“24” was a revolutionary television series that, if you have never watched it, I implore you to stop reading this, cut off all ties with the outside world, and immediately go and binge.
The series focuses on Jack Bauer; a government agent played to perfection by Kiefer Sutherland. Bauer is the type of guy who always gets the bad guy – no matter how much red tape he hacks apart in the process. The hack of the show is that its set-in real time. Each episode represents one hour, with each season marking one day in the life and adventures of Jack. The format is unique in and of itself, and, to my knowledge, hasn’t been attempted since.
“24” made its debut in 2001 – postponed because of the 9/11 attacks (you’ll understand why at the end of episode 1). It was the golden age of television, with broadcast networks battling cable channels for supremacy. And it hit before words like streaming existed. Impossible to think I used to have to slug through commercials and be left on a cliffhanger for seven days after each episode.
I didn’t watch Day 1 when it originally aired. Instead, I caught a rerun midway through Day 2 and was instantly hooked. I wager that, if you randomly drew any episode to watch, no matter what it is, you would become an instant fan. The show has more twists and turns than “Game of Thrones.”
Sinister and Memorable Villains
Day 1 starts at midnight on the day of the California Presidential primary. Jack Bauer is tasked with thwarting an assassination attempt on David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) a senator who is running for president. If that weren’t enough, Jack and his wife Teri (Leslie Hope) are attempting to reconcile their marriage while rebellious teen daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) has snuck out of the house to meet up with some unknown friends.
“24” boasts great characters in every season. Each one is complex, in both good and bad ways. Here, we are introduced to Jack Bauer, and the breakout performance of Kiefer Sutherland. Other standouts include Jack’s co-workers Tony (Carlos Bernard) and Nina (Sarah Clarke). Each day also features truly sinister and memorable villains, with Michael Masse taking the prize on this day.
Day 1 has its flaws. The first half is noticeably sharper than the second. This is attributed to the series itself being expanded after its massive initial success. Some early moments and characters are wasted. Things are a bit implausible at times. The show goes through its own evolution. It begins with a heavy focus on the technology of the era, which is laughable watching now. The bones are there. And the writers do a good job of keeping things fresh. The series only gets better from here.
This was one of the most influential water cooler shows of my life. I had to watch it on Tuesday night, lest it be spoiled at work Wednesday morning. I love the split camera shots, and the constant ticking clock. Multiple storylines exist simultaneously. The kill count is comically high.
Day 1 is the beginning. Its not perfect, but it is required for setting up the stories going forward.
