24 Woes

I think I’ve put my finger on what is bothering me about 24 this year.

In any season, 24 episodes are divided up between “Jack Stuff” and “Non-Jack Stuff.” The “Jack Stuff” is, and always should be, more interesting than the “Non-Jack Stuff.” But in past seasons, the “Non-Jack Stuff” has at least been entertaining. Not so this season. This season, the show grinds to a complete halt during the “Non-Jack Stuff.”

Why is this? I think it’s because the show has repeatedly gotten rid of almost all of the supporting characters we, the audience, gave a damn about. No David Palmer, no Sherry Palmer, no Mike Novick, no Secret Security Agent Aaron Whatshisname, no Charles Logan, no Martha Logan, no Nina, no Tony, no Michelle, no Curtis. All we have left is Chloe and Bill Buchanan, and Bill got kicked to the curb this last episode. (Kicked to the curb in an almost identical manner and identical point in the season as last year, I feel compelled to point out.) And so, when we cut away from “Jack Stuff” (which we have to do at some point, because there are times Jack is doing stuff that just isn’t that interesting, although at this point, I think Jack stopping to get a bite to eat would be more interesting than yet another cut away to a White House scene). I’m not sure what can be done at this point – bringing any of the dead back to life would be contrary to the realism the show has established (though there was always something more than a little suspicious about Tony’s death – I think you could construct a scenario where he hadn’t really died) but creating new characters hasn’t really helped either.