Entertainment, Weekly: The Small Screen

24: Oh Snap.

2 hours of 24 is about an hour too much to handle.  

Seriously. 

The plot threads are developing so nicely. Renee is a bad ass. Chloe is a sarcastic bad ass. And Jack is a mother-fucking bad ass. 

AND. Aaron is a super awesome bad ass. 

There are a few other comments I have, however.

First. I guess this is just about the overall plot in general. The reason we fell in love with 24 in the first place was because it was personal. We cared about David Palmer, about Kim, about Tony, about Nina, and about Jack. Here, we have the potential to do the same. We have Jack, Renee, Aaron, Bill, Chloe, Tony. But instead they insist on these crazy plots that seem to just 'raise the stakes' as high as they can possibly go. 

Last year, a bunch of Chinese henchman break into CTU. And Jack fights them off. 

This year, a bunch of Africans break into the White House. (first, guess what, thats impossible!)

And next episode Jack is going to fight them off.

It gets a little ridiculous and simplistic, and the only reason a lot of people keep watching this show is because A) They are too simplistic and stupid to understand anything more complex OR

B) Because they have invested with the characters and are willing to live with the plot injustices.

(BTW, I'm the latter) 

This season was supposed to be a reboot of the series, after an awful Season 6. And to a point, it has. But, it still is lacking those individual threads that made Season 1 great. The first season wove in each character's plot masterfully, and then tied them together when appropriate. Now, and for the past few seasons, (with a few exceptions-Season 5) the plot has lived episode to episode (or, "Within the hour"). 

Finally, for a quick second point. Why did we bring back Tony in the first place? First, it was kind of a stupid explanation and obvious plot hole...but we were willing to forgive it because it brought us back Jack's best friend and most loyal companion. Instead, Tony has got a soul patch and buzz cut, is uber angry all the time, and has missed 25% of the episodes. 

What was the point of this? To get Jack out of the Senate hearing, and thats it? Gimme a break. 

He should have stayed dead for all the good the writers are putting him to.