Sunday, October 17, 2010

24 Season 1: 4PM-5PM Outsourced Retro Review

Editor's Note: Sorry for the delay, I've been busy resolving some matters non-TJS related (work, work, work!). Alex turns in a truly excellent review this week- I'm very grateful for the hard work and talent he displays here.  Alex- thank you again-- and now, I share his review with you all:

Hey, everyone, Alex here with my reviewcap of 24: Day 1, 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. The episode is classic Season 1: lots of plot development, great character moments, and the right amount of action. So let's get on with it!

Kim is walking and calling for Teri as she looks at a nice view of Los Angeles. I'm pretty sure the Hollywood sign is behind her. Meanwhile, Teri is in a car with Tonya, who tells her that she's never met anyone with amnesia before. Teri says that she doesn't remember meeting anyone with amnesia before, either. Tonya asks her if she comes from money, or if her husband has money. Teri says she has no memory of her husband. I can't believe she just asked Teri about her husband, considering we just spent the last sixty seconds reiterating that she has amnesia.

Back at the Palmer suite, testosterone hits an overload as Jack Bauer and Aaron Pierce meet in the same hallway. Jack and Aaron go over the plan to get to Alexis Drazen, while Elizabeth says she's sorry for ever getting into this whole mess. Aaron tells her it's alright since she didn't know who Drazen was, but throws it back into her face that he's a stone-cold killer. That's what happens when you have testosto-adrenaline running through your veins. You can say stuff like that and get away with it. Jack knows this all too well and starts setting up audio-visual coverage of Alexis' hotel room.

Tonya takes a stab at the health care system telling Teri that there's a hospital near the end of the road, but that she doesn't know how good it is. BAM! Before they can get there, Teri recognizes a restaurant. Tonya says maybe they should keep going, but Teri's lack of remembering also includes a lack of caring what Tonya has going on. Teri says she's going to stay, so Tonya gives her $10 and her phone numero to go and get sushi when she's all better.

Meanwhile, Nina tells Elizabeth that without compromising herself, they need her to act as she always did with Alexis. Elizabeth is uncomfortable with this, as that usually meant being nekkid. Apparently there's no problem being super promiscuous if the guy is nice and buys you fancy jewelry, but the second you find out he's an assassin, it gets "awkward." Palmer comes into the room and tells Elizabeth that she doesn't have to go through with meeting Alexis. Nonetheless, Elizabeth is determined to help take this guy down. Palmer asks to speak to Jack. He's not happy with Jack putting Elizabeth in danger. He's known her since she was born. The man changed diapers and burped her, and says if anything happens to her, he's holding Jack personally responsible.

Kim walks out into the middle of the street and almost undoes all of Jack's hard work trying to keep her alive when a car almost runs into her. She finds a pay phone and calls CTU and tells Tony that the safehouse was ambushed, and that she thinks Teri has been kidnapped again. Tony is blown away, but tries to get Kim to tell him where she is. Kim doesn't want to tell him anything and hangs up. Tony tells Mason what's going on. They send a team to the safehouse, but Mason doesn't want to tell Jack what's going on until the Elizabeth operation is over. Tony disagrees, but Mason doesn't want Jack's emotions to get the best of him and jeopardize the operation. Apparently the lump in his leg from begin tranq'ed at the start of the season isn't big enough to remind him that you don't keep secrets from Jack Bauer.

Jack asks Nina if the operation is ready. It almost is, but Jack loses it with her. She calls him on it, and he apologizes, admitting that the events of the last twelve hours have gotten to him. Nina understands. Just as she's about to leave, Jack asks why she didn't finish debriefing Teri and Kim. Nina thinks she can B.S. Jack, but is called away by other CTU agents. Saved by the (proverbial) bell.

Kim makes a dumb move and calls Rick. She tells him what went down and that she's coming to see him. He protests, but Kim tells him that she'll tell the police everything. She also tells him that he's the only person she can trust, this in spite of him playing a heavy hand in her kidnapping. As a George Lucas script will inevitably say somewhere, "I have a bad feeling about this."

