Product Description
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The first six seasons of the popular real-time drama series
featuring Federal Agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). In 'Day
One', Jack, an agent for the CIA's Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU),
is trying to prevent the assassination of front-running Democrat
candidate, Senator David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), after the CTU
receives a death threat against him. However, a traitor amongst
Jack's colleagues manages to hamper his progress, and Jack finds
that he has been framed for the assassination himself. He flees
the CIA agents on his tail in a desperate attempt to find the
real perpetrators, led by Ira Gaines (Michael Massee). Injured,
and armed with nothing except his mobile phone and the help of
trusted colleague Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke), Jack's situation
becomes increasingly precarious. Meanwhile, his teenage daughter
Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) has gone missing after sneaking out of the
house with her friend Janet (Jacqui Maxwell), and Jack's ex-wife
Terri (Leslie Hope) unwittingly puts herself in grave danger when
she goes looking for her. 'Day Two' takes place a year after Jack
prevented Palmer's assassination. Having had time off to cope
with his wife's death, Jack is now called upon by the CTU to find
a terrorist nuclear bomb in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Kim, who has
been working as an au pair, is forced to go on the run from her
abusive employer after he attacks her and the little girl, Megan
(Skye McCole Bartusiak), that she is looking after. But when she
takes Megan to the hospital, Kim is arrested for abusing the
child. 'Day Three' takes place three years on from the events of
Day Two. Jack has successfully captured and imprisoned the head
of a Mexican drug cartel. But when a van deposits a dead body
outside the LA Unit infected with a deadly virus, the
Counter Terrorist Unit uncover a plot to blackmail the US
Government with the threat of a released bio-weapon that will
kill millions to ensure the release of the drug baron. Jack must
infiltrate the gang and rid the world of the virus threat.
Meanwhile, President Palmer is in LA seeking re-election to a
second term, with his new chief of staff and girlfriend in tow.
'Day 4' takes place 18 months after Day 3. CTU has a new leader,
Erin Driscoll (Alberta Watson), a steely government agent who
made firing Jack Bauer one of her first priorities on taking up
command. After an explosion on a commuter train, Jack, who is now
working for Secretary of Defence James Heller (William Devane),
and who is also romantically involved with Heller's married
daughter, Audrey Raines (Kim Raver), suddenly finds himself
heading back to CTU for a meeting with Driscoll. Jack believes
that the train explosion is a prelude to bigger things to come,
and when it seems that Islamic terrorists are launching an all
out assault on the USA, Jack leads CTU's response in a desperate
race against time. 'Day Five' takes place 18 months after Day 4.
Jack is living under a new alias, as Frank Flynn, and working on
various oilrigs and refineries throughout America. He is
currently living with Diane and Derek Huxley, a family near the
Mojave Desert, South Eastern California. Meanwhile, an unknown
figure orders the assassination of the four people who know Jack
is alive--Tony Almeida, Michelle Dessler, Chloe O'Brian and
Former President David Palmer--to frame him. He returns to LA to
clear his name when a hostage situation erupts. But it is only a
diversion by collaboration of conspirators and Russian
separatists to obtain 20 canisters of Sentox VX nerve . The
was originally to be used to attack Moscow, but the
separatists begin to release it in LA in retaliation after they
discover that a US agent has infiltrated their organization. Jack
attempts to search for the remaining canisters and expose
treachery deep within the White House. 'Day Six' takes place 18
months after Day 5. The U.S. President has negotiated Jack's
release from a Chinese prison so that Jack can help stop
terrorists attempting to set off 'suitcase nukes' in U.S. cities.
Unfortunately time is not on his side, and an explosion rocks LA.
As well as trying to catch the terrorists, Jack is having
problems with his family, which appears to be becoming involved
with right wing patriots. Elsewhere, Jack's Chinese abductors
inform him that they have Audrey Raines (Raver) in custody and
will only exchange her for classified Russian intelligence. When
Russia gets wind of the situation, relations between the two
superpowers head for meltdown.
.co.uk Review
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Series 1: Such a simple idea--yet so fiendishly complex in the
execution. Creator Robert Cochran and his team of writers and
directors have done a pretty impressive job in putting the jigsaw
together and keeping the tension ratcheted up high, as Federal
Agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) hares around LA trying to
stall an assassination attempt on a black Presidential candidate
and rescue his wife and daughter from the clutches of the Balkan
baddies. Twists, turns, revelations and cliffhangers are tossed
at us with satisfying regularity. Its not perfect but even so,
this is undeniably mould-breaking TV. Sutherland, rescuing his
career from the doldrums in one heroic leap, fully deserves his
Golden Globe. Sets and locations are artfully deployed--we gain a
real sense of LAs splayed-out geography--and Sean Callerys
score is a powerful, brooding presence. Like Murder One and The
Sopranos, 24 is one of those series future TV thrillers will have
to measure themselves against.
Series 2: Once again the hours are ticking by with more
guaranteed cliffhangers than a convention of ain climbers.
Holed up in a Los Angeles condo and estranged from his daughter,
Jack is no longer on the government payroll; unfortunately for
him, this small fact doesn't seem to matter to President David
Palmer and the NSA who call him back in to the CTU and give him
24 hours to infiltrate a terrorist organisation who are planning
to detonate a dirty bomb in the city of angels. All Jack wants is
to get his daughter out of the city, unfortunately Kim's new
employer, the abusive her of the child she is nannying, has
other ideas.
