24 – Season 7, Episodes 23 & 24 Review (Season Finale)

7.23 6:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M.

7.24 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M.

Will Jack survive the day?

Remember this will be a SPOILER review.

Well we’re not too sure really.  This has to be one of the strangest 24 season finale’s ever because a lot of stuff isn’t resolved.  It’s hard to write what I’m feeling right now.  While I like how some stuff came to it’s conclusions, we’re just left wondering on other aspects.

The whole Olivia plot, I always found weak but it ended the best way it could.  We have Ethan in the first episode taking the recording in which Olivia orders Jonas Hodges’ death.  I always knew Aaron would come good and he did.  President Taylor deciding to hand Olivia over to the authorities was fairly obvious.  I’ve liked her as the President and I hope to see her return for season 8.  The White House aspect of the season has been mostly excellent but the Olivia story was boring and took us away from the other exciting plots.

As guessed Tony’s real goal was to meet with Alan Wilson, one of the guy’s belonging to the conspiracy group and kill him.  See Mr Wilson was the one behind pulling Logan’s strings and he ordered the hit out on Michelle.  Tony’s goal was good old fashioned revenge and he didn’t care who he killed until he reached that goal.  We also find out that Michelle was carrying her and Tony’s son when she died.  Tony’s story was very tragic and I loved that scene when he was telling Jack that his actions have saved more lives than Jack.  I’m so glad that Tony wasn’t killed, him and Jack are the opposite sides of the coin.  They both have lost their wives but took different paths.  Though both are figures of tragedy.

The ending that was easily guessable happened.  Kim decided to help Jack by undergoing the experimental stem cell procedure.  We knew Jack wasn’t going to die because an eighth season is soon about to go in production which sadly means the ending is rather predictable.  That is not good for 24 as the end of seasons are always unpredictable.  They might shock or be of a simple scene as Jack crying.  Though I look at the ending as more of a set-up for next season.  We have a few story threads that are left hanging that will obviously come into play during season eight.

The one story I’m interested in is the journey that Renee went or as 24 fans call her, Freckles Bauer.  At the end of episode 24, see has very much become the female version of Jack but we’re not 100% sure what she did to Alan Wilson.  Jack told Renee that she had a choice and maybe she chose the right one and stepped away.  She works for the FBI and they have rules and laws that cannot be broken like Jack did when he worked for CTU.  One of the positives about this season was her character.  I wasn’t sure if I’d like her at first but she quickly won me over, plus she’s great to look at.  Her slowly becoming Jack over the course of the day was a highlight to see.

Geeky Thoughts:-

• Kim shouting “dammit” when her phone died was funny.
• Though even funnier was her flapping her burning arm around.  I’m not sure that was supposed to be intently funny but it was.
• Again more thoughts on Kim, she has got a lot smarter.
• The airport shootout was cool.
• Jack has a needle to the spine but still manages to slit a guy’s throat with a scalpel, use that same scalpel to jam into someone’s neck, then forgets the scalpel and just breaks a guy’s neck with his handcuffs.  What a guy!
• Renee riding on the side of the car, Bauer style.

This season was a huge improvement and for the most part was rather excellent.  Though once Tony was revealed to be bad again, the season took a nosedive in quality.  As I find with most seasons of 24, the first half was much better than the second.  Once the show introduced a bio-weapon, it just was another bomb threat which had been seen so many times before.  The whole Dubaku/General Juma aspect was rather interesting and something original for 24 standards.  Though as the season progressed, the show fell back into bad habits by recycling stories.  The pool of ideas are running dry over at the writers room of 24 and I think it’s time to say goodbye to the show.  Make season 8 the last before the show becomes completely stale.

Quote of the episode: Jack “If I see fifteen people held hostage on a bus, everything else goes out the window.  I will do whatever it takes to save them and I mean whatever it takes.  I guess maybe, if I save them…I save myself”

Favourite Scene: Jack telling Renee she has a choice.