Monday, March 13, 2006
Son of a bitch.
Sonofamotherfuckingbitch.
I love how this show continually knocks me on my ass and thank you writers of 24 for proving once and for all that I can't make predictions for this show to save my own life.
Jeez.
I have sat here for about 15 minutes now trying to sort my thoughts into some kind of rational order but it ain't happening. This recap may be somewhat scattershot.
So... The gang is stuck in a conference room. I have to give credit too because it's amazing to me that they can make such a "GUH!" hour out of being stuck in a room. Chloe has gone fetal after watching Edgar die and Ponyboy (whom I TOTALLY did not recognize last week - he has suffered from Mark Hamill-dom) pretty much bugged the hell out of Jack the whole episode.
The terrorist Bierko has sent out his thugs to various places with the canisters and the president is cracking. Well, cracking more than usual. His vice-president is pressuring him to declare martial law - a move Novick and Martha feel is the wrong thing to do. In a moment between man and wife, Logan tears up and admits to his wife that he doesn't think he can take much more of this. With a resigned look on her face, as if she knows she's going to have to bear most of the burden for him, she takes his hand and lets him know he hasn't lost her. It seemed to help but I couldn't help but recall how much stronger Palmer was. And as my daughter said, "And he had a whackjob for a wife too!"
I miss Palmer :(
The main focus tonight was on Jack and company as they try to figure out how to keep the investigation going. Henderson made it to a safe room before they were sealed off and it just happened to be where Tony was. McGill and a security guy (with a red shirt) were in a holding room that was safe and in the conference room we have Jack, Audrey, Kim and Barry (Ponyboy), Chloe and I think a couple of other nameless CTU employees. Buchanan - I think - was in another safe room but I can't recall if he was alone or if was in the conference room or what. My brain's still processing everything so forgive me if I have some placements wrong. Doesn't really matter anyway.
But as I mentioned earlier, Chloe was in shock at seeing Edgar die. Even Jack can't convince her to get back in the saddle and pull up some schematics. So Barry offers to try and help her because he's a clinical psychologist. He calms her a little. But at some point he crosses a line when Jack tries to talk to Kim. (Please forgive me because I'm a little fuzzy on what exactly happened and my VCR crapped out during the 'previously's.) Jack goes off on Barry and gets him in a chokehold. The look on his face was priceless. You could see the contempt oozing from his pores. Loved it. But the dramatics finally shake Chloe out of her daze and she gets to work trying to figure out how to clear the air.
Throughout this episode I believe we caught glimpses of Jack's tough exterior cracking too. Cracks in the armour as one thing after another goes wrong. Kim rejects him because she believes bad things always happen when he's around. Simplistic but true. I can't put myself in her shoes, but I know if I had a second chance with my parents I'd jump at it. Kim's rejection hit Jack hard. As Jack stares out the window at the dead bodies littering the once bustling CTU floor, Audrey comes over to ask if he's okay. "No." he says simply. Crack.
Then comes the news from Chloe that the seals are beginning to deteriorate because of some kind of acidic agent in the nerve gas. She believes she can use the air conditioning vents to clear the air but there's some computer somewhere that has some kind of computery glitch on it preventing that from happening.
The only way to stop the seal breaking down and clear the air is for Jack to monkey bar through the walls - through a contaminated area mind you - to get to the offending computer. Am I the only one who held their breath during that scene just to see if I could hold it as long as Jack? I am? Oh, well don't tell anyone I did okay?
But he was thwarted by a bunch of jail cell bars in the wall. Jack's holding his breath and trying to find some way to get to that computer that he can see but not touch. But he had to give up trying or pass out. He makes it back to the conference room despairing. But they learn that McGill is in the holding room near the computer.
McGill has admitted to the redshirt that this is all his fault because he was too embarrassed to admit he got beat up for his wallet. Redshirt is understandably contemptuous of him. But when Jack tells Lynn he can save everyone by getting to that computer, he sees redemption. At a cost. If he goes to the computer he will break the seal in the holding room and the gas will penetrate. There is no way he or the redshirt can be saved.
