24 Legacy Season 1 Finale: All About Relationships

A fine - better than fine - finale to 24 Legacy's first season tonight.  The series still has the punch of the original, and the power to move us with stories that make us care about the complex characters.   The original series as well as Legacy have been dismissed in some places as adrenalin joy rides, but there was always more to the first, and that still holds for the second.

In fact, Eric Carter at this point, after the end of the first season, has far more self-awareness than did Jack Bauer at the end of his first.  Jack developed that later.   But since Eric's wife survived this season, Eric can continue a relationship, rather than struggling to build another one, as Jack never (for one reason or another) completely did.

The truth is that relationships are always what 24 was most about.  Tony Almeida was a much better person when Michelle was alive.  In 24 Legacy, he barely manages to do the right thing - and in fact would have killed the kidnapped girl had he not received the call.  Like Jack, he may never fully recover from the loss of his truest love.

Which brings us to Senator Donovan.  He was about to withdraw from the Presidential race, to be able to devote full attention to his mourning Rebecca.  But his decision not to withdraw makes him a much more interesting character - like Jack and Tony, he will never completely get over this loss.

24 Legacy needs another season, especially given what's been going on in our real world on an intensely daily basis.   24 was never completely escapist, given that it began its run after September 11.  And now 24 Legacy is especially relevant in a very different way.

Donovan running full out for President, Eric on the job, supported by his wife Nicole.  Bring it on!

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains ... 24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed ... 24 Legacy 1.4: Who's Gabriel? ... 24 Legacy 1.5: Who's Left? ... 24 Legacy 1.6: George Washington Bridge ... 24 Legacy 1.7: Tony! ... 24 Legacy 1.8:  Terrorists vs. the Hood ... 24 Legacy 1.9: The Personal ... 24 Legacy Penultimate: Eric vs. Tony!

24 Legacy Season 1 Penultimate: Eric vs. Tony!

The best episode so far on 24 Legacy - the next-to-last of what I hope will be the first of many seasons - which had all the power and unexpected alignments of the classic 24.

Tony Almeida, who came on board as a good guy, is now a bad guy, because he's working for CIA honcho Sims, who's a pretty bad guy himself.  The only thing that stands in the way of Tony killing Naseri's young daughter is Eric, who is determined to save her, both as the only way to save Rebecca, and because it's the decent thing to do.

Sims could call Tony off, but he won't do that, so it's up to Andy to unlock Sim's phone, so Senator Donovan can make the call,   And just for good measure, Keith has taken out (either unconscious or dead) Pang, sent over by Sims - which I had a little pang about, because I liked the actor C. S. Lee as Masuka on Dexter, but what can you do?

But that's what I mean about great and surprising alignments - Tony working with the bad side of American espionage, Eric and Senator Donovan on the same side, along with Keith and Stiles' niece - not too shabby an alliance, all devoted to saving Rebecca--

Who, it turns out, was responsible for kidnapping Naseri's daughter in the first place!

The show has found its rhythm and niche, in terms of sheer action and twists, and I'm looking forward to next week and days to come in the future.

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains ... 24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed ... 24 Legacy 1.4: Who's Gabriel? ... 24 Legacy 1.5: Who's Left? ... 24 Legacy 1.6: George Washington Bridge ... 24 Legacy 1.7: Tony! ... 24 Legacy 1.8:  Terrorists vs. the Hood ... 24 Legacy 1.9: The Personal

24 Legacy 1.9: The Personal

Classic 24 had certain reliably powerful tropes to ramp up the tension and action. Kidnapping a major governmental official, attacking CTU headquarters, were prominent in this 24 playbook.  Both put in an appearance tonight in 24 Legacy 1.9.

And the execution was good, in a plot in which both events are connected.   John is coming in to CTU to see and make up with his wife Rebecca.  His father had admitted working with the terrorists (though for reasons still unclear - to help John win the election, by seeming strong after terrorist attacks?).  But Naseri, the new arch villain terrorist, has broken into CTU to free last week's arch terrorist (all important characters survived the attack on the terrorist staging area last week), and Naseri lucks out and not only frees his target but scoops up John in the process.

The stakes have swung back to the highly personal - save Rebecca's husband - from the mass destruction of the concerted terrorist attacks, though some of that could still be in the works, too.   And speaking of personal, events are now drawing Nicole even closer to Isaac (they almost kiss).

