24 Season 6 News!

[Woochifer]

Wow! That is quite a twist. I was wondering what happened to Wayne Palmer at the end of Day Five, but I guess we now know that he was schmoozing with the White House staff looking for a campaign manager! Should be interesting because Wayne Palmer is much more of a shadowy and morally ambiguous character than his brother David.

The articles I read at the end of last season indicated that Day Six would not take place in China, so I would guess that Jack is back in the U.S. when the stink starts hitting the fan. Too bad. Would have been interesting to have Day Six involve a cloak-and-dagger operation to spring Jack out of the Chinese prison, but not knowing if the operation involves a rescue team trying to ferry him out of the country, or a hit squad trying to silence him permanently. For a while, rumors were going strong that Edward Norton might join the cast, leaving open the possibility of Jack Bauer getting killed at anytime and Norton's character taking over the lead.

Oh and many congrats to the 24 crew and Kiefer Sutherland for taking home the Emmys!

[Groundbeef]

I will go back and re-read the article, but from what I recall it said that Jack is STILL behind bars in China. I am going out on a limb here, but I bet depending upon where he is jailed, the terrorist situation may have been launched or is being staged somewhere close to his location.

As the show is supposed to be "in real time" I cannot think that we would be without Bauer for 8-12 hours as he tools away his time on a return home flight.

I think that they are going to "go International" for this one. If he is close to the border it may occur in Tiwan(sp?) or Iran, or some other close country.

Could be interesting.
Any thoughts?

[Woochifer]

I will go back and re-read the article, but from what I recall it said that Jack is STILL behind bars in China. I am going out on a limb here, but I bet depending upon where he is jailed, the terrorist situation may have been launched or is being staged somewhere close to his location.

As the show is supposed to be "in real time" I cannot think that we would be without Bauer for 8-12 hours as he tools away his time on a return home flight.

I think that they are going to "go International" for this one. If he is close to the border it may occur in Tiwan(sp?) or Iran, or some other close country.

Could be interesting.
Any thoughts?

I'm just going off of an interview with the producer immediately after the season finale. He indicated that "not much" of Day Six would take place in China. Too many logistical issues, and problems with maintaining the real time format, by having a lot of the action in China.

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/69097.htm

Wouldn't be the first time that 24 sets up a plot premise in the season finale and does nothing with it. The assassination attempt on President Palmer at the end of Day Two, and Jack Bauer's exile at the end of Day Four changed hardly anything once the following season got underway. Palmer got a scar on his hand, and Bauer's new identity lasted all of four hours before he got reinstated at CTU.

If there's one constant with 24, it's that whatever prediction anyone might make about the storyline is usually wrong. The international storyline is something that's been speculated for the upcoming 24 movie, which probably won't be constrained by the real-time premise and TV series budget.

[audiobill]

I can't wait for 24 to roll.

It's tv at its best.

[Groundbeef]

I'm just going off of an interview with the producer immediately after the season finale. He indicated that "not much" of Day Six would take place in China. Too many logistical issues, and problems with maintaining the real time format, by having a lot of the action in China.

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/69097.htm

Wouldn't be the first time that 24 sets up a plot premise in the season finale and does nothing with it. The assassination attempt on President Palmer at the end of Day Two, and Jack Bauer's exile at the end of Day Four changed hardly anything once the following season got underway. Palmer got a scar on his hand, and Bauer's new identity lasted all of four hours before he got reinstated at CTU.

If there's one constant with 24, it's that whatever prediction anyone might make about the storyline is usually wrong. The international storyline is something that's been speculated for the upcoming 24 movie, which probably won't be constrained by the real-time premise and TV series budget.

All good points. However, after re-reading the Chicago Trib story, it does indicate that Bauer " is still in prision in China after 20 months". Now unless the US pulls the Blackbird out of retirement and lands it in Red China, it will take most of the season just to get him back home. "Would you like some more peanuts or perhaps a soda Mr. Bauer?"