Keith enters Palmer's room and apologizes to him for getting on his case. He says he knew Palmer was trying to protect him. He plays Palmer the tape he made of his conversation with Karl. Palmer asks for the tape, and Keith hesitates, but Palmer asks him to trust him. Enter the ticking clock!

Alexis calls Andre and tells him that Palmer is staying in L.A. Andre and Alexis have a discussion on the merits of women. Andre says that they can't be too careful and wants Alexis to kill her after they have their rendezvous. Alexis doesn't look to happy with that, but I have a feeling that he's going to be a professional.

In Alexis' suite, Jack goes over the final details of Operation: Lover Betrayal with Elizabeth. He tells her not to worry, they have complete audio-visual coverage of the hotel room, and gives her a code phrase to say if she wants him and other agents to come in and lay the smack down. She can tell that this is what he really wants, but he tells her if she can stomach sparing Alexis, there's a tracker they'd like her to place on him.

At the restaurant, the manager arrives and talks to Teri. He's surprised that Teri doesn't remember anything. He mentions her "doctor friend," but Teri doesn't recall anything about him. He just happens to know the number of the hospital said doctor friend works at, and is going to give him a call. Meanwhile, Jack and Nina go over the final portion of O:LB before it kicks into high gear. As they do, Jack confronts Nina about why she's holding something back from him. Nina tells him that Teri figured out she and Jack were involved with one another during their marital hiatus. (That ridiculous amnesia storyline may work in someone's favor after all!) As Jack takes personal responsibility for what's happened, Alexis arrives back at the hotel. He gets ready to meet with Elizabeth by drinking some mouthwash or vodka. It's really not clear which it is, as the monitors are pre-HD.

Elizabeth knocks on the door. He doesn't answer, so she tries to ding-dong ditch him. Just as she's about to go, he shows up. He tries to tongue-kiss her (so forward!) but she's apprehensive. She tries to talk work with him, but he's only interested in one thing. That thing that girls are always told guys are after. You know what it is. Anyhow, she sends him for some vodka, and she tries to go after his wallet. She finds it, but drops the tracer. She can't get it back into his jacket before he gets back, so she stuffs it in hers. They talk for a bit, and Alexis tries to find out what the deal is with Palmer. Elizabeth persists that she is out of the loop. He wonders why someone so smart is kept out of the loop. Elizabeth apparently spells "smart" S-M-R-T, as she tells him he has no idea how intelligent she is since most of the time they've spent together has been in bed. Alexis is taken back, but she covers for herself by asking for some food. While Alexis goes for the room service menu, she plants the wallet back in his jacket.

But then something happened that the Ring did not intend. It wasn't a Hobbit, but rather love. Alexis tells Elizabeth that he's fallen for her as Jack clears the SWAT team from the hallway. He places the call to Elizabeth, while Alexis tries to whisper sweet nothings into her ear. She ignores Jack's call as she tells Alexis to tell her that he loves her again. He walks right into it, and tells her that she loves him, too. Jack calls again, and she ignores it. She asks him to order her food, and moves towards the desk. Jack and Nina wonder what is going on as she picks something up. The image is blurry (I thought the government was something like 20 years ahead of the rest of society. You'd think they'd have HD monitors even ten years ago!), and it takes them a minute to realize it's a letter opener! As Alexis comes up behind her, Elizabeth turns and stabs him right in the gut. Jack takes him down as he enters the room, and tells Nina to call a medic.

Kim arrives at Rick's house. His BFF GF answers and ask just who Kim is. Rick tries to cover, but his girl is wiser than she seems. Rick comes semi-clean, and tells her that Dan screwed things up the night before, and Kim is trying to find some people Dan knew. Meanwhile, Teri's doctor buddy shows up and talks to Teri. She's a little jumpy as he moves towards her, but he seems to calm her down.