Back to Jack Bauer, his tattered love life was always a staple of the original show.  My guess is we're on the way to seeing Eric's end up the same way at the end of this season.  But you just never know with anything that has 24 in its title, and I'm looking forward to the concluding episodes of this season, and to another to follow next year.

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains ... 24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed ... 24 Legacy 1.4: Who's Gabriel? ... 24 Legacy 1.5: Who's Left? ... 24 Legacy 1.6: George Washington Bridge ... 24 Legacy 1.7: Tony! ... 24 Legacy 1.8:  Terrorists vs. the Hood

24 Legacy 1.8: Terrorists vs. the Hood

Another excellent, adrenalin-pumping episode of 24 Legacy tonight - 1.8 - with a great fight between the terrorists and Isaac's gang in the hood.  It was especially satisfying because Isaac's people were winning, until--

Everyone had to vacate the scene because of a government attack designed to obliterate the place. This is a classic 24 move:  whether it's Jack Bauer or Eric Carter, they're always fighting with an eye over their shoulder to make sure the government didn't order a devastating strike.  That's because the dummies who order the strike never have enough confidence in the people on the ground - like Jack or Eric.

I guess, this time, the government's order was understandable - the George Washington Bridge had just been hit and hundreds of innocent lives lost.  But the brass should have a least listened to Keith when he called them back and pleaded with them to call off the attack.

Well, the good news so far is that no one really important died tonight.  Which is interesting, because previously this season/day, all sorts of important characters in 24 Legacy on both sides have died, including Ben and Amira, right? But not tonight.  Lots of major characters were badly wounded - including Isaac and Andy - but it looks as if they'll live.  And I'm glad, because they're both good characters.   But did I also see that creep who was leading the terrorists surviving and being interrogated next week?   That's a little too much survival.

And speaking of interrogation, what's with Henry Donovan?  How was he able to stand up to the interrogation aka torture that Tony was dishing out?  This makes Henry an even more interesting character - even as it puts pressure on 24 Legacy to explain what's going on.

But that's what 24 in all its forms has always been about - if not grace under pressure, certainly heroism and quick and on-target decisions under pressure.  And I'll be back with more next week.

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains ... 24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed ... 24 Legacy 1.4: Who's Gabriel? ... 24 Legacy 1.5: Who's Left? ... 24 Legacy 1.6: George Washington Bridge ... 24 Legacy 1.7: Tony!

24 Legacy 1.7: Tony!

Great to see him back in the fold - well, not in the fold, but working for the good guys, or for the former CTU head - Tony Almeida!  He was calm, deep, and looked as he should after all of these years.  He even made reference to his beloved Michelle.  All that was missing was ... well, Jack (I know, he's President on another show, which I'll get back to reviewing soon), but the episode was so tense and pounding that I hardly had time to even think of that.

24 Legacy 1.7 is still keeping its cards very close to its chest.   We know that Henry is lying.  But it's still not clear what he's lying about.  I have a feeling that he's not just someone helping the terrorists. And who is the leak at CTU?  So far, there's not a scintilla of evidence that points at anyone.

We also got a very good Eric Carter and his wife and brother story tonight.  It can't be that Eric and Andy will perish, and Nicole and Isaac will live on, although that's where it almost seemed to be headed tonight.   The terrorists, in the last minute, tell us they're not going to let Nicole and Isaac get away.  Isaac is the obvious person not to get out of that alive, as he sacrifices his life to somehow save Nicole.  But I can't quite see that happening either, and am hoping they both survive.

As for Eric and Andy, it's all but inconceivable that Eric will die, though I suppose that's possible. So, again, there's a likely candidate to die in the duo - Andy.  But, as with Isaac, I'm thinking that's too obvious, too, and I'm hoping Andy also survives.

One possible knight who could ride in and save the day is Thomas (played by Longmire's Bailey Chase).  We saw him working to get loose. He's a highly experienced operative.  If he gets loose and gets to the terrorists in time, he could tip the balance.  And/or, he could die - though, as with Isaac and Andy, I don't want that to happen, either.

Which is why this is such a good story, which I would binge-watch for sure if I could.  But I'll see you next week, when we'll know at least a little more.

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains ... 24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed ... 24 Legacy 1.4: Who's Gabriel? ... 24 Legacy 1.5: Who's Left? ... 24 Legacy 1.6: George Washington Bridge

24 Legacy 1.6: George Washington Bridge

Something I didn't want to see in 24 Legacy 1.6.  The George Washington Bridge has always been one of my favorite parts of New York life.  I used it hundreds and hundreds of times when I taught at Fairleigh Dickinson University in the late 1970s and half of the 1980s, and I've used it hundreds of times since.

