24: Season 5, Episode 18: Day 5: 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM Review

Day 5: 12:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Original Airdate: April 17, 2006
Writers: Howard Gordon
Director: Brad Turner

I heard a rumor that one of the many incarnations of the concept for the 24 movie was going to be based on the events of this episode. They certainly could've been rewritten for more closure: Jack could've killed/incapacitated Henderson and secured the tape, making Heller's confrontation of Logan a success. However, what fun would that ending be? Luckily, the pace in this season has been so fast that they now have six more episodes to tackle this subject.

It's good that Jack is getting Wayne help from the ousted Buchanan. He has proven to be an effective ally for Jack's, and being out of CTU/Homeland's loop makes him a great person to take care of Wayne. Where Wayne is headed isn't said, but hopefully he'll survive the bloodbath this season to be president a few seasons down the road. Why he isn't staying around until it's over isn't clear either, but perhaps the gunfight last week made him realize how dangerous it was and decided that Jack was best equipped to avenge his loss.

With Buchanan gone and Audrey in the field with Jack, Chloe was vulnerable to Karen and her slimy toadie Miles, who has been eager to get her since he stepped in the office. The big surprise is Shari playing a significant role in this, even catching Chloe off guard. She doesn't care for Miles, and appreciated Chloe standing up for her. So why would she align herself with them? Perhaps even with the sexual harassment allegation, Shari still felt she was susceptible to Homeland's penchant for filing out pink slips.

Jack would've been proud seeing Chloe sneak out of CTU, from grabbing Miles' key card (after this day all employees should get theirs surgically fused to their bodies) to swiping the CTU laptop. It culminates with her confrontation with Shari, where she utilizes the information she knows about Shari's instability to buy her freedom. While I was apprehensive about Shari's neurosis, it has been utilized in the story.

I am really digging the CTU A-Team of ousted members. It's safe to say that they'll do more for the investigation than Homeland. The idea of the counter conspirators all working covertly is like Jack going rogue to the extreme. Although that dashes the clashes between our heroes and the bureaucratic leaders, the "Us vs. them" dynamic is still there because they aren't far from being detected.

Henderson has topped Gaines as far as best villain is concerned. He is Jack's match: the man who taught him everything he knows about being an agent, including how to get results. Jack would probably be the only other person who would consider severing a person's artery to get what he wants out of someone (granted, Jack would sever a bad guy's artery).

During this scene, it looked like Audrey was going to die. It is rather surprising that Henderson didn't just kill Audrey as soon as he got the evidence, much like he planned to do (and presumably did) to Evelyn. He was shooting at Jack and Audrey stood in between them. Why not finish at least one loose end?

Logan's plan, according to Jack's analysis of the tape, is another example of how well the writers have been making up the story as they go along. It adds to the explanation as to why he insisted on signing the treaty even as the hostage situation was still underway. The treaty helps the "patriots" enact their plan to seize control of oil operations. It's too bad none of Jack's toys include anything that could rip that recording into an MP3 file, but he didn't expect Heller to throat punch him and take control of this operation.

Although we have reason to be outraged at Heller's behavior, he has a good point: Jack's plan is potentially devastating. We know Jack wants to impale Logan with the American flag, but a public outing of this would shake America possibly worse than almost anything we've ever faced. Unfortunately, Heller doesn't allow Jack any opportunity to formulate a back up plan, which costs them their biggest piece against Logan.

That's not to say seeing Heller chew Logan out wasn't a blast to watch: one a man of backbone and true patriotism, the other a spineless weasel using patriotism to justify all the horrible things he's responsible for this day. It's a shame that Mitch Anderson from last season didn't knock off everyone ahead of Heller in line for presidency, but where would the fun in this season be? Heller knocks Logan down several pegs, but not enough for Logan to admit defeat.

The hatred I have for Logan is palpable. Henderson's immaculate timing in getting the recording buys Logan time, and he uses it to turn it against Heller and discredit any thought that he may be hiding something. It comes at a great time, as many of his staff members and Martha are aware that things aren't right for a nation supposedly outside of crisis.

Novick suspects something when the army unit supposedly sent to pick up Bauer is ignorant of any such order. Although he can't peg anything on his boss, Novick knows something is up (how many times do you think he's thought that he betrayed the wrong president?) Even Karen doubts the president with his suspicious reassignment of his special forces to pick up Jack instead of her own, who are far closer. Considering Logan wants Jack arrested for evidence he hasn't given to Karen, she should hopefully act on these suspicions.

Martha is curious, and Logan knows from earlier that can be disastrous, which leads to MIA Aaron, leaving many fans worried. This is especially effective since the show has been ruthless this season. However, I don't think that the worst has happened. Aaron, besides Jack, is the only surviving member of the all 5 seasons club. If Aaron is to die, he deserves an on screen demise. Hopefully Aaron survived and disappeared, only to return at the critical moment when a good guy is about to be killed and save the day.

