Season six of 24 came to an end last night.  There's little to discuss in terms of ramifications; the season, you could say, ended with a whimper.  A disappointing end to a disappointing season.  But, there is good news.  The ending of Monday's finale was wide, wide open and, thus, the producers have the leeway to go in whichever plot direction they need to return 24 to glory next season.  CTU will almost certainly fade into the periphery, and we can all hope that Jack will be rampaging abroad somewhere, infusing 24 with new life.

It's easy to imagine 24 returning with a vengeance next year, learning from its mistakes this season and providing the Bauer-led action and suspense fans are used to, but in a different, less tired arena.  But, this is all a different discussion for a different day.  Last night's two-hour finale wrapped some things up, left some doors open, and left audiences going “Huh?”  Here is a recap of the events, in a non-linear manner.


Jack is pissed off, because CTU has taken his nephew away from him.  Jack finds out why (that Phillip Bauer wants him in an exchange for the circuit board).  Jack warns CTU that his father is not to be trusted and that he has no intention of giving up the circuit board.  Unfortunately, the orders for the exchange have come from the White House.  Jack is put in a car and is to be taken back to CTU, held in “temporary custody”. 

Karen Hayes, in DC, hears of Jack's warnings and agrees with him.  She thinks they need to do anything they can to stop the exchange.  Hayes illegally gains access to a tracking device on the car Jack is being transported in.  She then calls her husband, Bill Buchanan, and asks for a solid: to bust Jack out and help him stop the exchange.  He reluctantly agrees.

Meanwhile, Doyle and Josh Bauer helicopter in to the meeting point (on the beach), where they are to wait for more information from Phillip Bauer.  Phillip calls Doyle and he has some more demands.  He has somehow broken into CTU's satellite surveillance, and knows that Doyle and Josh are being monitored.  He makes CTU turn off the satellites.  He also makes every CTU agent leave, except for Doyle.

Bill Buchanan runs the SUV that's carrying Jack off the road.  Jack and Bill neutralize the agents, and head to the beach to stop the exchange.  They show up too late.

Back in DC, Karen has been found out.  She is arrested for illegally gaining access and for working against the White House's orders.

Two of Phillip Bauer's henchmen ride up onto the beach in a motorboat.  Before giving up Josh, Doyle asks to authenticate the chip.  Once he takes the circuit board, it explodes in his face.  It was a fake.  The henchmen take Josh to the motorboat.

Jack and Bill arrive a couple of seconds too late, but get there in time to fire a couple of shots at the henchmen and watch them sail away.  Jack finds Doyle, who is going to be blind in one eye, possibly two. 

Jack gets in contact with CTU, tells them what has happened, and then speculates that his father is probably on an oil rig out on the ocean. Phillip company, it turns out, owns some rigs out there.  CTU gets on this info and fights out that, yes, Phillip does own an oil rig nearby and that infrared taken from the area reveal people arriving recently. 

Meanwhile at CTU (and this went on throughout the two hours, but can be summed up in a short paragraph), Chloe is disoriented.  She eventually passes out and is taken to the infirmary.  Morris is very worried.  He keeps visiting her in the infirmary.  She gets her test results back: Chloe is pregnant!

In DC, the VP is notified of Phillip's location on the oil rig.  He's a had a couple conversations with Russian president Suberov, and his troops are approaching the US bases in China, ready to attack.  Daniels appeals for a little more time to destroy the circuit board, since they know it is on the oil rig. 

The VP, after some discussion, decides to deploy F-18s to bomb the hell out of the oil rig and that Josh Bauer's death will be an acceptable loss. 

Back at the beach, Jack learns of this decision by the White House.  He is not happy.  Buchanan offers to help him and got the rig themselves by stealing a helicopter, which apparently Buchanan is able to fly.  So, they take over a CTU helicopter while on the beach and head out.

On the rig, Josh is taken to his grandpa.  Josh hates Phillip.  Cheng is also on the rig and Phillip finally gives him the circuit board. Cheng has arranged for his and Josh's passage to China, via a Chinese submarine that will be arriving shortly. 

Bill and Jack call CTU, tell them what they are doing, learn that they only have about twenty minutes before the F-18s strike, and ask for satellite images of the rig.  Nadia gives it to them.  Jack shoots a couple of minions while they land the helicopter on the rig.  He shoots a couple more, and Buchanan apprehends Cheng quite easily. 

Phillip and Josh hustle down to where they will be picking up the submarine.  After they make it to seas level, Phillip bends down to untie something.  Seeing a window of opportunity, Josh hits Phillip over the head with a wrench and take his gun from him.  Phillip tries to talk his way into Josh letting go of the gun, but Josh shoots his grandpa in the chest, non-lethally. 

That's when Jack arrives and talks Josh into lowering his weapon.  They hug and Jack tells Josh to hurry up to the helicopter and that he'll be right behind him.  A final talk between father and son.  Jack doesn't finish him off and leaves him to be taken out by the F-18s.  We don't ever see Phillip die, so it's possible he escaped into a submarine.  Jack hustles, but the F-18s are closing in.  Buchanan takes off with the helicopter, lets the rope ladder out the helicopter door and circles around to one of the sides to meet Jack.  Jack makes a heroic leap on top the rope ladder as the oil rig is hit by the F-18s.

VP Daniels notifies Suberov that circuit board has been destroyed and that they have Cheng in custody.  Suberov agrees to have his troops stand down. 

Jack leaps off the helicopter ladder and into the ocean close to shore.  He gives an understanding wave to Buchanan: he's not ready to go back to CTU and will go into hiding again. 

Lennox convinces Daniels to pardon both Karen Hayes and Bill Buchanan. 

Marilyn Bauer is reunited with her son. 

In the final moments, Jack arrives at Heller's beach front home.  Jack points a gun at him, pissed that he would try and take Audrey away from him.  Heller is calm and cool apologizing for the harsh words, but sticking to his belief that Jack's presence around his daughter is a poor one.  There is much soul-searching within Jack.  Eventually, Heller takes Jack to a room at the house, and there is Audrey, asleep.  Jack speaks with her, but she doesn't wake up.  He admits that he has to leave her, and that it is the only way for her to be safe.

In the final scene, Jack walks out to the sheer, tall cliff outside of Heller's home and contemplates suicide.  Really.  He doesn't do anything.  End of season.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer


(Image Courtesy of FOX.com)