But 24 has always been about the worst happening, beginning with that shocking end of the first season, when Jack's wife Teri is killed.  This was 24 keeping true to the horror and terror of September 11.  24 never trafficked in happy endings. It depicted a world far too dangerous, a world that hung in the balance, all the time. And, let's face it, we're still in that world now.  Maybe even more so, given the results of our last election.  And 24 Legacy is true to that.

The cop on the bridge did the best that he could.  He almost stopped Amira from pressing the button. A better trained agent would have made sure she was dead, or taken the detonator out of her hand, as soon as he opened the door of the cab of that truck with the bombs.  But he came close to stopping it, and did the best he could.

And the greater terror is all the other cells and heinous plans that are still afoot.   The terrorists have Carter's wife and brother.  There's no way he'll cooperate for real with them, even for a second.  He'll pretend and use this as a way getting closer to the terrorists.

But how did the terrorists know where Carter's wife and brother were?  We're forced to face, again, that there's a mole in CTU.  We forced to return to the question at the root of all of this.  Who can it be? Not the Senator's father, because he was in no position to tip off anyone.   And everyone else looked suitably traumatized at what happened to the bridge.

So ... I'm stumped.  Which is a good thing at this point in a series like 24 Legacy.

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains ... 24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed ... 24 Legacy 1.4: Who's Gabriel? ... 24 Legacy 1.5: Who's Left?

24 Legacy 1.5: Who's Left?

Well, I was wrong when I predicted last week that Gabriel would be Tony Almeida - indeed not only was Gabriel not that, he didn't even ... [spoiler]

survive the night (or, the hour, to stay with the 24 structure.  And neither did Ben Grimes.  Which leaves our side with far fewer possible leads and clues than we might like in 24 Legacy at the end of episode 1.5.

So where does that leave us?  I would say Henry Donovan - the Senator's father - is not only the best but pretty much the only live lead our side has.   And he seems to be a past master at lying.

We know that he's certainly up to something more than his professed goal of saving and strengthening his son's candidacy.   But in with the terrorists?  That's pretty extreme.

Of course, in the rich history of 24, we've had plenty of instances in which an American businessman or some such was either the arch-villain or close to it.   I'm actually hoping that's not the case for Henry, because well, at least at this point, that seems much too obvious.

But if not Henry, who else?  I mean, who else other than the terrorists we've already seen?  There's some kind of double-agent still at large at CTU, right, but this person is unlikely to be the head of any terrorist operation.

I'm looking forward to seeing more - meaning, not only future episodes, but a little less of Amira's family, and, for that matter, Eric Carter's, too.  Let's get on to the biggest dangers at hand.

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains ... 24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed ... 24 Legacy 1.4: Who's Gabriel?

24 Legacy 1.4: Who's Gabriel?

24 Legacy was back with another adrenalin powered episode - 1.4 - tonight, with news of an important new character in the metaphorical balcony: Gabriel, an international arms dealer.

Carter at Ben's urgent urging thinks Gabriel is so crucial in stopping the terrorist attack - the only play CTU has - that he breaks out of CTU along with Ben to find him.  This in itself is a good part of the story, with Rebecca and Andy's help.  Andy, by the way, is quickly shaping up as an excellent character - he has just what you want in terms of tech savvy and sass in a CTU computer geek, a worthy successor to Chloe.

And there are other strong things going on in the story tonight, including Donovan breaking down his father - at least, to some extent - Nicole breaking away from Aisha and her thug, and Amira killing that poor high school kid, after all.  (I think having him wake up, but with amnesia, would have been a more interesting move, but ok.)

But looming behind and over all of this is Gabriel.   Carter and Rebecca are risking everything to get to him, so my guess is he's someone really important, played by someone really important.

All we know of him is he's former military.   But he's likely much more.   So here's my prediction: Gabriel is Tony Almeida, who we know is coming back to 24 in Legacy, "mid-season".   Gabriel is Tony Almeida, operating under an assumed name.

We'll see ... and I'm looking forward to seeing next week's episode, and every episode after.

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains ... 24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed

24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed

The first big card was revealed in tonight's 24 Legacy 1.3.   The question is whether anything revealed this early is real or valid.  Sceptic that I am - especially regarding 24 plot structure - I'd say not.

That's why I didn't believe for a moment that Nilaa, Senator Donovan's chief assistant, was in with the terrorists, or even with the hacking, if the two were separate,  She as villain was much too easy, much too soon.

