24 Season 5: The Teaser

No spoilers in this post, unless you consider the teaser footage to be spoilers.

The peeps over at Kiefer-Rocks.com have posted the Season Five teaser that aired during last night’s World Series game. You can check it out by going to their news page.

My initial reactions to the teaser?

So far, so good... it was a true teaser in the sense that we don’t see any plot points, just glimpses of what’s to come. The fire-shielding effects look particularly great. And the whole season, from the looks of the trailer, seems to be much more cinematic in nature. Which is a good thing.

So far, the bad... we’re still getting served the fancy looking, high-techish, non-existant satellite computer crap. Okay, it’s a tv show, whatever. Also, Jack’s cell phone is working in the middle of the desert. Amazing. Also, did you notice that Jack didn’t really look like Jack anymore? He’s change his appearance because he’s in hiding. And by appearance, I mean haircut.

Get ready for another season of Jack running around, pointing guns at people and screaming. I’ll be here with a recap for every episode.

24 Season 5: The Tony and Michelle Show

The latest news from The 24 Insider reports (WARNING: Potential Spoiler Alert):

Tony and Michelle are at home in a cozy West Valley neighborhood. They have plans for a business meeting but those plans are quickly scrapped once they learn of a drastic situation. Michelle thinks that they should head over to CTU to help out but Tony doesn’t want to go and he thinks they would just be getting in the way of the investigation. Michelle evaluates the severity of the incident and she decides the business meeting is irrelevant and that she needs to offer her services to CTU. Tony eventually agrees and they prepare to head off to CTU Los Angeles.

Awww, how cute. Just what the rabid 24 fans are wanting – a love story that takes up approximately 6 hours of our day. The on-again, off-again, saga of Michelle and Tony is boring. The on-again, off-again, saga of Michelle and Tony is boring. Yes, I just said that twice, in an attempt to spice things up a bit. It didn’t work, though, they’re just THAT boring.

It’s not just Tony and Michelle’s love story that I’m tired of, it’s any notion of there being a love story in this show at all. There is no place on this show for a love story. None. Need I remind the writers that this story takes place in one day? I would tend to think that any relationship issues would take a major back seat to whatever TERRORIST activity is occuring in the United States.

Much less, a character like Jack probably wouldn’t ever date anyone. Hell, the man has been dead twice now, what’s the point?

Another issue is dating in the work place in general. Everywhere I’ve ever worked, it’s very frowned upon to date co-workers. And even if you feel like you must, you’re supposed to let HR know. But it’s very apparent, with the quality of employees that CTU hires (several traitors and idiots, alike), that the HR department isn’t that great. What’s more, if HR IS notified and two co-workers are dating, then one would probably be moved within the division elsewhere. The workplace doesn’t need any added drama from home, unless you’re 24.

Tony, Michelle, stay at home or go to your “business meeting” (whatever the hell that means). And whatever you do, don’t go into CTU and don’t drive a Cadillac.

24 Season 5: Edgar Encrypted

The latest news from The 24 Insider reports (WARNING: Potential Spoiler Alert):

An encrypted book which is still being written on the computer of a former high ranking government official will play a huge role in the early stages of season five.

This is good news for Edgar fans, it essentially says that he has been written into the plot for season five. Not that we didn’t think he’d be around, because we knew he would, but now there’s a whole level of nerdiness that can occur thanks to this secret “encrypted” book.

And if that news wasn’t enough...

Arizona Senator John McCain will appear in an upcoming episode.
Source - www.sfgate.com

Great. How exciting. The writers REALLY know how to keep us (anti-)fans happy.

24 Season 5: The Beggining of a Long Season?

From my faithful source over at The 24 Insider (WARNING: Potential Spoiler Alert):

The new season has Jack settling in Bakersfield, California, and working on an oil rig, it’s a far cry from his secret past. He falls in love with a mysterious woman (Connie Britton) and everything seems just fine. But true to “24”, his life doesn’t stay peaceful for very long. The woman’s son, played by Brady Corbett, becomes suspicious of Jack’s past and begins asking too many questions. Suddenly Jack’s cover explodes. The Chinese government quickly finds out about him and everyone is in danger. One of the major characters will be killed off on the first three episodes! Fox is closely guarding the identity of the victim – but the writers are promising the death will be totally unexpected and will shock even 24’s most seasoned fans. The buzz is that former President David Palmer... is the victim. But on 24 anything can happen and anyone can be a target.
Source - The Globe (September 5th issue page 66)

Seriously, with all the hype that they’re giving to season five, is it really going to be all that surprising when some major character bites the dust? No. You’re ruining it for viewers already! Why do you even have to tease that? You’re 24, you don’t have to tease anything!

But really, if it IS Palmer, then you’re potentially shooting yourself in the foot because he’s one of the best things that show still has to offer.

I’m telling you, if you want shock value, kill Jack Bauer. THEN you’d have a nice little chaotic series on your hands.