Man, I don't know about the President being behind all of this. He was portrayed as such a wuss in the last season and for most of this season, this conspiracy is coming too far out of left field for me. His wussiness this season being an act could be believable, but not when I remember how he couldn't handle anything last season. He didn't suddenly grow a pair.

If they work it right I guess it could be exciting, but right now I'm not so sure... Maybe he's being manipulated by Henderson.

-Tamerlain

too less of Kim Bauer....

yeah that's too bad she was only there for a couple of episodes

The content of this post hints heavily at how season 5 will end. The same info is all over the news so my 'spoiler tagging' it may be redundant.

Spoiler: Well maybe I was wrong about prediciting the death of Jack Bauer this season after all:

Quote:

Spoiler: LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "24" star Kiefer Sutherland has inked a multifaceted deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The rich pact, which is set to begin in June, calls for the actor to continue on the hit Fox drama for three more years and includes a two-year development deal for Sutherland's soon-to-be-launched production banner. Details on the deal were sketchy, but sources pegged the acting portion alone at more than $40 million for the three seasons, which could make Sutherland the highest-paid actor in drama series. While the deal with Sutherland locks him in for three additional years beyond the current fifth season of "24," the 20th TV/Imagine TV-produced show so far has been picked up for one additional season. Under the pact, Sutherland also will be elevated from a co-executive producer to executive producer on "24" next season alongside Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon and Evan Katz. The development portion of the deal is said to include overhead and a development fund for Sutherland's company. Sutherland will hire a development executive and will begin to develop and executive produce projects for television as well the Internet and wireless devices. Sutherland called his past five years on the show "one of the most creative and rewarding experiences in my career." In its fifth season, "24" is enjoying some of its best ratings and critical notices. The show, which introduced the now-hot serialized thriller genre, also has become a DVD best-seller and has spawned a mobile phone series. Sutherland's performance on "24" has earned him a Golden Globe award and four Emmy nominations.

Kim Bauer for your viewing pleasure.

This is interesting news, indeed. Spoiler: I still have to wonder if he will shift out of his role as main character and more into the role of executive producer, not unlike Richard Dean Anderson in StarGate SG-1. I think a lot of Jack Bauers future will also depend on the success of Kiefer Southerland's new movie, The Sentinel. It could be his first hit movie in years.

Comment on above spoiler tags:

Spoiler: I remember reading something about him being signed on for at least season 6 (this was before season 5 was released) so it doesn't surprise me that he's got an even bigger extension now.

I'm not sure what the show would be like if Kiefer went into more of a producer role as opposed to the star of the show.

As a tangent, I think it would be interesting to get Donald Sutherland in a villain role for next season. He plays villains so well.

-Tamerlain

how many episodes are left?

where's mike been?

atleast Kim Raver is fine...

7. It's midnight now, and it all comes together at 7am.

Kick ass episode! Especially the spy music toward the end.

Yeah, wow, that was a huge episode. Lots of great stuff going on. I shed a tear for the random characters sacrificed in the name of Jack Bauer saving the world. This season has done a MUCH better job of keeping up the intensity after the primary threat (the gas) was gone than season two did of keeping things interesting after the nuclear bomb was taken care of.

I'm just wondering how Bierko is going to fit in to the situation again... I mean, we all know how it works, they sit in medical unconscious just long enough for the situation to really hit the fan, then they wake up and give crucial information that saves Jack's hide. What information does Bierko still have? Don't we pretty much know everything at this point? What if he wakes up just before, or as, Jack meets up with Audrey's dad, and we get some information about who Bierko was taking orders from? I mean, there are seven episodes left, I'm just thinking how we go from where we are now to seven more episodes.

Nice ep. Do we have an updated body count? I think he bagged two more, bringing it to 23. My prediction of 35 with 7 more left is looking good.

Jack Bauer Death Count
Balance--21
11-12am Jack iced two more of Robocop's men when fleeing from the bank
New Total=23

I thought the spy type Mission Impossible music was cheesy. Kind of ruined the end of a great episode for me. Someone has to wake up over there at homeland security. The president is going nuts...

I'd have to disagree, it definitely lightened the mood a bit. It is amusing seeing Chloe and Homeland Security's 2nd in command play a little game of cat and mouse.

Goddamit Henderson has to pay !! He killed Tony. He probably killed President Palmer himself. He killed (I assume) Evelyn and her daughter PLUS the EMT's. This mothereffer better not get away with this shit !! ERRRRRRRGGHH

I think Behrooz is behind this all.

Evelyn was really cute too :(

I'm looking forward to the next episode.

i think audrey might bite the bullet soon

I actually think her dad might be in a world of hurt when he talks with the president...

I second that. I can't think of any way that he gets through the next two hours alive. They want a twist? DONT kill him.

Course, remember all the smooth gunfighting skills he showed last season.

I'm glad that the President still seems like a weakling and that he wasn't just putting on an act.

I disagree. I think Heller will tear the President a new one with the Vice-President and Jack alongside. At the very least it will be Heller and the VP laying into the President, with Jack out preventing the very last problem that will invariably come up.

-Tamerlain

I was wondering about the line of succession.. say the Prez kills the veep.. then SecDef stops the prez.. wouldn't that make Audrey a First Daughter?

No, the speaker of the house is 3rd in line. SecDef is #7. The only thing at this point that would surprise me would be Dennis Haysburt reprising his role as President David Palmer, posthoumously taking the office of the president. Beyond that, nothing is taboo.

Where I agree that this would make a kickass story line, I do, I just don't see it happening. I hope it does, but it doesn't seem the 24 way.

