What's Next? A Cardassian Spy Ring?

24

Year(s): 2001 - present
Network: Fox
Creator: Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran
Principal cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, D.B. Woodside, Kim Raver

The issue that crippled and actually killed off classic Star Trek was not Shatner and Nimoy aging, nor was it a lack of special effects magic. Indeed, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered County, the last of the classic movies, was replete with effects. Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and Company instead suffered from a form of brinksmanship in which they saved the galaxy too many times. Viewers accustomed to their heroes visiting the Planet of the Week on the small screen soon tired of galactic-level trouble. Only returning to the original format in the shows Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine saved the franchise for another decade.

Jack Bauer, Kiefer Sutherland's American James Bond on the Fox hit 24, is in serious danger of becoming Captain Kirk.

Bauer has befriended the President, caused diplomatic incidents with the Chinese, addicted himself to heroin to go undercover (how's that for going all out for your employer?) and killed, maimed, tortured or injured more people than all but the most ardent fans can even count. That he does half of these things with the knowledge, if not the sanction of the US government, is irrelevant.

What matters to the viewer is that his daughter Kim, shortly after being cornered by a mountain lion, morphed from a normal teenage girl into a data analyst at the government's top law enforcement unit fighting terrorism. Viewers didn't care how much time had supposedly elapsed. What they saw was a young woman catapulted into the ranks of high level, top secret operations within a single season. And they saw Air Force One shot down, a current president involve himself in the assassination of a former president and entire sections of California rendered uninhabitable.

All Jack Bauer lacks to complete the picture is the Starship Enterprise, but he knows how to fly small planes and helicopters, and frequently commandeers at least one of them.

The Premise

Each of the year's 24 episodes is supposed to represent one hour in an exceptionally trying day in the life of Jack Bauer, a federal agent who makes Superman seem like a sissy unless Sutherland thinks the scene calls for his infamous tortured look.

Bauer works for CTU, the Counter Terrorism Unit, an agency that the United States creates in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The group has field offices throughout the country and functions like a combined FBI, NSA and CIA, all with a domestic agenda, mandate and lots of power.

Jack Bauer was director of field operations (think Special Forces leader in Dockers) and eventually rose to lead the Los Angeles office. Coincidentally, all terrorist activity in the United States now seems centered on the West Coast so Jack, the ultimate micro-manager, is involved in everything.

Having stopped a Presidential assassination attempt in the terrific Season One, Bauer soon becomes involved in ever-escalating issues. Stripped of his title and position, even forced to fake his death, Bauer still finds himself called into emergency situations and improbably given "provisional" authority.

The Show

Not mentioning another character to this point except Bauer's self-absorbed daughter may seem strange, but make no mistake that 24 is Jack (and Kiefer's) show. With Sutherland having signed a multi-year production deal in 2006, one can only assume 24 will continue to be the same for many years to have come.

There have been strong performances from other actors. Veteran Dennis Haysbert, once a co-star in the low-budget flick Major League and now Allstate's best pitchman, was terrific as President Palmer. D.B. Woodside (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), continually one of television's most underrated actors, was slated to play an even bigger role in 2007 and brings power, grace and a little Machiavellian scheming to his Wayne Palmer character. Even Lord of the Rings veteran Sean Astin showed up for a long story arc where he played a stereotyped by-the book bureaucrat thrust in charge of CTU, becoming Jack's nemesis in the process.

The rest of the supporting cast is also strong, too strong to be shackled by Sutherland's ego-centric vehicle. After four years, Haysbert escaped to star in The Unit. Meanwhile, Mary Lynn Rajskub (Veronica's Closet), dressed down to play dowdy Chloe, is a brilliant comedian with a perfect deadpan delivery and likely won't be held back. On again/off-again Bauer love interest Audrey Raines, played by Kim Raver, has already made the jump, co-starring with Ben Stiller in Night At The Museum. A veteran of Third Watch, Raver is one breakthrough away from being an elite television actress.

The Bottom Line, Remote Control and All

So why continue watching? Season One is a gem, easily one of television's most suspenseful seasons ever. Taut writing, usually plausible action and several shocking plot twists made that season a joy. 24 has yet to recapture that magic, but like a golfer looking for the perfect shot he once made — the one that keeps you coming back — I remain hopeful.

Kiefer Sutherland, meanwhile, is trying to figure out how to hotwire a starship.

-- G. Bounacos