I’ve never watched the show with any regularity, but as I understand it, the producers tend to jump ahead a few years between seasons. Anybody know what the current year must be?
The way to count the passage of time, at least roughly, is by presidential terms, but that doesn’t help to establish an absolute date.
Not much help, but there was a three-year gap between seasons at least once, though I’m not entirely sure that the season that aired in 2002 was necessarily set in 2002
I lost trace some time ago, but each gap has been 1-1/2 to 3 years, except possibly the current one. I once tried to get up a pool on how long until Jack Bauer was exactly double Kiefer Sutherland’s age.
Season 2 is 18 months after season 1.
Season 3 is 3 years later.
Season 4 is 18 months.
Season 5 is 18 months
Season 6 is 20 months.
Season 7 is 4 years!
Season 8 is only 8 months.
So almost 14 years have gone by. But no specific year was ever set in the show.
They should have personal jet packs by now.
Well, the CTU offices are much more futuristic than any real government facility.
Judging by the technology, the prevalence of drones and satellite cameras, and the ability to hack into just about everything (implying near-universal networking), I’d say that they’re maybe 10-20 years into an alternate future.
Then again, the characters in 24 have to move so fast to accomplish what they do within the real-time conceit that they probably have experienced relativistic effects. so I wouldn’t worry about Jack Bauer aging.