Logan should've used the Chinese excuse from the onset to get Jack. Now, it seems a little weak considering that Jack has been the lead investigator behind the hunt for the nerve gas. With only a few episodes left, this factor can be a big part to keep the conspiracy from losing steam. Thankfully they haven't forgotten about it, despite not mentioning it most of the season.

With only six episodes left, 24's 5^th season hits one of its best episodes of the season. While the major attack may have been averted, the conspiracy and personal stakes are at a personal high. Logan certainly gets the blood boiling, which makes Jack's race to bring him downand save the country, while simultaneously dealing with a major figure in his past, more compelling.

Oh, and that split screen to close the episode was cool.

Score: 9/10

24: Season 5, Episode 17: Day 5: 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM Review

Day 5: 11:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Original Airdate: April 10, 2006
Writers: David Fury
Director: Brad Turner

Fury had a daunting task coming into this episode. With the revelation that Logan is bad, he had to make it believable and fitting for the story and his character, and not another lame shock for shock's sake. Thankfully, it wasn't an early sign of a negating the character development we've seen. They preserve Logan's character as a man of weakness without suddenly rewriting him as some uber villain for Jack to deal with. Logan is still a weasel, passing blame for Palmer's assassination on Henderson.

Of course, Logan has to dig himself deeper by implicating Jack in Palmer's assassination with no evidence. I can almost imagine him whipping out a confession written in crayon with the "R" in Bauer backwards. That's the only choice he has, unfortunately for him. Jack now knows what Logan's real agenda is, and he must be silenced before he can bring him down. However, springing this bogus evidence isn't sold on CTU, at least for Karen, even if they have to enforce it. Of course, she doesn't know Logan's involved, but Logan's reluctance to elaborate on the so called evidence he has is suspicious.

Gardner and Aaron also smell something fishy with Logan's behavior. While Aaron can remain a strong ally in Jack's counter conspiracy, they will now have to craft Gardner's character differently. Before the final moments of the last episode, Gardner was largely antagonistic and suspicious. Now that he's cleared, will we see a different side? It depends on what will happen when Logan is outed as a traitor.

Martha is still in the dark, but we see a seed of doubt in this episode, as Logan isn't quite out of earshot when Henderson calls him. She has been an interesting character all season, but recently her role has been diminished a bit. I can't wait to see how she reacts to what her husband has been doing.

Although what has happened today is the brainchild of Logan, Henderson's status as the big bad this season remains untouched. Rather, they kick it up when he presumably murders both Evelyn and her young daughter. It's doubtful that Henderson would allow them to walk away from what they've seen. However, is there more to this story? Martha must find out soon that her personal assistant and daughter were killed. One possible outcome of this is that Henderson could frame Jack and/or Wayne for their murders when it becomes clear that they won't be silenced.

There has been a lot of comparison between Karen and stubborn CTU heads of the past. However, this week, we see something different: her admittance that replacing CTU was a mistake. This was answered with a resounding "Duh!" by the audience, but it is a step in the right direction. On the note of replacing workers, what about Curtis? He's been MIA since Jack emerged from the ruins of the plant, is Bierko still headed to CTU or is Curtis back and dealing with it off screen?

Chloe and Miles' rivalry is also fun, even with the new James Bond soundtrack ("Chloe's Theme"). I almost expected Miles to shout "Chloe!" when she managed to corrupt the satellite signal and get to the bathroom before Miles could get there. Anything to give these knuckleheads a hard time.

Audrey is certainly a smart ally for Jack to have, as she smoothly moved the transponder to the utility truck when Chloe discovered it. Audrey has come a long way from being a bit annoying with limited story potential last season. In the wake of many beloved characters dying off, characters like her have stepped up. It does make up for her not getting her father involved.

Finally they got Heller involved. With all the things that have been happening, it is odd how they wouldn't get him earlier. However, we learn that he was in Japan (or on a show on ABC, your pick), so that explains why he couldn't come straighten things out at any point during the day. Now, Heller is their only hope when it comes to a high ranking government official, the history between them (obviously for Audrey) helps a lot.

On that note, why didn't Jack call Curtis or Buchanan to help with the Evelyn situation? They couldn't take her to a hospital because of Henderson and his men and she would've bogged down Wayne and Jack going to the bank, but couldn't they leave her with someone safe? Also, why have Wayne get the room? He's by far the highest profile of the three adults and such an incident would draw some attention.

The bank manager is a big bummer for the episode, especially since the wound he sustained didn't look nearly bad enough to kill him as fast as it did. He's the latest in the series of civilians who find themselves unwittingly involved in the terrorist plot or conspiracy. When he realized what was happening, he only wanted to help, and unfortunately, that cost him. He probably could've locked himself in the vault, but Henderson's men could possibly break into the safe with their equipment. I wonder if there will be any fall out for this action or if anyone will untie the guy's poor wife.

Getting the LAPD involved to distract Henderson's men is morally questionable, as they are essentially leading cops to their deaths, but they are stuck in an impossible situation. Jack and company need to get out of there and there is very little way they can do that without costing lives. They can't get the military involved since they are looking for him. Ultimately, the blood is on Logan and the conspirator's hands, for placing Jack in that situation.

