24 Recap: 1/22/07

Don’t anyone try to tell me you saw that coming. The bald guy, Doctor Romano from ER, is Jack’s brother?!?!

I admit I was beginning to have doubts about this season. Not for any particular reason, other than the thought that it can’t possibly continue to surprise and entertain. And then, it does.

So quickly recapping tonight’s show, also known as 10:00-11:00 AM…
People are in the streets, running around like a nuclear bomb just went off. Jack calls Bill. Bill says, “I thought you were out.”
Jack replies, “Not after this.”

FBI agents are using Walid, Sandra Palmer’s boyfriend(?), to try and get information from the other detainees. Personally, I’m not sure Walid is going to live to see the afternoon.

Asaad, the “good” terrorist who reminds me a little bit of that teacher Gil Myers from 90210, is brought to CTU, where he gives Buchanan the name of a Russian who might be involved. Jack’s father turns up on a list of contacts for the Russian.

Jack tries to contact his father (who we’ll refer to from hereon as “Jack’s father”). Some guy named Sam, who apparently lives with Jack’s father, answers the phone and says he doesn’t know where Jack’s father is.

Jack then calls his brother, Graham, who turns out to be the bald guy with the high-tech cell phone earpiece from past seasons. He then shows up at Graham’s house, sends the wife and kid upstairs, locks himself and Graham in a room, and begins to interrogate him.

President Wayne Palmer is taken down into the “bunker,” which I thought (hoped) might look something like the bridge of the Enterprise. But wound up looking more like the lounge of a luxury hotel. He makes a speech to the American people at the end of the hour.

The good:
Jack’s brother and father being brought into the fray. (Is it just me, or does Jack have some minor family issues?)

Jack interrogating his brother by, among other things, suffocating him by pulling a plastic bag over his head. (You kids don’t try that at home.)

Bill Buchanan snubbing Asaad’s handshake. Or as we might say, Asaad “overgreeted” in this situation.

Wayne Palmer showing a bit more leadership and integrity. (Although I still don’t buy him as the President.)

The bad:
Sandra Palmer. Puhleeeze. As the FBI guy said to her, “Let’s be honest. The only reason you’re here is because you’re the President’s sister.” Booyah!

The helicopter crash. It seemed out of place. It’s almost like they felt they needed to blow something up. So they just threw in a random helicopter. 12,000 people just died and Jack goes to rescue some random guy? It just didn’t fit.

We still need another personality in the field. As it is, there’s Jack and a bunch of random guys. Someone needs to emerge or be written in.

Scenes from next week. I’m almost beginning to not like these. Am I alone here? I mean, I didn’t necessarily want to know Jack’s brother gets away. And also, they make me wish I didn’t have to wait a whole week to see what happens. Which I guess is the point.

Best scene:
The whole scene with Jack interrogating Graham. Especially this:
Jack: “I need some information. Are you gonna give it to me, or do I have to hurt you?”
Jack’s brother: “You’re already hurting me.”
Jack: “Trust me, I’m not.”

Times you wish reality would emulate television:
President Palmer to the Admiral, also known as Dick Cheney: “We will retaliate, Admiral. But we will do so carefully and with our sights locked on our enemy, and only our enemy.”

Did you know?
Jack’s brother is the same guy who played Monty on Fame.

Questions:
Where is Audrey? Love her or hate her, something is up. Is she alive? Did they trade her to China for Jack?

Why is Asaad going to Washington? Couldn’t he better assist in the field, or at least from CTU? Or is there a 90210 reunion no one told me about?

Could Jack’s “nephew” turn out to be Jack’s son?

What if Curtis comes back like Bruce Willis in Sixth Sense, and he’s dead but doesn’t know it, and tells Jack, “I see terrorists.” Or what if he comes back like Patrick Swayze in Ghost, and channels himself thru Milo, and him and Jack make pottery together?

OK, clearly, I need to get to bed. Besides, I can’t read the rest of the handwritten notes I took.

I miss…
Audrey. I’m sorry, but she’s hot.

“Fame! I’m gonna live forever. I’m gonna learn how to fly…”