Jimmy Higgins

I loved it. Everything that makes 24 (or this season 25) great, made that show great.

Alright, I knew someone, someone from season one would return and surprise us. To my great surprise, I never thought it'd be her, but then again, other than Carl, who else that was bad survived?

Also, of all the endings, I thought were possible, I didn't see Palmer kicking it, now that is a major kill! Will Michelle Forbes be back for Season 3? Kim Bauer, finally done? What role with the CIA will Kate's father have if she is part of Season 3? The President died, who else will? Are we talking a massive bio attack? How good will the VP be as President? Who is behind all this, the National Yogurt Foundation? I thought we'd learn more in this episode, but we only saw a new face. What connections does he have? Sheri Palmer have a role? When will the next 24 hours take place, or will it not be a 24 hour system?

I was skeptical about Season 2. But it rocked. It was solid throughout the year. Not as impactful as Season 1, but that is merely because Season 1 was so fresh. If Season 3 is just as good, I'll be very happy. But now its a matter of the show being released on DVD.

5 stars for 24, out of 4 stars. TV does not get any better.

Writer@Large

Dead? Who's dead? Palmer was still alive when the clock struck 8:00.00. But yes, the infection/poison/whatever it was that Naked Mandy (sorry, I'm an AICN reader) slipped him was a helluva cliffhanger.

So ... Season three. Here's the major plot elements potentially still in play:

1) The President's poisoning/infection.
2) The Caspian Oil interests, who, we should recall, haven't ever been officially connected to the bomb plot. Kingsley's dead, and he didn't say anything about them during his conversation with Sherry Palmer.
3) We all know this won't be the end of Sherry. She has friends; the charges won't stick. She still has a role to play.
4) Jack/Kate romantic interests.
5) Nina's still out there!
6) So's Kate's sister ... her final scene had "reoccuring villian" written all over it.
7) And Marie's warning, of course: "You think you're safe on the outside, Kate?"
8) Jack's new "heart condition."
9) Not to mention there may still be a Drazen out there from Season One.

Plus, they need a new hook for season three, I'm sure.

Whew! That's a lot to play with. I can't wait until October (likely when Fox will get around to premiering it)!

--W@L

elwoodblues

Who is the chick at the end with the deadly handshake? I didn't see season 1. We know this person?

So, Season 3 is a definite thing. Apparently there's also a movie in the works, or at least this is rumored.

All that aside, though, great finale. Didn't let me down. I was sure the evidence would be a minute too late, and the bombs would already be dropping (thus setting up Season 3). The 'happy' ending actually surprised me!

Silent Dave

My favorite show has ended for the season, so to help alleviate the withdrawl pains, here are some random thoughts:

Elwood, the chick with the deadly handshake's name is Mandy (anyone know the actress's name?). She appeared in only three episodes in season one, which is unfortunate, since she provided most of the sex appeal for that season.

I think Tony got the best line for the season in the finale: "It's like this, Ryan -- either fire me, or get out of my chair." (It's probably a contextual thing.)

Okay, so we didn't actually SEE the President die -- I think that was a deliberate escape hatch -- but given the fact that the poison worked so quickly on his body, I think he's kicked it. Maybe some kind of story logic can pull him out of it, but I kind of doubt it. I hope I'm wrong.

Can someone confirm that season 3 is definite? Or that there's a movie in the works?

While the producers left open a lot of options for S3 and beyond, as W@L so keenly listed, they've also set up a dilemma for themselves: when should S3 take place? On the one hand, the farther away it is from S2, the more trouble you'll have picking up continuity from S2. On the other hand, the closer it is, the more trouble you'll have bringing Kiefer back, since heart damage isn't something you just walk away from. I'm not saying it's an insoluable matter; I'm just saying you have a unique set of problems either way.

I think both Jack and Nina will be back. Remember around 5:00 or so, when he whispered something in her ear that we didn't hear? They definitely have unfinished business. Also, we never did figure out who Nina really worked for in S1. I'm guessing it's the same people behind S2, so maybe S3 will deal with this larger uber-conspiracy. (There's part of your hook.)

I still think Richard Walsh is alive.

I do hope Ensign Ro returns.

I also hope Mike returns, and somehow is able to redeem himself from S2. I really liked the guy.

As for Kim, in an ideal world she would come back next season -- but only in the first episode or two, and for only as much screen time as Keith Palmer.

All in all, I think S2 was better than S1. "24" is exactly what good TV should be. Not as impactful, sure -- we knew to expect a deadly twist this time, -- and you no longer have the novelty of the realtime format; but the story was more cohesive, the characters were used more intelligently, the acting was just as fine if not better, the directing lived up to Stephen Hopkins' legacy, and the suspense was definitely there. If and when the DVD set is released, I will be the first to buy it.


Dave

Godless Dave

I can't remember - did we ever see the Vice President talking to Kingsley? I always assumed the VP was in on it. Not accepting his resignation was Palmer's biggest mistake.

The Kim subplot really did go nowhere, but I think it was there for a reason. Her boyfriend who lost a leg reminds us of all the regular people (ie not ice cold supermen like Jack and the villains) who are impacted by terrorism and covert ops. Kim's experience showed us that violence can have a psychological impact. Something seems not right with her. I'm hoping that was the point of that whole waste of time, but if so it was poorly executed IMO.

Re: Sherri Palmer. Not only does she have well-placed connections, she has the recordings of all her phone conversations with Kingsley, and Kingsley and Hewitt are dead, so there's not much evidence left.

nogods4me

I am hoping that Palmer is not dead. I really like tha character. I am putting my hopes on Palmer being infected with an agent that will kill him if an antidore isn't administered insay, oh,24 hours! That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Godless Dave

Heh heh. You might be onto something.

paul30

I have seen only a few episodes of the current 24.

But what I find grimly hilarious is that the Prez is trying to STOP a war based on false information.

Not George W., who did his effective worst to start one based on lies.

Godless Dave

Unlike GW, Palmer is smart enough to realize when he is being lied to.

ex-idaho

Well my Tuesday nights are open for awhile.

My predictions:
Jack Bauer won't be back for season 3. I don't think Sutherland will commit to a 3rd season outside of a cameo in the first episode to set up the new guy. I really expected him to die in the finale and was very surprised that he didn't.

There was some major foreshadowing when the Pres decided not to accept the resignation of the VP. So either the VP was in on it and put over a barrel by the evidence or he is just easily manipulated.


I was thrilled to see Mandy back, what a hottie!