"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Monday, February 12, 2007

24 Season 6: hrs 8-9: Phillip, Milo, and Morris

Double-dose of tonight's 2-hour 24 picked up where Jack's father Phillip left off last week, and made him twice as bad. Killing Jack's brother Graem was one thing - Graem after all was part of the team that ordered the killings of David Palmer, Michelle, and Tony. But Phillip Bauer is threatening to kill his grandson ... Jack's nephew (unless it turns out that Josh Bauer is really Jack's son, which is just a wild supposition at this point, but he does look a lot like Kim).... And leading Jack to his death in a booby-trapped house...

Jack of course avoids being blown up. And I also enjoyed the heroics of Milo Pressman, played by Eric Balfour. It's always good to see a guy who works behind a computer take charge out in the field. Milo was great driving a van and saving Jack's sister in law.

The same cannot be said for Chloe's former husband Morris O'Brien. This wasn't his finest evening - he broke under torture and gave Fayed what he needed to activate the remaining suitcase nukes. Not only not commendable, but not entirely believable. It's a little hard to swallow Morris giving terrorists the keys to nukes, even under torture, especially after one already went off near LA.

But, oddly, the depth of the evil of Jack's father is not that hard to believe. Jack must have come from some sort of incredible family. Fortunately for us, the single-minded ruthlessness that Jack inherited is used by him for the good.

And the USA will need every ounce of it in the weeks ahead, as forces of darkness converge not only on Los Angeles, but on President Wayne Palmer.

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post - it was great seeing Milo out there too!

I thought Morris did excellently, rather that the man portraying him did excellently....can't think of his name now. As you said, wuite uncommendable, but fabulously acted.

Not my favorite (that's still E4) but AMAZING on so many many levels.

Paul Levinson said...

Great to see you back here, Carina! Yeah, Carlo Rota did a fabulous job as the uncommendable Morris! A very good season - Jack's family stuff is really powerful.

Anonymous said...

Carlo Rota....thanks!! :D

Yes indeed, very powerful stuff, and I'm enjoying every minute!

My review and a little extra is posted!

Anonymous said...

hmm ...
i've watched all of the previous 24 seasons ...
i thinks its kinda good show ...
but lately the jack bauer's family invlovement ...
has made me dislike it a bit ...
my take on 24 is available on my blog at ...
www.subcorpus.net/blog/
check it out ...

Paul Levinson said...

subcorpus - I don't think I agree with you, but you make some thoughtful points about Jack's family on your blog - thanks for pointing me there. Let's keep in touch about 24.

Anonymous said...

Paul, don't know if you've seen this from the Wall St. Journal: "In Defense of '24'
An Arab-American defends the real-life Bauers." http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110009633

Paul Levinson said...

Thanks for posting that, Taras (and great to see you here). I had heard about that article, but hadn't read it, but just did, and I'm glad I did - I'll be sure to mention next time Olbermann attacks 24 on this issue - which, in view of what he's said so far, is likely to be sooner than later.

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