24: Season 1, Episode 10: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Review

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Original Airdate: February 5, 2002
Writer: Lawrence Hertzog
Director: Davis Guggenheim

After the first payoff, 24 is quickly heading towards the next stage of its story. We learn a bit more about the conspiracy surrounding the day's events, or to be specific, hints and allusions about what this day is about. Things get darker too, as Palmer sees that the people who want to keep this story quiet will go an amoral route to do it. We say goodbye to Jamey Farrell this week, one of the recurring character deaths that would become a 24 trademark. And seeing Jack getting a break amidst an hour of letdowns increases the anticipation for the next episode.

One common complaint about the opening moments is the anticlimactic resolution to the last episode's cliffhanger. The writers brought that upon themselves. Nina and Tony couldn't answer the phone, nor could Gaines wait for three minutes to hear an answer. Although they could've done more about Gaines suspecting something was wrong as his contact isn't responding. It would've worked well dramatically, to have this cool, powerful man losing his power through the episode as another man is preparing to get his back.

The paramedics work trying to stabilize Jamey while Tony and Nina watch helplessly. Some nitpicked about how she was able to get medical attention within two minutes. Later in the series, they would incorporate an operational medical station to alleviate those qualms. Jamey is wheeled out in the least discreet manner through the center aisle of CTU. Nina informs them of what just happened, but reminds them of the job they have to do. It's effective since no one questions what lead to this.

Jack, maneuvering his way around the police barricades, calls for help getting out from the perimeter of cops looking for him. Meanwhile, Teri gets an opportunity to call up CTU, and is put on line simultaneously. However, before she can talk to Jack, Eli barges in. He's looking for the cell phone Teri took during the rape. Jack and Nina's side of the conversation is muted as Eli calls the women bad names (further fueling Jack's fire). Rick helps Eli by swiping his hands over a small piece of ground, keeping quiet when he sees the phone on a beam. With the line still open, Milo performs a trace.

Some aspects of this episode needed to be addressed quickly to set up the action. Lawrence Hertzog managed to explain it with the radio newscasters's voiceover, explaining what had just happened with Palmer and later describing his visit to the school. In their limo, Mike, Palmer and Sherry argue about Keith's story. While Palmer was preparing himself to deal with the story, Sherry's scheming convinced him to break the story. Despite the heated argument, when they exit the limo they project an image implying that nothing is wrong.

At CTU, the leads drop rapidly. Teri's trace is too vague and will take a half-hour to yield anything. Jamey's out and she erased many of her e-mails. Fortunately, Tony discovers a lead among Jamey's e-mails. The e-mail is decrypted, but they find a name, Ted Cofell, as the subject. It'll be their only usable lead. The clinic calls and informs Tony that Jamey died. Clearly, it affected Tony, who was hoping that somehow she could redeem herself and bring down these men.

When the coast is clear, Teri provides some information about their location, which helps them narrow their search. However, CTU, Teri and Kim are provided a scary few minutes as the police pull over Jack. This stop leads to a high-speed chase, while everyone else helplessly hears the engines blaring and the sirens shrieking over the phone line.

Jack is able to find a full parking lot, where he stoops around cars evading the police. This scene is potent considering that it is sunny and the parking lot is an open lot. Jack crawls under a car, where he finally gets to speak to Teri and Kim. The affect of knowing that he could be spotted adds to the emotional charge of this scene. However, Eli bursts in again, cutting this exchange short. He knows that the girls know where the phone is and now Jack and CTU listen as a scuffle breaks out between them.

Suddenly, Eli's phone starts beeping. He finds it on the beam, where Jack most awesomely tells him he's going to play "Which testicle do you want removed first?" Knowing who's on the phone, Eli furiously hangs up. Eli storms out of the barnyard of doom, where Rick convinces him that telling Gaines would be a bad idea because Eli would be in trouble for allowing her access to his phone. Afterwards, Jack asks to find out if they were able to get anything, but alas, they weren't. Halfway through the show, all their leads except for one seemingly minor one are gone. So this one would have to be a major development.

