24 Recap: Day 6, 8:00 – 9:00pm

LaLa wrote a fantastic and timely recap of Monday’s episode of 24, but since I didn’t have access to GMMR yesterday I’m just getting around to posting it now…sorry.

Title: 8:00 – 9:00pm
Original Airdate: 3/26/07
GMMR Recapper: LaLa

Don’t you hate it when, right after you’ve woken up out of a life threatening coma just in time to stop a totally unjustified and constitutionally illegal U.S. Military strike against the Middle East, your gosh darn, ridiculously evil Vice President decides to try to destroy you and remove you from office as a result? Ain’t that just a kicker? Yeah, if you read my column for last week’s episode, you already know how I feel about Demon Daniels and his totally one-dimensional, absurd chicanery which no sane Presidential Cabinet would go along with because it’s incredibly illegal. So, that being said again, let’s move on to the other parts of this episode that weren’t completely preposterous. (although, I can’t leave without mentioning Jack’s reaction to hearing what Demon Daniels wanted to do: “What, is he trying to start World War 3?!” Thank you, Captain State the Obvious!)
Ahem. Anyway, speaking of characters being one-dimensional, it turns out that I was wrong about Agent Doyle – thank goodness. That would have been really really annoying if he had done what that sleazy agent suggested and destroyed the evidence that exonerated Nadia of all guilt. So I’m glad that his character was redeemed and maybe now has more depth – good one, 24. Although, I do have to ask the question: What’s with former child stars from the 80’s coming on 24 and playing initially jerky but eventually redeemed characters? First it was Sean Astin last season as Lynn McGill, now it’s Ricky Schroeder as Agent Doyle. Who’s next – Corey Feldman?? Actually… that would be pretty sweet – but only if he brings along Corey Haim.

Sorry, I digress. Any-hoo, getting back to Nadia, really glad that she was, in fact, proven innocent, and that Buchanon was so quick to grovel to her and beg for her to come back to work. (By the way, how awesome of a boss is Buchanon?? Super glad he’s still alive and had been head of CTU for the past 3 seasons!!) I’m also glad that Nadia proved what a noble person she is, and put the safety of the U.S. citizens ahead of her own personal trauma. You go girl. Nice to see strong, heroic women on this show like Nadia, Karen, Chloe, and even newly awesome Sandra Palmer – which is a huge improvement over Season 1, where you had irrational, annoying, and evil women, like Kim, Terri, Sherry, and Nina. Oh 24, how far you’ve come…

Though, I guess you’re still not above another “hot” spontaneous CTU make-out session, this time in the form of Milo essentially backing Nadia against a wall and passionately kissing her. I don’t know… this moment seemed a little ridiculous to me. I mean, not only were they clearly visible to everyone else at CTU, but it just seemed… so… Hollywood. Call me jaded, but that kind of huge, risky romantic gesture just wouldn’t happen during work at a real life work environment – especially when everyone can see! But ah well, that’s what Hollywood is here for, isn’t it? Good ol’ fantasy fulfillment. Time will tell, though, if Nadia and Milo become the next Tony and Michelle (who also hooked up in basically the same way). It sure seems like 24 is headed in that direction – too bad they had to kill off the real Tony and Michelle in order to get here. Sigh. But again, I digress.

Finally, I couldn’t end this recap without talking about the subplot of Jack and the mentally disabled savant guy. Obviously, the producers of 24 (no doubt in response to the complaints that Jack has become too ruthless and quick to torture people) are attempting to humanize Jack by having him be so kind and patient with the disabled guy. And frankly, it was really nice to see for a change. Also nice that Jack didn’t have to torture the disabled guy’s brother in order to get him to cooperate. And now they have Gredenko in custody, yay! So I say nice one, 24, for letting Jack get a big bad guy without having to torture anyone, for once. Sounds like the producers really are listening to fan and U.S. Military complaints about there being too much torture on this show. I’m not saying that Jack should never torture again, I’m just saying… everything in moderation, you know? Except, of course, when it comes to Demon Daniels. In that case I say: Torture Away, Jack!!!

LaLa is a writer who currently resides in LaLa Land, aka Los Angeles. LaLa also likes to sing. LaLa also knows some lawyers in a law office. LaLa is also prone to making bad jokes, like this one. And of course, LaLa also loves her some quality television shows with quality actors on them, like House… and The Office… and 24… and, well, pretty much any smartly written show that doesn’t include a fat guy with a hot skinny wife or the words “two and a half men” in the title.

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