Things I Learn While Watching 24

Wow, wow, wow! What an amazing show! I really enjoy a show that catches you off guard and leaves you wondering what’s going to happen next, knowing all while that you could never really guess, because it’s just that kind of show.

Ok, here’s my list of things I learned this week:

Pride and a hauty spirit will get you in trouble every time. (Actually, I learned this from the Bible first, but this episode has a good example.) If Lynn McGill had swallowed his pride and actually told somebody about getting mugged and his key card stolen then CTU would not have been so vulnerable. Perhaps Lynn will make up for his stupidity by being the one to get rid of the gas canister now leaking into the air at CTU.

A weak presidential administration is vulnerable to top-level conspiracy. President Wiesel, I mean Logan, is just a weak willed whimp. This whole terrorist attack with the gas canisters is actually something being planned by people at the very highest levels. It appears that the vice president could even be involved in the scheme. (More on that below.)

Anytime a character in 24 criticizes CTU’s ability to handle a problem they are probably a part of the ultimate conspiracy. The vice president criticized CTU’s ability to handle the terrorists plan to release the gas. It’s also apparent that Lynn McGill is part of that conspiracy, without knowing it, because he doesn’t think CTU is capable of doing anything either. And they are incapable if he is in command of CTU.

Characters like Chloe and Mrs. Logan earn my respect because they tell it like it is. Mrs. Logan did not mince words with Mike when she told him “just tell me what you want me to do.” Her husband doesn’t deserve her. And Chloe did a great job of letting Kim Bauer know that she needs to cut her father a little slack over the fact that he didn’t clue her in earlier to his being alive. Everybody, except Chloe, who knew Jack was alive is now dead.

Always be nice to the little people around you, even if they are big and annoy you. Poor Chloe had to watch Edgar die from the gas while she was protected behind a sealed room. I wonder if she realized at that point how much Edgar really loved her? I wonder if she was thinking about all the mean things she said to him and felt regret over it. I like Edgar and I think Chloe could have been a lot nicer to him.

Finally, if your husband doesn’t tell you what it’s really going on, and says that he’s doing all of the clandestine things to protect you, the truth is he really doesn’t love you. You know this for certain when Jack Bauer shoots you in the leg instead of him, and he still doesn’t tell Jack the truth. It’s time to get a new husband.

I wonder what I will learn next week?

previous post on 24:

24 and Star Trek