8 Reasons ‘24′ Has Jumped the Shark

by Ben Shapiro

I used to count myself among the biggest fans of 24.  A friend recommended 24 during Season 2, and I went back and rented Season 1.  It was addictive, fast-paced, genuinely adrenaline-pumping.  The first half of Season 2 was almost as good.  Season 3 was similarly excellent, and while Season 4 dropped off in quality a bit, it still kept the blood moving.  The much-derided Season 5 was more than half decent, despite its Nixonian tinge.  Season 6, of course, was a full scale disaster. 


Ben Shapiro and Kiefer Sutherland

But I was hopeful that Season 7 would provide redemption.  Tony Almeida was back.  Sure, it was Joey Tribiani-esque soap opera reappearance, but Tony was Tony and I was happy to see him, even if they wheeled him in Bernie-style.  Jack Bauer was back to his old ways, making impossible shots with a handgun while shouting brilliantisms like “Dammit!” and “We’re running out of time!”  The Palmer family was gone, once and for all.  So was the Bauer family, from James Cromwell’s insipid dad to Elisha Cuthbert’s horrifyingly dull daughter.  Jon Voight would pop in.  It was a recipe for a good time.  (more…)

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Posted Feb 6th 2009 at 6:25 am in Reviews | 86 Comments