24 - Series 6 - Complete (DVD)

I never really got into 24 when the first series was shown on BBC2 back in 2002. After having Harry, I spent lots of hours sitting at home alone with a sleeping newborn so I decided to borrow a few boxsets from my family. For some unknown reason, I started at season 2 and have caught up, although I have still not seen the first season lol!! As my other half doesn't like this show, I couldn't watch it on Sky One, but I borrowed the Season 6 boxset ...
...24: The Show ==
24 was a unique show which began back in 2002, and what makes it unique is that the show is shot in real time. Each season comprises 24 one hour episodes making up a full day overall. Each episode features a yellow digital clock which keeps the viewers updated as to the time, and even jumps appropriately for the advert breaks...very nifty. The show is primarily set in Los Angeles, at the Counter Terrorist Unit, part of the ... more

I never really got into 24 when the first series was shown on BBC2 back in 2002. After having Harry, I spent lots of hours sitting at home alone with a sleeping newborn so I decided to borrow a few boxsets from my family. For some unknown reason, I started at season 2 and have caught up, although I have still not seen the first season lol!! As my other half doesn't like this show, I couldn't watch it on Sky One, but I borrowed the Season 6 boxset from my mum. I prefer watching the DVDs anyway as I can watch them at my own pace and not worry about adverts and waiting a week to see what happens next!

24: The Show

24 was a unique show which began back in 2002, and what makes it unique is that the show is shot in real time. Each season comprises 24 one hour episodes making up a full day overall. Each episode features a yellow digital clock which keeps the viewers updated as to the time, and even jumps appropriately for the advert breaks...very nifty. The show is primarily set in Los Angeles, at the Counter Terrorist Unit, part of the US Goverment which fights terrorism on American soil. It centres around Jack Bauer, a federal agent who is part of CTU. Jack is the one of only 2 characters to have appeared in every season, and as such the show has a high cast turnover.

24: Season 6

Season 6 picks up 20 months after where Season 5 left off. Jack Bauer is still being held in a Chinese prison due to previous crimes, but he's about get out (obviously otherwise the 24 episodes set in a Chinese prison would be slightly dull). America has been under attack from terrorists for a while, and have been unable to uncover the bombers and their terrorist cells. A member of the cells, Abu Fayed, agrees to give the names of the bombers if Jack Bauer is handed over to him for execution. President Wayne Palmer reluctantly agrees, but things don't exactly go to plan.

Jack manages to find out Fayed is actually behind the bombings and manages to escape torture (amazing isn't he?). Jack's mission is to find the nuclear bombs before they are detonated in America and bring Abu Fayed and his terrorist nutcase cronies to justice for what they have done. The day follows Jacks course of action, as well as a plot twist halfway through, sending the story in a totally different and unexpected direction. Can Jack save his country in a mere 24 hours and bring the terrorists down? And can he save those most dear to him?

The Cast

Because of the ever changing nature of the story, and surprises within the season, I will only discuss characters which regularly appear and aren't spoilers for the story at all. Kind aren't I?! Picking up his role once more as have-a-go hero Jack Bauer is the magnificent Kiefer Sutherland who delivers another knockout performance. Sutherland really appears to give his all to this show, and you can't help but get all excited and hyped watching this man. His believability is superb, you could so easily imagine him doing this for real, and I cannot think of anyone else I would rather see in this role. For me, the day Sutherland leaves the show, 24 will die. He is the show, without a doubt.

Probably my favourite cast member (apart from Kiefer of course) is the wonderfully funny and talented Mary Lynn Rajskub who plays CTU techie Chloe O'Brian. Chloe is perpetually grumpy, always answering her superiors with a sarcastic reply, yet is completely loyal to Jack, often getting into trouble for helping him by going against her orders. Rajskub delivers another fab performance in this series, and has a much more prominent role which is great as she is so watchable. She has a brilliant on-screen relationship with actor Carlo Rota who plays her ex-husband Morris O'Brian, another CTU tech guy. Rota himself is English and seems a bit like the comic relief for the show, but proves his worth a few episodes in, in one of the most gripping and shocking twists!

