24 Live Another Day Series Blog: 13.00-14.00

When it was announced that 24 was returning for only 12 episodes, there was the suggestion that it would retain all of the energy and action of previous seasons and omit the filler episodes. That being said, the third instalment of 24: Live Another Day could be seen as such. With a focus more on moving the story along by interlinking the subplots and fleshing out characters, there was a considerable lack of explosions and shoot outs.

The episode opened with Jack chasing Simone (Emily Berrington) across the London Underground and despite the chase scene being predictable, it was tense and exciting due to Sean Callery’s score. The real purpose of this scene however, is to reveal what happened to Chloe during the break as she sees a family and freezes which allows Simone to escape into a taxi. In previous seasons, Chloe’s gaze would only linger on the family for a second before she jumps back into action but the character’s complete detachment from the job at hand showcased how she is not the same Chloe O’Brian that we once knew. The hardship that she suffered over the four year break was then revealed to Jack – her son and husband were killed in a car accident that was a government hit meant for her. Initially, it seemed as if their deaths were simply tragic, civilian deaths far removed from the world of CTU, terrorism and international crises. For a second there was a reminder of Chloe’s life outside of the world of Jack Bauer.

ut then the revelation came that she was meant to be in the car and that it was linked to Chloe knowing about Jack’s disappearance. Alas, everything always comes back to Jack Bauer. Jack’s response of “You can’t bring back the ones you love, trust me. But you honour their lives by helping others. It’s the only way forward” arguably highlights the development of our beloved anti-hero with dealing with his wife Teri’s murder at the end of season one and avenging her death to the deaths of many friends along the way (Michelle, President Palmer, Renee Walker et al), all for his constant struggle for the good of his country. The scene acted as a reminder of the way in which 24 excels when they take a step back from the action and let the tragedy of certain events sink in. Mary Lynn Rajskub and Kiefer Sutherland, of course, shine in this scene as the future of Jack and Chloe’s relationship seems hopeful.

You can’t bring back the ones you love, trust me. But you honour their lives by helping others. It’s the only way forward

This episode also explored the novelty of Jack Bauer in London. ‘1.00pm-2.00pm’ saw Jack walking into an empty pub encountering a cockney landlord – not forgetting the money shot of a pint, Jack and Chloe racing from London Waterloo to Charing Cross in an implausibly quick time in a Volvo, Jack Bauer on the London Underground and featured establishing shots of the English countryside. Despite the impossibly fast travel time, I think we can let this go as it probably occurred countless times when the show was set in LA but as British viewers, we didn’t notice. This British iconography was also combined with a comically stereotypical image of the British MPS. As President Heller attempted to address Parliament he was heckled by a posh, bumbling crowd. Interestingly, though on the final split screen of the episode the camera tracks slightly from the back of the room, the MPs are still – perhaps hinting that all is not lost for the President and that some credibility and respect can still be salvaged.

In the third episode we learnt the motives of the apparent mastermind of the drone attack – Margot Al-Harazi. She is revealed to be a radicalised Islamist who married an al-Qaida commander who later died in a drone strike that was ordered by, none other than, President Heller. The relationship between Margot and Simone is also developed in an interesting way as it comes across as emotionally abusive. I feel that Simone and her husband are expendable in Margot’s eyes, time will tell. With targets including 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace she is proved hell-bent on avenging her husband’s death.  However, veteran 24 viewers may be wary whether she is the mastermind behind the entire operation as there are normally numerous villains as the season progresses – one with an inevitable link to Jack Bauer.

Meanwhile, Agent Kate Morgan employed Bauer-esque tactics in extracting information from a cockney suspect in which she threatened to hand him over to a heroin gang whom were baying for his blood unless he co-operated.  Mark Boudreau, similarly, resorts to extreme measures to get what he wants as he forges the President’s signature on a document that could see Jack Bauer handed over to the Russians for his previous crimes.  The character additionally attempts to manipulate his wife Audrey into persuading her father not to address Parliament. This does not succeed however, the conversation between the father and daughter merely reveal Mark and Audrey’s marital troubles. The path is thus seemingly paved towards a Jack/Audrey reunion.

The final act of the episode saw Jack incite a riot in order to infiltrate his was into the U.S. embassy by shooting a few protestors in the leg and shouting “They’re shooting at us!”. This is another highly implausible scene due to one of the most wanted men in the world – especially by America, not being recognised outside the US embassy by American officers. But again, it’s for the sake of the fictional narrative.  The scene as a whole, instead of being sloppy and frantic, retains energy and audience awareness despite the quickly escalating events. Caused by Adrian wishing to get Jack arrested and be rid of his influence, the rivalry between the two characters deteriorated in this episode. The question therefore lies: Who will Chloe chose when it ultimately comes between her new life with Adrian or will she stick with Jack?

Despite being somewhat of a filler episode in which subplots were fleshed out and linked together and characters were built upon, major groundwork has been laid. We’re three episodes in and 24: Live Another Day shows no signs of slowing anytime soon; things are only beginning.