24 Season Finale Recap: Day 6, 4:00am – 6:00am
May 22, 2007 by Kath Skerry
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Title: “Day 6, 4:00am – 5:00am & 5:00am – 6:00am
Original Airdate: 5/21/07
GMMR Recapper: LaLa
Well, there you have it Ladies and Gentlemen, the season finale of 24. Many significant things happened in this episode – some awesome, some not so much. I’ll start with the awesome: Ok, so I think my favorite part of the episode was probably Josh grabbing that wrench, slamming his evil grandfather on the head with said wrench, then grabbing a gun and SHOOTING Daddy Bauer in the gut!! Whoa!! Talk about spunk! Hands down, Josh is the most awesome young person 24 has ever had on the show – which again, reeeeaaaally makes me wonder if he is, in fact, Jack’s son. I mean, there’s no way that a kid that awesome could be the spawn of Hysterical Marilyn and Evil Graem Bauer. Yeah, he’s just gotta be Jack’s son, because he totally takes after Jack. Here’s hoping we see Josh again sometime in the future – without his hysterical mother, of course.
The other most awesome thing that happened this episode – ah heck, it’s tied with Josh’s bravery for me – was the most triumphant return of my man Bill Buchanon, who somehow managed to hugely help Jack save the day AND not get killed or injured!! With lines to Jack like, “You don’t have to thank me” and “I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t help you”, Bill proved once again that he RULES. You go, Bill – I salute you, sir. And I also salute his wife Karen, because even though she fired awesome Bill, she managed to redeem herself by illegally helping him rescue Jack from – yep, you guessed it – CTU custody. So I say, you go Karen – way to do the right thing.
And also, you go Tom Lennox!! Thanks to the former weasel-in-chief, all charges were dropped against Bill and Karen, and they were allowed to resign with dignity. Wow. Talk about a 180 degree turn-around from the beginning of the day, where he blackmailed Karen into resigning because she disagreed with his c-raaazy policies. Now he actually saved her reputation! Wow. Awesome, dude – I guess it is indeed possible for weaselly people like you to grow a heart and a brain. I actually wouldn’t mind now if we saw you again sometime.
People I would not like to see again, though, are as follows: 1) Nadia. Sorry girlfriend, but you just screwed up far too many times in your role as Head of CTU. I mean, it was because Nadia refused to budge on the whole handing Josh over to Daddy Bauer issue, even though everyone was telling her that it was a set-up, that Doyle had the fake component blow up in his face and thus blind him. I mean, OUCH. That was a reeeeaaaally dumb mistake. Yes, I know you were getting pressure from the jerks at District (who wer mysteriously absent all of a sudden…), but seriously, even Doyle was telling you that this mission was going to fail. I don’t care if the White House ordered it: you listen to Jack and Doyle, who already proved you wrong only hours ago, and you let Jack do what he wants. Yeah. Buh-bye Nadia.
The second person I would not like to see again? Demon Daniels. Sorry dude, I know you had “second thoughts” and everything about how hard being the President actually is, and realized that Wayne Palmer was actually doing a good after all… but still, you bore me. And creep me out. Sorry, but you gotta go. Though frankly, the whole Washington subplot on this show really needs to go. If the 24 producers actually keep their word this time and drastically change the show format for real, then here’s what should happen:
1) No more Presidential subplots. The White House is boring and stale, and nobody cares anymore now that David Palmer and Logan are dead.
2) No more CTU. Sorry, but for me, the CTU subplots have become the most stale of all. I’m really sick of Jack having to constantly “go rogue” because some stupid people at CTU (this season it was Nadia) won’t allow him to do what he needs to do in order to save the day. We, the audience, have seen this a million times and we’re sick of it. So, Boom, get rid of CTU.
3) No more Los Angeles. Seriously, I think LA has suffered enough. Plus, we’ve explored almost every part of it at this point. Let’s give Jack an entirely new location, in an entirely new state or – gasp! – country, because then that would really make things interesting. Jack knows LA like the back of his hand… let’s see how he does in a location that he doesn’t know at all.
4) No more Chloe – or at least, not as a series regular. As much as it hurts me to say this, I really think the writers have run out of things to do with her and have just plain lost interest in her. She was barely in this season, and when she was, she was getting put through the emotional ringer by Morris. Having Chloe discover that she’s pregnant was a great way to get her off the show with dignity and also give her something interesting to do again. And sure, I look forward to seeing how Chloe handles motherhood – especially now that she and Morris are back together – but I’d rather see her get prominently featured in a few episodes as a guest star then be shunted to the background as a series regular yet again. So yeah, make Chloe a special guest star.