Actor James Morrison reprises his as Bill Buchanan, head of CTU and a trusted and respected man by all. Morrison has an air of authority and almost regal-ness about him and delivers his line with such a cool calmness that you can't help be impressed with, and is definitely a credit to the cast. Jayne Atkinson plays his wife Karen Hayes, who is National Security Advisor...now thats a power couple! They aren't seen in any scenes together, but have telephone conversations and you can sense the relationship just from this, the actors are fantastic. Atkinson in particular has some gritty storylines in this season and pulls off the authorative role with perfection.

Now to a couple of the newcomers. The wonderful Peter MacNicol stars in this season as Tom Lennox, who is Chief of Staff to the President. MacNicol is such a talent that you knew his performance would be great, and he totally delivers throughout. He has this great ability of makithe viewer hate him one minute then think he's incredibly clever the next, and thats really why I loved watching his performance. He was great with Atkinson (Karen Hayes) and the pair, although almost completel opposites, wogether amazingly well on-screen.

Marisa Nichols plays newbie CTU agent Nadia Yassir, a practicing Muslim and tough cookie of the agency. Nichols was brilliant in this show, portraying the character of Nadia who is somewhat treated badly because of her heritage with compassion, passion and a real fire. She did seem a bit arrogant, but it worked in the show and I do hope her role will be reprised. Other good performances were DB Woodside who played President Wayne Palmer, who has appeared in previous seasons ut has a much more pro(obviously!) in this show, Regina King, the President's sister Sandra and I have to mention Adoni Maropis (Abu Fayed), Powers Boothe (Vice President Daniels) and James Cromwell (Jack's dad Phillip Bauer). It really is the cast which helps makes this such a success, and this season is definitely great.

Season 6: My Opinion

From what I have read about this season, a lot of people have commented that the format is getting quite old and that the makers have seemingly not done very much to change it. But in my opinion, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. A great storyline is unfolded for Season 6, and some shocks are definitely delivered throughut, keeping the viewers needing and wanting to watch for more. The deliberate twist in Bauer's perspectives makes for a refreshing change from the initial storyline and throws things into a different light. Although the pattern of events in the beginning is slightly predictable, it almost has to happen that way in order for the season to start to develop, otherwise it would take too long to get going.

CTU is seen a lot in this season, but I do enjoy the scenes set there as they are quite exciting and interesting to watch. The CTU headquarters plays a major roles in a couple of episodes, and I thought this was brilliantly done. As well as the in-studio CTU shots, Los Angeles itself is featured highly with some amazing stunts taking place on sea, land and air! This mix keeps 24 ahead of the rest, and really delivers on excitement. The cast do a terrific job in their roles, portraying the drama, panic and almost excitement of the show with a real passion, and you really do feel in the middle of it all because of this. Sutherland in particular is amazing, and plays a tormented Bauer brilliantly, with raw emotion and edgy performance. For me, it is the sheer pace and excitement of this show which makes me want to keep watching year after year. With a pulsating soundtrack, a talented and varied cast and exciting storylines (which I hope never, ever happen!), 24 continues to be one of the best ever American TV dramas with possibly the greatest TV hero ever in the form of Jack Bauer.

Season 7 is due to air in the UK in January 2009 on Sky One. There is a 2 hour TV movie to introduce the season to be shown in November 2008 entitled Retribution and sets the scene for its 7th season.

You can buy the Sixth Season a 6 disc boxset from Amazon for £31.48, or you can buy Seasons 1-6 in a boxset for £119.98. Ouch.

Main Cast:
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer
Mary Lynn Rajskub as Chloe O'Brian
DB Woodside as President Wayne Palmer
James Morrison as Bill Buchanan
Peter MacNicol as Tom Lennox
Jayne Atkinson as Karen Hayes
Carlo Rota as Morris O'Brian
Eric Balfour as Milo Pressman
Marisol Nichols as Nadia Yassir
Regina King as Sandra Palmer

Thanks for reading, and now I'm all excited for Season 7! 

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