The end of the episode doesn't drop a major bombshell as last week, but it shouldn't. The mere fact that they are ready to go against the president is enough of a cliffhanger to end the episode. Granted, we still have a ways to go before the end, so Logan isn't likely going to go down just yet. How can this complicate enough to take us back to 7 AM?

Score: 8/10

24: Season 5, Episode 16: Day 5: 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM Review

Day 5: 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Original Airdate: April 3, 2006
Writers: Manny Coto and Sam Montgomery
Director: Jon Cassar

With no more nerve gas, 24 had to continue the urgency frequent in the 15 episodes preceding it. Luckily, they have a major conspiracy to topple in 9 hours. The final minute reveals the deepest layer behind the conspiracy, one that may be considered a cheat, but has largely been seen as a genuinely good surprise and an interesting angle to finish the season.

It's no surprise that Jack survived the blast (albeit without some cool burn on his face). Bierko surviving is different. While this could indicate that the writers have something planned for him, they could easily have spared him because of what they could possibly do with him later.

Since the gas crisis is over, Homeland Security now feels ready to absorb CTU. While to some degree this makes sense, overhauling personnel is going to be costly to CTU's operational capability. The nerve gas attack was a devastating blow, but as Buchanan said earlier, they want to fight back. Considering Henderson is still on the run and Jack knows that there are higher ranking conspirators at large, it would make sense to keep those who can work on so they can work alongside Homeland Security.

The absorption is made worse when Miles tries to get Audrey to turn against her friends by signing the incriminating form. Obviously, she wouldn't betray those she's worked alongside all day and those she's known for some time unless she was forced. Audrey is in an impossible situation, and ultimately has to betray Buchanan so Chloe can stay and work with Jack. This tactic seeks to divide and conquer CTU and it appears to have worked for now. But still, why wouldn't Audrey get her father involved?

The lack of continuity from Wayne being incapacitated last episode to functional with a mild wound to his hand this one is frustrating, but considering what they do with his character, it is forgivable. Since Tony died, there hasn't been anyone else (besides Jack) closely connected to those who died in the beginning of the season. Wayne's presence reminds us of what has been lost, refreshing our desire for them to get justice. It's stuff like this that shows that what happened at the beginning of the season wasn't just a cheap stunt.

Wayne reveals that Evelyn, of all people, knows the truth about what killed David Palmer. This seems a little weird considering how she probably should've been fired several time from being Martha's assistant. Logistics (including why Evelyn would have a house in LA) aside, it's unclear how long Henderson has had Amy and whether that has affected how she's worked today. Wayne and Aaron are right in assuming that Henderson will kill them after they have the evidence and of course, the only person they know to call is Jack. Having these three working together to avenge Palmer is great to see.

After the wackiness of his season three plotline, DB Woodside, like many cast members, is getting time to shine this season. Jack and Wayne play off each other very well. Wayne wants justice/revenge, but Jack knows that it takes something to kill someone (if anyone knows that, it's him). Of course, Wayne is in position where he has to kill someone for the sake of their mission. It turns out that he does have it.

Gardner does about everything possible in the suspicious red herring playbook, from lurking in the shadows to his surprise that Wayne made it to the compound (despite authorizing it, perhaps this scene was originally written for Logan) to gutting CTU to the editing choice at one of the act breaks that made it look like Henderson and Gardner were talking. Considering all this sneakiness, it would be too obvious to have him be the one behind what's happened today.

Evelyn refuses to divulge what she knows to Jack and Wayne, giving us the cliffhanger at the end of the episode. What could've been a simple rescue mission becomes more complicated when Evelyn is shot in the leg. Since they know at the end that Logan is behind the conspiracy, they can't drop her off at a hospital while they pursue whatever leads they can to get Henderson. It places them in a difficult position where almost all of their allies are dead or unable to provide significant help, while the leader of the country is the least trustworthy of all.

Of course, the final twist has been the most dissected bit of the episode. Having Logan be the mastermind behind it all saves us from the obvious Gardner angle, but does this twist really work or is it another instance of the writers pulling something out of their hats? Throughout the season, Logan has been a character who couldn't make a decision about what to watch on TV, much less anything involving national security. How could he be behind the American conspiracy?

There is a way to explain it without throwing out all the characterization we've seen so far. From the beginning of this season, Logan has been obsessed legacy. As Walt said earlier, the nerve gas was never meant to be used on Americans, but specially activated later. Averting a major attack would be a significant boost to his standing as president. However, things didn't play out that way: the Russians found out they were being set up and turned the tables. Since then, Logan has been doing damage control. They won't have to rewrite much of his character. Logan has always been weak, and that can lead to cutting corners and they have dire consequences. Is also explains why Palmer wouldn't want to speak with Logan directly about what he knew.

The hierarchy of this conspiracy is worth discussing, since those at the bottom (Walt) didn't know who was really in charge (Logan). Nathanson hinted that he may have known, but only Henderson directly contacted Logan about their plans. Clearly, this is meant to protect Logan.

