(4:00 A.M. - 5:00 A.M.)
Review/Commentary
Reviewer: J
Okay, 24 is back. I admit it. After carping about the first fifteen hours of this season (which we still feel we were right to do), the 24 writers have redeemed themselves well. That's not to say there weren't some of the typical holes in this hour, but it was a large leap forward from the earlier epihours this season. Hour Sixteen reminded me of the first season, as well as perhaps the second, but more specifically the final frenetic hours of those two seasons. In fact, I commented to D that this hour almost felt too frenetic, if that's possible. I know, I know, I'm probably splitting hairs now, but as I've said before, 24 has set the standard very high and it's now a challenge to reach. That's fine. I'm glad there's at least one show on television that isn't completely predictable and mind-numbing.
Where to begin? I think we'll keep this short, simply because I could talk for hours about this episode and there's simply no need for that. Suffice it to say, it was the first time all season where I've had that 24, glued-to-my-seat feeling. I found myself saying "wow," "damn," and "go girl!" Okay, err, no, I really didn't say that last one. But it sounded like something a cheesy reviewer would say. Not mentioning any names (or newspapers) here.
Poor Gael. (Incidentally, was this the first time he's been referred to as "Agent Ortega"? I think it might have been. Everyone else answers the phone with their last name, but we always hear Gael referred to as "Gael.") He's a goner, obviously, especially since he's sort of a fringe main character, but a main character nonetheless. However, he's never been especially likeable or easy to root for - I can't place my finger on it. He just hasn't. However, he's had a hell of a bad day, from being tortured in the afternoon to ingesting a face full of the virus in the wee hours when he should be at home watching Telemundo.
Speaking of Gael, if I had a gun and was bleeding profusely from multiple orifices (which you know he is) and was in horrible pain, and was going to die for certain, I think I might just end it. Especially when my skin began to bubble up like his is. That was fairly disgusting, but hey, kudos to 24 for pushing the envelope and not in an indecency sort of way. Well done.
As the guests began panicking and bleeding, I could feel the tension increase. I was impressed with Michelle's quick thinking ("There's danger…. outside!!"). Of course, there's always the jackass who wants to be argumentative and who causes a problem. However, on 24, he's the one who ends up getting capped. Good job here, too. If someone less deserving had gotten killed because that doofus wouldn't listen to reason, it would have been far more tragic. I'd have to say that if a federal agent (or anyone really) had a gun pointed at me and assured me they'd kill me if I did "A," then I'd be sure not to do "A." Seems pretty simple to me. Why challenge her? What do you have to gain? And to those who are assuming that the broken window will allow the virus to escape, remember that it's needs a human "host" to be carried. The relatively small "parts per million" count will dissipate in the air outside the hotel rather quickly. With the guests contained inside, there's a good chance the virus won't be spread. I do imagine, however, that the Chandler Plaza Hotel will have some trouble booking rooms for a while. (Before anyone asks, yes, it's fake.)
More props go to Michelle's delivery of the truth to the freaked out hotel worker who was trying to get out to go home to his preggo wife. When he called her bluff and said he knew about Gael, Michelle informed him that everyone was about to "get sick." Astutely, freako man insisted on clarification. Rather than more BS, Michelle simply said "Most of us are going to die." Not "most of you," but "most of us." Excellent. Michelle is handing the situation better than almost anyone could be expected to.
Gripe: What the hell is taking the Hazmat team so long? All hour, they're talking about "when they arrive." Hell, they sent them off in February and they're still not there! How come everyone else in LA can get anywhere in 12 minutes? I don't get it.
Speaking of this sort of continuity, I guess the Police Chief of Los Angeles sleeps in his uniform.
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