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Seasons(8) / Episodes(192)
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Federal Agent Jack Bauer can't afford to always play by the rules. As a member of the L.A. Counter Terrorist Unit, Jack must stop bombs, viruses, assassination attempts, and usually save someone he cares about at the same time. Every season of this series has 24 episodes, each unfolding in real time following a consecutive hour in one very bad day. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (7)
Provisional rating after 14 episodes: It is definitely not "the best series of all time", as the copious advertising campaign tried to make us believe, but only a slightly above-average miniseries, in which three storylines are artfully put together to make it enough for 24 episodes without the viewer feeling bored. So far, this has worked out, but otherwise there is nothing groundbreaking in terms of plot. Using multiple windows looks good, but again nothing new under the sun. And most importantly – the biggest attraction – the action taking place in "real" time, takes a beating. Not only do some situations take on an unlikely dimension, but the frequent five-minute jumps look weird. Sure, in the US, these jumps are used for five-minute commercial breaks, where obese Americans learn what weight-loss product to buy, and at the same time can feel that something is still happening in the fictional world of Jack Bauer. The commercials end and they're still in real-time, except Jack has moved his car three miles or gone to the bathroom during those five minutes. Meanwhile, we Central Europeans have to watch in dismay as entire blocks of time disappear before our eyes, with the TV channel spicing it up with commercials. But enough with the snark. 24 is a well done job, which didn't impress me (yet), but as a one time, to kick back and relax, why not? Let's see what the next episodes bring.
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A dynamic series, but 8 seasons may be a bit too much. There are interesting plot twists, but there is also a lack of subtlety and unnecessary stretching. It's acceptable, but three or four seasons would be ideal. Surprisingly, for an action series, with a few exceptions, it doesn’t have very high-quality action scenes.
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Season 1 – 85% – It is truly surprising how raw the atmosphere is, right from the beginning. Unlike the years that followed, which are more action-thriller oriented, the start focuses more on basic psychology and political twists, with action taking a backseat. The main problem is how the viewer can accept the occasional clichés. Fortunately, they are all presented in such an attractive package that I have no problem swallowing them. The last two episodes are filled with tension until the very last second. Season 2 – 90% – The action has intensified, Jack's personal tragedy adds to his toughness and determination, Kim continues to function in the realms of "sexy" and "hysterical" at the same time, and the best character, with a change of sides, is Nina. The action-packed ending adds a touch of timelessness. Season 3 – 85% – The first half of the third day brings a charismatic new partner, a highly unpredictable plot, and an amazing villainous duo, which takes it to its peak. However, the second half is filled with schematic situations that have no place at CTU and, in their predictability, can sometimes even be boring. Fortunately, the finale brings an almost breathless catharsis, adding significant points to the overall impression. The feeling of the story coming full circle is perfect, yet the golden age is yet to come. Season 4 – 90% – The notion that everything should have ended at the end of the third day was fortunately just an illusion. This time, CTU gets a formidable opponent, which gives the term "main antagonist" a completely new dimension. The only criticism this time are the characters – both the unnecessarily prolonged storyline of the Araz family or Jack's new partner. Her repeated transformations of the overall perception of things due to her ex-husband somewhat spoil the feeling of a realistic-looking relationship plot. However, the story gains its greatest strength in moments when old acquaintances return and with the growing night atmosphere. Who would have guessed after an incredible finish that it could be even better next time? Season 5 – 100% – An unstoppable ride from its shocking start to the emotionally charged final episode. The best antagonist (a duel between student and teacher), the best atmosphere (you never know which of your favorite characters will be affected next), and unequivocally the best season. Not to mention a very dark ending. Season 6 – 65% – To some extent a return to its roots in terms of emphasizing family relationships. Noticeably better special effects and this time even slightly surprising brutality, which fans of the first seasons might be astonished by. But the most important thing is that it is the worst season. After an effective start, in the middle third of the day, I got the impression that not everything was going the way it should, and the series was needlessly stretching out a juicy but repetitive taste of what has already been seen in previous seasons. However, the last episodes take off into unprecedented twists and the final ten minutes are unrepeatable with their unique atmosphere. Therefore, two sharp contradictions are conflicting inside me. On one hand, the creators showed me that they can still come up with sufficiently nerve-racking plots, but on the other hand, I don't like feeling that I barely want to watch the next episodes. Redemption – 70% – We all know that the strike hurt Jack the most out of all A-list TV series. That's why with his first shot comes the expected excitement that he finally got out of this one. He can still go hard for the right cause, pick up anything to incapacitate the