# 24: Season 4: Episodes 1-2 (7:00am - 9:00am) Season Premiere! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 10, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960 "2005-01-10T00:49:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/61 "2005-01-10T08:24:16Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Oooookkkkkayyyyy… And he recognizes the language as being “Middle Eastern”, whatever that means. Arabic or Turkish? Um, they use different alphabets and are not even in the same language family. Maybe the writers should have had him say it looked like a Muslim language. 🙂 I didn’t know that about the languages, but yeah, that was just dumb. Did the writers not think the audience would get it unless he actually said Turkish? Who knows what Turkish looks like to begin with? ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/62 "2005-01-10T08:36:06Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Whaddya all think is in that case? (Hopefully not a toy airplane in an envelope.) –Macelllus Wallace’s Soul –Alien Corpses –Uranium –Stolen diamonds ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/63 "2005-01-10T09:51:28Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I would have thought the new head of CTU would be a bit more competant, considering that she has previous elite covert TV government agency leadership experience (as the head of Section One in the old Le Femme Nikita series…basically playing the same exact character). So, I wasn’t the only one wondering “so, why isn’t Madeline doing the interrogation? And why is she so badly dressed? And where are the Torture Twins?” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/64 "2005-01-10T10:08:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Does Metrolink have a dining car with linen tablecloths and Venician blinds? No, but none of Amtrak’s routes go through the Santa Clarita valley and the newscast we hear refers to it as a “commuter train”, so logically it must be a Metrolink train. (I suspect that if one checked Metrolink’s schedules one would find that the Antelope Valley line doesn’t run that early, but let’s have a little suspension of disbelief.) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/65 "2005-01-10T12:04:28Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > So, I wasn’t the only one wondering "so, why isn’t Madeline doing the interrogation? And why is she so badly dressed? Section One did have a much higher clothing budget. CTU is more Banana Republic. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/66 "2005-01-10T13:12:38Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Whaddya all think is in that case? (Hopefully not a toy airplane in an envelope.) I feel like I’m missing out on a great reference or joke. What is this from? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/67 "2005-01-10T13:39:03Z")
It’s from last week’s episode of “Lost” where a character found a briefcase. It became a huge deal when it was obvious that this girl really wanted it and no one could figure out why. They got it open at the end of the episode and all she wanted out of it was a toy airplane in an envelope. Personally, I thought the first two hours were pretty sweet. A much better start than Season 3, so I’m holding out hope that this is a good omen for the rest of the “day”. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/68 "2005-01-10T13:52:29Z")
> [@Monstre](#): > > BTW, good points by **Finagle** – I was also having to stretch out the old Suspension-Of-Disbelief on the computer thing. Kid knowing exactly what’s happening as raw bytes are flowing past him faster than one could even read English. He didn’t need to. Luckily our terrorist friends used \*\*evil font \*\* Tm on their code. You know blood red lettering on black. Very sly and subtle of them. Or perhaps our hacker set up his system to show malicious code in \*\*evil font \*\* Tm ---
**Author:** ![SilentButDeftly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/0ea827/32.png) [@SilentButDeftly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SilentButDeftly)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/69 "2005-01-10T14:29:10Z")
When the EvilBadGuys showed up at BikeBoy’s (now former) place of employment, executing everyone in sight, was I the only one who thought, “Damn, Microsoft and Adobe are really taking software piracy seriously these days!” Overall, not too bad a start – and we only have to wait a few more hours until we see the next two. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/70 "2005-01-10T14:54:27Z")
The first hour got off to a slow start, but after that, it was good. My fav. character so far is Tubby, the computer guy at CTU. Last season I was wondering why all the computer people were nothing like any computer people I know (how many computer degree-type people are as hot as Kim Bauer? Not that many, cause peoeel that hot go into modeling and TV! 😛 ) I enjoyed finaly seeing someone who looks like all the tech guys I have ever met who are that age. He probably still lives in his mother’s basement. 😉 I am still annoyed by Chloe, although less so far than in season 3 (but the day is still young.) I thought how both DumbBikeBoy and CTU handled his situation was BAD! Jack should have given him a description of what he looks like. Likewise, DumbBikeGuy shold have asked for some ID, or something, from GenericTerrorist. ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/71 "2005-01-10T15:43:50Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Not too much rolleyes stuff this time around, but: > > Computer Whiz Kid sees some raw code and figures out it will take down the entire internet. Oooookkkkkayyyyy… And he recognizes the language as being “Middle Eastern”, whatever that means. Arabic or Turkish? Um, they use different alphabets and are not even in the same language family. Maybe the writers should have had him say it looked like a Muslim language. 🙂 > > Jack “freezes up the security codes” or something like that in about 5 msec. > > I think there were a few others, but I’m drawing a bit of blank right now. How about these: 1. Bad Guys learn the name of Biker Boy (Andrew Paige) and know immediately his cell phone number and his address. 2. Now that they have that information, they can intercept any phone calls to or from his cell phone, so they can get info on how and where to nab him. 3. Dying CTU guy can hang on just long enough to get the handcuff keys to Jack. And they actually make the connection! I thought sure the keys would fall just out of Jack’s reach so he would have to bite off his hand to get out of the cuffs! ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/72 "2005-01-10T15:59:59Z")
