Breaking Down Bauer: Tackling the New Season of 24
Written by: Rob Van Winkle, CC2K Staff Writer
2-7-07
Well, another week, another set of completely predictable surprise twists.
In this most recent installment, the plot revolves around a stolen encrypted file taken from the computers of Jack's evil brother. CTU has discovered that…okay, this is going to take some breaking down:
1. Fayed's technician, the one who armed the nuclear device that recently exploded, died in the blast, and Fayed is looking for a new one on short notice.
2. Fayed FOUND that first technician, and is FINDING the new one, through a handler named Darren McCarthy.
3. Darren McCarthy (according to Jack's brother) stole these bombs, and the relevant equipment and information, from the company run by Jack's brother Graem and father Phillip.
With that out of the way, today's twist deals with that new technician. Fayed and McCarthy have a conversation (that CTU somehow captures and hears) that reveal that McCarthy has found a new man for the job, but that he will have to be "coerced" into doing the work. Their conversation does not yield the identity of this person, but (remember that encrypted file?) CTU can discern his identity if they are able to crack Graem's encryption. CTU analyst (and Chloe's ex-husband) Morris begins working on the problem. About half-way through the episode, Morris learns that his brother was harmed in the explosion. He desperately wants to leave to find him, but is convinced to stick around and work on the file. Toward the end of the episode, Morris finds the solution, and the picture of McCarthy's technician slowly begins to load onto his screen, as Morris grabs his coat and leaves. Now…who do you suppose pops up on Morris' screen?
The second twist deals with Jack's father. Two "hours" ago, Jack learned that his father's name came up as a contact to the man who supplied Fayed with the nukes. When Jack investigated, he found his father did know the man, but right as this matter was getting sorted out, Graem turned on them both. Graem attempts to assassinate both Jack and Phillip, but they both escape (of course). Phillip apologizes to Jack for all that has happened, and swears that he wished better for their entire family than the monstrosity that Graem became. All seems clear…and yet, when Phillip confronts Graem at the end of the episode…we discover that:
MAJOR SPOILER ALERT THAT YOU WILL NEVER SEE COMING!!!
PHILLIP BAUER IS JUST AS EVIL AS GRAEM!!! While Jack thought he had successfully extracted the necessary information from Graem, Graem was actually controlling the situation, telling Jack just enough to get him off the trail of their father. Phillip thanks his son, but is now afraid that the more advanced torture techniques at CTU will break him. And so, as the credits roll, Phillip offs his own son. What EVIL!
In both these cases, 24 is actually a victim of its own success. As the ratings grow, so too does its popular awareness. The more people know about the show, the more they also know about its many plot devices employed over the years. We have seen more moles in CTU than on a golf course. We have seen more double crosses than an Exxon convention. And we have seen more than enough to know when we are being set up to trust a character who will turn out to be evil. Seriously, was ANYONE surprised at this? And as for the Morris situation, well let's review. We are looking for someone with the technical brilliance to do something advanced. Morris, a man WITH technical brilliance, LEAVES CTU just as we are about to learn the identity of this secret man. Man, I've seen less obvious plot twists on Blue's Clues!
At any rate, this week's episode ended, and viewers are left to prepare for the two-hour EVENT next Monday. Who can even imagine what they have in store for us THEN?