5) No more love interests for Jack. They only wind up in peril or as a serious albatross around Jack’s neck that slows him down. It’s been done, we’ve seen it. Jack’s wife Terri is dead as a result. Audrey is now mentally unstable. Sooo, unless you can invent a bad-ass woman who kicks butt as much as Jack does, just leave the love interests out. Let some minor characters supply the romantic tension – it just works better that way.
Speaking of Audrey and Jack, that was sad when he was talking to her in her bedroom, telling her how much he loves her, how he’ll always love her, but unfortunately can’t protect her… and she remained asleep the entire time. At least he got to yell at her father, and rightfully shame him for a) not even trying to find/rescue Jack from China, and b) insult Jack and call him a curse, after everything that Jack has done him and for this country. “How dare you!” screamed Jack in outrage. Now that’s what I’m talking about.
It was really good to see Jack back in top form again. He not only managed to figure out where his evil father was hiding (and oil rig, of course), but he also managed to rescue Josh AND take evil Cheng into custody. And yes, I know that Cheng was threatening CTU, saying that his people will not forget him as easily as the U.S. forgot Jack… and yes, I know that Tom Lennox was right in saying that Daniels needs to deal with China’s war like actions… but please, I’m asking you 24 Producers: change the format. Jack is “at a crossroads.” So is this show. Shake. Things. Up. If there’s going to be a war with China, then please either put us in the middle of it, or let that whole mess be over by the time the next season starts. Seriously. Change is far more thrilling than tried and true formulas. That’s just my two cents…
So what did you all think of the finale? I want to know what you think! Were you happy, satisfied, disappointed, blown away, bored…? Plan on watching it next season? Think they should change the format, or keep it similar to before? Sound off below!
LaLa out!
LaLa is a writer who currently resides in LaLa Land, aka Los Angeles. LaLa also likes to sing. LaLa also knows some lawyers in a law office. LaLa is also prone to making bad jokes, like this one. And of course, LaLa also loves her some quality television shows with quality actors on them, like House… and The Office… and Lost… and, well, pretty much any smartly written show that doesn’t include a fat guy with a hot skinny wife or the words “two and a half men” in the title.
I have really enjoyed your recaps. As a first time 24 viewer, you definitely helped me understand some of the things that were going on. You rock.
I liked the episode ok but I wasn’t blown away. And to be honest, I probably would have stopped six or seven episodes back but I just couldn’t since I had made it so far into the day. I might give it a try next year and see how it all shakes up.
I really thought Jack was going to say he’s my son when he said “i’m not helping him because he’s my nephew, I’m helping him because …” but then he said innocent kid and blew that away. The boy turned out to be pretty awesome though. And when Doyle told him to try to pacify him and the boy was like I hate you and I never want to see you. I laughed.
The only other thing is the VP told the guy who suggested doing the air strike, “Good job, Ethan.” I thought well that’s Ethan and Noah and that’s my little boys names. And I thought it just figures that they would both be bad guys. 😉
Thanks for hanging in there all season with the recaps, LaLa! I was pretty underwhelmed by the finale and the season in general. I’m like Becky (other Becky) above that I should have bailed many weeks ago but was invested enough I figured I would see how it ended. But your recaps helped fill in the blanks when I got up and walked away from the TV periodically and missed some things here and there, so thanks.
It was really disappointing to hear (although it makes sense) that the writers didn’t map out the stories in the last two seasons. Last year, it seemed to be written by monkeys on caffeine, but this year I think they switched to decaf halfway through the season so they lost their edge and forgot to wrap up a bunch of storylines! I doubt I’ll watch again next season unless they really change things up, like you suggested. Let’s hope the writers read your review!
LaLa!! Last great recap of the 24 season, Thanks!
Hmmm… I was a little underwhelmed by this finale…or maybe it was the season. I wholeheartedly agree, they need to shake things up, like a LOT next season. I literally think they’ve run out of ideas for that CTU/White House crisis format. It could be interesting to see some new characters and Jack out on his own trying to solve a different kind of problem.
Josh was great. And granddaddy was the perfect evil villain. I’m sorta hoping he rolled of that platform and onto his motorboat and that we may see him again. That plot on the oil rig was the best part of the episode for sure. Maybe we’ll see more of him next year.
The scene with Audrey was touching and sad but I thought a little lame as an ending. Usually there’s some sort of cliffhanger type set-up for next season, but not here. Maybe that’s an indication that they do have different plans for next season.
Overall an enjoyable episode but it didn’t exactly blow me away, no pun intended 😉
Great recap LaLa. Thanks for getting us through this entire season. I loved all your recaps.
I really didn’t enjoy this season as much as the previous 5. I was very surprised that there was no cliffhanger ending (that seems to be popular this year).