Jack talks with Mason as he cleans up. Mason isn't too happy since the plan went down in a hand-basket. Jack tells him that it's not like he was exposed to radiation, and that Alexis has a 50/50 shot. Just then, Palmer comes in, demanding to know what happened. Jack tells him that Elizabeth stabbed Alexis. Palmer says that she must have been defending herself. Jack says that's not how it was at all, and that, quite frankly, he'd never put himself in a position to get stabbed in the gut. Palmer finds Elizabeth who apologizes for what happened. Jack tries to calm Palmer down, but just then Drazen's phone rings. Nina asks Jack what they should do. Jack says they need to take a chance. He answers and makes plans with Drazen's contact to meet up.

4:57...4:58...4:59...5:00

All in all, pretty good. The only complaint is the ridiculous amnesia storyline that plagued Season 1. But other than that, the episode is pretty solid. Thanks for your time. See you again soon!

48 comments:

BauerLuver said...

Nice, Alex!
That hotel room scene is an instant classic. The tension, the drama, the sound effects, the suspense, and the surprise ending...top-notch brilliant writing period. Definitely the high point of the episode... Dont even get me started on Teri and Kim! I'll say it once, and I'll say it again...amnesia??
Jack is hot. Nina is hot. Alexis is hot. Elizabeth is hot. Tony is hot. Even George is starting to look hot (but maybe that's from radiation poisoning, loved that catch!)
Bellisima!!

Alex Getts — Art & Illustration said...

Hey, BL, thanks!
It seems like every season has at least one completely ludicrous scene or plot that makes no sense. S2 has the obvious cougar (and I don't mean Courtney Cox! BAM!), S3 has the asinine shooting of Saunders in CTU...S1 has amnesia. Blegh.

BauerLuver said...

I know! Lemme think for a sec...
S1- Teri and amnesia, Kim + Rick
S2- anything with Kim, preferably the cougar
S3- Saunders gets shot, Kim + Chase
S4- Not to much I can think of this season, but I thought that Audrey got quite annoying at many points
S5- Another one that I can barely identify a flaw in, but I guess I would have to go with Chloe + Spencer, and the sex slave
S6- While I think season six is HIGHLY underrated, I will admit that the Walid and Sandra storyline was not one of 24's highest hours
S7- Sean and Erika are the moles
S8- pretty much everything, but gets the grand pize winner of...you guessed it...DANA/JENNY MOLE!
We have a winner!

BauerLuver said...

I laughed out loud at the "nekkid" thing, as well as a keen observation of "Apparently there's no problem being super promiscuous if the guy is nice and buys you fancy jewelry, but the second you find out he's an assassin, it gets 'awkward.'"

Spencer said...

Kickass review, man. It seemed like half of this episode was just HHH/Elizabeth and her psychotic bf. Great suspense But seriously, I hate Alexis and can understand how HHH lossed it, even if I (of course)don't think that she should've stabbed him.

Really, who wants to speculate about what was going through that guy's head? "I'm gonna tell her I love her before I kill her. Maybe then we'll have more sex, because 90% of our relationship being making love isn't enough."

BauerLuver said...

Haha good point Spencer! Yeah the hotel room scene took up a good chunck of time this episode. Think about Elizabeth's mind. "The guy I randomly hooked up with in a bar turns out to be a psycho terrorist, so I'm gonna put a letter opener in his gut to teach him a lesson."

Spencer said...

And uh, who's going to review next episode? I just hope it's spencetacular, AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

BauerLuver said...

AHAHAHA ok Spencer you can do it. :)

B said...

You three are cute. The trio of awesomeness. The triumvirate of...something cool.
:)

BauerLuver said...

Brittany, you make four. :D

Jack's hair is so blond this season. It's like highlighted, almost. Random thought of the day.

Spencer said...

Brittany- Thanks. You're awesome too!

BL- Yeah I know. It wasn't that bad, but I always hated his hair in seasons 4-6.

AG- Look up Bruce Willis and his current wife and you'll never call a woman a cougar again.

BauerLuver said...