And I pretty much feel that way about Donovan's father, Henry.  He clearly was responsible for the hack, to the point of trying to pin it on Nilaa.   But I'm thinking he doesn't want a multi-pronged terrorist attack.  I mean, sure, it could help his son't campaign, but that still seems like going a little too far to believe.

Of course, part of the problem is that Gerald McRaney has been playing bad guys in high places, even in government of late, right?  He did that in House of Cards, and in Longmire he's a big businessman or rancher (I forget) who goes bad.  So it's easy to think he's a big bad guy in 24 Legacy.

But I don't think I'm buying.  Which leaves open the always intriguing question of who on the inside is doing this - helping set up and maybe even run the terrorists?  I have no idea, yet, except that in 24 fashion, it's bound to be a shock.  And while we're getting there, my favorite secondary plot development tonight was the kid not dying in high school, and Amira (with Kathryn Prescott's strong performance), managing to get into the ambulance with him, to make sure he does, if need be.

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains

24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains

24 Legacy was back with 1.2 tonight - the second hour in its debut - and the action was as high-adrenalin nonstop as it was last night.  Which is say: bring it on!

Now the most interesting character in this new take on the classic series is the central character, Eric Carter.   He seems as intelligent and resourceful as Jack Bauer, but he has a humanity that Jack didn't have since the first season of 24, at the end of which Jack lost his beloved wife (Jack had deep tragedy with the women he loved throughout the rest of the series).

This is just the beginning of 24 Legacy, so who knows whom Eric will lose, and what effect that will have on him, but at this point it's refreshing to see that he still cares about the people whose lives he's shoving around on behalf of the mission - like, at very least, the younger of the two cops.   This concern about the people around him, in addition to the mission, makes Eric a character to watch.

The second most interesting character is Nilaa, Senator Donovan's campaign manager in his run for President.  It would be too obvious for her to be a terrorist, just because she has an Arabic name (not to mention it would be racist), so I'm expecting her to be an especially interesting, even pivotal character in this story.

And then there's Amira, who apparently is indeed a terrorist - but then, why was she so upset when the chemistry teacher (building a bomb or whatever) killed the high school kid who liked her?  Either she's (a) a terrorist with a heart, or (b) an undercover agent herself, which makes her another one to keep an eye on in any case.

Yet to be revealed is what role Donovan's father will be play in all of this.  If I had to bet right now, I think he not Nilaa is working with the terrorists, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves on this.

On the other hand, that's part of the fun of 24, and I'm looking forward to much more.

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It

24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It

24 Legacy debuted tonight, and I've got to say, though I missed Jack, this new 24 has all the power and pacing and riveting story-by-the-minute of its predecessor.   Which is to say: Dammit! I liked it a whole lot.

Among the salient elements of the plot, my favorite was CTU being taken over by Rebecca (played by Miranda Otto), former CTU head.   She has to work - of course, frantically - underneath the nose of the current director. This is a classic 24 gambit, and great to see again.  Also of interest at CTU headquarters is Edgar Stiles' cousin Mariana (the late Edgar died nobly at CTU for his country, from poison gas, if memory serves).  There are other interesting characters at CTU, and, as always, the most important thing about them is one or more of them is is a double agent.   I hope it's not Mariana.

The new Jack - Eric Carter (played by Corey Hawkins) - is certainly not a double agent.  What he is sharp and driven and highly capable, like Jack.  But, unlike Jack, Corey has a strong wife, much better than the late Audrey.   And Eric has a more significant back story as brother to a gang leader. Good material here for future developments.

The heart of the story is some sort of major attack on America, with a Chechnyan high school student who, in a nice minor twist, has her chemistry teacher wrapped around her little finger and more, and an Isis (or whatever) terrorist group on the hunt in Washington for a list of everyone set to carry out the attack.

And if that's enough, and also in classic 24 tradition, Rebecca is married to a Senator (played by Jimmy Smits) who's running for President.  One of the best things about classic 24 was how it wove great Presidential life-and-death drama into the CTU action.  At times, 24 at its height was House of Cards before its time.

Now, if 24 Legacy were on ABC not Fox, we could actually get Jack Bauer right into the series - or Kiefer Sutherland, at at any rate, who's playing a President in ABC's Designated Survivor, another fine series which has a lot of 24 derring-do, too.

I'll keep watching both, for sure, and will be back here with a review 1.2, or the next hour of the ticking clock with the multiple screens, tomorrow.