24: Season 7: Episodes 1-2 (8:00am - 10:00am) Season Premiere

[Monstre]

FAQ Bauer (aka Thread Rules)
1) What can be discussed in plain text, unboxed?
A: Any events in episodes, once aired on the east coast -- as well as any speculation based on these already-aired events.

2) What should I confine to spoiler boxes?
A: Any discussion of upcoming shows that contains information from sources outside the aired material, or any speculation based on such things. This includes the "Next week on 24" previews, which some people choose not to watch.

3) Which annoying character should come back this season, long enough to die?
A: I can't decide whether to cast my vote for Sandra Palmer or Morris O'Brien.

-----------
Previously on 24...

- Jack got "Redemption".
- Jack rescued a bunch of kiddies in Africa from conscription into Little-Soldier-tude by a gang of smarmy warlords.
- Slimy Embassy Guy only let the African kiddies escape if Jack would hand himself over, so Jack's going back to the U.S., apparently to stand trial for being a bad-ass.
- The writers' strike meant Season 7 was delayed for an entire year. But now...

Jack is back!

----------

24, Season 7, Episodes 1-2
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

SPOILERS AHEAD!

24: Redemption thread

Season 6 threads:
1-2 3-4 5 6 7 8-9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23-24

Season 5 threads:
1-2 3-4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11-12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23-24

Season 4 threads:
1-2 3-4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23-24

Season 3 threads:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Season 2 threads:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Season 1 threads:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

[Clovernook]

Nice opening.

Jack has some odd looking earlobes.

[Ichini Sanshigo]

You noticed it too?

[Monstre]

Nice response (by the FAA guy):
Pres: "You didn't answer my question."
FAA Guy: "No ma'am, I didn't."

----

So there was a comment about Madame President losing a son. Would this be the son that we saw in "24: Redemption"? The son's friend got killed by baddies, but that was because the friend downloaded some info from his workplace, and his boss was working with the local baddies (led by John Voigt). But when 24: Redemption ended, the son was at the inauguration.

So I'm wondering if the implication is that this son has recently had an "accident", or if there's another son in the family that died previously (but perhaps not too long before)?

[Monstre]

I guess this latest conversation with the First Husband (on the phone) just confirmed. It was Roger Taylor, the son we saw in 24: Redemption. He must have gotten offed because of the stuff the friend of his got killed for.

[Clovernook]

That hair! Those eyes! Those freckles!

[Monstre]

Hot FBI Chick: "I can handle Bauer..."
Famous last words.

-----

So when the FBI gal said to Jack, "Do whatever it takes".... I'm wondering if she was having a change of heart on her earlier position, or if she was just saying that for the benefit of the suspect (relying on her earlier orders to Jack that he was allowed to threaten him all he wanted, but not to actually hurt him).

[Clovernook]

Events in the second hour ARE NOT occurring in real time.

[DubsyUin]

Die Hard 2 flashbacks commence!

[Ichini Sanshigo]

What's with the Star Wars music?

[Monstre]

Yep, shades of Die Hard 2 ("We've got you..."). Except, Tony Almeida just proved he's not a real terrorist. A real terrorist would have just gone ahead and crashed those two planes as the "warning".

[DubsyUin]

Alright, from events witnessed Tony is a part of a rogue CIA/government faction, ala Swordfish. Any takers?

[Monstre]

FBI Chick Renee, covering on the phone call to her boss, then after hanging up: "Dammit!"

She's becoming... Mini-Bauer.

[Clovernook]

Originally Posted by Monstre

FBI Chick Renee, covering on the phone call to her boss, then after hanging up: "Dammit!"

She's becoming... Mini-Bauer.

She can lie to me any time -- and all the time.

[Monstre]

Originally Posted by DubsyUin

Alright, from events witnessed Tony is a part of a rogue CIA/government faction, ala Swordfish. Any takers?

Well, obviously the guy Tony passed the technology off to is involved with whatever group was in the shadows during "24: Redemption" -- the one with John Voigt seeming to be the head honcho.

I'm not sure how much Tony knows, though. It sounds like he didn't really know where this technology to bypass the firewalls was going to. I wonder if he knows that he's involved with a group that is helping the African warlord dude. And if not, what's he in it all for?

[Lamar Mundane]

Agent Walker = Rowrrr.

[Clovernook]

Although I know from seasons past that the initial bad guys don't end up being the bad guys in the end, I still think it's weak to have some African warlord attempting to bring down the infrastructure of the United States.