While some may cry foul over the latest development, this season has been so well done, they can clearly handle it in a way that continues the intrigue and suspense we've seen so far. It is frustrating how some of the characters are behaving, but it fits well for the show, giving us more reason to root for our heroes.

Score: 8/10

24: Season 5, Episode 15: Day 5: 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Day 5: 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Original Airdate: March 27, 2006
Writer: David Ehrman
Director: Jon Cassar

While this episode finishes the nerve gas threat, it is still a transitional episode, since the American conspiracy is what will drive the story for the rest of the season. It's doubtful that there are any more tricks up the Russian's sleeves, so now it is up to Jack to disarm a major conspiracy while maneuvering around a back up plan set to distract him.

Since Collette claims she can identify Audrey, why doesn't Jack have Chloe, Shari or even Karen pose as Audrey and trick her into identifying the wrong woman? Sure, that type of trick is cliché, but it is a classic for a reason. However, if that happened, we wouldn't have the opportunity to vilify Homeland Security for torturing Audrey.

Things between Jack and Audrey were going to be tough after Collette's bombshell, but things are worsened when Chloe informs him that Audrey shared a hotel room with Walt. This intimate connection shakes Jack, and likely makes him less sympathetic to her. However, Jack quickly figures that she was embarrassed over her affair and not complicit. There's no reason for him to be mad at her: she wasn't aware of Walt's duplicity when they were involved (Jack can relate to that), and she believed Jack was dead when the affair happened. Although they resolve their problem by the end of the episode, their complicated relationship goes through several phases in the course of an hour. However, the lingering issue over their heads is Jack's Chinese involvement. Would Audrey be willing to go into hiding with him? Initial reports indicate yes, but that could change as there are still 9 episodes left.

Despite Jack believing that Audrey is innocent, Karen sees it as Jack letting his sympathy get the best of him. The writer wisely calls back to how Jack was misled by Nina back in season one and this could be a similar instance. While this is a reasonable point, it seems that to be a high ranking CTU official, you must doubt Jack's instinct to determine whether someone is guilty no matter how many times you're proven wrong.

Jack becomes aware that Audrey's implication is a major distraction, and realizes that they need to get information out of Collette, despite her having immunity. Considering how easily they find that Collette was in contact with Henderson, you wonder why Karen didn't sign off on it (or Jack thought of it) earlier. The actual interrogation is good, but the real treat was when Jack took the guard's gun and handed it back to Buchanan afterward, saying he'll be looking for it.

It's worth noting in this episode shows just how powerful Henderson really is. The higher ranking members of the conspiracy are the generals, and Henderson is the highest ranking soldier, allowing the "generals" to claim ignorance if he's caught. Henderson has interacted with Collette (thinking out how this works would ruin the fun) and is in charge of the soldiers looking for Wayne, who were obviously allowed in by those higher up. The evidence is damning for Vice President Gardner, who knew about Wayne's arrival shortly before the attack.

I had one problem with Aaron's storyline this episode, besides the lack of screen time. Since it didn't take him long to find Wayne, why didn't they just go back to the compound instead of lurking through the woods back to the black ops van, where several trained soldiers were waiting with a variety of weapons? They would've been toast if they didn't leave the keys in the ignition. While it doesn't look good for Wayne, he survived the initial ambush for a reason. We don't know exactly what information he has, but that is likely what will ensure his survival (I usually don't like it when they bring someone back just to kill them off).

One thing that worries me is the new Shari. Granted, Kate Mara is easy on the eyes (I remember her playing a naïve lesbian on Nip/Tuck), but her crying sexual harassment over an innocuous gesture seems uncomfortably close to the melodramatic subplots that have bogged down 24 before. Thankfully, there haven't been any stories like that this season, and even those that came close were tied to the main threat quickly. The immediate implication of Shari's instability is that it undermines Chloe's position with Miles when she stood up for her, although that was a highlight.

Bierko's plan would amass 200,000 casualties, but the writers never explained how they could do it at a time when many people would be at home instead of a crowded area. Now it's clear that was the point, as it would be released through a plant that pumps natural gas to the homes. And because of some gas science, they need time to depressurize so the nerve gas can travel through the system, giving our heroes time to find out while the terrorists force a patsy to make the gas movement happen

The final action sequence is a lot of fun, reminiscent of the climax of Return of the Jedi. 24 always does well with these action sequences, like the Saunders apprehension and Heller and Audrey's rescue, but it is more related to a major piece of pyrotechnics than several minutes of stunt work. We know Jack would be OK, but having the explosion chasing him, only for Jack to run back to get Bierko makes for a riveting end.

Jack is clearly safe, but what about Bierko? His proximity to Jack makes him a likely candidate for survival, but what would his purpose be, now that the Russian side of the conspiracy has ended? He would likely want some payback from those responsible for tricking him and his men, but how could they play that out?

Although the nerve gas crisis is over, this episode also wanted to continue to show that there is a lot more to the American conspiracy, as popularly assumed. Henderson is poised to be the big bad, but he is protecting people far more powerful than he is. So who are they?

