24 Review:
"3:00 a.m. - 4:00 a.m." (Episode 8.12)

And now, for another real-time account of the events of 24.

(Full disclosure: To better make this an actual review, at times I will go back and expand upon some of the thoughts I had during certain scenes. But to keep those 'assessments' true, I will never use any of the information revealed afterward.)

All right. Halfway point guys and gals. Only 12 hours remaining after tonight. Last week's teaser billed this episode as a pretty big event. So I'm gonna do it big with another real-time review. "The twist that will change everything," they say. We shall see...

Previously on 24: Redneck subplot is still still still alive and well... unfortunately. But I can't imagine it rivaling the bigger story of Kayla Hassan in bed (literally) with the enemy. And I must admit, parole officer Bill Prady (Stephen Root) possesses more charm than the two now-dead cretins combined.

3:00:00 a.m. - 3:11:40: Heh, heh. Dana hates the fact Chloe is running the show. Thankfully, she's the only one. We all love her. Chloe O'Brien doesn't need to answer to anyone, and quite frankly, it's frustrating when she does (like pretty much this whole season). Unless of course it's Jack, because they're each other's only match.

Speaking of Jack... Another police officer is giving Jack grief, which can only end badly. Every law enforcer in the land needs to be trained to switch off independent thought when they hear the words "Jack Bauer." In the world of 24, he's had to have appeared on more than a few covers of Time—perhaps even for Person of the Year. I've come to the conclusion that the more submissive people are to Jack and Chloe, the more likable they become. It really should be that simple.

OK, correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume SWAT teams employ body armor. So how is it Tarin can gun down all these guys with what looks like a .45? Seems unlikely...

3:15:59 - 3:22:56: And so the strange hillbilly saga continues with Bill Prady poking and prodding Dana for answers. Stephen Root is a pretty cool dude, but the fact his character is able to get all up in CTU's business feels a bit off, like pretty much everything else in Dana's life. He's just a parole officer from Arkansas! You have to hand it to Root, though. He's always got the demeanor of someone who knows more than he says, his slick-but-inviting Southern drawl prompting false confidence in those around him right before he knocks them down.

Poor naive Kayla. She's been reduced to a bargaining chip. Betrayed by the love of her life. Sad? Sure. 24? Most definitely.

3:27:17 - 3:35:38: Dana is once again dropping the ball at a critical techie moment. Just keep glaring at her, Chloe. Maybe a healthy dose of your signature peevish pout will cause her to burst into flames.

The terrorists want File 33 in exchange for Kayla... the suspense is killing me. Ah, secretly-obtained U.S. nuclear intel. Yeah, there's no way the terrorists are getting that. So I'm wondering how or if Hassan's daughter can get out of this pickle in only 15 minutes. Finally, some good urgent drama that isn't afraid to put something on the line. We need more of this in the next half day.

3:39:59 - 3:47:04: Looks like both Dana and Cole are screwed as Bill keeps needling closer and closer to the truth. His character is so unbelievably ridiculous. (What parole officer from Little Rock is going to waltz into a New York-based government agency dealing with a national crisis?) And yet, he's so out-there, he himself demands your attention. You begin questioning his motives and wondering if he's hiding something. I was kind of bummed at first because I like Stephen Root but hated the fact he was aiding and abetting the most annoying storyline this season. But it's gotten to the point where I've realized it's not going away, AND they brought in a great actor to go after Dana, who by the way deserves everything coming to her.  

Is this going to be the big shock—Kayla dying? Perhaps not. Love appears to rule all, as Tarin has a change of heart. Good trick. They honestly had me believing they were going to kill her off this hour. 

3:51:19 - 4:00:00: OK, if I remember correctly, something big was supposed to happen right about now, but I'm still wondering what kind of twist is going down. It's like a basketball team up by 5 with a minute left; there's still a lot of time.

I kind of like the idea of Jack and Cole running ops together. Too bad Cole's been tainted and his days are probably numbered. Nevertheless, I'd like to see more development of Freddie's character.

Whoa! They pulled a fast one. Tarin is still alive! Kayla's a decoy! The car she's driving into CTU is armed with an electromagnetic pulse. Blue flashing lights, ear-piercing frequencies... No more CTU?! Gotta admit, didn't see that coming at all. Great setup for the coming 12 episodes: Jack and Cole out in the field and in the dark, both figuratively and literally.

This hour was much leaner than many of the hours leading up to it. Certainly, that's to be expected the way the show is set up. But it seems the writers are slowly working out the kinks that bogged down the earlier part of the season. There's more Chloe and Jack. More of a sense of urgency. And though they didn't follow through, we kind of remember, "Oh, yeah. An important character could die." Even the whole Dana Walsh conundrum is more tolerable, and that's saying a lot. Who thought it'd ever get there?

All new hour: "CTU has just one weapon left." 'Nuff said.

Best line courtesy of Bill Prady to Dana Walsh: "I'm gonna nail your ass to the wall."