[Monstre]

Originally Posted by Lamar Mundane

Agent Walker = Rowrrr.

Major Rowrrrrr!

[carnivorousplant]

Will Tony whack Dr. Phlox?

[Clovernook]

Originally Posted by Monstre

Major Rowrrrrr!

I noticed her first. She's mine!

[John DiFool]

Originally Posted by carnivorousplant

Will Tony whack Dr. Phlox?

More importantly, will Jack be able to track down Methos? He'll need a nice sharp sword to do the trick. And Methos isn't fooling anyone with that phony American accent either.

[Stephe96]

After the sniper took out Scarface and his henchman, the FBI boss said to someone, "We've got three dead bodies."

Did I miss something? I only counted two!

[Stephe96]

Originally Posted by DubsyUin

Die Hard 2 flashbacks commence!

And what are the odds that, say, Kim Bauer is on one of those planes!

[The Controvert]

Two dozen posts and nary a mention of Ms. Janeane Garofalo as Chloe nouveau-ey?

[Monstre]

Originally Posted by The Controvert

Two dozen posts and nary a mention of Ms. Janeane Garofalo as Chloe nouveau-ey?

Nice call. I was watching with a friend, and actually turned to her after one of Garofolo's scenes and said, "She's the FBI's Chloe..."

How soon before real Chloe turns up and trains her FBI counterpart in Sardonic Snarkiness 101 ?

[HoldenCaulfield]

I had the Pres's son pegged as a bad guy in Redemption, so I was really surprised to see him turn up dead.

I don't believe the girlfriend's story about the money.

I'm hoping we don't have a replay of the President's spouse knows truth but is deemed crazy plotline.

So far I am intrigued by this season. A strong opener with good action and it hasn't been too over the top.

[Monstre]

I agree. So far so good, not too over the top, and the side storyline is starting out as a pretty good one -- the First Hubby investigating his belief that the son's death was not suicide, though everybody else thinks he's going overboard. It has good potential, and it appears likely to connect with the main plot.

While African warlords are probably not the most realistic terrorists to be mounting a real threat to U.S. technology infrastructure (not as widespread as other terror networks, for example), I don't have too much problem with this plot point -- after all, Madame President is getting ready to take down their regime militarily, so that gives Mr. You-Killed-My-Brother-Prepare-To-Die plenty of motive for hitting America before the U.S. military bitch-slaps them back into the stone age.

Nice start. And I like the hot rowrrr-inducing FBI agent, who seems more willing to try out some of Jack's not-so-by-the-book instincts. Nice little partnership that's forming.

Jack Bauer and Jack Rowrrrrr!

[Justin_Bailey]

Originally Posted by DubsyUin

Alright, from events witnessed Tony is a part of a rogue CIA/government faction, ala Swordfish. Any takers?

Agreed. Tony is definitely still a "good guy" and I eagerly await the episode where Jack figures this out and they go killing terrorists side by side. Because it would be awesome.

Originally Posted by Stephe96

After the sniper took out Scarface and his henchman, the FBI boss said to someone, "We've got three dead bodies."

Did I miss something? I only counted two!

I noticed that too. I assumed Steckner had a second henchman that ended up completely on the cutting room floor, but that was sloppy editing.

[tr0psn4j]

Originally Posted by Monstre

Hot FBI Chick: "I can handle Bauer..."
Famous last words.

-----

So when the FBI gal said to Jack, "Do whatever it takes".... I'm wondering if she was having a change of heart on her earlier position, or if she was just saying that for the benefit of the suspect (relying on her earlier orders to Jack that he was allowed to threaten him all he wanted, but not to actually hurt him).

Hope Hot FBI Chick stays around for a while. She's great eye candy and hasn't really interfered with Jack yet.

Anyone see the previews for next episode?

SPOILER:

There's supposed to be the first big plot twist/suspenseful moment involving a phone call between Jack and a person he recognizes. Hoping it's Chloe but I guess it could be anyone.

Oh also, we shouldn't assume the president's son is dead. Seems like everyone in the 24verse fakes their death. Maybe he IS the bad guy.

[c_goat]

Was that DeadMeat running ATC? "I'm an air traffic controller, what could go wrong?". Well it sounded like him, anyway.

I hate these high-tech storylines. There's absolutely no reason for water treatment plants to be remote controlled. Same thing previous season with the nuclear power plants. Maybe I could buy the ATC system being online, and perhaps the power grid. But prevent the tower from communicating with a plane? That's as bad as Die Hard 2.

