A teary Scott Davis reviews the finale to 24: Live Another Day…
After eleven weeks of nail-biting tension, dramatics, explosions, political stand-offs and terrorist threats, 24: Live Another Days has finally reached it’s explosive finale. Zooming across London Town across a 12-hour day (well, actually 24-hours), LAD has if nothing else reenergized and refreshed the show with a newfound gusto and delight. There is nothing better on television that seeing Kiefer Sutherland engage in full-on Jack Bauer: shooting, blasting and fighting through anyone who dares get in his way.
It has been quite the journey for the guys and girls involved with the story of LAD. Faced with unspeakable odds against drone attacks, devices that can aide terrorism, treason, and inter-government politics, it’s been classic 24, and it is with great sadness that this may well be the definitive final chapter in the life of Jack Bauer. Or, maybe not…
As “judgement” hour begins, it is still Cheng Zhi (Tzi Ma) who holds the cards: on his way to the South Coast to get out of the country via ship, Cheng is as elusive and cunning as ever. He may well have lost Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub), but he still holds Audrey Boudreau (Kim Raver) “hostage” in a local park, with a sniper aimed directly at her, and will kill her the moment she tries to escape.
In pursuit, as always, are Jack and Kate Morgan (Yvonne Strahovski) who are no closer to finding Cheng, particularly after Stolnovich’s (Stanley Townsend) death. Soon enough, Cheng calls Jack and tells him what he plans to do with both Audrey and the device. Stunned, he and Kate devise a plan, and Jack begins his two-hour (well, 15 minutes!) drive to Southampton docks.
With Chinese fleets and air forces closing in on American Naval Bases, President Heller (William Devane) is still tying desperately to stop the Chinese Prime Minister responding to the deadly strikes on their aircraft carrier hours ago, unconvinced on Cheng’s involvement and current health status. With just minutes to go before they attack, Heller is pressured more and more by his military aides that the US must move to stop any repeat of what has happened through the day. But Heller’s misery is about to be compounded.
Kate and her CIA team skillfully manage to rescue Audrey from the sniper and lead her to safety. All seems safe, until a second shooter blasts through them, taking out more CIA agents. Kate manages to stay clear, but Audrey is hit. Revealing a wound literally straight into her heart, she collapses on a park bench. Cue silent clock.
Now in Southampton, Jack and Belcheck (Branko Tomovic) find Cheng’s ship. With Chloe recovered safely and running surveillance, it becomes easy pickings for them. Until Jack’s phone rings, and Kate tells him of Audrey’s death. Crippled with sadness, Jack goes dead. Not only has he lost someone else close to him, he has lost Audrey, his long lost love. Cue “mega-pissed” Jack “power-up”, his face changed, his anger building. No-one stands a chance, not least Cheng as the two come face to face. War averted, Cheng duly discarded with a samurai sword.
Victory assured, or so we thought. Jack’s phone rings, with the caller’s identity silent. But Jack, and we as an audience, knows what’s coming.
Cue a 12-hour time jump to almost 11am, with Audrey’s body is heading to Air Force One with the President. Jack, meanwhile, is faced with the Russians, and his long-standing destiny. Using Chloe as collateral, the Russians finally have their man. A brief but touching goodbye with Chloe brings the season to a close, as Jack departs on a helicopter with his captors. Alive.
As the season comes to a close, we can now reflect on what has been a hugely worthwhile and exciting new chapter for the show. The twelve-episode structure help keep it fresh and thrilling, while setting it in London gave it a unique look that was sorely lacking during the show’s “normal” series. And while the storyline may well have been similar to those already told, it managed to keep us absorbed and enthralled all over again.
One negative that has been mentioned was the “slimming” down of Sutherland’s role here. With the structure as it is, Jack’s involvement was limited somewhat due to the time frame and supporting characters, but in truth it’s what the show needed. As great as Sutherland is, the show couldn’t be as reliant-heavy on him as they used to be, and have integrated the likes of Strahovski, Devane, Raver and Benjamin Bratt well throughout the series. In fact, it could well be the sign that the show is evolving away from Bauer, into new territory with new characters, and of course a new lead.
What the future holds for 24 remains to be seen, but it would be a shame if the show didn’t continue in some form. With Jack still alive at the end, the door is open for Sutherland to return, and we all hope that he will in some way. For now, Live Another Day has only added more undeniable proof that when it comes to high-octane, bombastic, exhilarating and quite frankly preposterous TV, the others ain’t got Jack on Jack.
Scott Davis
Originally published July 17, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
