{alltv} '24' was a tad off target in series finale

Monday, May 24, 2010

{alltv} '24' was a tad off target in series finale

"Damn it, Chloe: Pull the trigger!"

Surely any 24 fan had to take some gleeful pleasure in that exchange between Jack and Chloe, perhaps the season's — or even the show's — looniest yet, as Jack screamed at Chloe for what seemed like hours to make her shoot him. (He had his reasons, but never mind what they were, since like so many of Jack's plans this year, they didn't pan out.) Eventually she complied, with one of those patented TV through-and-through shots that cause no more pain or disability than a bug bite, leaving Jack free to complete his mission.

Of course, the problem with the finale, as with the season, was that his mission was a bit skewed and undefined. Oh, the "get revenge for Renee's murder" part was clear enough, but the supposedly noble goal added for the finale — scuttle the peace process because the people behind it didn't have clean enough hands and pure enough intentions — did seem a bit odd. So odd that you could almost understand President Taylor throwing away the peace agreement and her presidency just because Jack's nobility made her feel guilty. Hey, why not?

But then with this finale, odd was the currency of choice. Think of poor Jason Pillar, who gets his ear bitten off by Jack — and his head blown off by Charles Logan, admirably played by Gregory Itzin, who is fun to watch even when his character is going completely off the rails.

Taken simply as two hours of TV, it was exciting in its own insane way. And the ending was, at least, suitably bittersweet, with Jack saying goodbye to Chloe and thanking her for her help before heading off to exile (and a movie). It just wasn't the ending, or the last season, a great series deserved.

Pull the trigger, indeed.

American

Monday, May 24, 2010

{alltv} '24' was a tad off target in series finale

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