I like how they said something like a huge blackout would cause rioting in the streets, but when we actually had that huge northeast blackout I don't remember any rioting.

Anyway, as usual, the storyline isn't all that important. Jack kicking ass with ballpoint pens is.

Originally Posted by tr0psn4j

Oh also, we shouldn't assume the president's son is dead. Seems like everyone in the 24verse fakes their death. Maybe he IS the bad guy.

Seriously, this is the ultimate "off screen death". We know how well those go in 24 land.

[John DiFool]

Originally Posted by c_goat

Was that DeadMeat running ATC? "I'm an air traffic controller, what could go wrong?". Well it sounded like him, anyway.

I hate these high-tech storylines. There's absolutely no reason for water treatment plants to be remote controlled. Same thing previous season with the nuclear power plants. Maybe I could buy the ATC system being online, and perhaps the power grid. But prevent the tower from communicating with a plane? That's as bad as Die Hard 2.

What's amazing to me is that this little bit of Applied Phlebotinum is able, with a few tweaks, to be used in all these different systems and subsystems. In the Byzantine web of grossly inefficient bureaucratic US departments?

Well, like in previous years I'll keep watching until something happens which pegs my Bullshit Meter at Ludicrous.

[JThunder]

What's more, this chief engineer fella was able to build this device within an hour using components that Team Almeida already had on hand. Presumably without the benefit of any circuit diagrams. Oh, and using handheld soldering tools.

Yeah. That'd happen.

[randwill]

You can always tell the bad guys' lair because it's underlit.

I thought the beginning of the first hour wasn't happening in real time. It was less than ten minutes after his kidnapping that the tech guy had been taken the boat and completed jury rigging the McGuffin box.

[c_goat]

Originally Posted by JThunder

What's more, this chief engineer fella was able to build this device within an hour using components that Team Almeida already had on hand. Presumably without the benefit of any circuit diagrams. Oh, and using handheld soldering tools.

Yeah. That'd happen.

Plus, how'd they know what he needed? They should have kidnapped him first, then stole all the stuff that he said was necessary.

[The Controvert]

Originally Posted by c_goat

Anyway, as usual, the storyline isn't all that important. Jack kicking ass with ballpoint pens is.

Jack Bauer proves once again that the pen is mightier than the car battery testicle zappin' doohickey.

[Merijeek]

Originally Posted by JThunder

What's more, this chief engineer fella was able to build this device within an hour using components that Team Almeida already had on hand. Presumably without the benefit of any circuit diagrams. Oh, and using handheld soldering tools.

Yeah. That'd happen.

Dude, it was USB. Probably nothing tricky to it whatsoever.

-Joe

[ShadowFacts]

Originally Posted by Monstre

Nice response (by the FAA guy):
Pres: "You didn't answer my question."
FAA Guy: "No ma'am, I didn't."

HIJACK: Unless I am mistaken, that guy was a guest star on one of my favorite episodes of Law & Order, where he plays a regular dude initially suspected of a murder, then pressed into service as a witness to the crime, although it jams his personal life up. (<- extra NYPD Blue slang thrown in to add flavor). Mike Bodack was his character's name... Anyway, he's a good actor, nice to see him getting some work.

[MaxTheVool]

Mostly, I liked it. Things that were good:
1. Big change in general tone and setting, with CTU no more
2. Actually talking about the fact that Jack tortures people but it's illegal but maybe it's effective and he does after save schoolbuses but still it's torture and won't he ever get in trouble?
3. Hot FBI agent who thinks she can handle Bauer
4. Generally, I agreed with the Onion AV Club review here.

Things that were bad:
1. The preposterous idea that things like power plants can't just unplug themselves from the internet (or whatever the US government infrastructure equivalent is) and run standalone
2. As others have pointed out, the idea that glass-nerd-guy could build that device in 10 minutes. They should have just had his kidnapping happen off screen months ago.
3. Also, who sends someone who is a key member of your conspiracy and knows key things to go do rooftop sniping in downtown LA, rather than disposable assassin #7?
4. No Chloe!

[interface2x]

Originally Posted by c_goat

Plus, how'd they know what he needed? They should have kidnapped him first, then stole all the stuff that he said was necessary.

