Billy Cox
9th December 2007, 10:54 PM (22:54)
A little background is necessary. In Season 4 a new President is in office. This president bears a resemblance to Richard Nixon and has to call in the previous president to bail him out of some tough leadership decisions.
So, the stage is set for the President character to have far more power than his intellect and wisdom can handle - and Season 5 does not disappoint.
At the end of Season 4, Jack Bauer has successfully faked his own death and he disappears. For there to be a Season 5, something significant has to happen for him to swing back into action yet again.
Season 5 departs from the previous seasons by having Russian separatist terrorist bad guys instead of Islamic militants trying to nuke Los Angeles. This season also cuts way back on torture as a plot device. The season also introduces some bad guys that are unknown to all but the main bad guy and of course to the omniscient viewer. Previous seasons have hinted at these bad guys and in Season 5, we get to meet them, although they are not arrested nor even pursued.
I really admire the writing of the show. With 24 episodes the action has to be immediate and not take much time to introduce characters and the conflict. Because a 24 episode buildup to a single huge climax is too much for most viewers, the storyline has to have multiple resolutions along the way.
'24' has a formula that makes the show work:
-- The main bad guy won't even be revealed until the season is nearly halfway over.
-- The terrorists' plan will meet a significant setback within the first six episodes, but there will be more bad guys and an even more diabolical plan with more ominous connections to people who should be good guys but aren't.
-- There will be a 'good guy, bad boss' type who ultimately sacrifices his own life to save everyone else.
-- One would be foolish to think that the Counter-Terrorist Unit (CTU) headquarters is safe from attack.
-- Jack Bauer will sustain injuries over the course of the season that in reality would prevent him from saving the day.
-- Just when all of the loose ends are tied up in the final episode, something happens that clearly paves the way for the next season.
Season 5 makes some bold moves; namely killing off several characters who have been main characters in the '24' universe since seasons 1 or 2. Some of the political commentary is interesting; namely the danger of having a weak-minded president who is the sum-total of his advisors' opinions.
So, the stage is set for the President character to have far more power than his intellect and wisdom can handle - and Season 5 does not disappoint.
At the end of Season 4, Jack Bauer has successfully faked his own death and he disappears. For there to be a Season 5, something significant has to happen for him to swing back into action yet again.
Season 5 departs from the previous seasons by having Russian separatist terrorist bad guys instead of Islamic militants trying to nuke Los Angeles. This season also cuts way back on torture as a plot device. The season also introduces some bad guys that are unknown to all but the main bad guy and of course to the omniscient viewer. Previous seasons have hinted at these bad guys and in Season 5, we get to meet them, although they are not arrested nor even pursued.
I really admire the writing of the show. With 24 episodes the action has to be immediate and not take much time to introduce characters and the conflict. Because a 24 episode buildup to a single huge climax is too much for most viewers, the storyline has to have multiple resolutions along the way.
'24' has a formula that makes the show work:
-- The main bad guy won't even be revealed until the season is nearly halfway over.
-- The terrorists' plan will meet a significant setback within the first six episodes, but there will be more bad guys and an even more diabolical plan with more ominous connections to people who should be good guys but aren't.
-- There will be a 'good guy, bad boss' type who ultimately sacrifices his own life to save everyone else.
-- One would be foolish to think that the Counter-Terrorist Unit (CTU) headquarters is safe from attack.
-- Jack Bauer will sustain injuries over the course of the season that in reality would prevent him from saving the day.
-- Just when all of the loose ends are tied up in the final episode, something happens that clearly paves the way for the next season.
Season 5 makes some bold moves; namely killing off several characters who have been main characters in the '24' universe since seasons 1 or 2. Some of the political commentary is interesting; namely the danger of having a weak-minded president who is the sum-total of his advisors' opinions.