Jack is in anguish at not being able to make the sacrifice himself and you can tell he hates having to ask someone else to save him but there's no choice. McGill resigns himself to it. Redshirt is not so happy but after an emotional call to his family, they hold their breath as McGill gets to the computer, releases the hold on it and goes back to the holding cell.
Why could he not get to a room with some gas masks? Too far away?
I digress. The redshirt gasps for breath first and for a brief moment he thought he would live. Then the gas hit him and he spasms til he dies as Lynn looks on still holding his breath. He doesn't want to let it go knowing what will happen. But the body is a weird thing and with resignation written all over him, he releases his breath. A few gasps later (I almost felt like he was savouring those few breaths) the spasms hit him and those in the conference room looked on in horror as they watched the man who saved them and redeemed himself die a horrible, painful death.
And as if that wasn't enough...
Throughout the hour, Tony fought his own battle between his desire to avenge Michelle's death and the knowledge that doing so would endanger thousands of other innocents. With Henderson near him refusing to give up any info despite the liquid torture from another agent in the room, Jack convinces Tony to let it play out. He mentioned Terri which might have helped Tony put a hold on his emotions - for a while.
But in the end, when Tony saw that torture on Henderson was useless because he fell into a coma, Tony knocked out the agent with them and prepared a dose of something apparently lethal. I thought he'd shot him but I guess not. As he holds the needle over Henderson's chest, Henderson grabs Tony's wrist and plunges the needle into Tony's chest and escapes.
And as Jack enters that room (because the air has been cleared and it's safe to move around the building) he sees his friend, one of the few true friends Jack has, on the floor. Jack takes Tony in his arms and holds him as he dies. Tony's final moments are peaceful for him because he knows he won't have to deal with the pain of losing Michelle and maybe in some way they can be together again. It was a beautiful moment - for Tony.
For Jack it was pure anguish as his friend died in his arms.
Tick. *sniffle* boom.
Bye Tony.
I love how this show continually knocks me on my ass and thank you writers of 24 for proving once and for all that I can't make predictions for this show to save my own life.
Jeez.
I have sat here for about 15 minutes now trying to sort my thoughts into some kind of rational order but it ain't happening. This recap may be somewhat scattershot.
So... The gang is stuck in a conference room. I have to give credit too because it's amazing to me that they can make such a "GUH!" hour out of being stuck in a room. Chloe has gone fetal after watching Edgar die and Ponyboy (whom I TOTALLY did not recognize last week - he has suffered from Mark Hamill-dom) pretty much bugged the hell out of Jack the whole episode.
The terrorist Bierko has sent out his thugs to various places with the canisters and the president is cracking. Well, cracking more than usual. His vice-president is pressuring him to declare martial law - a move Novick and Martha feel is the wrong thing to do. In a moment between man and wife, Logan tears up and admits to his wife that he doesn't think he can take much more of this. With a resigned look on her face, as if she knows she's going to have to bear most of the burden for him, she takes his hand and lets him know he hasn't lost her. It seemed to help but I couldn't help but recall how much stronger Palmer was. And as my daughter said, "And he had a whackjob for a wife too!"
I miss Palmer :(
The main focus tonight was on Jack and company as they try to figure out how to keep the investigation going. Henderson made it to a safe room before they were sealed off and it just happened to be where Tony was. McGill and a security guy (with a red shirt) were in a holding room that was safe and in the conference room we have Jack, Audrey, Kim and Barry (Ponyboy), Chloe and I think a couple of other nameless CTU employees. Buchanan - I think - was in another safe room but I can't recall if he was alone or if was in the conference room or what. My brain's still processing everything so forgive me if I have some placements wrong. Doesn't really matter anyway.
