TV Show Review: 24 - Season 6 Premier

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Kiefer Sutherland's acting

Cons: Predictable plot points

The Bottom Line:

Weakest season starts

Already predictable

Just get full season

Jack Bauer Must Die

Another January brings another heart pounding season premier of serial thriller 24. This year, Fox is trying something new. They are releasing the first four hours of this season the day after they first aired.

For the past 11 weeks, terrorists have been randomly attacking cities all over America with random suicide attacks. President Wayne Palmer (DB Woodside) is desperate, so when a man calls and claims he can turn in the mastermind behind the terror, he'll agree to anything, including turning Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) over to be killed.

As so Jack's return from a Chinese prison camp is arranged, and a very broken Jack is turned over to the terrorist. But if you think that this spells the end for our hero, you don't know Jack.

So far, this season seems to be a bit less exciting then the previous ones. Of course, part of that may be because I saw most of the plot points coming before they happened. There were a couple that took me by surprise, however.

And I'm already seeing two storylines that might be the eye rollers of the year. Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) is back together with her ex (Carlo Rota) and he's working at CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit), which is causing some tension. If that doesn't go somewhere soon, I'm going to be frustrated. At the same time, Chloe is her usual charming self, and I am getting my much needed comic relief from some of her lines.

The other storyline is the civil rights story involving President Palmer's sister (Regina King). Beside the fact that I don't like him having a previous unmentioned sibling, I find the issue so far too cut and dry. I'm giving the writers the benefit of the doubt here since it already looks like there is more to this story then first meets the eye.

Of course, the acting and special effects are amazing so far. Kiefer's acting is especially note worthy. His performance as the very broken Jack in episode one was worthy of another Emmy. Of course, Jack's behavior changes far too quickly to be realistic. But the show wouldn't be fun if it were realistic.

Speaking of realistic, violence can be pretty brutal. This is especially true in the first episode. This definitely isn't for the young or faint of heart or stomach.

So what about this DVD? Well, you get the first four episodes of season six. As a bonus, you get the first 12 minutes of episode five – basically until the first commercial break. And there's a coupon good through February 2008 for ten dollars off any season set of 24, including season six. Yep, that's right.  The coupon has long since expired.

With the expired coupon and full season now out, I say skip this disc and just go with the full season.  Even then, this season turned out to be the weak link in the 24 chain.