> [@annieclaus](#): > > How about these: > > 1. Bad Guys learn the name of Biker Boy (Andrew Paige) and know immediately his cell phone number and his address. > 2. Now that they have that information, they can intercept any phone calls to or from his cell phone, so they can get info on how and where to nab him. > 3. Dying CTU guy can hang on just long enough to get the handcuff keys to Jack. And they actually make the connection! I thought sure the keys would fall just out of Jack’s reach so he would have to bite off his hand to get out of the cuffs! Well, as for #1: They could easily have gotten it from the store/company’s database. For #2: There are devices that scan cell phone frequencies and can intercept conversations. However, I’m not sure how you could make one only intercept one guy’s cell number when all you have to go on is it’s phone #. From what I know, they just scan all cell phone frequencies and stop at ones where there is a connection. I don’t think just having the # can get you the frequency it will transmit at. #3: It’s done for dramitic effect, so I’ll let it slide. Although I too was expecting them to fall just out of reach, leaving Jack to ahve to explain why he was handcuffed to a rail. ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/73 "2005-01-10T16:04:14Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Well, as for #1: They could easily have gotten it from the store/company’s database. > > For #2: There are devices that scan cell phone frequencies and can intercept conversations. However, I’m not sure how you could make one only intercept one guy’s cell number when all you have to go on is it’s phone #. From what I know, they just scan all cell phone frequencies and stop at ones where there is a connection. I don’t think just having the # can get you the frequency it will transmit at. > > #3: It’s done for dramitic effect, so I’ll let it slide. Although I too was expecting them to fall just out of reach, leaving Jack to ahve to explain why he was handcuffed to a rail. Nitpick on #1: Ummmm they didn’t do no database searching. They all ran out of the office chasing biker boy. Remember, these were “eye rollers” and my eyes rolled at these points. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/74 "2005-01-10T17:59:20Z")
> [@annieclaus](#): > > Nitpick on #1: Ummmm they didn’t do no database searching. They all ran out of the office chasing biker boy. Getting to his house may have proved a little difficult, but I didn’t have a problem with them knowing his cell number. For all we know, his mom gave it up before they killed her. ---
**Author:** ![lachesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@lachesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lachesis)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/75 "2005-01-10T18:33:42Z")
re nitpicks: the BadGuys definitely got BikeBoy’s (Andrew Paige) name from his female associate, before they shot her. but to have come down on that whole office so quickly, i can’t help suspecting that there is another Inside Leak in CTU ™. Chloe definitely passed his name to IceBitch the Incompetent… and anyone else in hearing range (weren’t they were clustered around a workstation at the time?). and the tap on BikeBoy’s cellphone was in place before he Phoned Home. i’m still cogitating how they isolated his number **or** home number so quickly. something isn’t adding up. in fact, lots of things aren’t adding up yet. what could be in the briefcase that’s so freakin’ important, particularly tieing in to SecDef Heller’s abduction/upcoming tele-trial? they had to kill scores and the special courier to get it, so it apparently wasn’t something that was supposed to come their way. but they knew its route and timetable. if they are indeed trying Heller as a “war criminal”, it would seem to imply some “evidence” for their trial. but why would such “evidence” be making the rounds in _California_, fercrissakes, when the Big Boys normally play and hang out in DC? somehow, i’m smelling a massive red herring here. my current pet theory… the whole abduction bit is actually a cover for something completely different – what, i haven’t yet figured. the Internet disruption virus seems to be directly counterproductive to their plans of having the trial on-line. how can anyone view their “justice” if the Web goes down? i’m thinking major bank account hacking as one option. BTW, hubby actually joined me in watching for a change. he gives kudos for a much more believable Intel world so far, particularly the bargaining over the budget portion between Jack and IceBitch. that there’s some real-world Washington, right 'nuff. (oh, and i called for JackActionClone to snuff it in Hour 2. hubby thought he might last until Hour 4, but i said he’d be toast before the episode was over.) ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/76 "2005-01-10T18:53:21Z")
Once the other CTU agent told Jack that he knew the right way to handle the situation at Union Station and the guy handcuffed Jack, I figured you might as well just have fitted him out with a red Federation shirt and called it a day. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/77 "2005-01-10T19:23:27Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Mudd] Whaddya all think is in that case? (Hopefully not a toy airplane in an envelope.) QUOTE] You **lost** me there. Re: The Case…so they worked 5 years undercover, and the best plan they have is to send some kid in a SUV to deliver the case? The mother wanted to do it but the father insisted the kid do it. Why is a kid, in the middle of nowhere, delivering a sinister case to a terrorist, less suspicious? Am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/78 "2005-01-10T19:37:07Z")
TerroristDad knows TerrosistMom will be picked out on the street since she has an Academy Award nomination to her credit. It also means TerroristDad will get the chance to kill Debbie, a good ole’ red-blooded All-American girl and further demonize him. ---
**Author:** ![Jammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@Jammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jammer)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/79 "2005-01-10T19:43:18Z")
My first WAG about the contents of the case was that it may contain a new set of nuclear missle launch codes being transported to wherever they take those things. This seemed to fit with some scheme to takeover strategic missle command (hack into DoD computers via mysterious red internet hex codes? Kidnapped Secretary has necessary secondary launch codes??), but now I’m backing off that theory based on the whole trial thing. Who knows, I’m terrible at guessing this stuff. I enjoyed the first two hours, though. Should be fun tonight. Jammer ---
**Author:** ![lachesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@lachesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lachesis)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960/80 "2005-01-10T19:45:27Z")
… and that reminds me. somehow, i’m getting the vibe that Terrorist Mom has some Special Agenda of her own, that deviates slightly from the Master Plan. any wild speculations as to what it might be? or am i reading too much into what seems to be obvious facial nuances on her part? the writers of _24_ do love their misdirection. maybe that’s just part of it. or then again, maybe not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/24-season-4-episodes-1-2-7-00am-9-00am-season-premiere/283960.md?page=5)