I thought seasons 4-6, Jack's hair was too short. But it still seemed kinda the same in seasons 7-8, too.
Omgsh guys, only seven more hours this season! Time flys (past numerous delays, lol)
This is my theory: (back into retro-verse) Teri is the mole. Being married to Jack gives her access to classified information, and for some reason later explained, she wants Palmer dead. The whole "I'm pregnant, where's Kim, i'm kidnapped, who am i" thing is just a huge act. And she knows that Ninas good, thats why she was bashin' on her earlier. And that doctor guy from the restaurant is in on it too.
Think it's ludicrous? It's either that or Kim.

Spencer said...

BL- Man, I TIRED of you making theories that end up being correct! I'm gonna contact the writers right now and force them to make NINA the mole and then she'll kill Teri!

And guys, you might want to consider watching this. You can find all 9 parts. I watched it myself and thought it was awesome, but that might just be because of Carlos. But if you like aliens, violence, and Carlos Bernard being in the lead role, you might want to check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FUd4Fhzifk&feature=related

B said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BauerLuver said...

Spencer- My theories never seem to be correct. Well a few, but definately not all. The writers CANNOT make Nina the mole, she's already been cleared and she's squeaky clean, and remember they can't kill Teri cause shes preggers. I don't think Nina will live to the end of the day, though. Like you said, too likeable.

Brittany- (outa retroverse) It was S5. That was the promo with the sunrise and the nerve gas and my favorite couple in the history of the universe going up in a wall of fire. We'll get there in due time!
Personally however, I thought his hair was a tad bit short in S5. I prefer S1 hair.

Alex Getts — Art & Illustration said...

Spencer - Believe it or not, I rarely -- if ever -- use the term "cougar." I find it derogatory. My statement above wasn't so much about Courtney Cox because of her age, it was a reference to her show, Cougar Town. I was just joking. :)

Spencer said...

I know, man. It's cool. :)

Anonymous said...

Off-topic...
I rarely ever watch this show, but on Criminal Minds tonight, right around the midpoint of the episode, I'm pretty sure I heard an EXACT replica of one of Sean Callery's scores. He used it numerous times throughout the series, for example: the first scene after the first commercial break in S7 Episode 5 when Jack, Tony, Emerson, and his crew are in Matobo's residence.
I was pretty surprised because it sounds exactly the same. IDK if anyone else watches that show and noticed it too?

BauerLuver said...

@Anonymous- No I don't watch that show, but it's got points from me for having any similarity with 24! But if you don't watch the show, why are you on a 24 website? (Though I highly encourage you to watch an episode, you will be HOOKED.)

Hope the review's going well, Spencer!

Anonymous said...

I meant I rarely watch "Criminal Minds". Hahah I've seen every season of 24 at least 4 or 5 times...trust me, I'm obsessed! :-P

BauerLuver said...

Oooooh! Haha awesome! Join our cult brother (or sister)! If you go down to "comment" you can go to name/url and give yourself a name!

Spencer said...

@Anonymous- What's up?

@BL- One problem the past few days is that my friend borrowed season one, but I'm getting the disc that has the episode tommorrow. Still can't get give you a due date because I know better this time.

Spencer said...

Hey, who's watched Law and Order? I gotta say, I've been watching a few episodes and am getting pretty interested in the show.

BauerLuver said...

I just can't get into a new show right now. Everytime I try, I end up thinking "Man, I wish I was watching 24 right now," or "This would be so much more awesome with a ticking clock." It's weird.

Spencer said...

show, but I can kinda go from that to The Simpsons in a heartbeat, so you may not enjoy Law and Order so much.

It's a show with a lot of moral questioning and yes, suspence and violence. A little more realistic than 24, and I gotta say, a little more brutal.

Spencer said...

Sorry, mistake. "24 will always be..." and then the above comment.

Spencer said...

Again, sorry. Let me just re-write the comment.

24 will always be my favorite show, but I can kinda go from that to The Simpsons in a heartbeat, so you may not enjoy Law and Order so much.

It's a show with a lot of moral questioning and yes, suspence and violence. A little more realistic than 24, and I gotta say, a little more brutal.

BauerLuver said...