BTW, any thoughts on what will happen with Buchanan, CTU, and Homeland?

Agreed.
This is an interesting front, becuase it seems so irrelevent next to the thing with the president. After the presidental problem is solved, the CTU/Homeland thing will determine the future of CTU in a huge way. I have to wonder if enough favors and such can be called in so as to seperate CTU LA from Homeland.

I'd like to see CTU swollow up Homeland, personally. It's obvious that CTU has the better leadership and also has better experience with the territory.

What do you think will happen then? I can see Heller not living for the next two hours, as you've speculated, but what then? He's the only one with any political clout to go up against the President. The VP showed a little bit of a backbone in this past episode, but backed down fairly quickly too. It seems to me that Heller has to live in order to bring down the President.

I think Buchanan will be reinstated and CTU will again become separate from Homeland Defence, for two reasons. Firstly, Audrey only signed the report to keep Chloe. When questioned about it by the people who will seek to use the fact that she signed a report damning Buchanan and CTU, she will bring this up. The repercussions will most likely be bad for her career, but that won't matter after the crisis is over. Secondly, the woman taking over CTU doesn't believe it's right anymore(I forget her name) and will, I think, not support a takeover of CTU after the crisis is averted. She will vouch for the reinstatement of Buchanan and the return of CTU to autonomy. The VP will have his hands full assuming the Presidency (however that will come about) and will need CTU to remain a separate entity, since they will have brought about the downfall of the President.

-Tamerlain

Ya know what, I have no idea, which is half the fun. It's why I love the show. Kickass action + drama + good writing and it lasts longer than a movie. What more in life can we need? Oh yeah , and my wife lets me buy beer for it, THATS what else we need.

If I had to guess? And the main reason I think Heller is doomed? Most 24's lead to a dramatic climax, if not action than in drama, between bauer and the chief baddy. Which means I think, Bauer will be there when the president falls (probly trying to flee the country and Jack has to catch him or something). Heller there WITHOUT Bauer means, to me, either the President is not the top of the baddy food chain (unlikely), or Heller is about to ride a bullet.

Ya know, I can't think of any other tv show I actually enjoyed enough to speculate like this on upcoming episodes. I dunno if this means 24 is incredible or I need to get out more.

I haven't written off the possibility of David Palmer's death having been faked.

However, there is no truth to the rumor that he's been hiding out in major league baseball, trying to learn to hit a curveball.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...9/ef76725a.jpg

What if Heller himself is involved? He is the Secretary of Defense and one would think that in order to 'steal' 16 cannisters of nerve gas one would have to grease the right palms even if they are the President.

Heller confronts the Pres to try and cover his own butt but Jack discovers the connection and offs Heller. He's already tortured and killed Audrey's husband last season so why not her dad too?

Just more speculation :) .

Yeah, but the speculation is the fun part :p free beer to whoever is right. Of course, that means EVERYONE here owes me beer if I'm right.

Dude, we saw the bullet fly through his body. His brother was right there, and he died in his arms. Don't think this one was a fake.

Yeah Palmer is dead (you can see him on CBS' "The Unit"). I think Heller will survive but he may have an unfortunate "Accident" while on the Presidential Compound.

He may have had good gun skills last season, but lets see how he fares with some hand to hand combat. I have a feeling Aaron may die this season.


[b]Questions about last season[b] -
What happened to Behrooz?
What happened to the stealth bomber and its pilot?

It was shot down by the escort fighters after Air Force One crashed.

Jack Bauer Death Count
Balance--23
12-1am Jack shoots and kills 3 more of Robocop's men then blows up a fuel tank roasting 2 more.
New Total=28

Who here thinks that Heller is a freakin idiot? This is what you get when you don't listen to Jack Bauer and try to take things into your own hands.

And I love the fact that Henderson's henchman think it's a brilliant idea to hide behind a fuel tank.

Having thoroughly supsended my disbelief, these episodes are delightful. Lots of craziness, lots of action. Just how I like it. For a moment I even thought we were going to watch Audrey die, but Jack had to make the hero's sacrifice, I suppose.

Additionally, Heller played that the worst way possible. I mean, I can understand why he tried to do it the underhanded way, but come on, make some copies of the recording first. Don't go in waving your dick around without having a very secure back up plan. Ah well, I guess the search goes on. That being said, even without the evidence, I think eve the president would have a very difficult time just explaining away Audrey's injury and the direct accusation of four people of relatively high positions of power. We shall see. I'm saying it now, I don't think Logan makes it out of the season alive.

Oh, and if anything happened to Aaron, there will be a serious price to pay. Stupid Martha.

Yeah, me and my friends were kind of like "huh?" when Heller came back in and punched jack in the throat. It didn't seem to make any sense other than to keep jack at the hanger until the bad guys showed up. After all, you'd think Heller would be a little trusting of jack who freaking saved him from a live televised execution. Oh well, just gotta suspend your disbelief.

Yeah I saw that and, geeky as it is, all I could think was "those morons would NEVER survive at Counterstrike."

Yeah I'm really curious as to what happened to Aaron. I keep waiting for when he gets to go on a few episode asskickery bender. Gonna be tough watching 24 while I'm away at school the next 6 weeks, but sacrifices need to be made dammit.

Thx for the wrap up. I thought he blew up two of the fighter escorts prior to attacking the President's plane.

I was kinda upset that Audrey hasn't died yet. Will they finally off that big tooth broad :D why she did not just gnaw thru the restraints is beyond me. lol.

i was thinking that jack would have made a copy of the tape. it was foolish of him not to. Of all the things his magical PDA can do he could not record a 30sec phone call?