But as I mentioned earlier, Chloe was in shock at seeing Edgar die. Even Jack can't convince her to get back in the saddle and pull up some schematics. So Barry offers to try and help her because he's a clinical psychologist. He calms her a little. But at some point he crosses a line when Jack tries to talk to Kim. (Please forgive me because I'm a little fuzzy on what exactly happened and my VCR crapped out during the 'previously's.) Jack goes off on Barry and gets him in a chokehold. The look on his face was priceless. You could see the contempt oozing from his pores. Loved it. But the dramatics finally shake Chloe out of her daze and she gets to work trying to figure out how to clear the air.
Throughout this episode I believe we caught glimpses of Jack's tough exterior cracking too. Cracks in the armour as one thing after another goes wrong. Kim rejects him because she believes bad things always happen when he's around. Simplistic but true. I can't put myself in her shoes, but I know if I had a second chance with my parents I'd jump at it. Kim's rejection hit Jack hard. As Jack stares out the window at the dead bodies littering the once bustling CTU floor, Audrey comes over to ask if he's okay. "No." he says simply. Crack.
Then comes the news from Chloe that the seals are beginning to deteriorate because of some kind of acidic agent in the nerve gas. She believes she can use the air conditioning vents to clear the air but there's some computer somewhere that has some kind of computery glitch on it preventing that from happening.
The only way to stop the seal breaking down and clear the air is for Jack to monkey bar through the walls - through a contaminated area mind you - to get to the offending computer. Am I the only one who held their breath during that scene just to see if I could hold it as long as Jack? I am? Oh, well don't tell anyone I did okay?
But he was thwarted by a bunch of jail cell bars in the wall. Jack's holding his breath and trying to find some way to get to that computer that he can see but not touch. But he had to give up trying or pass out. He makes it back to the conference room despairing. But they learn that McGill is in the holding room near the computer.
McGill has admitted to the redshirt that this is all his fault because he was too embarrassed to admit he got beat up for his wallet. Redshirt is understandably contemptuous of him. But when Jack tells Lynn he can save everyone by getting to that computer, he sees redemption. At a cost. If he goes to the computer he will break the seal in the holding room and the gas will penetrate. There is no way he or the redshirt can be saved.
Jack is in anguish at not being able to make the sacrifice himself and you can tell he hates having to ask someone else to save him but there's no choice. McGill resigns himself to it. Redshirt is not so happy but after an emotional call to his family, they hold their breath as McGill gets to the computer, releases the hold on it and goes back to the holding cell.
Why could he not get to a room with some gas masks? Too far away?
I digress. The redshirt gasps for breath first and for a brief moment he thought he would live. Then the gas hit him and he spasms til he dies as Lynn looks on still holding his breath. He doesn't want to let it go knowing what will happen. But the body is a weird thing and with resignation written all over him, he releases his breath. A few gasps later (I almost felt like he was savouring those few breaths) the spasms hit him and those in the conference room looked on in horror as they watched the man who saved them and redeemed himself die a horrible, painful death.
And as if that wasn't enough...
Throughout the hour, Tony fought his own battle between his desire to avenge Michelle's death and the knowledge that doing so would endanger thousands of other innocents. With Henderson near him refusing to give up any info despite the liquid torture from another agent in the room, Jack convinces Tony to let it play out. He mentioned Terri which might have helped Tony put a hold on his emotions - for a while.
But in the end, when Tony saw that torture on Henderson was useless because he fell into a coma, Tony knocked out the agent with them and prepared a dose of something apparently lethal. I thought he'd shot him but I guess not. As he holds the needle over Henderson's chest, Henderson grabs Tony's wrist and plunges the needle into Tony's chest and escapes.
And as Jack enters that room (because the air has been cleared and it's safe to move around the building) he sees his friend, one of the few true friends Jack has, on the floor. Jack takes Tony in his arms and holds him as he dies. Tony's final moments are peaceful for him because he knows he won't have to deal with the pain of losing Michelle and maybe in some way they can be together again. It was a beautiful moment - for Tony.