enemy with, and when he gets close to someone fate hasn't spared, he goes south dangerously quickly. But since I'm a proponent of the classic Los Angeles look, I have to add in the same breath that relocating to this location probably wasn't the most fortunate idea. After all, we've seen it all before in Blood Diamond, Hotel Rwanda, and City of God, and even the highly political storyline offers nothing surprising this time around. It's hard to get used to the fact that even Jack Bauer can come up with (only) pleasant mediocrity. Still, there's no need to damn Redemption, because it's essentially just a fan-favorite, feature-length prequel. Season 7 – 80% – The first time without a permanent setting, the first time with a suspicious return from beyond the grave, but the seventh time in a similar river. If it weren't for a familiar character involved in the whole terrorist endeavor, I might have a bit of a problem with another "America is in danger and we have no idea what to do about it" situation. So more than ever, the more the viewer likes Jack, the more they'll enjoy this season. Plus, with the perfectly written Renee Walker by his side, it hasn't been this good for a long time. So even though the new characters are at times very irritating and the surprising twists seem a bit contrived, there's no rush. The ending explains everything very satisfactorily and says that nothing in the world is black and white. This seemingly banal phrase is a very emotional thing when delivered by the creators of 24. Season 8 – 90% – A triumph. I was wishing Jack another quality season. After an indecisive start, I wanted an adventure on the level of season seven, then after a surprisingly awkward first third and the announcement that day eight would be the last, the exit was at least decent. Except now it all feels like a commentary on some other series. 24 did, in fact, take a 180° turn after a major twist, adding pace, acting, twists and, most importantly, tension, and delivering one of the highlights of the whole show for me. A hated character becomes a top-notch antagonist, the ridiculously fast-paced boss changes get surprising endings, and just when it seems like CTU is going all out after a while, Jack's fatal one-man-show comes along to show us that we haven't even begun. All in all, then, one of Bauer's best seasons ever, and a bit of a surprise event this season. If it had ended after season six or seven, Jack would still be a hero. But this way, with a brilliant finish, he retained his place as one of the greatest kings in TV series history. Who could have guessed that Fox would start itching their hands so much about a sequel that the most wonderful gift would arrive. Live Another Day – 90% – The talk of a reboot or a standalone miniseries was more false than I ever would have guessed. Characters who have been absent for years return to the storyline, the side plots bring back the darkest ghosts from the past, and in general the whole scheme of the opening episodes recalls the classic days of the original 24 as much as possible. Thus, a terrorist group can threaten the world with all sorts of weapons or explosions, and even when he's a mere rumor to most people rather than a real person, Jack Bauer has to step in. And although I was slightly reluctant, curbed my enthusiasm for the action scenes or nostalgic homages, and shook my head at times at the technical shortcuts or devices, in the end, I too was absorbed. The final three episodes, in fact, offer the essence of everything that attached me to that ticking clock all those years ago. Perfect audio-visuals, suspense literally down to the last second, and an emotional experience whose intensity almost made me miserable at times. Those moments when the need and zeal to save other people exceeds one's own need for happiness, or even a life, work perfectly for the ninth time. The fifth star, somewhat surprisingly, goes to William Devane, who, at just under seventy-five, has no trouble charming the entire White House staff into silence.
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"Real time" is an interesting incantation that works so far. I like the "handheld" camera and the cut-out shots that increase the dynamics of the plot... It's hard to judge for the first episode how this thriller will develop (it obviously goes according to genre schemes, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing), but I can already say that Sutherland is sympathetic and the dubbing is overall very good (especially Trojan does a good job)... I’d like to watch the next episode, because this looks like a series with its own identity and a slightly progressive spirit... // After watching the other episodes, however, I can't help myself - other than a slightly unusual approach, this is a perfectly typical US thriller that has not attracted me through anything...
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I've only seen the first two seasons, then this format got a bit tiresome for me. The series was preceded by a generous advertising campaign that set expectations very high. 24 is a typical commercial product, with its advantage lying in dynamic editing and a script that revels in dramatic twists, not to mention the lead performance by Kiefer Sutherland. On the other hand, the series is accompanied by a number of script shortcomings, such as the nonsensical and overcomplicated motif of the destroyed plane in the first season. There are also plenty of genre clichés from action movies and the invincibility of the main character. If Jack Bauer can do it, then why do Americans have trouble in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere? In the second season, the superfluous subplot with Bauer's daughter is evident, and similar criticisms could be found upon closer examination. Nevertheless, the dynamic plot and script twists place the series slightly above average. Overall impression: 60%.
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