Score: 8/10

24: Season 5, Episode 14: Day 5: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Day 5: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Original Airdate: March 20, 2005
Story: Sam Montgomery
Writers: Evan Katz and Howard Gordon
Director: Brad Turner

24 is quickly approaching the payoff stage with the nerve gas. There's little way they can prolong this without trying the audience's patience. So they have to present the problem facing CTU for the second half. Luckily, they've had the back up plot ready since the sixth episode (although it is common knowledge that they don't plan a season in advance, they've done a great job making us believe it was all planned.) We had hints that the American conspiracy was far reaching, and now we're starting to get the full scope.

The opening shot certainly hurt many people who were holding out hope that Tony would be all right (I would've been one of them if I hadn't read the speculative stifling episode summary of 7-8 PM). Unfortunately for 24, they can't do much eulogizing, especially with canisters of nerve gas ready to be deployed, but I wish there was more to Tony's demise than the brief covering of his body. Jack tells Stoller that getting Bierko is "personal": wouldn't this be more apt for hunting down Henderson, since he killed Tony less than an hour before?

As correctly assumed, Collette becomes the latest thread for Jack to pursue to get to the nerve gas. However, they drop the ball following up Henderson. What should be a major plot point, his escape, is explained a little too easily. Why didn't they more aggressively pursue Henderson while he was still close to CTU (or within its walls)? The big question, though, is what exactly was he doing this whole hour?

Refreshingly, Stoller isn't a mere patsy for 24's latest femme fatale. Stoller's involvement with Collette reminds Jack of his own complicated relationships he's had in his work. We've never seen him get involved with a woman for the sake of his cover, but he did have to break his relationship with Audrey so he could remain off the grid and alive.

As far as getting the information he needs, Jack is in a difficult position. He can't use torture or other aggressive methods to extract information out of Stoller because of potential international fall out, much like the Chinese incident from last season. So Jack has to exchange something valuable to the US counterterrorism investigations to get Stoller to surrender Collette to the US. Since Jack was never really going to surrender this list (and the fact that the WET list is fictional), the writers don't bother to explain fully how devastating giving them the list is until just before Collette is apprehended.

There has to be more to the Stoller story than we saw in this episode. Since he knows who Jack is, he may find out about Jack's problem with the Chinese. Considering how little that important piece of information has been used this season, it would be wise to have that play an important part in the second half of the season. The one problem would be how much Henry Ian Cusick will be able to appear, since he may play a big role in the final episodes of Lost this season.

The Homeland Security team doesn't earn any sympathy points with fans, especially with Miles callously referring to Edgar's station as "vacant". It certainly sets the stage for Chloe and Miles' rivalry, which plays out in the next few episodes (I'm up to episode 17). It's funny to have Chloe knock over Miles' coffee, get the WET list, and get back to her desk and back to work with this hunched over look that is classic Chloe. This stuck up bureaucrat had it coming.

Logan continues to be useless, shifting the responsibility when he goes through with Gardner's questionable solution to civil unrest in LA. He must've known about potential fall out from this decision, but he seems happier complaining about it.

I am glad that Wayne is back in the fold. We knew early in the season that Palmer had hidden clues about what he knew in his manuscript, but all they found was the airport mole who quickly killed himself. There had to be more to what Palmer knew to warrant his assassination. Thankfully, they brought Wayne back to answer that question, and while we don't know what he wants to give Aaron, it is certainly big considering a group of soldiers are determined to keep him from reaching his destination.

The fact that a black ops team just happens to be within the road block within the retreat confirms that the conspiracy goes high up. Although 24 is often over the top, it would be a little too much for them to shoot out Wayne's tires with a shotgun and run him off the road if they didn't have someone powerful who could cover it up.

Vice President Gardner, whose assurance to Logan that he has the martial law situation "under control", coupled with Martha's uncertainty, draws a lot of suspicion to his direction. He seems a little too eager to declare martial law, and ready to throw Logan in the fire for damage control. The most damning piece is the fact that he knew of Wayne Palmer's arrival on the compound. However, like with the Audrey revelation, this could be mere misdirection.

Finally, we have Collette reveal that Audrey sold her the information. It doesn't fit Audrey's character (especially her new and improved status on the show this season) that she would sell out her country to the terrorists. They usually never reveal a mole in this fashion: on 24, you're exposed by either doing something overtly evil (like murdering one of the good guys) or directly contacting a terrorist in a dark room away from everyone else. It should still make for an interesting confrontation soon!

Like many transitional episodes, this one seeks to place characters where they need to be for the major pay offs. A lot is made about the government conspiracy, which should be a major piece of the final part this season. Pieces like the German intelligence fall out could be interesting to see, but this may be nothing.