So it will be interesting to see how they handle the story line. Perhaps they will just ditch the whole "In Real Time B.S." It was gimmicky at the first season, and now it just makes the story less plausible. I am willing to forgo it, for a better more beliveable story line.

[Woochifer]

All good points. However, after re-reading the Chicago Trib story, it does indicate that Bauer " is still in prision in China after 20 months". Now unless the US pulls the Blackbird out of retirement and lands it in Red China, it will take most of the season just to get him back home. "Would you like some more peanuts or perhaps a soda Mr. Bauer?"

So it will be interesting to see how they handle the story line. Perhaps they will just ditch the whole "In Real Time B.S." It was gimmicky at the first season, and now it just makes the story less plausible. I am willing to forgo it, for a better more beliveable story line.

If 24 gets rid of the real time element, they're just another serialized drama. Having everything in real time does limit the things that the writers can do, but it also creates a tension and thrill ride sensation that would otherwise be missing if the clock wasn't always ticking.

I've also read that the writers don't have the entire story arc mapped out when the season begins. They might have about eight hours roughly diagramed out, but otherwise they're pretty much making it all up as they move along. It's all a constant process of boxing themselves in, and then conjuring up new ways of busting the story along. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But, that constant teetering on the edge and sense of spontineity is what makes 24 what it is. The show would lose that edge if the writers didn't have to work around the time element. It might still be a good show, but it wouldn't be 24.

[Groundbeef]

If 24 gets rid of the real time element, they're just another serialized drama. Having everything in real time does limit the things that the writers can do, but it also creates a tension and thrill ride sensation that would otherwise be missing if the clock wasn't always ticking.

I've also read that the writers don't have the entire story arc mapped out when the season begins. They might have about eight hours roughly diagramed out, but otherwise they're pretty much making it all up as they move along. It's all a constant process of boxing themselves in, and then conjuring up new ways of busting the story along. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But, that constant teetering on the edge and sense of spontineity is what makes 24 what it is. The show would lose that edge if the writers didn't have to work around the time element. It might still be a good show, but it wouldn't be 24.

I would disagree with your first point. The writing of the story line is what gets me, not the "time issue". I think it is plenty of suspense to see how Jack is going to save the world. I would argue that the time constraints actually work AGAINST the show and make me have less tension and thrill. For example, I live about 1 mile from the local Meijer store here in town. I CANNOT get in my car, drive over, get 1 gallon of milk, go to the self checkout, get back in the car, and drive home in less than 20 minutes. It cannot be done. However, in 20 minutes Jack can drive several miles, get knocked unconsious, get back on his feet and difuse some sort of situation. This makes the story LESS belivable. It was a great hook the first season. But now, it is more of a constraint to belivebablity.

[Woochifer]

I would disagree with your first point. The writing of the story line is what gets me, not the "time issue". I think it is plenty of suspense to see how Jack is going to save the world. I would argue that the time constraints actually work AGAINST the show and make me have less tension and thrill. For example, I live about 1 mile from the local Meijer store here in town. I CANNOT get in my car, drive over, get 1 gallon of milk, go to the self checkout, get back in the car, and drive home in less than 20 minutes. It cannot be done. However, in 20 minutes Jack can drive several miles, get knocked unconsious, get back on his feet and difuse some sort of situation. This makes the story LESS belivable. It was a great hook the first season. But now, it is more of a constraint to belivebablity.

Like I said, without the time element, 24 is just another serialized drama. You take the good with the bad, but that element's pretty much central to the entire series -- even more so than the Jack Bauer character. No real time, no 24. Plenty of other serialized dramas to choose from nowadays if 24 overtaxes your suspension of disbelief.

Every week, if I choose to pick apart every scene and plot twist in 24, I'll find lapses galore. But, what fun is that? Being an LA native, I know the actual drive times between the different locations in the show. But, rather than bemoan how unrealistically 24 depicts the travel time, I'd rather just go along for the ride and enjoy the show for what it is.