Jack Bauer Fights on in 24 Series Finale

Jack Bauer fights on in '24' series finale

Originally published: May 21, 2010 5:06 PM By VERNE GAY

verne.gay@newsday.com

WHEN | WHERE Monday from 8 to 10 on Fox/5

REASON TO WATCH The end

CATCHING UP Thanks to the bug he planted on former President Logan (Gregory Itzin), Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) now knows that the plot to derail the peace treaty goes right up to the Russian president. He also knows the Russian ordered the hit on beloved Renee Walker (Annie Wersching).

WHAT THE EPISODE'S ABOUT Last week, Jack donned full body armor along with a black mask just before he ambushed Logan. It was a sly reference to "Friday the 13th's" Jason Voorhees, and the implication was obvious: Can anything kill this guy?

Like Jason and several generations of unfortunate camp counselors, Jack continues to burn his way through the elite of the Secret Service, but at the risk of giving away any more plot details, let's ask the questions: Will President Taylor (Cherry Jones) realize that she's been duped by the vainglorious Logan? Will Jason Pillar (Reed Diamond, one of the many fabulous supporting roles this season) ever catch Jack? Will Dalia Hassan (Necar Zadegan), widow of President Hassan, learn of Taylor's near-betrayal? Will Jack live or die?

MY SAY The following took place between 2001 and 2010; events occurred in real time. Immediately following a singular tragedy in American history, a TV show on Fox emerged from the Zeitgeist, as if on cue. "24" was a dazzling tour de force, and soldered state-of-the-art production techniques to a national mood of anxiety and revenge. Jack had just 24 hours each season (why not 25, or 28? no matter) to take care of business, and he had to break a lot of eggs to make his omelet. He tortured bad guys because (hey!) there was no time for due process.

Critics would later accuse the Bush administration of emulating Jack; notably cultural observers would later cite "24" for prepping the nation for the first black president. "24" had no fewer than two, one of them beloved.

But by season four, something happened. Plausibility began to be sacrificed along with the terrorists. Conundrums emerged: How many times could L.A. be destroyed? How many enemies could Jack vanquish? He burned through the Middle East, Russia, the Eastern Bloc, one or two countries in South America and Africa, China and a couple of evil U.S. administrations. Then, there was always a mole inside CTU. Didn't they check resumés there? Critics and viewers started to hoot, and suspected that the smoke wafting out of the "24" writers' room was not of the tobacco variety. Yet most still loved this show and love it to this day.

BOTTOM LINE The eighth day, and final season, was a very good day. Sure, logic got shredded in a few places - OK, a lot of places. But we're so used to that by now. Next January - when "24" would usually return to the schedule - will feel empty and cold. A hugely enjoyable part of our TV life is over forever.

GRADE A

Source: Newsday

'24:' The death of Jack Bauer

Tuesday May 4, 2010 4:07 PM By Verne Gay

Slowly but surely, I've come to the grim conclusion that Kiefer Sutherland'sdeclaration that there "may" be a "24" movie is all a simple and clever ruse. After last night's episode, there will be no movie. There can be no movie. There can only be an ending, and that will occur in a couple of weeks.

Jack Bauer, you see, will probably die.

Now of course there could be a "prequel," but that's a gimmick to make money; prequels are tough when you know how the sequel to the prequel (so to speak) ends (will "Caprica" come back? Who knows...)

The fact is, Jack's story is now complete - the journey of his soul is coming to an end. And really, that's what "24" has been about these years: an outcast who is drawn back in to a place he never wanted to be drawn back into. It's not just one of those iconic tales of "I want out but they keep dragging me back in" but rather one of those tales of a destiny foretold. You could see it in his eyes last night when he blasted Dana Walsh from here to kingdom come - "there is nothing you can do." He was saying, simply, that there was nothing anyone can do. He knows it's over; he wants it to be over.

Jack's possible death: How do we prepare for this? We have really been preparing all season. Renee had become Jack in the off-season, and this season, we saw what happens to anyone who becomes Jack. He knows, too, that her fate mirrors his.

How will we deal with this? We already are. Each bullet, each death, brings Jack one step closer to his own. He knows it. We now know itt.

There will be irony in this death, should it happen - and I believe it will. There is now "peace in our time..." and Jack helped broker it, even if the peace meant the sacrifice of Renee. The greater good of nations - which after all operate in the dubious shadows where Jack lurked all these years - trump the greater good of Jack Bauer.

He will die, I am afraid - at the hands of Chloe, perhaps. After last night, his fate is foretold. Honestly, after the first day of the first season it was.

A caveat to all of this: "24" ringmaster Howard Gordon was asked about Dana's demise by TVguide.com. On one hand, he says the death of Dana was maybe the defining moment of the entire season (he's right)

Whatever redemption there is for the character is
in that very sad moment where you realize that
she actually did love Cole. For the first time,
the onion is peeled down to the nub and you see
her vulnerable for the first moment. It's
pathetic because she's obviously a sociopath, but
she meant to reverse the position she put herself
in.

But...how to that other hand, he also strongly implies that Jack will live. Call me sceptical at this point...

Jack is as about as emotionally damaged as he's
been now. He's descending right now. The finale
is a complex ending. It's not as tragic as it
could have been. It's not entirely unhappy. But

he doesn't walk off into the sunset.

Source: Newsday