I’m really hoping that they do change the format next year and come up with something entirely original, otherwise I may give up on 24 all together.
This may have made a very good SERIES finale, but it would have been a bit dissapointing.
Oh, and if TPTB are reading this, can we have Milo’s brother take over his job next season. He was some hot stuff.
Another great recap, LaLa (like usual). I agree w/ most of what you said…again, like usual.
Now, about Josh: I’m so glad he knocked Daddy Bauer out and shot him. The whole time he was w/ him (before he kicked ass), i kept thinking, Do something, kid! Fling yourself off of that boat! Run away from Daddy Bauer! Do something! And then i had to eat my words, yet again, b/c he actually SHOT him. So surprised. I was hoping Jack would get that pleasure, but i digress. Josh does act like Jack when it comes to awesomeness, but, if Josh were really Jack’s son, wouldn’t they have resolved it in the finale? Had Marilyn say something about it? I don’t know. If Josh is Jack’s son, i guess we’ll see about that storyline next season…
I agree about the White House being boring. Can’t stand it. Although i enjoyed watching Tom, it was still completely boring. Why was it boring? B/c it WASN’T Logan and Martha. Now those two really know how to make it fun =D R.I.P. Logan =(
Although i understand that L.A. is boring for you, i understand why the writers are keeping it there. It’s a big city (thus an obvious choice for terrorists to attack it, set off bombs, etc.), it makes sense that CTU is stationed there–and Jack needs CTU close by, and, b/c Jack does know where everything is, it makes sense for him to get to places in 20 mins. I mean, how much fun would it be to be watching 24 take place in some other city where we spend 20 mins watching Jack try to figure out whether he took a wrong turn or not. It would be funny, but it just adds to the intensity that Jack is hot on the terrorists’ trail and not lost in the city. I don’t know. It would be interesting if it was set up somewhere else (and i would have nothing against it), but if they keep it in L.A., then it won’t bother me. When i watch the show, i don’t really think about the fact that they’re still in the same city =/
Oh, and Doyle being blinded: that pissed me off SO BAD! I was like, HELL NO! I have grown to love Doyle and i was just so angry that he was wronged like that. He better not be completely blind, that’s all i’ve got to say. And he better be in the next season. Another thing that pissed me off? Bill Buchanon. Don’t get me wrong, i freakin love Bill. He’s one of my favorite characters on the show! And i like the way he went out but i’m just angry that he has to resign and is no longer the head of CTU. That’s what pissed me off. He better not be gone from the show. He better not…
Finally, Milo’s brother storyline: WTF? So random and so stupid.
Anyway, even though i was drugged from a wisdom tooth operation (yay, Valium =P), i still enjoyed the finale. The ending was kind of sad, just seeing Jack look out into the sunrise and the calm before the show ticked off that final 24th hr. I love my action packed Jack…and emo Jack just really pulls at my heartstrings. I Love you, Jack! Wahhh!
I’ll miss your recaps as much as i’ll miss the show this summer! You are awesome! See you in January!
Great job, LaLa. You helped make it more interesting and fun this year (also funny). I agree with just about all of your suggestions and the comments above. It wasn’t the best season as the plot, location, etc. has been done too many times. I thought it was a really good final episode, and I liked the ending, especially Jack’s verbal smack-down of the ingrate Heller. As for the future, awesome Bill Buchanon probably had it right. Jack will disappear for a while and then resurface when we need him. I’m optimistic that the 24 creative team will come up with something that will bring the show back to the standards of Seasons 1, 3, 4 and 5.
Great recaps LaLa! Please say you’ll be willing to write them again next season. I enjoyed hearing your perspective.
This was my least favorite of all the seasons and you summed my feeling up nicely. It’s just getting a little stale and a little too predictable for me. I’m not sure what they should do different-can’t really imagine 24 without CTU-but they do need to shake some things up.
Characters to get rid of:
(1)Marilyn
(2)Karen Hayes
(3)VP Daniels (creeps me out too)
(4)Palmer (sorry but I miss the original)
Characters I’d like to see more of:
(1)Josh
(2)a new character like Nina (took me forever to figure out she was evil)
(3)Doyle
Thanks for all your hard work LaLa!
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LaLa – this is a really tough and worth reading recap!
From my point of view I´d like to see back Chase in the next show. And yes – a new location. Finally it would be very interesting if Jacks gonna fail a little bit more. What if Day 7 ends as a cliffhanger not Jack in custody by china or somethin like that? Possibly – after loosing everything – Jack decides to change sides. In the 80ties this worked well at Miami Vice. Just a thougt.
Best Wishes, we´ll read again at Day 7 … tic tic tic tictictictic