24 Day 8 - 6PM-8PM

With all the controversy surrounding John Terry this week, I’d like to stick my hat into the ring and suggest his act of betrayal wasn’t all that bad. Okay, he had an affair with his friend’s wife but in 24 land that’s the equivalent of forgetting to cover your mouth when you sneeze. Judas type events happen so frequently, those who tell the truth are the ones who should be strung up. Think back to Nina Myers, Tony Almeida, and now Farhad Hassan and the revelations about Terry are about as heart-breaking as dropping a cream egg.

The planned assassination of Omar Hassan comes to a pulsating climax, with his brother Farhad in close attendance. The files planted on the reporter, Meredith Reed’s computer, show blueprints of the UN building the US and Islamic Republic’s presidents are holding talks. A bomb is suspected and CTU Director Hastings, orders the evacuation of the building. The threat however, as suggested by Jack and Chloe, comes from the streets outside. As the expensive motorcade attempts to escape, hired Russian killer, Davros, lies in wait to set off a bomb hidden under a man hole. Last minute communication between Jack and Chase, sorry I mean Cole, allows the young agent to speed alongside the President’s car and ram him out of the way of the eventual explosion.

Learning of the failed attempt, Farhad showcases his skills as a future President, by dealing with a setback about as calmly as a girl from My Super Sweet 16 discovering her daddy bought her a diamond encrusted back scratcher in pink instead of fuchsia. He hastily makes his exit, conspicuously stabbing a police officer in the neck in front of his sister in-law and niece before running off. Still, he faired rather better than Davros who ends up shot and killed by, yes you guessed it, Jack Bauer. Farhad’s bigger plans are soon revealed as he goes to buy nuclear weapons material from the Russians.

Meanwhile an interesting little subplot is developing between Dana Walsh (Katee Sackhoff ) and her, abusive ex boyfriend. Having changed her name from Jenny to get away from him and a presumably turbulent past, Walsh has been tracked down. Now settled into a new life with current boyfriend Cole and weary of his attempts to blackmail her, she gives him the keys to her apartment and says he can stay but just for one night. Normally I’d say that was a gloriously optimistic proposition but then, she’s clearly been watching the show and realises that he’ll probably be dead by midnight anyway. Smart move Walshy.

7PM onwards also sees the return of Renee. Last season saw her slowly emerge as Jack Mark 2, with lady bits. The former FBI agent had suffered through the traumatic loss of her boss and former lover, along with finding her principles compromised while working alongside Bauer. Having gone through a breakdown so serious her hair changed colour, Renee accepts a mission to reactivate a former cover of hers as a partner to the nuclear wielding Russians.

Jack, who by now must feel like Dante in Clerks, is so concerned about her well-being, he joins Renee under cover (no, not in that way) to ensure her safety. It isn’t her safety he should be worried about though as Renee’s patience, with a known associate of the Russians, runs out spectacularly. Coercing his arm into a vice with the promise of removing the criminal’s electronic tag, the dark haired temptress carves through his wrist with an electric saw.

The extent of shock on Bauer’s face suggests that this isn’t a lady we should be messing with. Bring on the next hour!

24 Day 8 - 4PM-6PM

Think about what you did yesterday. Rubbish wasn’t it? Sure that new top you bought in preparation for Friday night looks great and the chicken and bacon wrap you had for lunch was probably the best thing you’ve ever eaten but you probably didn’t even try to assassinate anybody. I doubt you even interrogated a single person? Don’t worry though, 24 is back. For another day, 24 little hours are set to bring us action, subterfuge, explosions, car chases, foot chases, gun fights, office politics, not a single toilet break and of course, Jack Bauer.

It is a strange series, 24. Some of the names, faces, terrorists and Presidents change but essentially, we’ve been watching history repeat itself for 7 years now. While we’ve learned how to spot the subtle signs of treachery and the bead of sweat that shouts, deceit, nobody in 24 land has even bothered. Golden rule, Jack Bauer knows everything. Yet after almost a decade of saving the free world, he still has to do things the hard way and the hard way kicks arse.

Day 8 and Jack has recovered from the life threatening condition of last season and is living the cosy life with his granddaughter in New York. Desperate to abandon his terrorist chasing, butt kicking past behind for good, Jack has decided to move back to L.A with Kim and her family. Not so fast Mr. It isn’t long before trouble finds him and drags him back into a world he knows far too well.

A former informant is upset because the members of his terrorist cell are trying to kill him, boo hoo. He tracks Jack down and demands immunity in exchange for information on an assassination plot to kill an Arab leader, currently in Washington for a UN summit. It is agonising to watch as Jack desperately tries not to get involved. I enjoy seeing him relentlessly hunt down villains as much as the next man, woman or child but this time I felt he needed a break. Give him the first few hours off then let him get stuck in.

Contact with CTU requires Jack to get the suspect to a nearby helipad where he can be picked up and pumped for information. An axe to the chest and helicopter explosion later, Jack sources info on someone close to, Omar Hassan (Anil Kapoor), President of the Islamic Republic.

Hassan and his family are in Washington to sign a treaty allowing an American inspection of his homeland. Slightly off putting is the casting of one of India’s most recognisable actors, as an Arabian President and the dissimilarity between him and his family. They look nothing like each other. They might as well have cast, me, Liza Tarbuck, Beyonce, Tony the Tiger and Nick Jonas.

CTU has been recommissioned and it’s shiny. Almost too shiny, I’m already starting to wonder if the glossy walls and glistening screens are this season’s obligatory mole. The humans are as incompetent and self involved as ever. New director, Brian Hastings (Mykelti Williamson) fills the job description of “pig headed, stickler for the rules” brilliantly. Word to the wise Hastings, Bill Buchanan: dead, Ryan Chappelle: dead, Tony Almeida: insane, Erin Driscoll: daughter dead, George Mason: dead, Larry Moss: dead. All former CTU directors, none of which trused Jack to get the job done and look where they are now.

Files are found on the computer of a reporter intimately close to Hassan, which implicate her in the assassination attempt. Ignoring the advice of both Chloe (yep she’s back too) and Jack, Hastings is unwilling to consider another suspect and after some persuasion allows the pair to conduct their own investigation but offers them no support.

Now, I realise the futility of the question before I even ask but how is a retired agent with no jurisdiction or official power, given a free reign to chase and potentially kill terror suspects? The answer of course is, because it’s Jack Bauer you idiot! But still…

Farad Hassan is so at odds with his brother’s political and personal westernisation, he is revealed as one of those involved in the plan to murder him.

So strangely, we know what to expect. There will be twists and turns, decoys and double crosses. The main threats will change and change again and by tomorrow (in 24 time) we’ll probably be back where we started again. Personally I’m waiting for Ethan Kanin, President Taylor’s Secretary of State, to show himself as the slimy two faced liar I’ve had him pegged as, for no particular reason, since last year.