Jack manages to break into a beat up car and drive out of the parking lot undetected. Nina informs him of Jamey's suicide. Desperate, Jack begs her to give him anything. Luckily, Tony has some information about Ted Cofell, including that he's an investment banker working out of Burbank. This implies correctly that Cofell is the money man behind this attack. Jack heads over, advising Tony to keep Gaines unaware of Jamey's passing.

That order feels more to segue to the following scene, as Gaines tries to contact Jamey. Before he can get a response, he gets a phone call. The caller, who isn't afraid to call Gaines Ira or comment that he may be a poor leader, strikes fear into the otherwise cool mercenary. The caller is Mr. Drazen. Drazen is targeting both Palmer and Jack, so missing the opportunity to get them when they were in the same room is unacceptable. He and his brother are heading to LA to oversee the project. Gaines tries to assure Drazen that what happened was bad luck, but Drazen isn't entirely convinced. He threatens to void the pay Gaines stands to make, with the possibility of killing him if things became even worse.

Since he was first seen, Gaines had always been seen as the top man, always collected, even when his subordinates disappointed him. This time, he's panicked and visibly nervous talking to Drazen. Gaines is a professional; going after Palmer and Jack were business only. However, Drazen and his brother have a vendetta against these men. It had been hinted at in the previous hour that these Palmer and Jack were connected. This episode confirms that they are connected through the Drazens, but how is left a mystery.

Sherry, knowing what her husband plans on doing, calls Carl for help. He is sitting with a few business men, one of whom is smoking. This is an obvious sign that they're evil. Sherry advises that they try to convince Maureen to ditch the story, but Carl calmly tells her that he's taking car of Keith's predicament and that's all she needs to know. Since this alarms Sherry, you know the implication is bad.

Nina gives Jack some more information about Cofell, including that he may be the one who made the wire transfer Brigit demanded earlier. After he learns some basic information, Jack calls Cofell's office, only to learn that he is leaving for a flight at the end of the hour, obviously to crank up the urgency Jack has of getting to the only lead they have left.

Since Nina and Tony have been helping Jack too easily, that had to be stopped. Because of Jack's actions, a replacement named Alberta Green is being sent over. She worked with and apparently clashed with Nina when they worked together at division. Why they needed her instead of

While they are waiting for anything, Kim asks Teri why her dad moved out. Teri explains that a few years ago Jack went away on what she assumes was a mission. When he returned, he wasn't the same. Showing this explanation means that this is important with the various developments. Whatever made Jack distant and angry must involve the Drazens and Palmer.

Alberta Green arrives at CTU. This woman is focused on apprehending Jack, making Nina and Tony's assistance much more difficult. Alberta Green struck me as not much more as a substitute for Mason. I believe that Xander Berkeley must've been busy and they wrote her in to fulfill that type of role until he was available. However, there are moments where this works, as when Alberta talks to Nina in private about whether she knows about Jack's location. Both are women in considerable power, but Nina doesn't take the bait.

As Palmer talks to some kids at the photo op at the school, Mike gets an important phone call. It is from Frank Ames, one of the evil white men in the evil white men room earlier. He informs him that the other evil white men are planning to get rid of the problem by silencing Keith's therapist George Ferragamo permanently. Instead of doing anything to stop it, Ames is walking away from Palmer's campaign entirely. Although Palmer should've gone forward with this information right away, he gets Mike to get Carl.

Jack bursts into Cofell's office just as the financier is leaving for his flight. The elevator closes before Jack can get in, so he has no other choice but to descend the stairs furiously and aggressively while Cofell's elevator calmly goes down. The music is 24's best, thrilling and driving as Jack frantically follows the only lead he has. Setting off a fire alarm buys him some time (but doesn't create the need for an evacuation). Jack manages to get to the garage before Cofell, and somehow takes the place of Cofell's driver, either by ordering him or knocking him out.

Back at the farmhouse of doom, Teri suddenly winces, grabbing her stomach in pain. Many speculated what this was from, either her rape or a possible pregnancy. I don't think this cliffhanger holds up as well as if it ended with Jack poised for some payback. I'm surprised little was done in Kim and Teri's storyline this week after the first few acts. Kim could've confronted Rick on his cowardice, which could've gotten her killed and did allow her mother to be raped.