What I was wondering was, if you want a guy to do some pretty detail-oriented fixing of a complex item, why do you kidnap by repeatedly ramming his car from all angles? That's a good way to make a clear-headed man not so clear-headed.

Originally Posted by ShadowFacts

HIJACK: Unless I am mistaken, that guy was a guest star on one of my favorite episodes of Law & Order, where he plays a regular dude initially suspected of a murder, then pressed into service as a witness to the crime, although it jams his personal life up. (<- extra NYPD Blue slang thrown in to add flavor). Mike Bodack was his character's name... Anyway, he's a good actor, nice to see him getting some work.

Was it this guy? I got excited to see him because he's Wild Bill Guarnere in Band of Brothers.

[Tom Tildrum]

Where was this season of 24 filmed? Despite the cliche shots of the Capitol building in the back window of the car all the time, this clearly was not shot in Washington. There's no port in DC like the one shown, for instance.

[Stephe96]

Originally Posted by Tom Tildrum

Where was this season of 24 filmed? Despite the cliche shots of the Capitol building in the back window of the car all the time, this clearly was not shot in Washington. There's no port in DC like the one shown, for instance.

You know, I could've sworn I saw one of those red, double-decker tourist buses that are all over the place in New York City in the background of one shot!

[Justin_Bailey]

Originally Posted by Justin_Bailey

Agreed. Tony is definitely still a "good guy" and I eagerly await the episode where Jack figures this out and they go killing terrorists side by side. Because it would be awesome.

You know, thinking about this some more, I'll bet Tony is working for the not quite disbanded CTU!

[carnivorousplant]

Originally Posted by Justin_Bailey

I'll bet Tony is working for the not quite disbanded CTU!

I like that.

[Marley23]

Couldn't hang around and watch the whole thing, unfortunately (?). I'll catch up if I can and might even watch tonight if I'm bored, but I absolutely hated Tony being brought back as a terrorist. Hated it, hated it, just plain stupid. That overwhelmed the rest of what I saw in the first 45 minutes or so.

[c_goat]

I thought the debate between FBI chick and Jack about Tony being bad was pretty good as far as convincing me that Tony could really be a bad guy. I would hate it if they had Tony turn out to really be a good guy at this point.

[alphaboi867]

Originally Posted by c_goat

...I like how they said something like a huge blackout would cause rioting in the streets, but when we actually had that huge northeast blackout I don't remember any rioting...

That lasted one day and was confined to one area of the country. There media quickly displed any notion of it being caused by terrorism. A nationwide blackout, after a mass grounding of planes, would cause much more problems. Especially in the 24 universe with it's annual 9/11s.

[Tom Tildrum]

Originally Posted by alphaboi867

That lasted one day and was confined to one area of the country. There media quickly displed any notion of it being caused by terrorism. A nationwide blackout, after a mass grounding of planes, would cause much more problems. Especially in the 24 universe with it's annual 9/11s.

On the other hand, a nuclear detonation in the LA suburbs seems to have left the country remarkably unshaken.

[Monstre]

Originally Posted by c_goat

I hate these high-tech storylines. There's absolutely no reason for water treatment plants to be remote controlled. Same thing previous season with the nuclear power plants. Maybe I could buy the ATC system being online, and perhaps the power grid. But prevent the tower from communicating with a plane? That's as bad as Die Hard 2.

While the Air Traffic Control thing is bringing flashes of Die Hard 2, the rest of the technology infrastructure attack-threat is more Die Hard 4.

Anyway, as usual, the storyline isn't all that important. Jack kicking ass with ballpoint pens is.

Anybody got a hacksaw?

Originally Posted by randwill

You can always tell the bad guys' lair because it's underlit.

Tony's been spending all his time stealing high-tech devices. He hasn't had time to shoplift a few compact fluorescents from Wal-Mart. It's on the To-Do list.

[ShadowFacts]

Originally Posted by interface2x

Was it this guy? I got excited to see him because he's Wild Bill Guarnere in Band of Brothers.

Yup, that's him! Thanks for the find.

[MaxTheVool]

Here's the thing about Tony being alive... how was his death faked in the first place? What scenario involves his death being faked, and then he just becomes a freelance terrorist for hire?

Much more plausible (as far as anything can be described as "plausible") is something like the CTU-still-exists-super-secret-US-agency which would have been waiting around for cases like Tony, where an agent came close to dying; and they could leap in, fake his death, and recruit him. Or something.

Did Tony die before or after Michelle? Or were they already divorced or something?