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