Jack Bauer is oh so close to scoring the big lead that finally brings him to the deadly nuclear rods of deadliness, but awful subplots keep getting in the way. Also it doesn’t help that the New York version of CTU is even less competent than the LA precinct and those guys allowed two nukes to be lit off on American soil.
It all starts with Dana Walsh, who continues to amaze with her complete lack of self-awareness. She is a data analyst right? She is at the top of her field, correct? You get high-ranking counter-terror jobs because you know what you’re doing, right? Then how is it she fails to see the long-term weakness in her plans to manipulate security cameras and what not? The dopey parole officer knows that the feeds all lead back to CTU. How come Dana doesn’t? So now, while a crisis unfolds and the high-tech drones again get outsmarted by a freeway underpass, she’s at her work station distracted and useless.
On the street, Jack and Cole zip around deserted NYC streets, chasing down the renegade chief of security and President Hassan’s daughter. Of course, the bad guy manages to slip through that airtight perimeter–and the girl, might I add, is quite obliging in her hostaginess, helpfully waiting around and not trying to get away or anything while the psycho screws around with walkie-talkies.
And just when Jack thinks he has them, they drive under a bridge and go dark because there are no traffic cameras in tunnels excpet for the traffic camera in the tunnel we see at the end of the episode.
Speaking of which, let’s just skip ahead and not bother with the File 33 stuff, the shocking disappearance of President Taylor and the tortured love life of Cole and Dana. Too late, Jack realizes that the bad guys have allowed the presidential princess to escape so they could detonate an EMP and take out CTU. And that happens, despite the slow-wittedness of a CTU bellhop who coulkdn’t find the Reverse gear fast enough.
The biggest twist? I actually like this plot point. Having CTU’s computers knocked out of commission is good for a number of reasons: 1) no more dumbass drones, 2) Arlo’s screen time should be greatly diminished, 3) the horrible “Let’s-defuse-the-bomb-with-our-Blackberry” plot device can be shelved and, best of all, 4) Jack can pound the pavement and punch dudes in the face without constantly asking Hastings’ permission. I can get behind that.
17. March 2010 at 1:17 am
No sir, it’s all bad. All of it. Just terrible. Worst since season 6. I continue to watch but I also slow down and admire car wrecks.