Is "24" losing it?

"24" has always been full of implausibilities, like how Jack Bauer can get from anywhere in Los Angeles to anywhere else in about 10 minutes.  That's part of the charm of the series.  But something has gone seriously wrong this season.  I'm going to discuss spoilers through last night's episode, so be forewarned.

First, the dark family ties -- not only does Jack have a brother (I suppose it's not out of the question that it wouldn't have come up before), but he's the Bluetooth leader of the secret cabal?  And then Dad turns out to be even more twisted and ruthless, murdering Graem to keep him from talking?  And for what, the "company"?!?  (Hey, is this going to be a crossover with "Prison Break"?)

Second, for someone who's been in a Chinese prison camp for 20 months, not only does Jack look ridiculous fit (and intact), he seems up to date on protocols, personnel, etc.  I mean, at least last season, when Jack was out of touch for 18 months, they had him using outdated codes in the airport hostage crisis.  That made sense.  This season does not.

Third, I realize that "scientists" on TV can pretty much do everything.  The Professor on "Gilligan's Island" could build radios out of coconuts, make soap out of sand, tell the history of South Pacific natives, and so on.  (He couldn't repair a boat, but I suppose that's engineering, not science.)  But how is it that Morris O'Brien is a top computer data analyst and also a nuclear engineer?!?  Is playing with tactical nuclear devices a hobby?

Fourth, does every discussion of extreme antiterrorism measures -- internment of Arab-Americans, torture -- have to involve a mini-debate on civil liberties versus national security?

Fifth, why isn't Chloe annoying her co-workers anymore?  She's lost that prickly edge that made her so endearing a character.  (Well, not in season 3, when she was just annoying.)

I don't want it to be true, but at the rate things are going, it really seems like "24" is just going to be another example of how nearly all shows go rapidly downhill after five seasons (if not earlier -- see "Alias").

UPDATE: Some more things that are bothering me about this season . . . .

Sixth, the writers seem to be going for pure shock value without any concession to logic or even plot.  There was the awful psycho-Curtis scene, taking Doctor Bashir, er, Assad hostage, forcing Jack to shoot him.  Having Curtis lead the team that got nuked would have been shocking and plot-advancing, not cheap theatrics.  Then, there was the utterly ridiculous Jack torturing Graem scene.  How exactly did Graem think that confessing to setting up the murders of President Palmer, Tony Almeida, and Michelle Dessler was just throwing Jack a bone?  Jack almost killed him, and Graem had no reason to think that Jack wouldn't have done it.  I guess that would have been a way to protect the company, but as we saw later, Graem didn't want to die.

Comments

[kwk98z]

Graham Bauer is not just a random character that appeared out of the blue this season. He was constantly talking to President Logan in season 5 as the main conspirator. Logan was basically reporting everything to him and then we never found out what heppened to him nor that he was Jack's brother but it made perfect sense that he was the one that turned him over to the Chinese. He was in 5 episodes in season 5 altogether (1am-6am).

[stealingjoy]

You should watch The Shield. That's a show that's gotten better with pretty much every season (starting its sixth in April). Better and deeper characters, more intriguing storylines and it doesn't rely on the crutch of putting a hook at the end of almost every episode like 24. Try Deadwood and The Wire too.