I think it's cool and awesome that you're exploring the finest of television, Spencer! For me tho, I have a problem weaning away from 24. 24 just has everything I want (even a little comedy). Like these retro-reviews. I can rewatch these seasons I've seen several times, and still am captivated by the action, the drama, and the twists. I just love it, and for me, it doesn't get old.

Spencer said...

It doesn't get old for me either.(Except for the two seasons that happen to not have Tony in them.) Just make sure it doesn't affect your social life.

BauerLuver said...

Haha we're getting there (social-wise)! The only season I have a beef against us eight (and I just realized like right this second... Where the HELL was Aaron?)

Spencer said...

I think both Aaron and Tony would deserve a better season. Chloe, Ethan, and Renee were the only returning characters that I didn't think ever got screwed up or were miswritten is S8, and I can't help but have doubts that an Aaron appearance would do much good.

BauerLuver said...

I KNOW! HOW can they take Aaron away! That's like sacriledge! I mean, no AARON! It's wrong! And they didn't even mention what happened to Tony, let alone give him a mere cameo; they could have at least made Chloe say (when she was talking to Jack about to shoot Subarov) "Jack, don't do this. You'll end up like Tony." I mean, not even a little mentioning...

SICK. Sick, sick, sick sick. I'm in a ranting mood.

BauerLuver said...

And I thought even Jack was miswritten. I know some people liked the whole Jack-Renee romance, but lemme tell you, I was not a fan. I know that Jack has been a bit- shall we say- "cavalier" with his personal life in the past (cough cough Nina), but to sleep with someone you are not married to, let alone have only known for 36 hours, is out of character and wrong. Jack had higher standards then that. If he and Renee had just kissed, I would have been a little stunned, but OK.

Alex Getts — Art & Illustration said...

BauerLuver - One word: CHUCK. Watch it. It is amazing.

BauerLuver said...

Alex- maybe, I really do need a new show...

And Spencer, if you wanted, I could review this next episode, and you could review the episode after that (once you get your disc back). What do you think of that idea??

Spencer said...

BL, I got the disc back today and was going to make the review tonight, but if you'd actually prefer to review this episode for whatever reasons, it's fine with me because I've been rewatching it and am struggling with writing a review.

However, if it doesn't matter either way, I'm going to go ahead and try my best, and pass it on to you if I can't write more than a paragraph.

BauerLuver said...

Ok, why don't I do this review tonight and you do the next one? I have nothing to do this evening anyway! Does that work?

BauerLuver said...

If you've already started writing and are on a roll, however, feel free to finish it up.

Spencer said...

Nah, go ahead. Haven't written one word.(Though I doubt that'll suprise anyone.)

BauerLuver said...

K, I'm on it!

B said...

You guys' enthusiasm makes me smile. :)

BauerLuver said...

Thanks Brit (is it ok if I call you that? Tell me if it's not)! Your encouragement makes ME smile. Now back to my review! :D

BauerLuver said...

I sent the review in!

Spencer said...

Awesome, man!

BauerLuver said...

Hey guys... Is anybody else having issues getting onto almeidaisgod.com?

Hope it's going great, Adam!

Spencer said...

@BL- Yeah, for one thing I'm kinda banned from the site. (Long story. My advice to you is don't talk about women too much.)

And Adam's busy. He's staying up until 3:00 in the morning because he's supposed to make a fake theatre poster for a fake play that was due on Friday to impress his theatre teacher who's 7 years older and him and married, but at the same time is his last hope of being with someone and living a happy life, while also making his mom late to work because he doesn't have a driver's licence because he's scarred of driving, and also fears that his dad will get killed by someone in his class of unstable teenagers today.

Either that or he's very lucky.

BauerLuver said...

Haha that's quite an explaination, Spencer... And I wouldn't mind hearing the story if your bannment sometime!

Adam, I love you with the fire of a thousand suns...

BauerLuver said...

"JACK SACK (all on the flooooh)"
"JACK SACK (gimme sum mooore)"
JACK SACK (oooooooOoooh)"

Don't listen to the original version of that song unless you want to go to explicit central, but those words just popped into my head right now and I had to post it :)

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