Score: 7/10

24: Season 5, Episode 13: Day 5: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Review

Day 5: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Original Airdate: March 12, 2006
Writers: Michael Loceff and Joel Surnow
Director: Brad Turner

Following the mass murder of 55 CTU employees, most notably Edgar, the second half of season five was poised to be some of 24’s darkest material. Considering the magnitude of the situation, the episode’s action centers heavily on CTU’s desperate attempt to save themselves. The principle survivors are trapped in small rooms while Curtis and the CTU team are too far away to help them. Avoiding "holding breath" metaphors, this is a tense situation, but there are elements that lower its enjoyment.

So a corrosive agent in the nerve gas is eating through the barriers protecting the safe zones, OK. However, wouldn't that affect everything else in the building? Couldn't it erode the second floor and its supports, which could be a dangerous complication later? In addition, it could affect their computers. It's meant to create suspense now, but wouldn't it also affect the rest of the season? They could've had as much suspense over decreasing oxygen supply and not have to worry about plot holes in the future.

It was clear that Lynne would have to sacrifice himself to save those in the other containment areas. However, they didn't explain how the holding room couldn't be cleansed like the safe room Jack went into. Also, wouldn’t it make sense for the guard to go with Lynn in case he accidentally took a breath? With such a sensitive mission and the guarantee that both men would die anyway, the rest of CTU could’ve used the insurance.

The red shirt (a very apt term nowadays) has every right to be furious at Lynn. It is Lynn's fault that they're in this situation and in the end, he has to die too so Lynn can fix his mistake. I was expecting that the guard would snap and kill Lynne, complicating the situation. Instead, Lynn gets to redeem himself, and pay dearly for his mistake. Unlike Edgar's demise, these deaths are far more unsettling, as they unflinchingly focus on the victims convulsing on the floor.

Bierko's next strike, using the remaining 17 canisters at once, seems to be the writers' attempt to resolve this crisis quickly. They don’t want to fall in a repetitive rut as they were last season, where most of the action consisted of chasing, but narrowly missing Marwan. Bierko will want to act fast, because the later it gets, the less likely he’ll strike a crowded area. Ironically, Gardner’s obsession with Marshal law won’t affect this plan, as they won’t be organized by the time Bierko’s men will be in position.

Speaking of the loser president, he is playing right into whatever plans Gardner has, despite their history of him pinning the problems on Logan. Of course, throwing LA in martial law is a prime plot device to create even more chaos for our heroes to navigate through. Regardless of how much we hate Logan, he does have a good point about how much they've been through. This season has been some of the most frenetic 24 ever, and there are still 11 episodes to go this season.

Since Henderson is on the run or comatose for most of the episode, we’re now given another thread for CTU to pursue, as Bierko contacts Collette, who must be Mandy V 4.0 by now (certainly not a bad substitute). This scene also answers the important question of where Desmond from Lost went after bolting from the hatch. Luckily he’s (now called Theo) able to release some stress with Collette. Considering Collette won’t divulge what she was doing, Theo is poised to be another guy who fell for the femme fatale.

The new Homeland Security team is going to be nothing but trouble. It’s no coincidence that Logan and VP Gardner signed off on this. Hayes and her favorite crony are going to be stubborn like every other boss or higher ranking official Jack and CTU have had to deal with. Inevitably, it will cause Jack and CTU to work covertly on the only relevant leads. Hayes will find out and butt heads with those involved, only to find out that she is wrong.

Kim certainly has good reason not to want to be around her father. No sooner is she at CTU then the bodies start piling up. Considering how depressed she has been since Chase left her, being with her father can be too much to bear. Deaths come with the territory. Although she knows Jack loves her, she can't be a part of this violent life. The subject of detachment has been one frequently used on 24, and it is Jack's tragic flaw for his personal relationships.

Now we come to the low point of the episode, and perhaps of the series to date: Henderson’s Michael Myers-esque resurrection and Tony's death. Like last season’s “7:00 PM – 8:00 PM”, a character who should be beyond incapacitated suddenly springs to life to kill one of the heroes (although Paul didn’t succumb until later). This is far too slasher flick for me; Tony deserved a better demise than that one. Even if he had died in the car bomb as originally planned, I would’ve been happy with that outcome because it was a good way to end the characters before they overstayed their use.

It’s ridiculous that Tony, after cold cocking Burke, wouldn’t shoot Henderson with the gun in his hand. Instead, he finds a syringe and loads it with a mystery poison, which is eventually used against him. This is too contrived. Perhaps this was meant as security for the writers who weren't sure whether they wanted to kill Tony and a mystery injection was easier to write around than a gunshot wound.

Since Tony is dead, his survival of the car bomb in the premiere is rendered pointless. Why did he need to survive if his role this season was to be comatose for the first eleven hours, wake up, find out about Michelle, get depressed, and die? The more I think about it, the more I wish Tony had a better send off. Tony is one of the few people Jack could consider a friend. He has been in every season and is behind only Jack for appearances, and he doesn't even get a silent tick when he died. Granted, the same problem existed in the first act of the season, but these were different situations. Although it was used in the last episode, they could use it again because it was appropriate.

