Comments on The Jack Sack™: 24 Season 8: 9PM-10PM Quick Review

Brian, your new euphemism is not funny. I'm su...

2010-02-02T19:04:43.957-05:00

Brian, your new euphemism is not funny. I'm sure you're a swell guy & all, and I'm sorry to slam you before I even know you, but it's not. I'm just sayin.

Now for the "retcon" issue (I just learned a new word :) ). Beware my upcoming rant, and please ignore it if you think I'm ridiculous. But.

I could see how some of Renee's new dark character patterns could develop based solely on the events and after-effects of last season. (Sometimes people don't even need a catalyst to fall that far.) To be honest, before the whole Russian backstory came to light, I thought it was perfectly understandable for her to take a nosedive for the following reasons: a) the massive shock to her sense of morality in day 7; b) the "no going back" actions she took forcing her to reexamine herself in a crap-ton of ways; c) the realization that the world's a cracked place when you can sacrifice everything for a greater good and then be punished for it all for the sake of "politics."

So, say that's you. You just realized the world sucks even more than you already thought it did, and you're not sure you can stand the part of yourself you've discovered. I don't know about you, but I'd be pretty uncertain (& bitter) about a lot of things at that point.

So in my mind, that justifies the whole "dark" issue. Of course, it doesn't explain a thing about the out-of-left-field Russian backstory....

Annie, if you showed this season of "24"...

2010-02-02T14:26:42.136-05:00

Annie, if you showed this season of "24" to a new viewer (someone who never heard of Jack Bauer before) I bet they would see Renee Walker is the main character. Scary, right?

I think next week has potential based on the previews. Jack has taken on an active role in things finally, no more coaches' booth stuff with the earpiece, etc.

In every season of 24 there comes a time I am read...

2010-02-02T12:39:10.567-05:00

In every season of 24 there comes a time I am ready to leave the series. The time hit last night. Hopefully that means next week will have us whooping it up for the excitement and drama because it seems I always get a big turn around when I'm ready to go. It has got to be there somewhere, right? Tell me it's going to be there -- please.

Maybe that dope money belongs to the Russkies? *cr...

2010-02-01T23:28:43.550-05:00

Maybe that dope money belongs to the Russkies? *crosses fingers, hopes for sweet sweet carnage*

Pelty, I will say this about the rednecks- they ar...

2010-02-01T23:24:18.581-05:00

Pelty, I will say this about the rednecks- they are as close to a Coen Bros. movie as "24" will get- bumbling crooks who cause such ruination that it boggles the mind. I don't want to get my hopes up, but if the writers have any game, they'll put those two idiots in the crosshairs of the Russian mafia somehow. That would make me really happy.

Ironic or not, I enjoyed it. But I'm shallow. ...

2010-02-01T23:21:27.473-05:00

Ironic or not, I enjoyed it. But I'm shallow.

Speaking of being shallow, "going dark" is now my new euphemism for doin' it.

Alright, where was I? Oh yeah, that's right: Everything that isn't Jack & the main storyline is killing my soul. Arlo's one set of balls away from being a serial rapist, I want the Dana subplot to get pulled into a gravity well and not come back, and President Pumpkinhead just makes my brain ache. Renee's new retconned darkness is insulting, but at least it serves the overall story. Everything else just screams "Filler; nothing to see here. Move along, folks." And move along I do. (Oh DVR, I'd kiss you if you weren't so damn ugly.)

I skip the previews because even during lackluster seasons I don't want to be spoiled, but I hope the glimmer of ninja-sweetness we got at the end of the episode carries over and we get this thing kicked into gear. But that optimism is tempered with the dull resignation that Arlo's stalking of Dana will result in the Duke boys' heist being botched, and OH MY GOD WE HAVE TO SPEND TWO HOURS (AT LEAST) DEALING WITH IT!

*punches baby*

Ah, that's better.

Yeah, I agree. It just came off as ironic.

2010-02-01T23:10:53.208-05:00

Yeah, I agree. It just came off as ironic.

I think the Chloe ass shot was supposed to be Arlo...

2010-02-01T23:08:27.059-05:00

I think the Chloe ass shot was supposed to be Arlo's eyes following her.