 |
| The stars of Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran's 24 season 1 |
Counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer does whatever is necessary to prevent the assassination of presidential candidate David Palmer, the first black candidate in American history, in the hectic 24 hours in which his teenage girl is also kidnapped, his wife suffers amnesia etc. etc. etc.
24 is the great modern action suspense series. Its innovative real-time format heightens the show, and the multi-layered stories are often hugely captivating
Kiefer Sutherland's (Melancholia (2011)) great comeback role as Jack Bauer is a great modern hero, navigating between complex situations and threats with cut-throat determination and at the constant risk of making mistakes. Ultimately a warm present for the new, radical anti-terror legislation of presidents Bush and later Obama, 24 is a show where terrorists are often tortured or shot in the field with total justification. It is not a show with much after-thought or reflection in that regard, although the first seasons are more insightful and realistic than late ones. As such it is a perfect product for Fox.
Creators Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran (24 (2008), both) are veterans in TV; they did the Michael Chiklis-starring police comedy series The Commish together from 1991-95.
The role of Kim Bauer (Elisha Cuthbert (House of Wax (2005))) is an annoying know-it-all teen from episode 3 onward, a major problem for the season. Furthermore the dramatic situations that she gets into along the way become increasingly unbelievable. She is probably there for promotional and demographic reasons, but should clearly have been killed off in my opinion.
The show was not a sure hit: Fox initially commissioned just the first 13 episodes, treading into the expensive venture lightly. The plot line is a bit influenced by that unideal touch-and-go-policy.
Dennis Haysbert (Dear White People (2014)) and Penny Johnson Jerald (NCIS (2009-10)) as the future presidential couple are brilliant in the melodramatic political/family struggles in the second half of the season. In good supporting parts are Zach Grenier (Curb Your Enthusiasm (2001), TV-series) as a spin doctor swine, and Xander Berkeley (Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)) as an office-running minor psychopath.
24 is a great show and Haysbert and Sutherland are much of the reason for it, along with the show's exciting editing scheme, - as when video windows grow and diminish in multi-image layouts, - and great sound and composing work, by Sean Callery (Homeland (2011-15)). The first season is an extraordinary production and the start of the longest running espionage show in television history. - Great TV!
Best episodes:
8: 7 - 8 AM - written by Surnow, Cochran, Michael Loceff (La Femme Nikita (2000-01)); directed by Stephen Hopkins (The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004))
SPOILER Jack diverts the first assassination plot.
20 : 7 - 8 PM - written by Surnow, Cochran, Howard Gordon (Homeland (2011-15)); directed by Hopkins
SPOILER Jack is captured and taken to a secret prison, and the main villain, Victor Drazen, is revealed to be played by Dennis Hopper (Speed (1994))! - Quite a surprise treat!
Related posts:
24 - season 2 (2002-03) - The Bomb
24 - season 3 (2003-04) - Viral suspense peak of great show
 |
| Sarah Clarke (Twilight (2008)) as Nina Myers in Robert Cochran and Joel Surnow's 24 season 1 |
Kiefer Sutherland gives an interview about the first season here
Cost: Unknown
Box office: None - TV-series
= Uncertainty
[24 season 1 was originally shown 6 November 2001 - 21 May 2002 and runs 24 43-minute episodes, (approximately 1,032 minutes in total.) Cochran and Surnow got the idea for the show together in the IHoP in Woodland Hills, LA. The premiere was moved due to 9/11. After Sutherland won the Golden Globe for Best Actor - TV Drama, Fox decided to order the last 11 episodes. The season averaged 8.6 mil. viewers in the US. It was shown the world over; in the UK on BBC, where it was their biggest hit show ever. The DVD release was also #1 in the UK, and 24's strong DVD sales are thought to have been a big part of why the ratings for the later seasons increased. The season was nominated for 10 Emmys, winning 2: Best Writing for a TV-series and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Series. The show has ended its run now after 9 seasons and a TV-movie. It was remade in India in 2013. 24 season 1 is fresh at 100 % with an 8.85/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
What is your favorite 24 season?
What do you think of the first season?
No comments:
Post a Comment