If there was anything Tony’s death did, it was refresh the rage Bauer felt at the beginning of the day when Palmer and Michelle died. It certainly compounds with Kim deciding not to be a part of her father’s life anymore. Jack has lost more this season than he has before, besides when Teri was killed. However, couldn't Tony have done something that would make his initial survival worthwhile before dying? Even a silent clock would've improved it. I’m unhappy with the way Tony died, but what it could set up could make me a little more forgiving of this. The episode is good, but there are some poor writing decisions. Had the final minute been redone to fit a major character, this episode would've been a lot better.

Overall Score: 7/10

24: Season 5, Episode 12: Day 5: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Review

Day 5: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Original Airdate: March 5, 2006
Writers: Duppy Demetrius and Matt Michnovetz
Director: Jon Cassar

Every season of 24 has its weaker moments, but one hour was weak for the first four seasons: 6 – 7 PM. It was always some type of transitional episode where little happens. This episode, however, breaks that curse, especially in the white knuckle climax leading to the crushing final moments. It makes for an ambitious end to the first half of the season.

First, yes, many weren't happy to see Kim back and could take her reaction to what Jack did as annoying, but unlike some of her notorious appearances, this is more fitting for the show. They had to address Kim because she is a major piece of Jack's life. It has deeply affected her, showing that there were certainly more consequences to Jack's fake death than what happened earlier in the day.

Instead of being with Chase, who was in many ways a younger version of Jack, she has decided to go with the opposite for her assumed new boyfriend Barry. Barry is gentle, a little too much for Jack's taste. Considering Barry is twenty years older than Kim is, she could be looking for a father figure whose work doesn't involve massive casualties. This fact is definitely a big reason for the friction between him and Jack on first impression.

Although many have reason not to sympathize with Kim, her reaction is understandable. However, why didn't anyone tell her what happened to the people who knew? Certainly that would make her, as Chloe said, "cut him some slack". It's fitting that Chloe tell her if it wasn't going to be Jack, but why wouldn't Jack be upfront with that initially.

The appearance of a Vice President on 24 is never a good thing for the president, from Prescott showing up to usurp Palmer's position to Logan's first appearance as Keeler was placed out of commission. The problem with VP Gardner is that he is far too competent in the wrong way. Even with the extreme order for the day, his too eagerness to declare marshal law is unsettling, and his attempts to soften the blow with semantics aren't making it any easier. Gardner, like Logan, can draw comparisons to certain heads of state, but this isn't a political review. Character wise, this is dangerous considering how insecure Logan is about any problem facing him.

Something about Martha's actions in this hour doesn't click. We understand that she wants to punish Logan for what he did, but her playing along for the good of the country doesn't come off smoothly. Instead, it comes off that she forgets that Logan backed down to terrorists.

One thing in Tony's scene didn't fit. Before Michelle died, he was ready to follow her to CTU to help. Although he is mourning her death, couldn't he demand some type of temporary clearance to help them bring Michelle's killers to justice? Also, wouldn't Jack want to talk to him? Yeah, Jack had a lot to deal with, but he could afford a few minutes. Regardless, this is more setting up a showdown between Tony and Henderson, who should be close to each other in the medical section.

Henderson must know something, or else all this fuss wouldn't be made over it. His crucifixion pose on that gurney suggests that he is willing to be a martyr for his patriotism, and that he is poised to be the new über baddie on 24. He threatens talking will only result in unleashing bigger problems, which would make him hiding nothing anticlimactic. Along with that, having him die in the nerve gas incident would be a disappointment.

While it is interesting that we didn't see all the main players survive the gas attack, it's safe that none of the major characters (besides Edgar) died. Because this was Lynn's fault and he was acting supremely obnoxious earlier, he seems the most likely poised to make a redeeming sacrifice. While dying in the initial dispersal of the nerve gas would be punishment for his grave error, it wouldn't fit with what they're trying to do with him.

Again, CTU needs to invest some of our tax dollars in decent lighting. The ventilation room Carrie was stabbed in wasn't lit at all. Of course, that was to give Osrtoff the ability to stab her in the brainstem unimpeded, but you'd think the number of times something bad happened in one of these dark corridors would encourage better lighting.

One of the biggest contrasts between the "threat of the hour" from the last episode to this one is that CTU is completely unaware of Ostroff until it is too late (on that note, wouldn't he know that kicking the gate at Jenny and Dwayne's apartment would earn unwarranted attention?) Ironically, CTU was better equipped for the hospital mission than the one on their doorstep.

The ending is some great stuff, as everyone scrambles to find safe haven while the unfortunate ones fall to an agonizing death. The mood goes from loud panic to ominously quiet when the metal barriers cover the windows. On top of that, we have Edgar stumbling through the no man's land, initially unaware that he is moments from death. Without going overboard with breathing metaphors, his death sucks the air out of the room, the silent tick solidifying it. We haven't heard (or not heard) this since Chappelle died in season three, and this time as well intensifies the loss.

