Jack is Back

There are heroes. And there are those guys you know you can call on no matter what to get the job done. Then there's Jack Bauer. Jack is THE guy. The hero you love to watch, but only from afar because no one wants that job. No one wants that pressure. No one wants to take on the risk or suffer the consequences or can handle the toll that Jack takes on himself every time he's called upon once again to save the nation. The man strikes fear into the hearts of terrorists and shady politicians alike. 

24 premiered in 2001 with a pretty interesting gimmick. Each episode took place in real time in exactly one hour. We were introduced to a younger Jack Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland, who seemed to have everything going for him. Great job as the head of CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit), great wife in Teri Bauer, and your average, annoying, airhead teenage daughter. You know... Pretty decent life. The clock starts. Jack's called in to investigate a threat on President Palmer's life (played by Dennis Haybert and arguably the greatest fictional president ever) and things spiral out of control for the next 8 seasons. 

Jack got betrayed by his closest confidant. He lost his wife. His relationship with his daughter was severely strained. He lost his job. He started listening to Drake. Nothing was the same. And this was all in Day 1...  Just kidding about the Drake thing but I'm sure you get the point. THAT WAS JUST SEASON 1! Time and time again, Fox writers came up with a new threat to national security and Jack had to come out of retirement to show the kids how the big boys handled business.

How does he keep coming back over and over? At the end of every 24th episode, Jack fades off into obscurity. Wandering off and disappearing off the grid, at times presumably dead. Yet he comes back. Jack never dies. Somewhere along the line I believe, Jack Bauer sneaked all stealth-like into Kiefer Sutherland's bedroom and killed him in his sleep and has been living his life since then. It only makes sense. For a show that should have had a shelf-life of 5 seasons, he came back for a tv-movie and 3 more seasons. 

Last time we saw Jack, he had wandered off once again after delivering brute, uncompromising justice to the highest officials in the land. Two Presidents of the United States. The show honestly fell off after the 5th season. The gimmick was old. How many more threats could Jack believably take on. But Jack Bauer did a great acting job portraying the lead character and carrying the show's weak writing. It was a satisfying end to see our hero run off into the morning sun. 

Until now... NOW THIS. 24 Live Another Day. This zombie... How many more damn bullets do we need to collectively pump into this show before it goes away? I love Jack as much as I love Batman, but honestly enough is enough. Let the man breathe. Unless you dug up Tom Clancy from his grave too, it is going to be tough to rewrite this show into its former greatness. Inasmuch as I feel this way, I do sincerely hope the season pans out well, so that new generations can see the hero that is Jack Bauer... Or at the very least pick up Seasons 1-5 on Netlfix. You won't be disappointed.