For Jack it was pure anguish as his friend died in his arms.
Tick. *sniffle* boom.
Bye Tony.
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17 Comments:
"She's gone Jack..."
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Im so pissed off and blown away at the same time.
That's three people in two hours, including Tony who's been there since the beginning. How many more can they possibly kill off?
series coming to a head perhaps?
The clock at the end wasn't silent this week as it was last week when Edgar died. Any hope that Tony's not dead?
No, pretty sure tony's gone, im pretty sure they diddnt want to use the ceremonial silent clock to hours in a row, it would slightly ruin the peacfulness of it.
I still think they should have used it. I'm not saying Edgar wasn't liked, I liked him a lot. But I liked Tony a lot more, and he's been there since the beginning, and really deserved a silent clock. He really really did. And no one would have expected it two times in a row, so I do think it should have been used.
Now I'm sitting here all pissed because Tony died. :( Great great episode, but damnit, don't do this to us! This season is half completed, and already Palmer, Michelle, Tony and Edgar have died! (And Lynn, if you want to count him). Man, oh man. :(
I love 24, but c'mon, is this show getting way too repetitive or what? Someone evil always shows up to run CTU for a while. They get killed or arrested and someone decent takes over, until the next time someone evil takes over. In real life, Jack would be lodged in a federal penetentiary for breaking so many laws. Chloe is too freak'n weird to ever get a security clearance, and now, they kill off Tony. What was the point of bringing him back this season? Why do they allow all the important suspects to get killed before they offer up the vital information they have? This show is in serious need of revamping with some semblance of realism.
I never in a million years thought that that Tony would die. I mean, Why did they bring him back if he was going to die half way into the Season anyway? It just reminds you that they can... and will... kill off anyone at anytime.
~Ryan
I really like this site, I come here after watching each episode :)
That said, I think Tony deserved the silent clock far more than Edgar did. If they couldn't use it two episodes in a row, the Edgar one had to go :)
And I agree the show is great, always provides good tension and thrills, but come on... since season 4, the required amount of "suspension of disbelief" is being increased all the time. A little more of realism would't be that bad, for a change.
After last night's confounding episode I couldn't sleep and paced the floor, flipping through the channels, but found no late-night comedian able to make me laugh.
Even now I fail to console myself with: "Hey, 24's only a TV series."
Then I try a Barryism: "Take a deep breath." But I still want to Jack-choke-hold the writers to the wall.
Why? Ain't it's suppose to be dependable entertainment, even while it's engrossing escapism? Yet, after all is said and done, maybe not in the movie theater, but here's how it's suppose to work in TV: The Bad Guys Lose (not always but most of the time); and The Good Guys Win (not always but most of the time).
Yes, of course, some intermittent kicks in the gut do vitally jolt the benumbed TV-mind awake. But if I want continuously depressing "we're all going to die someday and some of us excruciatingly so" reality, then I'll watch the news, or think about the tragic passing of my friends and loved-ones, or look at my utility bills.
Chapelle, Mason, McGill, et al, . . . did anyone actually invest favorable emotional energy for these characters? But Palmer, Michelle, Edgar, and now Tony? Come on. These guys are family, now it's serious.
Yeah, yeah, the onslaught of timely-techno-terror-twisting plot lines are compelling. But aside from all that, let's face it, 24's huge success lies with it's poignantly pure character development: Kim's painful rejection of her father--which takes 5 seasons to fully appreciate. Jack hugging Tony.
This season is crushing the hell out of the loyal fan base's emotional collateral. Kim's basically been gone for several seasons, and seems on the verge of again splitting. The writers have trained the fans well on what to expect about Jack's women, so forget Audrey.
The writers with inexcusable and insensitive clarity demonstrate that no one is safe, leaving the fans shell-shocked like war-torn veterans who wearily refuse to buddy-up with any new grunt.
