24: Everything That Has A Beginning, Has An End - Part 3

It might have got a bit formulaic over the years (seasons 5 and 6, I'm talking to you) but Kiefer Sutherland's real time thriller series was compelling viewing right to the end. Making a serious, high tech anti-terrorism series was a masterstroke...after all no one else was doing Tom Clancy-style stuff on the small screen. And then they cast Kiefer as Jack Bauer; a bloke who was willing to do absolutely anything in order to prevent terrorist from achieving their goal. Whether than meant law breaking, physical harm or putting his loved ones in harms way, those terrorists never stood a chance.

The real time dynamic of the show, along with the multiple, inter-linked character stories ensured that 24 was always charging ahead at maximum speed for each and every episode. And of course there was always a nifty cliffhanger at the end of each show (God bless the terrorists for planning their devious escapades on the end of each hour) to ensure tuning in for next weeks instalment was a necessity.

After receiving much criticism (provoked by the Guantanamo scandal) for it's lead character's right-wing relish in torturing terror suspects, the series took a more introspective approach, questioning how much your willing to sacrifice your morality in exchange for saving lives and "the greater good" (something explored in The Dark Knight and Watchmen).

As the series progresses it soon became apparent that the formulaic nature of the show couldn't be escaped from. While this became a drag for a couple of years, the writers caught on and used the familiar plotting to their advantage, making it a signature of the show...something to look forward to...rather than a limitation. So, in saying goodbye to poor old Jack, here are a few of those story beats that will be sorely missed (although I wonder how many will actually make it into the proposed movie version...)

1/ Big, bad foreign terrorists have an elaborate plot which is set up in several stages, so that as each one is foiled, a bigger threat is revealed, that will endanger more and more people.

2/ Jack Bauer, in later seasons, will no longer work for CTU... but will be forced back into action, due to whatever threat. Jack wants a normal family life, which he'll never have.

3/ Bauer goes 'underground' and disassociates himself from CTU, so that he can carry on with his mission (once, even going so far as to fake his own death!)

4/ There will always be a mole working in C.T.U (Counter Terrorist Unit). A plan will be conjured up to snare the traitor, they'll be interrogated and a Presidential pardon will be required to secure vital information.

5/ If a character has broken protocol, or been wrongly accused, no matter what they've done, they will be allowed to work at, or with, CTU for the rest of the day, until the crisis is over, because their expertise is needed.

6/ U.S Presidents will make tough moral choice for the greater good of the nation. Their Presidential term has two outcomes; either be good and die or be corrupted and be caught by Jack (or die!). The President will always be in the same city as where Jack and the terrorist are (usually L.A.)

7/ All the women Jack has a romantic relationship with will die. Horribly. It may happen during one season, but they'll never last more than two. Tops.

8/ If an actor has made an impact in a previous season (and they survived that season), they'll inevitably turn up mid-season one or two years down the line. Apart from Kiefer, no other actor has appeared as a regular in all 8 seasons. Only four other characters have survived from their introduction to the series finale. That means if you get called back for another season of 24, there's a damned big chance you're going to die. Horribly.

9/ Someone will be relieved of duty, or at least forced to take second place, by someone higher up (usually as the head of CTU, or the person in charge of field ops.)

10/ Someone will be seriously injured (usually a traitor or terrorist), and has vital information, which they may or may not give up before they die or slip off into a coma, etc.

11/ No one is seen to eat, drink, sleep, go to the toilet, re-charge their phone, top up with fuel...or even mention they've been up for the last 36 hours, non stop. CTU doesn't seem to have a shift rota to cover the long hours (perhaps because no crisis lasts longer than 24 hours?)

Not the most character based series in the world, but still one of the most addictive I've ever seen. Still, they managed to leave Mr Bauer in a place that's entirely fitting for the series. Not very happy. Which makes me happy! Bye Jack.