Otherwise, this was some good 24; suspenseful, action-packed and revealing. Jack gets to be as audacious as we love him being. After what he and his family has been through, it's time for some payback. Sweeping aside all the other leads helps add to the importance of Cofell. By the end of the episode we can't wait to see what that importance is and what Jack will do now that he has someone connected in his control.

Score: 9/10

24: Season 1, Episode 9: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Review

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Original Airdate: January 22, 2002
Writer: Virgil Williams
Director: Stephen Hopkins

Unlike many shows, 24 can't lose as much momentum as the story rebuilds following a pay off like the end of 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM. 24 has had a mixed history with these transitions, but this is one of the better ones. Because the pace slows down, we're allowed to see more character: Jack's vulnerability being stuck in a really bad situation and unable to help his family; Sherry keeping Keith's story quiet using her trademark manipulation; and Teri's love for Kim, proven in an honorable act of sacrifice.

It all begins with Palmer being led out of the plant following the incident. Meanwhile, Teri and Kim are brought back to the farmhouse of doom. Eli's stares are ominous hints to what he wants from Kim. Third is Jack, being taken to a room inside the plant where the head of security, Frank Simes, questions him about what exactly he was doing at the breakfast. Jack is honest, but he must've known that Simes wouldn't believe it. Although Jack has detailed knowledge about who's involved, Simes still has to follow protocol, leaving Jack in a tough situation he needs to get out of immediately.

In a nice directorial transition, they cut from Jack handcuffed to a chair to Jamey handcuffed in that dark room at CTU. Jamey tells them Gaines' name and that she was asked to tap CTU's surveillance. Since Nina can't be helpful stuck in the room, Jamey cuts this feed. This development only further frustrates Gaines, who was trying to locate the unreachable Jonathan, but Jamey is able to keep him relaxed enough to convince him that nothing is wrong and that she can get him Bauer

Of course, Jack's ability to be useful to Gaines again isn't easy, but he uses his keen observations to do so. While he is being escorted to a long day of interrogation, he sees the workers at the plant working on valves releasing steam. He quickly turns knob after knob, engulfing the room with steam and leaving the agents grasping to get him, unable to shoot out of the possibility of an explosion. He escapes the plant and finds a ride via imperiled waitress and soon to be cult icon Lauren.

Jamey's betrayal leads Tony to ask what her price was. After some impressive guesses, his disgust is heightened when she reveals that it was only $300,000. Those who terrorize and aid those who terrorize on 24 do so for many reasons; ideals, money, but Jamey's is the rare case where she helped them out of desperation. With her husband out of the picture, she's having a hard time keeping a good life for her son.

Jack manages to get the waitress into a construction site office, where he contacts Nina. He's shocked to hear that Jamey is the leak and further scared at what she shared with Gaines. However, he tries desperately to appeal to her. Since he is rogue, Jamey is the best chance they have of finding Gaines. Despite his offer to have this incident forgotten, she remains quiet. Jack knows what he has to do to get her to talk: bring in her son, Kyle.

Lauren, listening in to only Jack's side of the conversation, is obviously confused as to what's going on. Jack lets her know as much as he can say about the last few hours. This doesn't work. Though Jack tries to keep Lauren calm and assure her that he isn't going to hurt her, it doesn't work. She has problems too, which obviously are trivial compared to what Jack has faced so far. He gets her back in line before she can leave with the classic line summing up his day so far.

After this episode, Lauren became a popular character among fans, and we can see in this episode that her interactions with Jack reveal someone we hardly see otherwise. Because of 24's format, we aren't allowed to see more than few minutes of Jack in leisure activities. This break while he is waiting for his car shows us how interacts with ordinary people. In some ways, he can't relate like his inability to identify the bolt cutters later in the episode. Other ways, we see a man able to open up and show a man afraid for his family's safety.

Sherry and Palmer return to the hotel. With the first attempt quelled, they now have to figure out how to deal with Keith's problem since Palmer wasn't able to say it in his speech. Palmer's ready to accept and handle the story, but Sherry sees it as letting them take their son. He doesn't buy this plea, knowing that she should've gotten his help when it happened.