Fans of the original won't be disappointed, as there are more
than enough shock moments in the first few hours to hint at the
climactic build-up to come, while newcomers can quickly get
involved in the lives of Jack and his family. There are some new
characters to bolster the veteran cast and, interestingly
(although not surprisingly given the outcome of the first
series), Jack's character has taken an altogether darker, more
psychopathic turn. The danger the characters find themselves in
also has a much more global impetus, grounded as it is in the war
against terrorism. Although the territory is more familiar this
time around, this second series is just as much a high-tension,
taut, adrenaline-fuelled ride as the first series, and one that
will have you glued to your TV for the next 24 hours. --Kristen
Bowditch
Series 3: There's not one cougar to be found in 24's dynamic
third season, and that's good news for everyone. After Jack
Bauer's daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) survived hokey hazards in
season 2, she's now a full-time staffer at CTU, the L.A.-based
intelligence beehive that's abuzz once again--three years after
the events of "Day Two"--when a vengeful terrorist threatens to
release a lethal virus that could wipe out much of the country's
population.
The intricately woven subplots that are 24's greatest strength
are masterfully developed here, and character arcs are equally
strong, especially among CTU staffers Tony (Carlos Bernard) and
his wife Michelle (Reiko Aylesworth); CTU director Ryan Chappelle
(Paul Schulze), who is season 2's tragic bargaining chip; and the
annoying but well-intentioned Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub),
who makes pivotal contributions with by-the-book efficiency. It's
24's superior casting that overcomes the series' occasional
lapses in credibility, and season 3's twists make marathon
viewing a nerve-wracking delight. By the time it's all over, with
a high body count and the surgical reattachment of a main
character's severed hand, 24 once again leaves you gratefully
exhausted. As always, Sutherland anchors the series in the role
he was born to play. When Jack takes a private moment to release
24 hours' worth of near-al tension and psychological anguish,
Sutherland proves that 24's dramatic priorities are as important
as its thriller momentum. --Jeff Shannon
Series 4: Hard to believe, but after all these years, 24 is as
vital and compulsive as it always was. Fortunately, Jacks knack
of attracting trouble hasnt deserted him either, and quickly,
its business as usual. Starting the series with a fresh romance,
a different job and one heck of an explosion, it doesnt take
long before Jack is back in action, and hes soon joined by a
mixture of new and familiar faces.
To talk about the plot would be unfair, as 24 is consistently a
dish best served cold. Suffice to say that theres a heady mix of
plotlines, twists and downright brilliant cliffhangers. Perhaps
the cocktail isnt as fresh as it once was, and there are moments
where you cant help but feel that plausibility is being
stretched a little too far. But accepting that is part and parcel
of the 24 experience, and arguably part of the fun. Thats
because even as it approaches its final stages, 24: Series 4
maintains a tremendous momentum and level of intrigue, and by the
time the clock ticks for the last time at the end of the 24th
episode, odds are youll be thirsting for more. Bluntly, in spite
of its flaws, 24 remains one of the most essential shows
currently on television--and this series offers ample evidence
why. --Simon Brew
Series 5: The adventures of Counter Terrorism Unit agent Jack
Bauer have rarely been dull. Yet after four series of battling
the bad guys in real time, some could rightfully wonder whether
24 had lots its edge, and its ability to surprise. The fifth
season should put any such doubts to shame.
Set eighteen months after the dramatic finale to Season Four,
things get off to a shocking and pulsating beginning. You wont
find plot spoilers in this review, yet its as if the writers
realised they had some serious carpet-pulling to do to keep the
shows audience intrigued once again. Set, as usual, over the
course of one single day, theres then a slight lull in the first
third, before things spring ferociously into life. Make no
mistake: if you can overcome the usual need to suspend elements
of your disbelief, this is the best series of 24 since the first,
and as it winds near to its equally dramatic conclusions, its
simply hard to take your eyes off it.
Joining the usual cast too is a procession of familiar names.
Peter Weller (Roboocop), Sean Astin (The Lord Of The Rings) and C
Thomas Howell (The Hitcher) are among those doing their
curriculum vitae no harm, but the acting honours are taken by the
wonderful combination of President Logan and his first lady,
played by Gregory Itzin and Jean Smart. With a denouement that
sets up a sparkling sixth season, this fifth series of 24 is a
genuinely significant achievement. Its packed full of surprises,
isnt afraid to take a few risks, and as all good thrillers
should, it keeps you on the edge of your seat for far longer than
is comfortable. A superb show, very much on top form.--Simon Brew
Series 6: The further adventures of Los Angeles Counter
Terrorism Units finest initially sees Kiefer Sutherlands Jack
Bauer in a Chinese prison and not in good shape. But, this being
24, its not too long before the breakneck plot has revved into
gear, and the wheels are turning again on a frantic real-time
ride thats thoroughly in the tradition of whats become
televisions finest thriller.
You wont be finding plot spoilers here, because half the fun of
24 is not knowing what unexpected twist the scriptwriters have
for you around the next corner. All that matters is that the
world is under threat, and its up to Jack Bauer to lead the
fightback. And its Kiefer Sutherland thats the real asset to
series six; whereas particularly in season five he took a
sideways step to accommodate stronger supporting characters, here
hes shouldering a greater degree of the shows narrative thrust.
Youd be hard pushed to declare that season six is vintage 24,
but thats more to do with the context of particularly the
excellent run that preceded it. But few shows can match its
audacious verve, and repeated ability to surprise and enthral. So
while season six may have too many villains, and may ask you to
bear with it through a few troughs, theres still nothing out
there to match it. Jump aboard
--Jon Foster