A few days ago I accidently started watching 24 season 5 instead of season 4. I had already finished the first episode before I noticed my mistake, yet I was unable to stop myself from playing the next episode and then the next and then the next. Its grossly suspenseful endings, coupled with my addictive tendencies made for an unstoppable viewing experience.
Finally there was partial closure in the main story arc and I started on season 4. The problem is that season 4 is completely ridiculous and predictable. Some story arcs nearly reach the banality of Kim's in season 2.
Here are some things I've begun to notice in 24:
1. It's extremely easy for terrorists to plant moles into CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit). If they couldn't even plant a mole into CTU, they'll settle for the second bests, the easier plants, such as the NSA or the President's inner circle. If they can't manage that, they should just give up on being terrorists.
2. If CTU ever wanted to catch their mole all they'd have to do is wait in the restrooms on the toilet with their feet lifted from under the stalls. The mole will inevitably make a phone call to the terrorists after carefully looking for dangling feet, which as everyone knows is the ultimate in security measures.
3. If 24 has chosen a particular race as the terrorists, it's important to have at least one good guy of that race, so the audience will know, "Hey now. You see? Not all ******* are bad people."
4. If two people are talking about a techie or jargony word, it is still very important to explicitly explain to each other what the word is and the consequences.
"We'll set off an EMP."
"A pulse bomb? Are you out of your mind? It'll destroy every piece of hardware we have. It'll cripple us electronically."
"That's the point."
Said statement is followed by an evil smirk or a stone-cold face (evil laugh is so yesterday)
5. Time will appear onscreen when a character mentions the ETA of an event.
6. If a character wants something, they'll use blackmail.
7 All CTU staff have bionic short term memory. They can easily memorize strings and strings of alphanumeric code in one listen, under pressure.
8. If Jack disagrees with someone he'll scream "WE HAVE NO TIME!" and then refer to #6. Alternatively, he'll say "THAT'S THE WRONG PLAY," or simply punch you in the face.
9. Jack knows how to punch you so that you get knocked out in a single punch.
10. Jack always declines back up. If there's backup "THAT'S THE WRONG PLAY" and "They'll know we're coming" and of course "WE HAVE NO TIME!"
11. Anyone with higher rank than Jack will make it harder for him to complete his missions. They follow
protocol. Of course Jack simply refers to #8 and after, when he succeeds, we get to see the dumbstruck faces of his superiors, who then can't punish him because he's now indispensible to the mission.
12. Act of forbidden heroism --> Slap on the wrist --> But Indispensibility--> Back on the job on a "provisional" basis. They love that word, provisional. It's how they get popular actors from previous seasons or story arcs back into the show.
I'd like to have 24 things I've noticed about 24. Have you noticed anything?