While on the phone, Tony apologizes for his ignorance to what Jack was dealing with, but Jack brushes it off because it was the right thing to do considering the circumstances. Also, Secret Service's intervention gave Jack the opportunity to get Palmer away from Jonathan's range. Though their relationship has been bumpy these first few hours, this conversation is a turning point in Tony and Jack's relationship. Not too long from now Tony will become the closest thing Jack has to a friend.

After their conversation, Jack asks Lauren to pick up a pair of bolt cutters from outside so he can free himself. While the last few episodes showed Jack gradually losing his control over the situation, these moments show him slowly getting it back. However, even at the end of the season he still doesn't fully recover from his helplessness.

As Palmer takes a much-needed drink, Novick informs him about the progress of the investigation and that Jack was taken in, but now missing. We had gotten some hints that this there was more to Palmer and Jack's connection than just Jack's assignment to protect him. While it's no surprise that Jack knows Palmer, Palmer faintly recollects knowing Bauer, or at least his name.

The darkest part of this episode occurs when Eli barges into the barnyard of doom, planning to rape Kim. Knowing what his intentions are, Kim fights him off successfully, until Teri intervenes and offers herself in her daughter's place. While it's tough to see this situation, it helps us understand how much she really loves her daughter. She'd be willing to endure a terrible situation so that her daughter won't have to live with it. Unfortunately, Kim still has to hear the muffled creaks from the next room.

In a dark room, Sherry calls Maureen to persuade her to hold on the story. While not directly saying so, she wants her not to tell the story at all, but that wouldn't fly. Instead, she offers her an exclusive scoop on the assassination attempt and the government's possible involvement. This is where we really see how manipulative and conniving Sherry can be. She's acting more for her self-interest and using incentives to get it.

Back at the barnyard of doom, Teri returns to a scared and upset Kim. Although Teri must feel like crying, she maintains her composure for Kim's sake. If they hope to make it out of there alive, they need to remain calm and hopeful that they will get their lives back. One thing that really helps is that Teri stole Eli's cell phone, which she uses to contact Nina at CTU. Unfortunately, she can't give them any information because the Asian guy comes in.

Keith, absent from the hotel earlier, returns, and appears to be in lighter spirits, largely because the story was kept quiet. Palmer has his lawyers working on the case. It doesn't faze Keith as much as it would've before the breakfast. Novick informs him that Maureen is dropping the story about Keith. Palmer knows that Sherry had something to do about it, but Sherry denies it.

Sometimes we can best share our feelings to strangers. While waiting for Jack's ride to come there, he opens up a little bit about his past. He used to do extensive field work, encountering horrible places and events, but none have scared him as much as this one. In all this time to sit on his feelings, it becomes too much. However, instead of exploding, he falls asleep, but not long enough for Lauren to leave.

Nina and Tony tell Jamey that they're bringing in Kyle to get her to talk. Even now, she still won't budge, despite the affects that this development has caused her. But she knows from working there what happens to relatives of those who testify against criminals. Of course, as the only link who could easily cause Gaines' operation to collapse, she can't give everything away this easily. She asks for a few minutes to think it over, giving her plenty of time to die.

Secret Service arrive at the site, and Jack asks Lauren to get the car for him. Considering the way he's been treating her, she would be hard pressed to believe that he was genuinely not going to hurt her when he got back. She heads to the police, alerting them to Jack's presence. Jack frantically runs to the car, driving off with Secret Service out of the way. He must've seen this coming.

Back at CTU, Milo has gathered enough to know that Jamey is in big trouble, so Nina and Tony decide to check in on her again to see if she's agreed to talk. However, when they open the door, they find Jamey's wrist cut and blood spilling profusely. Then Gaines calls. Jamey's unconscious and Nina and Tony look at the phone, confused as to what to do about it. They can't answer it, but if it isn't answered, he'll catch on to the problem.

Following the last string of episodes wasn't easy, but this episode does a good job. Slowing the action gave us time to see more character and possibly catch new viewers up who tuned in to the first of 12 straight weeks of the show. Though Teri's rape didn't pan out as much as the writers must've expected, it's still good to see Teri's love beyond talk. Lauren provided a good one off character, someone who allowed us to see more of Jack the person, but now things are still in shambles. Their only link is incapacitated and Jack is rogue. It's interesting how it all pans out.

