Tuesday, March 15, 2011

‘24’: The clock stops

(Published March 16, PDI-Entertainement)

By Oliver M. Pulumbarit

Contributor

A few seasons were marked by rehashed ideas and diminished by waning subplots, but the groundbreaking action series “24” has kept quick-thinking Jack Bauer on his toes.

The quintessential terrorist-hunting agent, always racing against time, has gone through countless traumas, recovered and continues to pay the price for saving America from horrific threats.

The series’ eighth and final season recreates the suspense of the better-written seasons. Jack (Kiefer Sutherland), now a grandfather, hesitates rejoining CTU (Counter-Terrorist Unit) in New York when a trusted ally from the revived agency suspects something amiss. Jack investigates and discovers a plot that threatens President Allison Taylor’s (Cherry Jones) peace treaty signing.

As with the previous season, President Taylor is faced with difficult choices, but she succumbs to temptation, covering up unsavory details to preserve the peace talks. Jack switches from legit agent to rogue operative, targeting armed goons, a new CTU mole, and a returning villain.

Season 8 has a number of tough female characters. Aside from the beleaguered president, acerbic tech-nerd Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and troubled ex-FBI agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching) also return. New CTU agent Dana Walsh (Katee Sackhoff from “Battlestar Galactica”) has a complicated past, while Dalia Hassan (Necar Zadegan) is the widow of a martyred leader, forced into the fray like some real-life female politicians.

“24” airs weekdays, 12 noon, on JackTV.

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