litza

I just read the DVD Talk review of Season 4 of ""24" by Shannon Nutt and I couldn't disagree more with it. Ironically, Mr. Nutt stated that he went into the season fearing that it may jump the shark, and that is exactly what I kept thinking while watching it.

As a bit of background, I loved the first three seasons, and I watched them on DVD as soon as they were released, usually finishing the box set over a weekend. In fact, I was so into seeing the latest installment that I picked up a Region 2 set a couple of months ago.

When I sat down to watch it, I was shocked at how bad it was. It was like a Saturday Night Live parody of what "24" use to be. While in the past, the show stretched the concept of realism, season 4 just throws it out the window. There was not one moment of the season that I ever thought that what I was watching could in any way connect with reality. It really felt like they were just making it up as the went along.



Busy guy. And I have trouble squeezing in grocery shopping after work.

And that's part of the problem with the show. Its pure fantasy. At this point Jack Bauer might as well find a genie's lamp and rub it to get three wishes. What was interesting about previous seasons was the fact that you sort of can believe that what you were watching could actually happen. The characters felt real (or as real as the genre would allow). This time around, no matter what happens, people just dust off their shirts and go about their business



What made the original 24 so compelling and exciting was that there was a real sense of danger and the creators took the time to fashion a good, solid, logical (sort of) story, that kept your interest. I felt that this season pretty much threw out everything that made the original so good, and replaced it with loud explosions and ridiculous situations. In fact, it was so bad, that it was an actual chore for me to get through it. It took me about two months of watching just to finish it. Each time I sat down to watch a new episode, I would have this vague hope that maybe I was wrong to dismiss it before and maybe it was actually a good show. Sadly, it just kept getting worse and worse.

[Edited to add in spoiler tags]

dadaluholla

It WAS a little crazy, but it was also really really good.

I turned on one of the Season 4 episodes whenever they had the marathon (on Labor Day maybe?) and i got hooked all over again. Ended up watching it on and off for about 9-10 hours worth.

I've already ordered the new set for a friend for christmas and plan on picking one up myself after christmas probably! Highly recommended!

Doughboy

Season 4 is easily the most absurd year(or day) yet for the show, but they've all been ridiculous when you examine the plots closely.

I basically look at 24 like the TV equivalent of Die Hard. It's a lot of fun as long as you don't think about it too much. And Season 4 is pretty much Die Hard 2 as far as plausibility.

BTW, I can't wait to see that Season 5 prequel. Sounds interesting.

Chris Tribbey

Heck, the sheer amount of "yeah, right" is why this show is fun. Never mind that one CTU agent is at the center of every potential world-changing disaster. How many times has Jack gotten across L.A. within 15 minutes, without hitting traffic? Insanity.

The episodes of Season 4 I saw were enjoyable, mostly because they didn't have Kim Bower in them. Please tell me she's absent from the entire season ... ... that would make the set a good blind buy for me.

Josh Z

Litza,

maingon

24 is a show that you never want to think about the little details like getting across in LA in 20 minutes ec. but i agree its like Die-hard somewhat, Still 24 is one of the best shows on tv and most intense on TV

onebyone

I thought that it was a great review myself. I really enjoyed this season, and I just got the set today and I can't wait to dive into those extras! The extras in the review sound super. The DVD sets for this one have come a long way since season one.