Natalia Padgen
As the premier of the 24: Live Another Day mini-series neared, I was both excited and anxious to set my eyes on it. For the best part of a decade, in my twenties, I was a 24 devotee. I lived and breathed Jack Bauer, awaited his return each season, counted his ‘damn its!’ and ‘son of a bitches!’ and compared the terrorist actions of his imaginary world to our own. Four years without Jack and well into my thirties, I feared that I had grown up, moved on, developed more complex viewing tastes and would be less than impressed with what the series return had to offer. My concerns were wasted energy. Jack is back!
The new mini-series brings us plenty of the familiar action fanfare: gunshots, explosions, missiles etc; however it also brings a new depth with it on both a thematic level and the continuing development of Jack’s character. Typical of a 24 season, a delicious sense of mystery and urgency has the viewer constantly asking questions, wanting to know more and view the next episode immediately.
The scene is set in London 4 years after Jack has disappeared as a fugitive where we find him being chased down and caught by the CIA. In the first twist of the season, Jack’s intention and successful mission is to infiltrate the Special Activities Unit and to break free of his long-time friend and colleague Chloe O’Brien. For the first half of the episode we only spy snippets of Jack being hunted and interrogated. So after thirty minutes of screen silence from our leading man, when Jack reveals his true intentions our passion for our returned hero couldn’t be greater as he speaks for the first time, “Take me to her. Now”.
To the audience Jack is a true hero and protector, but to the CIA, he is a criminal and villain. Good vs. evil is a strong theme at play in the first episode and is set to continue throughout the mini-series. The idea of justice is also explored, as well as rebellion and, of course, politics. We see many of these themes shine through new central character Kate, a multi-faceted CIA agent who has a sordid past, is underestimated by her superiors, understands the way Jack thinks and is able to usurp a position of power due to her boss’ failings. In many ways she resembles a young female Jack, acting exactly as he would in her shoes. It will be interesting to watch her character develop and the two interact as the season unfolds.
We see fan favourite Chloe O’Brien in a whole new light – tortured, dishevelled, broken. The writers draw a parallel with her to real life hacker Edward Snowden. At the outset, we are convinced that Jack is here to save his ‘partner in crime’, however towards the end of the episode following the escape, he sets her free and through dramatic irony we find out he has placed a tracking device on her. His comment to the getaway driver,”I don’t have any friends”, undermines his perceived act of friendship. His feelings and intentions are put further into question at the close of the episode when a US military attack occurs in Afghanistan. Did Jack rescue Chloe out of selflessness or does he have a grand plan to stop the terrorists that includes her? Or could it be a bit of both?
All in all, I was in no way disappointed with the series return of 24. I am relieved and happy to write that my eyes were glued to the screen, my brain was ticking over and the writers cleverly toned down the ‘damn its’ and ‘son of a bitches’ to match with my evolving tastes. (I only counted two and one respectively). I eagerly await the next time the ticking digital clock pops up on my screen and Jack tells me that the next hour will occur in ‘real time’.
24: Live Another Day premiers in Australia on Channel 10, Monday May 12, 8:45pm
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