Score: 8/10

24: Season 1, Episode 8: 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Review

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

Original Airdate: January 15, 2002
Writer: Joel Surnow & Michael Loceff
Director: Stephen Hopkins

Few writers would be able to keep the suspense and intensity of an assassination attempt going for the entire 24-hour arc without some payoff. 24 had some trouble during its first season, and if they lead the viewers along for the entire season, it would've certainly ensured cancellation. Luckily, they had built in this payoff. Throughout the first season, they emphasized the importance of this breakfast. It clearly lived up to its hype. Both the Palmer storyline and Jack's reach a major head and the result is extremely tense and suspenseful, a great example of 24.

The first moments establish the main action of the episode. Nina groggily searches for anything that can get her back to CTU so she can inform them about what she just experienced. Meanwhile, polls have opened in California. Politicians, journalists and labor leaders are preparing to get a glimpse of the senator. Unbeknownst to everyone, one of those people is assassin Jonathan, who informs Gaines he's on schedule. He manages to get in without a problem.

Palmer stands outside on his hotel balcony, obviously prepping himself to make what will be one of the most important speeches of his. Sherry steps out and asks if he's ready to go. He tells her that he is going to come forward about Keith before the press can. Neither she nor Keith is happy about this. Keith sees this as a political move. He doesn't believe that the public will see it as an accident. Palmer is more sure that Keith can't walk away from something as extreme as this, but that doesn't stop Keith from storming out.

Gaines, still controlling Jack, instructs him to get a briefcase from one of his associates. When Gaines refuses to tell him what is in it, Jack stops obeying for a moment. Gaines quickly reasserts himself by putting Teri, recently arrived to the compound, on the line. I really liked the shot from Teri's point of view, showing the lights peaking through the black cloth while we hear her whimper in fear. It's an effective way to show her emotional state at the beginning of the episode. Teri only says a few words, but it's enough to convince Jack to stay on track.

After Gaines orders Jack to the power station, he sends Jamey a message. On her way to read it, she bumps into Milo, grumpy over not given any meaningful work. It's funny now how much of a cult figure Milo has become when he wasn't that likable on first glance (although his sudden disappearance had a lot to do with that). In these early appearances, he is cranky. Never to the point that Chloe would reach in later seasons, but still noticeable.

In the bathroom, Jamey pretends she's checking her hair. When the other woman leaves, she heads to a stall to receive Gaines' message. Gaines asks if Milo knows the keycard is fake and if it's going to be a problem. When she tells him it won't be a problem. He informs her that Nina is dead and she should make up a story to explain her absence. Now this probably is the most off thing about this episode. Jamey didn't need to know about Nina's death. Although Gaines doesn't know Nina is still alive, when it turned out she was lying, she would be outed as the mole. We see that it has affected her as her hand slightly shakes as she puts the stylus back into the PDA.

Despite their plans, Gaines never intended on harming Teri and Kim before Palmer was killed. When Teri asks to see her daughter, he politely agrees (although his thugs still drag her and Kim into the barnyard of doom.) Their ordeal isn't over, but being together certainly eases their minds. Kim tells Teri about her ordeal and learns that her friend has died. This is where we see Teri's maternal side. It's still tough, yet Teri provides a source of support for Kim.

Aside from all the good drama it later provided, keeping Nina alive gave us a venue to tell CTU what Jack was doing. She manages to find a farmhouse with a working phone, where she calls Jamey, to no answer and then Tony, who does. Nina tells him about her situation. She doesn't say how she got to East Hollywood, and the bizarre request not to let anyone know she's alive frustrates Tony to the point where he threatens to bring it to Chappelle. Then he hears Jamey mention that Nina told her that she would be out all day. Nina puts it together and realizes that Jamey is the mole Jack warned him about earlier.

Meanwhile, Pierce grills Jack at the security check in. Pierce requests that Jack open the briefcase Gaines' thug gave him twenty minutes earlier. We don't know what is in it, but it has something to do with the assassination attempt. Jack doesn't know what to expect either, but has to comply. These moments feel much longer until it is revealed that they only find the laptop, while we remain in the dark about the sniper rifle underneath.

