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Episode 2.02, 9 AM to 10 AM
Written by Joel Surnow & Michael Loceff
Directed by Jon Cassar

Ah, now this is more like it. This is 24 the way it's supposed to be. This wasn't a perfect episode by any stretch of the imagination, but it brought back that spark and intensity that so defined last year. Even the somewhat soap operatic storylines had a really great sense of pacing and intensity.

Jack is of course still trying to infiltrate the mercenary group that's working for Second Wave. This lends itself to several incredible moments in this episode, including the realization of what Jack needed the hacksaw for and the way he physically takes apart one of the mercs who questions him. Keifer is still doing a wonderful job of playing a character whose moral boundaries have long ago eroded, making the viewer wonder just what Jack wouldn't do to get his job accomplished. And the realization that the merc group he's running with is aiming for the CTU creates a simple but utterly compelling scenario to be played out.

More reserved, but equally troubled is President Palmer. He's now faced with a crisis situation that nobody can truly be prepared to deal with, and must blindly feel out the way. His problems keep mounting as his political aide keeps pressing for Palmer to set up retaliatory measures and the press begins to smell a feeding frenzy. This becomes especially troubling when one crack reporter possibly gathers inside information and sets up a special television broadcast. Realizing the disastrous panic that this would create, Palmer calls the reporter in for a one on one in order to convince him to hold off on the story.

Sensing the sensationalism that this could cause, he of course refuses and Palmer plays his trump card by essentially having the man abducted. Watching this play out perfectly echoes some of the current societal debates that go on in our own country; questions of freedom of speech, and when it might be more harmful then helpful. Does the public have the right to know when that knowledge could cause harm to the actual public? It's a fascination gray area that adds yet another nuance to 24 this year.

Kim meanwhile is still fleeing from that refugee of Enough (and who wouldn't have wanted to escape that train wreck of a movie). She grabs the little girl and together they hit the road fleeing from the insanely over the top abusive father. Seriously, if this guy had that little ability to control himself, he would have been arrested years ago. The writing is so over the top here that for a second I thought I was watching Lifetimes "She Stand Alone part 5000." Still, the actual showdown between Kim and the father had me keenly interested. There was a sense of brutality to it that's hard to generate on regular TV, as well as the knowledge of what the hell was going to happen. Because if 24 taught me anything last year, it's that nothing plays entirely like you think it will. Kim does escape though, and must now look for the little lost girl. Again, this is the storyline that threatens to drag down the entire show. Elisha is a more then capable actress, but the scenario put forth is far too much for anybody to make compelling.

Not much happens on the Kate front. She manages to break into her future brother in law's glove compartment and steal his passport. And that's about it. Really, if this storyline is to hold my attention, they really have to start raising the stakes. This story tract just fades into the background, especially when held in comparison to the storylines surrounding it.

Finally we have the CTU itself, as tensions rise there as well. Mason's flight due to the realization that LA could soon be destroyed is a nice bit of character continuity, as the viewer has always believed that's something that Mason would do. And Tony's stubbornness and constant questioning of his superiors which was annoying last year with Jack, comes across as much more deserved and heroic when applied to Mason. And with their office soon to be under assault, watching these two try and work together should provide great entertainment.

So I would call this a homerun by 24, just not a Barry Bonds homerun. The action and intensity are at much higher levels then they were last year, and the whole roller coaster ride only promises to get wilder from here. Earlier in the episode, one of the characters comments that "Jack's Back." Well in this case I'm glade to say that "24's back," which is good because I've missed it.

Episode Rating: 9 out of 10

-- Tim Ritenour

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