Which high-powered characters are really left? Jack and Chole. Is that enough to keep fan loyalty. Please. Buchanan? Curtis? Mike? Martha? President Logan?--oh, a dynamic magnet there.
This episode may have successfuly removed the need for an intervention on my behalf: for the first time in 5 seasons, I'm confronting my 24-addiction.
i hope to god that they did not kill Tony. He was like my faveorite character, after Jack, of course.
but it is getting ridicolus: Palmer, Michelle, Edgar, and now Tony???? Who's next??? Chloe? Kim? i mean comon it is getting NUTS!!!
Place your bets, place your bets...
I've got my money on Curtis--he's next.
Speaking of which, what do you think will be the next main terror target?
An interview with the writers showed that they had actualy planned to kill off tony with michele, but they liked the idea of him trying ot get revenge for his wifes death and then dying, it would make it more dramatic. I had just started to like tony too. damnit.
Now we are down to two in the Five Day Club (if Mandy returns this season, she'd the third "living" member) - Jack and Aaron.
Mike Novick would also be there if he had at least a cameo in Day 3.
Jack's friends are dying right and left - payback will be hell in the last two hours of Day 5. But besides Chloe, who will be left of CTU at the end of the day?
If Mandy re-appears, she won't be part of the 5-day club; she didn't feature in Season 3. People say that she is the only major terrorist still alive, but there is one other who 99% of the time is forgotten. Marie Warner, although in prison, is assumably still alive. Why is it always the women who escape?! So now Jack and Aaron are the only ones left... and if I had to choose, I don't know which one I'd rather see make it to the end.
I agree that Tony should have had a silent clock, and two in a row wouldn't have ruined it, I think. Although, if there were to have only one, I think Edgar's shouldn't have been silent - the beeping would have emphasised how devastating the nerve gas was.
For anyone out there who thinks Tony is still alive, check out the Fox website - in Tony's character profile, he's listed 'deceased' and in the Episode Guide for 07.00pm - 08.00pm, the last scene reads: "Jack enters the clinic and finds Tony and Burke on the ground. Gasping his last breath of life, Tony tells Jack that he couldn’t do it. Jack clutches Tony’s head. Tony dies, and Jack cries with him still in his arms."
As for the plot of the rest of the day, I think that it will lead back to a Presidential storyline again. First off, I think the nerve gas was always intended to be used on Americans - the Hobbit's keycard was stolen a couple of hours before the Russian President was attacked. Therefore, the terrorists always planned to infiltrate CTU, most likely to release nerve gas. Basically, I think that the Vice-Pres and possibly Mike will attempt to overthrow Logan, somehow. I mean, what building could possibly be more secure than CTU, that Bierko needs specialist people to gain schematics for? The White House / other President related building? I think that's the most likely target, and with all these terrorists claiming that they are doing it "for the country"; maybe it's to get rid of a crappy President. We shall see.
One last thing to mention in my theories - the Kim-Henderson relation. Why would Henderson, after, let's see, after (approximately) 6 years, find Kim and comfort her, especially when he was revealed to be a traitor? Especially with Jack 'dead'. Henderson's "worse than you could possibly imagine" could be something Kim related, but let's just see. I'd like to see the end of Kim, but I will be interested to see where their new random-and-unnecessary-storylines come from.
That's all from me, and keep up the good work!
Your not the only one who held your breath...and also...FUCK NO!!! how! what! wha-wah-whahappened?!?!?! TONYYYYYYY!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. NOO!!! Tony!!! I LOVE YOU!!!! THIS SHOW NEEDSYOU!!!!!!!
DO-NOT-BE-DEAD-SHITTYSHITSHIT!!!
THIS IS COMPLETE BULL TZOA-GAO!!arggggggggghhhh! - my reaction upon seeing this episode, as Tony has been my favorite character since the beginning...he deserved more then that.
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