24 - Episode 3:00 AM – 4:00 AM

By Stephen Lackey     May 16, 2007

Even with its problems, this episode seemed to return to the energy that made episodes in past seasons so great. Now this episode isn’t as good as the ones that were brought to mind because as much fun as it was, it was still ultimately built on shaky legs of rehashed storylines from previous seasons. Some of the mercenaries sent into CTU to get Josh left with him with the rest staying to secure the CTU staff. It’s at this point that Morris, as I predicted gets to redeem himself. Jack crafts a plan with Nadia, who desperately needed to redeem her cowardly self as well, to take out the mercenaries and go after Josh. They both do their parts and Morris jumps in and grabs and extra guy. I know there’ll be a scene later where he and Chloe discuss how he redeemed himself and how she still loves him. I feel irritated just thinking about it.

So, Doyle shows up to help mop up and he and Jack go after the mercenaries in the tunnels under CTU to save Josh. It’s convenient that Jack knows the schematics of CTU better than anyone else so he can be set free from his arrest long enough to work with Doyle to get Cheung. Nadia tells Jack and Doyle that Doyle is in charge but as soon as they set out on the mission Jack starts giving orders and Doyle dutifully follows them. Once the mercenaries return to the base, Cheung lets Jack’s father talk to Josh to verify that he is with them so they can trade him for the repaired chip. Of course, Jack catches up with them and gets Josh back but Cheung escapes.

Meanwhile, the Vice President’s plan becomes a big ol’ waste of time, basically an excuse for some lame chemistry free drama. Lisa Miller has to have sex with her boyfriend found out as a Russian spy in order to get him to take the fake information planted in Lisa’s PDA and send it to the Russians. He realizes that something’s wrong with her and she loses it, beating him with a Champagne bottle and a lamp before he gets a choke hold on her. When the secret service busts in, Lisa’s already in critical condition, but they do force the dude to transmit the information. The problem is when the Vice President tries to confront the Russians with the information they admit to knowing about the spy and further admit to having him under surveillance so they saw the secret service raid. The Russians give the Vice President 2 hours to get the component back or they’ll start attacking U.S. military bases. Now, this situation brings to mind a couple of questions. Since when do the Russians have the military might to even concern us? This series should try to be at least a little contemporary, it’s not 1982 you know. Also, why is it ok to use Russia and China in the series but when a Middle East country is involved we don’t get a country name? Those questions aside though the twist with the Russians does add a layer of suspense to the upcoming two hour season finale.

The final twist comes from Jack’s father when he finds out that Jack rescued Josh. He calls the Vice President and offers him a trade; Josh for the component. Weighing the loss of Josh to that of thousands of people Daniels and Lennox make the only decision they can and they order Doyle to bring Josh to them. This was an action packed entertaining episode. Who didn’t think Jack’s slide across the floor and taking out of one of the mercenaries was cool? Like I said, the plot upon which this episode is a weak one, but this was a fun individual episode.