Edgar's death is a huge knock out to end the first half of the season. He was the everyman on the show. Edgar was never a super-cool badass like Jack is, but that's what made him relatable. Although he was heavy and he had a lisp, he was still a hero, saving countless people with his techie prowess. Unfortunately on 24, characters die frequently so the show can remain fresh, so Edgar is the latest casualty in an especially bloodthirsty season. Considering it is only episode 12, one has to ask what the second half is going to bring the show.

Score: 8/10

24: Season 5, Episode 11: Day 5: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Review

Day 5: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Original Airdate: March 5, 2006
Writer: Nicole Ranadine
Director: Jon Cassar

Originally aired as part one of a two hour event, 24 set out to conclude its first half with some of its darkest material yet. This two parter, like the first ones this season, fit together well. The events in this episode set us up for the explosive culmination. We get a little bit more from Henderson, and a potentially disastrous (artistically) B-plot is woven into the story with no interference.

Since Bierko leveled a heavy threat against Logan, the guns would have to be turned back on America in a big way soon. They have nineteen canisters of deadly nerve gas, so for the sake of the show, they had to be deployed soon. While it may be a little much to believe that they already have a schematic for the hospital and a time written on a piece of paper that just happened to be on one of the dead motorcade terrorists, it gives us the possibility that CTU can stop it. Having it occur in a hospital, where they can't evacuate everyone keeps the stakes high.

While they averted another major loss of life, one has to wonder when CTU's luck is going to run out. The final moments of this episode confirm that Ostroff is heading to CTU for a pivotal piece of their operation. Whatever action they take, it certainly will mirror the one Wald's crew did when they bombed CTU back in the second season, which also sought to cripple CTU, giving the terrorists some space to accomplish their goals. 24 hasn't been afraid to let the terrorists win some of the battles to remind us of how dangerous it is.

In an earlier review, I theorized that Dwayne could've wanted Lynn's ID for two reasons: because the terrorists got to him and were planning to use the card for nefarious reasons, or he was planning to get high, barge into CTU and cause mayhem. Unfortunately, 24 has done the latter too often, so the confirmation that it wasn't continues a good trend against tacked on personal subplots to add character this season. I do feel a little bad for Jenny and even the loser boyfriend. Neither of them deserved what they got.

In addition to having nerve gas in terrorists' hands, Logan now has to face the repercussions of surrendering the motorcade route. Although Logan blaming Martha's mental illness for her uneasiness before the attack is another way he can weasel out of responsibility, this is one situation where the truth would be far more harmful. Still, we hate him for getting in that situation to start. Suvarov, while allowing Logan access to their intelligence, doesn't appear to believe Logan's story as he bolts from him shortly after Logan's lie.

Many viewers are now getting on the Martha/Aaron bandwagon for good reason aside from her husband being a twerp (although I'm still against an affair). Aaron has shown true heroism whereas Logan, well, it's been said plenty. However, this isn't just Martha jumping into the arms of another man. She is grateful for Aaron's actions, and sometimes that can be confused for love. In addition, she's more interested in making her husband uncomfortable. He certainly deserved it for what he did.

Aaron's reaction to Martha's gratitude is a sad comment on the sacrifice he needed to make for his job. 24 has done a lot about detachment affecting those involved in public service, especially in season three. Aaron's uncomfortable because he distanced himself from this for the sake of his work.

While his appearance in the episode is brief, Tony's moment establishes his motivations for the rest of the season. Originally, Tony was supposed to die in the car bomb that killed Michelle, leaving us to believe that the writers have a reason to keep him alive. CTU's decision to keep him unaware of Michelle serves more as an impetus for his arc than. It doesn't appear to be important enough for them to reapply the bandage on the side of his face.

This could be a simple continuity error for the sake of narrative, but how can Jack get to the Henderson's home twenty-five minutes before Henderson does? 24 has taken many liberties with the real time format (not that I have a problem with them omitting Jack in gridlock for several episodes), but perhaps Henderson did something before coming home that may be important later. We understand the contrivance of Chloe being unable to decrypt a PC in time is to give Jack opportunity to question Henderson so we can see how far he's willing to go.

Henderson's inability to cooperate also adds to the terrorists' momentum. While he may have been there for Kim following Jack's "death", he is clearly a sociopath; using patriotism to justify the horrible things he's done today, even refusing to tell after Jack took drastic measures. Of the two other players we've seen involved on the American side, Henderson is clearly the big one. Had he been in Walt's position five hours earlier, he probably would've let Jack gouge out his eyes. It's worth noting is that Henderson was Jack's mentor and recruiter, and has gone through similar training, as we saw when he called Jack's threat to blow off his knee cap.

Shooting Miriam in the leg was a great surprise moment, as well as giving us an unintentionally hilarious (in an awesome way) line: "She can still walk!" However, seeing his wife in pain isn't even enough to get him to talk. The question worth asking is what is he hiding that is making him so determined to be quiet? On the other hand, is he just that devoted? We have seen fanatical terrorists before, but they have been largely religious, not political.

Although this episode is good, it needs to be seen alongside its following episode, as they are designed to complement. Things start rolling, but it is not until the next episode before we get a payoff.

Score: 8/10