There are a lot of similarities between “Day 9: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m” and last week’s 24: Live Another Day episode: both move the plot forward microscopically, all while struggling to make valuable emotional connections between characters and their driving motivations. So what makes this hour superior to the last? It’s simple: with Bauer locked down in an inescapable situation and Michelle Fairley delivering an absolutely frightening (if one-noted) performance as Margot, the dramatic stakes are infinitely higher than last week’s episode – an impressive move considering most of the episode’s drama stems from the failings of a single-core computer processor.
Generally speaking, there’s a lot more conviction to the actions of characters in “2PM – 3PM” than the previous hour, which bring life to the familiar structure and pacing of a treadmilling episode of 24, territory we clearly enter when Jack begins uploading Tanner’s flight key in the first act, yet is unable to complete it by the conclusion of the episode. Some of the motivations behind said actions are clunky – Ritter appears to be playing contrarian for the sake of filling the “wrong-headed minority” cliche, and the shady Marine team leader exists for the purpose of manufactured dramatics – but this hour manages to find its center more often than “1PM – 2PM” was ever able to. Margot’s obsession with vengeance against Western powers reaches a terrifying level when she predictably squashes Naveed’s plan to escape in unpredictable fashion, sacrificing her daughter’s own finger in her quest to destroy the men who killed her husband – and although the dialogue borders on the melodramatic (territory it enters whenever Audrey and Mark talk), the sheer menace of Fairley’s performance establishes her as a legitimate 24 villain with vigor (though admittedly, this kind of behavior could quickly devolve into goofiness).
The episode also does a great job bringing Jack Bauer back to earth a bit (well, as close to our galaxy as the show will ever let him be), highlighting his feelings of betrayal over the phone with President Heller while negotiating through his manufactured hostage negotiation. Yes, Bauer did some heinous shit at the end of season eight, but as always, it was in service of protecting the red, white and blue: and even though he’s willing to be taken back into custody for the short term, there’s nobody feeling as betrayed in the world of 24 than Jack Bauer does by his government (ok, maybe Simone can take a close second there).
That being said, what surrounds our “hero” and “villain” is a lot of trite material: whether it’s Mark risking national security over a personal grudge (for a wife he hasn’t shown much affection for throughout the day, I might add), or President Heller losing faith in Jack for apparently no reason, except to give a little more dramatic ‘umph’ to a plot that didn’t really need it. However, the focus on two players on their respective ends of the chessboard – and the thrilling cat-and-mouse game played by Jack and the CIA inside the embassy, particularly in the first half of the hour – casts a long enough shadow over the episode’s flaws to make it a much more enjoyable episode than last week’s unsatisfying narrative.
Other thoughts/observations:
- something’s up with Jordan, who hears about Kate’s mistake (delivered in rather misogynistic fashion by Navarro) and makes a face that suggests there is more to this man. Stay tuned (I guess).
- Tanner’s all like: “I’m not talking to the CIA!” Then five seconds later, he’s telling them everything. Kate may not be The Decider, but she’s becoming The Convincer.
- boy, Chloe’s Open Cell leader does not like Jack – and it appears to be for love-related reasons. Please, let’s not do this.
- seriously, will they let Ritter do something intelligent? I’m getting tired of him being written as someone who is so thick-headed, he attaches himself to the simplest idea or solution and refuses to back away from it.