With that obstacle passed, Jack runs into a member of Palmer's press team, an old high school friend of Jack's. Gaines quickly tells him to separate. He obeys, but Jack is still working on his plan to prevent the assassination. As Jack walks around, he and Palmer catch each other's eye for a moment. This moment where the two heroes of the piece meet is well done. One of my favorite things about 24 is the interactions between these two characters and this moment is a good starting point.

Teri lets Kim nap briefly when Rick stops by with some breakfast for them. There's immediate tension as Teri knows that he kidnapped Kim, but before he can tell her that he was too much of a coward to do anything, Eli comes in to get him. As they leave, he makes a remark about how Rick shouldn't make friends since they won't be around for long. Teri gets the meaning behind that Gaines' promise was a lie and starts to think of a way to protect Kim when from knowing too much.

We see despite his situation, Jack is still determined to protect Palmer while making it appear to be casual. He runs into his old friend again, and tries to warn her about the situation. Gaines is obviously smart enough to know what's going on, and sends Jack into one of the medical room away from the action.

Nina returns to CTU, where Tony sneaks her into a "dark" room, where she updates him about the current situation. Tony urges that secret service be alerted. For the first time, Nina has to make a decision against Jack. Despite her belief that Jack wouldn't do anything to hurt Palmer (which she is mostly correct about), their assignment has been to protect Palmer first.

At the medical station, Jonathan arrives and pulls up the laptop, revealing the gun parts Jack has to assemble. This is to make sure Jack's prints are all over the weapon. Jonathan doesn't care much about if people will believe Jack did it. As he walks out, Jack pulls his gun, but even he must've known it would be pointless. If Jonathan dies, then Teri and Kim die.

Tony and Nina hatch their plan to root out Jamey without arousing suspicion from Gaines. Tony tells Milo that the real card was found. Whether that was true, it puts the pressure on Jamey. As she goes to the women's room to inform Gaines about this development, Tony sneaks in when the camera loops turns away from them. This is a major turning point for Tony's character. Before that, we've seen him as someone who constantly clashed with Jack and Nina's loyalty toward him. Now we see a commanding other side to him.

Following CTU's assessment, Pierce tries to convince Palmer to leave the plant before anything can happen. However, Palmer needs to come forward about Keith, so he agrees to cut some of the mingling, but keep his speech. It wouldn't be any fun if Palmer wasn't directly in harm's way, would it? And as Palmer is introduced, Jack frantically tries to find something in the medical station he could use. He can't and time is running short. How can he save Palmer and protect his family?

Meanwhile, Tony takes Jamey to the room where Nina is located. This obviously freaks out the uncovered rat. At first, her feigned innocence doesn't hold against Nina and Teri's threats of treason charges. While she gives some information, she remains quiet about Gaines until she is given agency council. Jamey could be a valuable tool, but will they be able to do something in time?

It's showtime. Both Palmer and Jack's stories culminate in this moment. Jack is ordered to walk to Jonathan's location, where he'll be handed the gun after Palmer is shot. Jack doesn't believe this demand, but Gaines reminds him of what is at stake. Before he can get there, a secret service agent stops him. A few hundred feet away, Palmer is delivering his speech to an enthusiastic crowd and decides to tell them. But before that can happen, Jack reaches for the agent's gun, creating pandemonium as agents tackle Jack and Palmer is whisked out.

Gaines, feeling that Jack deliberately sabotaged the mission, orders Eli to kill Teri and Kim immediately. As things become crazier at the power plant, Teri and Kim are dragged out to shallow graves, confirming that Gaines was going to kill them regardless of how Jack acted. It is a tense few moments, but Jamey pulls out enough to save them. Calling Gaines, she convinces him that Jack was picked up for breaking protocol. It's enough to give Gaines incentive to give his family a last second reprieve. Now Jack is in custody and we're left wondering what can happen next.

Once you catch you're breath, you're dying to find out what happens next. This is what happens when 24 is at its best. For the entire hour, the tension doesn't ease. It almost made me uneasy (but that could've been what I had for dinner the first time I saw this). And those final minutes are a doozy.

Score: 10/10