the show is between Palmer and Jack. Both men have gone through a lot in service of their country and can truly understand what that takes. Palmer is one of the few friends Jack has. He warns Jack that secret service is coming to place him in custody for the raid. The former president assures him that he will make it his mission to return him to America.

What Palmer doesn't know is that Slimeball Walt is talking with a secret service agent about a contract on Jack's life. It's almost as if this is the Mafia. Luckily for Jack, Novick listened in on the whole conversation. Novick this season was always helpful this year for Palmer, but never did anything to redeem himself for his betrayal in season two, until now.

Logan is such a loser: a half-hour earlier he was chiding Palmer for irreversibly messing up the mission, now he is basking in victory and taking the main credit. "You played a role," he tells Palmer. And what did he do? He sat in some room watching TV and taking phone calls. Palmer's the better man by not calling attention, but he can't ignore Logan's oblivious nature to Walt's dirty work. He defames Palmer's presidency and says that he doesn't want to have that type of scandal. Palmer knows that Logan doesn't want to hear of any scandal. Logan kicks him out of the bunker, even though he couldn't be more right. Again, this is the Palmer we love. If only he was in charge in stead of these nitwits.

Palmer warns Jack about what's happening. Tony tells him that it is unfair to be punished for the raid. Simultaneously, Buchanan lets the secret service agent enter. He defends Jack's actions and tells him that he wants to keep him until he is debriefed. However, Jack has already set his contingency plan in motion. He hit Tony and escaped. While the secret service agent goes out to find him, Tony goes along with him. They find Jack in a room and a small firefight ensures. It stops suddenly, and Tony discovers Jack's lifeless body. Tony breaks down and lashes at the secret service agent. Michelle and Chloe join overlooking his body.

This show still has some surprises, even at 96 episodes. Tony pulls out a shot of epinephrine and revives Jack. It was all a scam. They plan to switch out the bodies. This plan doesn't need much else since all those who enacted this plan wanted was him dead.

Unfortunately, such a plan deceives many people Jack knew, including Audrey. She can't handle the full story, especially after already losing her husband. One must wonder who Jack will inform of his faked demise. Kim certainly must be on that list. But it can't be too many.

Tony and Michelle sneak Jack off CTU and into a nearby railroad track. It's a bittersweet goodbye. They've been able to find a new identity for Jack so he can live beyond the border and a scrambled cell phone, but unfortunately, they can't do much else besides say goodbye. Especially with their line of work, they don't bond much with others, but they've clearly bonded a lot in all the time they've known each other and the crises they've faced.

Of course, you have to mention Palmer among this band of agents. Jack finds a secret spot and says goodbye to Palmer. Since Jack is dead, they can't keep in touch. This will likely be their last conversation. It is another emotional one of gratitude and respect among two important characters.

Hanging up, our hero puts on shades and walks, ironically, into the sunrise.

"Day 4: 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM" could've been the series finale and I would've been satisfied. It felt like one. Jack has said his goodbyes and ventured into the unknown. They've "killed" Jack, which works as a finale staple, even if the death was figurative. But this also serves to set up what will happen next. I can't wait until January to find out.

Score: 9/10