24 Fan Columnist: Jack's Five Most Memorable Foes

'24' Fan Columnist: Jack's Five Most Memorable Foes
Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Beth Kostecki
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV

(Image courtesy of Fox)

Jack Bauer once made the poignant observation that his biggest regret is that the world even needs people like him. Those of us who love 24, though, wouldn't have it any other way. Here in ascending order is my list of the five most memorable baddies who have made Jack possible.

5. Philip Bauer (James Cromwell), Day Six

Jack's battles have often had a personal stake, but having his father on the other side added a layer of irony. The senior Bauer was invested in his family legacy enough to kidnap his grandson, yet icy enough to order the death of son and cohort Graem (Paul McCrane), who suffered from a terminal case of Second-Best Sibling Syndrome.

4. Jonas Hodges (Jon Voight), Day Seven

In a controversial season where Tony Almeida played for the other team, Hodges was the personification of the cool, urbane mastermind, making it all the more shocking when he hurled his protege Doug Knowles (Chris Mulkey) off a balcony in a fit of rage. Reverting quickly to character, he used his handkerchief and a glass of water to work on those pesky blood stains.

3. Christopher Henderson (Peter Weller), Day Five

Yes, my longstanding crush on Peter Weller makes this pick a little emotional. But there's no denying Weller's skill in bringing the chilly efficiency of RoboCop to a character on the opposite side of the law. The fact that he had been Jack's mentor made no difference to either man as they pursued their mutually exclusive agendas.

2. President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin), Days Five, Six and Eight

He's not the strongest nor most evil foe Jack's faced, but he's the most complex, with his character brought to life by the incomparable Gregory Itzin. Could anyone else have made Logan so ruthless, vain, cowardly, and pathetic all at the same time? When a bearded, introspective Logan made a cameo in Day Six it appeared he had repented, but he came roaring back to form in Day Eight. When it comes to characters you love to hate, Logan is top of the list.

Which brings us to ...

1. Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke), Days One, Two and Three.

The original. Accept no substitutes.

Anyone who should or shouldn't be on this list? I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Source: BuddyTV