Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Better storyline and great use of returning
characters.
Cons: Kim's storyline gets silly in the second half, Kate's
makes little sense in the first.
The Bottom Line:
Yes, some weak sub-plots
But overall strong season
As the clock ticks down
Jack's Back
I enjoyed season one of this inventive show. When I found
out it had been picked up for another season, the only question left in my mind
was "Will they be able to match the first season?" When 24's second season started, I had my answer. They surpassed it with flying colors.
Season two picks up a year and a half after season one. Jack
Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is estranged from his daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert),
who has moved out and is working as a nanny. Jack has also quite his job at the
Los Angeles
branch of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU). That doesn't matter to now
President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert). When the President gets news that
there is a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles ,
he calls Jack to personally ask him to help prevent the disaster. Reluctantly,
Jack agrees to go back to work for CTU to find the bomb before it goes off. But
first, he calls Kim and warns her to get out of LA in case he can't find it in
time. Meanwhile, Kate Warne (Sarah Wynter) is busy getting ready for her
sister's wedding. But something about the groom to be doesn't feel right to
her.
One idea discussed at the end of season one was going to
more self-contained stories. Fortunately, the producers decided to keep their
one day per season real time. I have seem some argue that the real time format
isn't followed as closely this season, but if so, I found no evidence of it.
This show builds on the returning characters from season one
and even manages to bring back villainesses Sherry Palmer (Penny Johnson
Jerald) and Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke) in believable ways. The story is mostly
self-contained, so you could jump in here is you wanted to, but watching season
one will help explain all the relationships and increase your enjoyment of the
show. The new characters help build the story of season two, although the Kate
sub-plot seems out of place until at least a third of the way through the
season when you begin to understand how it fits with everything else. Kim's
sub-plot of trying to leave LA starts out believable, but grows increasingly
ludicrous as the day goes by. The main storyline, however, moves quickly with
lots of twists and turns. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger that will make
you want to keep watching.
After the success of season one and the DVD release of that
season, the producers had more time to plan this DVD set, and it shows. The
twenty-four episodes are preserved on six discs. Each episode is shown in sharp
wide screen and presented in surround sound. Removing my complaint from season
one, the "Previously on 24" recap is included, although you can skip
over it if you so desire. Chapter breaks and a play all feature are also
included on these discs. Each disc includes one audio commentary with a member
of the cast and crew as well as deleted scenes from the episodes.
If that's not enough to make you happy, check out the
seventh disc. It includes all 44 deleted scenes in one place with optional
commentary. In additional, there are two featurettes on the production and
post-production of the show. A third featurette goes into behind the scenes
detail on the bombing of CTU from early in the season.
Not only did the producers step up the plate with a better
over all second season, but the DVD set is better as well. A few minor sub-plot
complaints can't hamper the enjoyment of the thriller that is 24 season two.
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