As the world teeters on a terror plot of mass proportions, Jack and the team reunite one last time to avert an imminent international crisis. With little time left and the fate of the free world on the line, Jack is faced with an unthinkable and grave decision. Lives will be lost and the American administration will grapple with the day's most devastating news as the clock stops.
I don't think anyone quite knew what to expect from 24: Live Another Day when it was first announced a year ago or how it would play as a summer series, as just 12 episodes or in 2014. The end result was quite a pleasant surprise because Live Another Day offered up one of the most consistent stretch of episodes in 24 history. Yes, there were many times that felt like the show phoning it in by using the same plot devices it always used to use - the mole reveal, agencies misunderstanding the other, etc. And yet, the reduced episode order allowed the show the precise amount of time to tell its story in the most straightforward way possible. It wasn't distracted from the main narrative to focus on the ancillary personal details. Those aspects still existed but they weren't prominent components of the season that needed to be explained over and over again. However, we were aware of the history between Jack and Audrey which thusly gave Mark a reason not to trust the guy. President Heller was given Alzheimer's but that was largely examined under the lens of how it would effect his ability to serve as Commander in Chief. The one exception being the mystery surrounding Kate's husband - but that still gave Yvonne Strahovski plenty to do, especially in the last few episodes.Now, I don't expect the ending of Live Another Day to be the last we see of Jack Bauer, Chloe O'Brian and the 24 world. The ending here is definitely an ending that feels satisfactory of the season that preceded it. However, I don't see it as the final resting place for all of these characters. In certain ways, it's very finite. The override device is retrieved, Audrey is killed by Cheng's men and Cheng in turn is beheaded by Jack. But the final sequence involves Jack turning himself over to the Russians in exchange for the return of Chloe. Jack started this season as a fugitive. For four years, he's lived underground and avoided detection and capture by any country. Russia is furious for what he did at the end of Season 8. Jack reemerged in London for the sole reason of stopping an attack on Heller's life. He did not do anything over the course of this day to be able to return home and see his family or to get back together with Audrey. He respected Mark as the man Audrey was with until he learned Mark tried turning him over to the Russians. He expected to go back underground after this day was over.
Chloe really is Jack's only friend left. Throughout this season, she has helped him immensely - especially with faking Heller's death and allowing him to get to Cheng. Following Audrey's death, she is one of the few people he honestly cares about. He can't just sit back and watch her go through her own traumatic experience just like Audrey did for him. So, instead Jack is off to spend his second stint in a foreign prison. But now, it's all on his own free will. He's accepting his fate. He cares for his country, his family and Chloe. But now, he's also willing to own up to the mistakes of his past. It is a powerful way to end this season even though I'm uncertain if it should be the final image we have of Jack. Although I would be at peace if it was because of Jack and Chloe's final exchange verbally confirming that they are indeed best friends.
It's totally surprising just how much of an emotional reaction I had to watching "Day 9: 10:00PM - 11:00AM." It wasn't even watching Kate succeed in rescuing Audrey from Cheng's men only for a second shooter to get her anyway. It was largely watching both Jack and Heller's reaction to learning this terrible news. It's horrible that Cheng, a man who spent years torturing Audrey both physically and mentally, was able to finally kill her. That's a terrible way to go out for that character although I'm not sure this was an especially busy season for her. Jack still cares for her immensely even though he's not hoping saving her father will bring her back to him. And yet, once he gets that news, he just breaks down in the middle of his mission. Motionless, he has no clue how to react to all of this. It's devastating but then becomes quite triumphant as he single-handed takes out several of Cheng's men and then takes out the mastermind as well. That's what Audrey wanted from him: to kill Cheng once and for all. She may no longer be here to celebrate but killing Cheng is the only way Jack can honor her memory.
And then, there's Heller who triumphantly gets Cheng from Jack and convinces the Chinese president to turn his ships around to prevent a war. That's a great way to end this horrendous day that will also be his last as president. But advisor Ross McCall then has to give him the news that his daughter has died. The look on his face is just so telling and completely transforms in a matter of seconds that then causes him to faint out of pure disbelief. That moment was powerful. This has been a really strong season for William Devane but nothing is quite better than his final scene watching Audrey's body being carried onto Air Force 1. It's devastating to lose a child. But it's going to be even more devastating to completely forget about said child. It's a haunting way to end that character's journey as well as this season of 24.
Some more thoughts:
- "Day 9: 10:00PM - 11:00AM" was written by Manny Coto & Evan Katz and directed by Jon Cassar.
- Jack's coolest kill, of course, is taking the blade to Cheng's head. But throwing a big kitchen knife at one of Cheng's henchmen is a close second.
- It does irk me a little how nonchalant Kate and Audrey were as they were walking away from the bench the shooter had Audrey pinned down on. But it does add a lot to the weight Kate must be feeling for allowing Audrey to die on her watch.
- I just love how gradually over the season Colin Salmon was replaced by Philip Winchester as the general Heller talks to about military operations and responses. That was never a role that Salmon should have been asked to play in the first place.
- For me, this is definitely a Top 4 season of 24. Probably not Top 3 considering how great Seasons 1, 2 and 5 are. But Live Another Day nevertheless has been an enjoyable season.
- I'm hoping FOX does another 24 season after the critical success of this one. It really has been a great thing to experience over the summer months as a twisty narrative. 12 episodes again seems very reasonable. The only cast that would need to return are Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Yvonne Strahovski. William Devane has been phenomenal this year but I don't think the character could or should be revisited again unfortunately.
